Dear Family Member:

Someone has said " PEOPLE ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM". I remember the days of Howard Hughes when he, one of the world's most wealthy men, might make an appearance at one of his drilling rigs looking like a roughneck, or Luther Underwood the Bar BQ King of west Texas who would come to his restaurants driving an old beat up truck and wearing boots and clothes which should have been trashed two years earlier. Society has always labeled people by the way they dress, what they drive, where they live and even by where they came from. We have gotten away from recognizing people by the character of their heart, and have begun to place greater emphasis on how they appear. Every once in a while someone will say I just want to be left alone so I can be myself. The question is if you are not yourself then who are you? I was a freshman at Ranger Jr. College the first time I was confronted with the question and asked to write a hundred word paper answering the question "WHO AM I." I didn't get a very good grade on that paper because I really didn't have a clue. In fact, I wrote something along the lines "ask me what a cow is or Johnson grass or even how to plow a field but don't ask me who I am. Well, little did that professor know that he had set my mind in motion to answer the question for myself. Not that I would ever tell anyone what I had discovered. I think so many people in the world today are just as confused about themselves as I was and scared to death that someone is going to see through the smoke screen we put up and see who I really am even though I don't even know. Sad isn't it that there is probably a really fine personality with all sorts of talent and love to share if only we knew who we were. The person behind the smoke screen is probably far better than the one in front. Today as I read Matthew 3, I see a man who had never attended a prep school, never sat through an etiquette class, nor had he attended a seminar on how to dress successfully. Here is a man who as best we know had spent the better part of thirty years alone with God in what was called the "wilderness". Seems ironic that when Adam and Eve were alone with God we called it paradise. Just maybe that is where John had been, paradise not the wilderness, alone in paradise with the creator of the universe. I just wonder what John the Baptist could tell us about his personal experiences. We know that he knew who he was and what his purpose in life was. Not only should we answer the question WHO AM I, there are three others as well. We have four basic questions to answer in life. Once we have the answers, we can live out the balance of our life in the wilderness or in paradise.

The questions are:

1. Who am I?

 2. What am I going to live my life in?

3. Who am I going to live my life with?

4. Who am I going to live my life for?

 Let's work on these in the order they appear. 1. Who am I?

When I was growing up on a farm in west Texas I can remember times when I would be listening to Rin Tin Tin, The Shadow or Bat Man on the radio. We didn't have a TV back then, and my brother would decide it was time to tend to our chores. So, he would get the two five gallon pails of slop (an accumulation of table scraps, grain, dishwater and milk from the day before) and start the seemingly long walk to the pig pen. My body would cringe because I was in the middle of the program and I knew my mother, step dad or someone was going to say, "you lazy little devil, get up from there, get outside and help your brother slop the pigs and milk and feed the cows." For years I thought I was lazy, but I wasn't. I had a different priority - to hear the radio program which went off at 6:00 when the news came on. Why couldn't the chores be done at 6:00? I never figured that out, nor did I ever ask. I bet if I had said to my mom and my brother could we do the chores at 6:00 they would have agreed and 12 years of frustration would have been prevented. Maybe mother would have said no because supper will be ready at 6:30 and you have to have your chores done before then. Maybe my brother would have said I want to hear the sports news at 6:15 and we have to have our chores done before then. I was afraid to ask because I was afraid the answer would not be what I wanted to hear. I always thought I was lazy because I wanted to listen to radio programs that no one else wanted to hear. Something must be wrong with me I thought. Normal people (my family) didn't like these programs. So I began to act the way I thought normal adult people were supposed to act and do the things that normal adult people did. But, I had never been a normal adult so I was very confused because many of the normal adult things I did got me into trouble. Try cursing. That would get my mouth washed out with soap and smoking would get me a busting. I couldn't do anything right. Then to top it all off I had to go to church and listen to an adult preacher tell me that many of the things I did, and lots of the thoughts I had were sins and I could die and go to hell for that. Boy was I confused. Some of these sins were fun. How could you possibly go to hell for all this fun? Well, maybe God is more strict than a normal adult - that had to be it. Wonder if cows have these problems, they don't seem to have them. Will I ever be a normal adult? My football coach said I was a blockhead. I wondered what that meant. It couldn't possibly be good but we won the games. So much of our life is spent trying to be what we think other people think we should be. We take extraordinary steps to prove we are what we think other people think we should be. We become doctors and lawyers because someone says we should. Why not be what we want to be. If I want to act, why not get a part in a play? If I want to give presentations, why not create an idea and sell it? We sit down to talk to someone and we respond to what we think they are saying rather than listening to what they are saying. The Bible says man can see and not see and hear but not hear:

MAT 13:15 ...and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, ... EZE 12:2...which have eyes to see, and see not; they have ears to hear, and hear not... MAR 4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

 

Although these verses have to do with spiritual things, we know that people just don't hear what is being said sometimes because they know too often they themselves say what they don't mean hoping the listener will understand what they feel. We just don't want to relax and be ourselves. We want to hide, distort, deceive and confuse others and then look back and say they just don't know me or understand me. So who are you? If you don't know, go to a quiet place alone. Write down on paper the things that make you different from others. List all the things you know you do well, list all the things you think you can do, list all the things you like, your dislikes, what you would like to do, where you would like to go. If today was your last, what would you do? Where would you go? What would you say to whom? If you can do this and do it moment by moment for the rest of your life you may begin to know yourself. If there is anything about yourself you don't like, change it. It only takes 21 days to form new habits. Most of who we are is an accumulation of the personalities of all the people we have met through- out our lives, the talents we have developed, and the habits we keep. List all these and see who you are. Proverbs says, "As a man thinkth in his heart so is he." We are what we think about, and it is ever changing depending on our circumstances. If you are afraid of change, create an attitude that will accept change. Sleep on the other side of the bed (not the wrong side, the other side). Wear your belt with the buckle the other way (not the wrong way, the other way). Put your other foot forward, (not the worst one, the other one). Wear something you wouldn't be caught dead in. Button your top button but don't wear a tie. If someone says something, don't defend it, say thank you and do not explain why you are doing things the other way or different from the way you have in the past. When you can do these things without feeling uncomfortable you will have created an open mind susceptible to change. Most people never know the joy of relaxed change. THIS IS THE WAY IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN DONE AND I'M NOT GOING TO CHANGE IT NOW." The Bible says, "God is the same today, yesterday and forever." We can see how inflexible he is in the weather, the universe, personalities of the people he has created. The only unchangeable thing about God is his love for you and me. He loves us and simply wants us to love Him just as he is and right where he is.

 

DEU 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.

DEU 11:22 ... to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;

JOH 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

JOH 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

JUD 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

 

 Unfortunately we have a tendency to think of God and His love much the same way we, as pre-teens, thought of normal adults and parents. If we were fortunate to have loving and understanding parents, we may find it less difficult to start a relationship with God. The key, regardless, is to spend time with him in bible study and prayer so you can really get to know one another. It seems to me the best way to get to know me and who I am is to get to know my creator. God really knows me and I cannot disguise myself from him. He knows even my most secret thought.

2. What am I going to live my life in?

So much of the time because we do not know who we are or what we can do, we chose a profession by necessity, power, prestige, or money rather than based on our talents and interest. If the interest is there but the talent is not consider training. Seek to develop the skill, the talent will come. We must either work to live or live to work. Most of us live to work so why not chose the profession where you can both live to work and work to live? Get excited about what you are doing, learn to see the things you like about your job. Set goals to accomplish that will make you proud of yourself when you reach them. Search for areas at work that bring you pleasure and build on them. Accept the unpleasant task or assignment as a step in the ladder to the next area of accomplishment. Find a way or place to use your professional talents for non-monetary gain. Set goals to accumulate sufficient financial reserves to enable you to do volunteer public service, or your hobby in your golden years. Set some goals that when reached will have a life time impact on your children and society as a whole. Someone once said the grass is always greener on the other side. Before moving to the other side you might cross over the fence and look at where you are - it may be greener. The greener pastures may be where we are right now.

3. Who am I going to live my life with?

A politician might spend years of research attempting to find the politically correct way to deal with this subject. However, I am neither a public official, politician, or high profile individual; therefore, I can speak the truth with no fear of repercussion. God said it was not good for man to live alone so he made a help meet to be with man. He never said it was not for woman to be alone, but he never said that woman had to work by the sweat of her brow to eat, but he did say that to man. Christ however quoted Gen 1 when he said:

 

 MAT 19:4-6 "...Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder."

 

One flesh - they are one. We are led to believe that man is not complete without woman and woman is not complete without man. God called woman man's help meet, and that he created her for him, not as a slave but as an aid; Strong's Reference#: 5828 Derivation: Derived from 5826 transliteration and Definition: `ezer aid.

MAR 10:9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

GEN 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

GEN 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living soul.

GEN 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

GEN 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Notice that man did not go out to find the woman but rather God brought the woman to the man. God knows who she is and where she is, therefore if man is to find the perfect woman he should seek God's help, and by the same token woman should look to God to lead her to the perfect man. So many times we see someone we think is pretty or handsome and choose that one, thinking all the while "I will change him or her." It never happens - we only exchange one another. People have for years talked about the deterioration of the home. How the working mother has broken down the family structure. I disagree. Look at;

 

Proverbs 31:10-31 "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life. She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar. She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple. Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land. She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant. Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates."

 

Doesn't sound like the homebody who spends her time baking cookies. No, we see that she is industrious, she buys real estate, she markets in the market place, she is volunteering her services in Jr. league, she certainly is not silent until spoken to, for she speaks with wisdom and kindness. Mary of Magdala followed Christ and helped in service and support. Lydia, a dealer of purple, supported Paul. Not a homebody necessarily, but certainly she met all the needs of her children. She does not leave the responsibility of her children to the school or nursery. Where did we ever get the idea that women were not to have their own identity? God said they are one flesh -- help meet, aid, make whole. We have always assumed that man was the stronger vessel, and that is usually true in brute strength, but no where does the bible say that a woman is less than the man, they are one. The two parts make a whole. We build up his strengths and her strengths to form a strong union, a winning team. The Bible says man is the head of the house, but what is a head without a body? Christ is the head of the church - the groom, the church is the bride. Christ set the example, he didn't make the rules. Neither did the church. This is a partnership where the strengths of each offset the weaknesses of each. The men in the old testament were the spiritual leaders, now mom says let's go to church, let's bless the food, let's study, let's pray. If the man doesn't or can't lead - the woman must. Spiritually though, the man should take the lead and if not, let him follow. The Bible says raise up a child in the way he should go and he will never depart from it. Society teaches us that if we raise up a child in the way he should not go he will never depart from that either. So who am I, what am I going to live my life in, who am I going to live my life with, and:

4. Who am I going to live my life for?

Today, as never before, we hear people say I'm doing things my way. I am building for my future. I am saving my nest egg. I'm building my house. I'm doing my thing. I, me, and mine echoes throughout the world. No longer do the leaders of the country go to Washington to serve the people - they serve themselves. It is no longer what the people want but what is politically correct so they can be elect-able. Doctors are no longer serving to cure, but rather charging to save. Man has come to live for himself, or money, or power, etc. etc.

 

Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 say "there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."

 

When John the Baptist was in the wilderness he had a decision to make. Do I come out and establish myself as a great prophet like Elisa, or Isaiah, or Daniel? Should I live my life as a sheepherder and seek to accumulate wealth? Do I stay here and forget the rest of the world? What do I do with my life? Do I live for myself, for my family, for money, or power? He made the decision to live his life for God and to fulfill the purpose for which God created him. He was to be the forerunner to Christ to introduce Christ to the world and then depart from the scene, and that is just what he did. So as John prepares to depart the scene and knowing his time is coming he wants to be sure he has fulfilled his mission.

 

MAT 11:2-6 "Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me."

 

This one statement says all that John needed to hear, "Blessed are those who don't doubt me." Christ has confirmed to John's disciples that John's mission is complete. And Christ then begins to speak of John the Baptist to the crowd that was assembled to hear Christ speak.

 

MAT 11:7-11...Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

 

There has never been anyone born greater than this man. I dare say this man was not what he seamed to be. He was the greatest, but then look at what Christ said even though he was the greatest - his message totally overshadows him. For it wasn't that John was supposed to be great - it was his message. The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Christ has come to rule the world through the hearts and lives of mankind. John said repent and become a part of the kingdom. Christ says when the prophet said there would be someone coming before me to tell the world I was here, what did you expect that person to be like. Did you expect an anonymous unknown, uneducated, unsophisticated, un-groomed, nobody or did you expect a famous, educated, sophisticated, well dressed prince. The message is what was important not the messenger. When God delivers a message it will not come in a golden scroll laced with golden thread with cherubim's and pomegranates. It may come in a blade of grass or the words of a child or even in the thoughts of your mind. When Christ ascended into heaven he sent the Holy Spirit to speak to hearts (the spirit) of man. If you want to get plugged into the information highway just ask God to turn on your spiritual ears and eyes. MAT 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. Until now Christ was just prophesied about, but now the prophecy is alive and with you: MAT 11:14-15 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Christ often made this statement when he wanted the hears to understand what he was saying. Afterwards He begins to pray.

 

MAT 11:25-27 "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him."

 

God, through the Holy Spirit, creates an opportunity for us to receive a spiritual message, a message clear and simple to those who are alive spiritually, but confusing to the PHD who is not alive spiritually.

 

1CO 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 1CO 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 1CO 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 2CO 3:14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.

 

So God, through the Holy Spirit, opens the eyes and ears to our spiritual understanding that we might be able to receive and understand His message.

 

EPH 1:18-23 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." ROM 9:32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 1CO 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; MAT 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. JOH 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. EPH 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, PHI 2:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a1 servant, and was made in the likeness of men: PHI 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. JOH 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. PRO 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. HOS 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. 1PE 3:18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

 

Christ died that we might become spiritually alive and live in the kingdom of God now and in the kingdom of heaven when Christ comes back again to set up his earthly physical reign over the earth. Mark 4:11... "unto you is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God". John was privy to the knowledge of the mystery, and so are all those who in simple child-like faith simply believe that Christ did in fact die for their sin and sins, and that he rose again and sits at the right hand of God ever making intersessions for them. I believe it in my mind and accept it in my heart.

 

JOHN 1:4-23; "In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No. Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias."

 

John the Baptist indeed was not what he seemed, but he pointed the way to one who still has an identity problem among many people. Christ was a carpenters son, who did not look like a god or a king. He simply looked like an ordinary man.

 

MAT 16:13-17 " When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven".

 

We are all confronted with this question and we must all answer it. Who do you say that Jesus is? Either he was just a man or he is CHRIST THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD. If he is indeed the Son of God who came to live among man as man, then what shall I do with him. Shall I reject him or do I accept him as the Christ and follow him. Jesus said if you follow me people will know for your life will change. Christ said you will be what you seem

 

"A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE UNTO YOU, THAT YOU LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, THAT YE ALSO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER." JOH 11:25-27 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."

 

Maybe the order in which the questions appear are in reverse. For the most important question one can ask and answer is "Who am I going to live my life for?" When and only when this question is answered are we ready and successfully able to answer WHO AM I, WHO AM I GOING TO LIVE MY LIFE WITH, WHAT AM I GOING TO LIVE MY LIFE IN.

 

 

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