Tag: questions

Do You Understand?

Carl Pollard 

Sometimes we struggle to truly understand what we hear. It’s so easy to misinterpret conversations, especially over text. According to psychologist Albert Merabian, approximately 93% of communication is considered nonverbal, with 55% conveyed through body language and 38% through tone of voice. This means that only 7% of the message is conveyed through the actual spoken words.

Have you ever misunderstood a text message? Without the benefit of tone and body language, it can be challenging to discern whether a response is conveying sarcasm, boredom, or excitement. Even simple phrases like “oh wow” can be interpreted in vastly different ways.

Communication is hard, especially when we have a million different ways to say a word that can convey an entirely different message. We aren’t the first ones to struggle with this. The apostles asked Jesus around 200 questions that are recorded for us, often saying “huh?” when He spoke. Yet, Jesus asked over 300 questions – not because He was ignorant or unaware, but to get people thinking and truly understand.

Similarly, we sometimes treat Scripture like Einstein’s theory of relativity – we can memorize the words, but if we don’t understand them, what’s the point? Scripture is more than just words on a page; it’s the word of life. To commit it to heart and truly understand requires more than a superficial reading.

To be a follower of Jesus, faith in Christ is essential. 1 John 5:5 says, “Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” It’s not the rich, the president, or the preacher – it’s the one who believes in Jesus as Lord. John 3:16 reminds us that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Faith in Christ isn’t found on a day when everything in life is perfect. Trust is built by enduring difficulty. As George Muller said, “Faith doesn’t operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man’s power ends.”

To be a follower of Christ means living a life of faith in Jesus. It’s not about gambling or taking a chance, but putting our trust in the sinless Savior of the world, who has been in the saving business forever. When we truly understand what it means to be a Christian, we will live like Christ.

Knowledge=Sorrow?

Dale Pollard

The tsunami traveled at a speed of about two hundred miles per hour across the Pacific Ocean. That massive wave would kill sixty one people in Hawaii, one hundred and thirty eight in Japan, and thirty two in the Philippines. That wave was born from a Chilean earthquake that occurred on May 22, 1960 and may just be the largest earthquake to ever be recorded. 

The word “vexed” is an old Latin word meaning “to quake/rumble” and although Latin isn’t the language that the Old Testament was written in, the Old English word was used by some scholars when translating Ecclesiastes 1.18. 

“For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.”

At first glance, it may seem like Solomon is discouraging one from pursuing knowledge— but the message is a lot deeper.

The kind of knowledge the world has to offer isn’t going to bring you the kind of fulfillment that the wisdom God provides. The world’s understanding lacks the answers to major questions which are essential to our spiritual health like: Where did we come from? What’s the purpose of life? What happens when we die? Is this all there is? Earthly wisdom provides one with answers with holes and answers that are depressing— or no answers at all. 

However, God’s wisdom can bring much vexation as well. 

With God’s wisdom you come to understand that the majority of people on earth aren’t pursuing Him. You discover that most people live their lives in a way that grieve Him but that understanding will also bring you closer to Him. When the Lord is upset, troubled, angered, frustrated, or vexed, then his faithful servants are going to feel similar. 

With much of God’s wisdom, comes much vexation. With much of the world’s wisdom, there’s much vexation. The question we should ask, is why do we want our souls to be troubled? You can be fulfilled and troubled at the same time because with God, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Why We Are Here

Neal Pollard

It’s so easy to lose sight of our purpose. Even as Christians, our identity can become the things that are associated with this earth and this life. We can move along the road of life, unmindful of why we’re hear and what we’re to be doing with our time. Since at least my college days, I have asked God, “Help me make the most of my opportunities to Your glory.” He has opened doors I did not even know existed. These have not happened because of who I am, but all of it has happened because of who He is. That doesn’t mean that any of us can sit back passively until God makes things happen, but it is an exciting thing to try and order your life in such a way that He can use you for His purposes in the brief time we have on this earth.

The longer we live, the more we see our utter dependency upon Him and understand that “it is God who causes growth” (Col. 2:19; 1 Cor. 3:6-7). The Bible is His Word revealing His will, and we serve at His pleasure for His glory (Phil. 2:13). We can never forget that as long as we live in this life. None of us is indispensable and irreplaceable. Yet, for the brief period of time we’re here, we are a tool in God’s hand (cf. Rom. 6:12-13). We should work hard and prepare ourselves for service, but it’s exciting to watch God open doors and make things happen!

Life has its difficult moments, dark days, trials, temptations, and disappointments. But no life can compare to the Christian life. With all the temptation to be distracted by issues that will ultimately not matter to the dead and those in eternity, let us reflect daily on why God has us here.

If you would make for self a name, to seek for glory or for fame,
At life’s quick end, you’ll know the shame of serving self, not God.

If you make pleasing men your aim, and fawn and fumble for their acclaim,
When life is done, an empty same, of serving self, not God.

But if for Him you will proclaim, and let His glory be your flame,
At life’s great end He will exclaim, “Come home, O servant of God!”

—NP

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