“It feels different here.”

This is the comment our eldest son made when he returned to the Arctic.
We asked, ”Different how.”  He said, “It feels good.”

This is the feeling I have as I travel throughout the Arctic. There is a special feeling, it is hard to explain because I have been blessed to travel many of the world’s continents, yet in the Arctic I have a sense of peace and my soul is at rest. I feel it everywhere. And yet, while there are similarities, every community is unique.

I wrote this reflection as I finished the seventh of my seven week visit of High Arctic communities. As I sit here in the airport, there is a  threat of an impending storm. It isn’t just the physical airways that are stormy, there is  a storm in the spiritual realms that I wish to speak about. 

My flight has been delayed and even though it’s common and you get used to it, there was another storm that hit me this morning. Another friend has chosen to follow the winds of the spirit of this age. 

You know when people tell you,  “I like this about you, I like that about you… but.”
We all know that but is about to wipe out everything that they have said that they like about you. Look out… because here comes what they really think!

I’ve heard this so often when it comes to the Christian faith. I have often had people tell me how much they love the church, love Jesus, and that they even believe the Bible… but. They then explain that as they considered all the people in the world that they love, they boldly proclaim they now have a new insight and that they have chosen to lay aside the biblical script and have woven into their theology ideas of weak humanity. 

Last week I wrote about how Rev Loasie told me to hold fast to the scripture because that’s what the Inuit people want to hear. He told me that they do not want to hear the ramblings of my own mind. 

Today I’m even more convinced to hold fast to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of scripture as I hear of a brother who has chosen to lean to his own understanding.

I’m saddened by the church theologians who fall in love with their own mind, and are more likely to make allegiances with like-minded theologians, rather than aligning their mind with the mind of Christ.  I understand the draw to the approval of man, to want to be liked by people rather than rejected, but isn’t it better to have the approval of Jesus Christ than the world’s approval?

Early this morning during my devotions, I was reading the first chapter of the letter to the Colossians and I was struck by verse 28 when Paul speaks about Jesus, and says:

“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.”

Colossians 1:28

Yes, we teach Jesus. Everyone needs to meet Jesus or else they’re in eternal danger. If we forget that piece, there will be very little value in anything else we do, no matter how much it gets approval from the world around us.

Friends, there needs to be warning because there is bad news to warn people about. Without salvation we will perish! Let me ask, how can anyone who has met Jesus remain silent? I just can’t understand the silent Christian. 

This world is in a deplorable state and there’s good news that needs to be shared and taught. Everyone who meets Jesus needs to be willing to take the next step and be taught by God the Holy Spirit. I say this because it is God the Holy Spirit who convicts us not to follow the course of this world. It God the Holy Spirit who teaches us through the Holy Scripture not to be entangled by the worlds desires, and the fleshly desires that are prone to all of us. 

I am reminded of the hymn “when we walk with the Lord, in the light of us word, what a glory he sheds on our way.” We need the light of Jesus Christ to guide us. But there’s another light that is being shown today by the fallen angel of light, the false one, the deceiver. 

Jesus warned of deception. Friends, many have been captivated by the spirit of this age and this deception has invaded the church.

Friends, think of those time someone has said good things about you, and then wiped it all away with a “but…”. We need to learn from scripture! God does just the opposite. He brings us to face the seriousness of our sinfulness, and just when it seems there is no hope, then we are told …but God.

Just listen.

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2:1-9

Isn’t that great news? 

These are perilous times and I believe they may be the times Paul spoke about he wrote to Timothy to say that in the last days people will heap up to themselves false teachers who proclaim what their itchy ears want to hear.

While I am heartbroken that so many friends have turned away from the faith to follow the course of the world, I am reminded of the need to not just lean to our feelings.

I said that I feel good in the Arctic and I do. I am thankful that there’s a real hunger for the gospel,  yet there are problems here too. There’s a work to be done to share the good news here in the Arctic and all of the world. We need to be on guard because sweet talking deception wants to seduce us. Turbulent winds are blowing and I am reminded of the following hymn

I feel the winds of God today; 
today my sail I lift, 
though heavy, oft with drenching spray
and torn with many a rift;
if hope but light the water’s crest, 
and Christ my bark will use, 
I’ll seek the seas at his behest, 
and brave another cruise.

It is the wind of God that dries 
my vain regretful tears, 
until with braver thoughts shall rise 
the purer, brighter years;
if cast on shores of selfish ease 
or pleasure I should be, 
O let me feel your freshening breeze, 
and I’ll put back to sea.

If ever I forget your love 
and how that love was shown, 
lift high the blood-red flag above; 
it bears your name alone.
Great pilot of my onward way, 
you wilt not let me drift;
I feel the winds of God today;
today my sail I lift.

Jessie Adams, 1863 – 1954

Friends as the song says …I feel the winds of God today and  by God’s grace, I will continue to sail into this world’s turbulence, seas, and wicked storms. I will continue to call fallen brothers to repent. I will continue to invite lost souls to reach out to Jesus Christ, who is already reaching out his hand to them as he’s has reached out to me so many years ago when I too was one of those wicked souls following the course of this world. Certainly, there were many years when the spirit of disobedience was at work at in me …but God, who is rich and mercy, saved me. 

Today  I have nothing to boast about except Jesus. He’s the one I hold on to, and His Word I will hold on to rather than the of this world’s deceptive enticements. The scripture says “take heed lest we fall”, and take heed we should.

Friends please join me in prayer asking  the Holy Spirit lead us to walk in the steps of Jesus, so that all we say, and all we do will bring honour to Jesus. To God be the glory. Amen.