Then the Lord told him, “Make a replica of the poisonous snake and attach it to a pole. All who are bitten will live if they simply look at it!” And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the son of man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. — Numbers 21, John 3:14-18

Home improvement projects are a real rollercoaster for me.

It’s a great feeling when I successfully complete one.

However, when faced with a project, let’s just say…like putting in a new dishwasher and the crazy thing won’t pull out from under the counter, it’s not nearly as fun.

Particularly, after I discover among the pieces, all I needed to do was simply look under the machine to see where it was hard-wired to the power, undo a few wire nuts and slide it out.

As the Israelites neared the promised land, the pattern of obedience/blessing and disobedience/discipline continued with no signs of changing.

After a God-given victory in battle, they went right back to whining about being thirsty and the daily manna.

Poisonous snakes were sent among them in immediate judgment.

After acknowledging their sin, God had Moses make a bronze snake and put it on a pole. They were told to simply look at it and live. All who believed and obeyed were delivered from the effects of the venom.

When Jesus and Nicodemus were having their late-night heart-to-heart conversation centuries later, Jesus told Nicodemus that he, like the bronze snake, would be put up on a pole, too. All who believe in him will not perish from the venom of sin, but instead, have eternal life.

Simply look.

The need to continually look to Jesus while we live out our few years here on earth will never subside.

Absolutely, our salvation depends on it.

So, also, does the living of a fruitful and meaningful life liberated from the sin that so easily entangles us.

Most important

I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the scriptures said. — I Corinthians 15

I’ve had the privilege of angling Canadian waters many times.

The mesmerizing pristine beauty is interrupted regularly by the pole-bending, determined pike.

This year’s trip is quickly approaching with the critical tour of the fishing tackle supplier already in the books.

Ever since I was a kid, my dad has reminded me of fishing’s most important axiom, “Son, you can’t catch a fish if your line isn’t in the water.”

Paul had a tough job.

He was writing to a church that was being tossed around by false messaging.

They were told that nobody raises from the dead – “Can’t happen, no way!”

Much to his chagrin, he had to go back to the very beginning; to the most important. Jesus died. He was buried AND he most certainly was raised from the dead.

All of Christianity hangs on this singular event.

The most important sets the table for everything else.

With the resurrection comes hope, purpose and a clear sense of destiny.

Death did not get the final say over Jesus and it will not have the final say over all who believe in him.

If we are in line to inherit our own resurrection day, what type of people ought we to be in faith, love and service?

Impossible things

And at Kardesh-Barnea the Lord sent you out with this command: “Go up and take over the land I have given you.” But you rebelled against the command of the Lord your God and refused to put your trust in him or obey him. — Deuteronomy 9:1-29

I’m not sure anyone else heard what our friend had just said to open the meeting, but I did and it rocked me.

There are moments when a word from another divinely disturbs us to the core.

Circumstances, the Holy Spirit and our heart’s disposition all play a part in their impact which explains why others may not even hear what we hear.

I heard it — “The only time we have to be a part of the impossible is now.”

As Moses is reciting back to the people the account of the last 40 years, he came to the part of the story that altered the entire trajectory of the nation.

God brought them out of Egypt with a mighty hand. He told them the land of Canaan was theirs in keeping with his promise to Abraham.

That moment was the time identified by God for them to enter into the fulfillment of his promise.

They responded with a fearful and feeble, “Impossible.”

God continues to invite his people today to step out beyond their resources.

Jesus never confined the adventure to our possible.

“Come join me for a stroll on the water.”

“Lazarus come forth!”

“Follow me and we’ll take the Kingdom to the edges of the earth.”

“For you this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Until the full magnitude of who Jesus is, overwhelms our thinking, our feeling, our doing, our speaking, our wanting and our believing, we will remain mired in the possible.

One thing

There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her. — Luke 10:38-42

As the golf club nearly broke my wrist, the sod from my well-intended swing actually went further than my golf ball.

If there was one thing out of the many things wrong with my golf game that I could obtain victory over, I’d start with keeping my head down.

I’m not sure why I feel the need to look up every time. It’s really not going to be that impressive of a shot regardless.

Jesus and the disciples were making their way to Jerusalem when they took a little stop at some friends’ house.

Mary, Martha and Lazarus were very dear to Jesus.

While Martha prepared dinner, Jesus taught.

Mary and presumably Lazarus and the disciples sat and listened.

Martha’s attention drifted to Mary. Frustrated, she forgot who she was talking to and blurted out, “Tell her to help me Jesus!”

Lovingly, he reminded her of the one thing that sets the table for all of life — keep your eyes on me.

Serving, giving, listening, speaking, caring, etc. are all wonderful expressions of love.

However, if our attention gets focused on the expression of love and not the object of love, we can easily become discouraged, fatigued and critical of others.

If anything or anyone else fills our minds and hearts more than Jesus, we have drifted from the one thing that Jesus said should concern us.

Tom Wiles is senior minister of Fall Creek Christian Church in Pendleton. He can be reached at 765-778-3166.