by Randal Matheny

Their bodies have not yet been recovered. But above the shock and sadness, a pure note rings clear.

NASA's associate administrator for space flight Billy Readdy said the STS-107 crew "was absolutely dedicated to the mission that they were performing."

Shuttle Columbia Physician Cmdr. Dr. Laurel Clark had said, "To me, there's a lot of different things that we do during life that could potentially harm us, and I choose not to stop doing those things."

Shuttle pilot Cmdr. William McCool's mother Audrey said space flight must continue despite the accident that killed her son and six others.

Was it worth the risk? The flight crew was convinced it was. Even family members, in the midst of grief, believe in what their loved ones were doing.

Their courage and dedication to their task inspires us all. Not least Christians who have a heavenly calling to change lives for eternity.

Jesus' example is more inspiring still.

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many" (Mk. 10:45, NASU).

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).

And in Christianity examples abound to inspire us that, indeed, the mission is worth the risk.

"I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls" (2 Cor. 12:15).

"Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us" (1 Thes. 2:8).

As saddened as we are by the deaths of the seven crew members of the space shuttle Columbia, we are emboldened by their commitment to their mission. We are reminded that the mission of Christ exceeds any human undertaking and renew our own dedication to this most noble and worthy efforts.

The work of God is worth any risk, any loss, any suffering.

by Randal Matheny

Ten awesome plagues. Pharoah finally gives in to Moses' demand and releases the children of Israel. God grants them favor in the eyes of the Egyptians, who give them silver, gold, and clothing. They see appear before them the Lord in a pillar of cloud by day to lead them and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light.

Egypt behind them, freedom up ahead. ". . . the sons of Israel were going out boldly" (Ex. 14:8, NASU).

What a heady feeling it must have been! Clutching their firstborn children, the Israelites get their first taste of victory and freedom.

Until the wind changes quickly.

A sudden change of heart whips Pharoah into a rage, who gathers all his horses and chariots and races after his fleeing slaves.

"As Pharoah drew near, the sons of Israel looked, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord" (Ex. 14:10). And they complain bitterly to Moses, thinking their end has come.

When no one is chasing you, you can puff out your chest and feel on top of the world. But when the enemy arms to the teeth and bears down upon you, how will you then hold up?

A little verse from Proverbs rings continually in my ears.

"If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!" (24.10, NIV)

When Satan throws all he's got at you, stand up in the strength of the Lord and face him squarely. "Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (Jas. 4:7b). The time to be bold is when the enemy presses upon you.

When the Israelites faltered, Moses roused them to faith.

"Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent" (Ex. 14:13-14).

With the Lord on your side, you may march out boldly, when the enemy is hot on your heels or when all is quiet around you. For you know the battle belongs to him.

"The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father's God, and I will extol Him. The Lord is a warrior; The Lord is his name." (Ex. 15:2-3)

by Tim Hall

"If only Jesus were with us; He could do something to help." All in the boat had been thinking the same thing. There had been that time when Jesus was with them when the storm arose. Thinking they were about to be shipwrecked, the disciples awoke Jesus. He promptly stilled the storm with a simple command (Mark 4:35-39, New King James Version). But that was then; now Jesus wasn't with them. "If only He knew how much we need His help!"

Hours earlier, Jesus had told these men to get in the boat and go on ahead. He would remain to send away the crowds who had been listening all day to His teaching. Jesus knew His disciples were bone-tired after a hard day. Besides, He needed time alone on the mountain to pray to His Father. Nothing could revitalize our Lord more than time spent in prayer.

For hours the disciples had been rowing, fighting the stiff wind that had descended on the Sea of Galilee. The journey should have taken only a fraction of the time they had already been out. Making no progress, they were now more then exhausted -- they were discouraged.

The observation in Mark 6:48 has become one of my favorites in all of the Bible: "Then He [Jesus] saw them straining at rowing . . . and about the fourth watch of the night He came to them." How could Jesus possibly have seen them? It was now totally dark, with even the light of the stars and the moon blocked by the storm clouds. There must have been some distance between Jesus and the rest, for He was still on the mountain. Nonetheless, Jesus saw them. Centuries before, David had foreseen this ability: "Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to you" (Psalm 139:12). The Son of God had no trouble seeing, even at that pre-dawn hour.

But the best part is that "He saw them straining". More than just seeing figures in the distance, Jesus could discern their dilemma. He knew they needed help. Thus, "He came to them". A marvelous miracle followed as Jesus walked on the water to reach them. But for me the most blessed part of the account is the revelation that "He saw them straining . . . He came to them".

This scene needs to be the subject of much meditation by every disciple. Each of us will occasionally strain at our rowing, thinking we are making no progress, become more frustrated with every passing hour. Knowing, however, that He sees us in our strained condition will help us to persevere. We will know that in due time He will come to us and help us through the windy night.

"Does Jesus care when I've said 'good-by' to the dearest on earth to me, and my sad heart aches till it nearly breaks -- Is it aught to Him? Does He see? Oh yes, He cares, I know He cares, His heart is touched with my grief; when the days are weary, the long nights dreary, I know my Savior cares." (Frank E. Graeff, 1901)

Part 2: The Divine Character by Randal Matheny

[Note: Here's the link to Part 1: The Divine Perspective.]

As is true of every aspect of Christianity, winning over temptation depends upon the character of God. Paul knows this as he affirms that "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able" (1 Cor. 10:13 NASU).

So overcoming temptation depends not only upon adopting the divine perspective, but relying upon the divine character.

God Points the Way

From the beginning, the Lord has pointed man to the way of righteousness. When Cain showed signs of wandering, the Lord confronted his anger with the need to repent and choose good over evil.

"If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it" (Gen. 4:7).

Never has God led man into sin (Jas. 1:13-15). He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezek. 33:11). He does not wish that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance (2 Pet. 3.9).

Isaiah speaks in terms that give a different impression. "Why, O Lord, do You cause us to stray from Your ways and harden our heart from fearing you?" (Is. 63:17). But as the Lord insisted they repent, their sins multiplied and God gave them up to judgment (Rom. 1:22-32). His continued chastisement resulted in their straying further away from him.

So the Lord promises to help man overcome temptation. He has always fulfilled this promise and will continue to do so.

Divine Limits Show Divine Purpose

God does permit that we be tempted. He respects our free will. He encourages us to do right. So that we may be able to choose what is right, he imposes limits and restraints upon what Satan can do, just as he did during Job's trials.

This divine permission and restriction of Satanic effort shows that the Lord is in charge of the whole process. Our verse says, "he will not allow." Thus, God is in the temptation, not to lead us to sin, but to bring us through it strengthened in our resolve to love and serve him.

God Showed Faithfulness in Jesus' Temptation

The Spirit of God led Jesus into the wilderness in order to be tempted (Mat. 4:1-11). On the face of it, God appears to be against his Son, but the leading actually reveals his faithful presence in order that he may win over Satan and fulfill his mission in the world. The confrontation is inevitable, and though we might shrink from it, God's Spirit leads us to meet it head-on.

Many think of angels as protectors from evil, but the angels came to serve Jesus after Satan had already left him (v. 11). Our Lord had One greater than the angels to help him at the critical moment. He counted on the faithfulness of his Father.

Though Satan was slinging him around from one end of the world to the other, the powerful Word of God brought him the unfailing power of the Creator to defeat the tempter.

With this confidence in the faithfulness of the sovereign God, Zacharias praised his salvation,

"To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, Might serve Him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days." (Luke 1:74-75).

This thought will take us to the next installment: The Divine Escape.

by Randal Matheny

"Avoid the crowd. Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece." --Ralph Charell

The above quote tells us not to let ourselves be passive pawns, but shakers and movers. Be the one to call the shots. But even there, the game still continues.

Good advice warns away from the herd mentality. The Bible also speaks to the same effect.

• "You shall not follow the masses in doing evil" (Ex. 23:2 NASU).

• "My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent" (Prov. 1:10).

• "And do not be conformed to this world" (Rom. 12:2).

Yes, avoid the crowd, but instead of independent thinking (read Jer. 10:23) and aspiring to control, submit yourself to the Lord and place your trust in his sovereign power to guide all events and people to the final goal.

". . . He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, 'God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.' Submit therefore to God" (Jas. 4:6-7a).