When Work Will Become Play - Bruce Atchison

For those who don't know me, I've lived on a disability pension since 1995. In July of that year, I went to a work counselor to find out which line of employment I was suited for. After showing the man my tear sheets from amateur electronic music fan magazines, he recommended I become a freelance writer.

What takes the fun out of writing for me is having to be under threat of scrutiny by Canada Pension Plan. According to their regulations, I had to find employment in the kind of work I previously did for the federal government. After two years, I was supposed to find any sort of employment.

Doing what's needed is nowhere as enjoyable as doing what one loves. That's why I sympathize with one epistle writer in particular. Jude 1:3 (Bible in Basic English) shows his dilemma. "My loved ones, while my thoughts were full of a letter which I was going to send you about our common salvation, it was necessary for me to send you one requesting you with all my heart to go on fighting strongly for the faith which has been given to the saints once and for ever."

There's absolutely nothing wrong with contending for the faith. Poor Jude would rather have rejoiced in the great privilege of salvation but the Holy Spirit reassigned his writing work to defend the truth.

Furthermore, Paul wanted to be with the Lord but he knew the churches needed him more. Philippians 1:23 and 24 (BBE) says, "I am in a hard position between the two, having a desire to go away and be with Christ, which is very much better: Still, to go on in the flesh is more necessary because of you."

Furthermore, Jesus let out a cry of triumph in John 19:30 (BBE). "So when Jesus had taken the wine he said, 'All is done.' And with his head bent he gave up his spirit."

I know I'll feel so happy when I retire next year. Canada Pension Plan won't be on my back bumper anymore. I earned my pension and, God willing, my retirement pension will await me. And if I feel inspired to write, I will do so without fear that I'll be tossed off my hard-earned pension.

I Contend, Therefore I Am - Bruce Atchison

 I feel blessed that God has provided me with the passion for truth. Like the prophets, I can't help but speak out against wickedness and lies. And since we have such wondrous tools as the Internet, screen-reading computer programs, and Bible CD-ROMs, I'm equipped to use the truth as a lie-destroying weapon.

And what a precious task we've been given as well. We read in Jude 1:3 (KJV)that,  "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints."

This torch of truth we've been handed by the saints of old must be kept burning, even at the cost of persecution. As we can easily understand from Hebrews chapter eleven, people prized the Word so much that they suffered and died to protect it.

Those devoted-but-unknown scribes who copied the scriptures also regarded the very letters they wrote as precious. They could have used their talents to make a good living writing for illiterate folks but they devoted their lives to copying the Word.

Likewise there are so many missionaries throughout history who could have lived comfortably at home. Instead, they went to the ends of the earth to spread the glorious news of salvation through faith in Christ.

Now we have excellent online Bible resources and top-notch scholars whose work we can study. Through social media sites, we can proclaim the gospel to folks who we might never meet in a lifetime of traveling. Let's use every tool at our disposal to encourage our siblings in Christ and proclaim his saving love.