Lesson 293: BACK TO THE BASICS

Army of Tennessee Chaplain David Chaltas

 

 

BACK TO THE BASICS

Sometimes the greatest lessons for life are those you are most reluctant to learn.  My lesson came when I was afforded a journey back to my childhood.  Shadowed memories faded in and out of the sun, as I made the trip to Red Oak, Michigan, where I spent six years in my youth.  The little twelve by forty-eight feet log cabin was exactly the same as when I left it at the age of eleven.  It was there that I also left my heart fifty two years ago.  It was there that I found it again in two thousand ten and realized that I had to go back to the drawing board and then back to the basics in order to continue my growth in serving Him.  I discovered all this in the shadows of the whispering pines.

Sometimes in life we get caught up in titles and labels.  I am president of this or that.  I am the grand chaplain of chaplains.  I began looking at the many titles at the end of my name and realized they were of boastful nature.  I have seen so many good people destroyed by the vanity of labels and titles.  I vowed to have only one title and that being the ‘Old General’.  No longer would I wear titles or labels to serve self importance but would wear only the armor of God to serve the people. 

 

I found it so refreshing to remember the words by another man when it came to self importance:  “I can only say that I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.” The profoundness of that statement hit me and I found myself rejoicing with tears of repentance flowing down my face.  Back to the basic principles found within the confines of the Book of Books! I realized that to lead you must follow and my chief concern must be to try and be a humble, earnest Christian.  Lee said those words but more importantly, he LIVED those words.  He also said that we must, "Be true, kind and generous, and pray earnestly to God to enable you to keep His commandments and walk in the same all the days of your life."  The basic truth is that we must pray in all things, be true to ourselves and others, be kind to our fellow man, and generous to walk with Him.  When one follows his own drum, he tends to hear only its beating.  Following God’s voice given to us as a guide will keep you on the tract needed for self growth. 

 

The Bible states, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?" I began seeing the titles as words and not deeds.  The deeds are those unheralded acts of Christian compassion and kindness that are done not for man’s knowledge but for God’s glory.  Again the words of General Robert E. Lee:  "We poor sinners need to come back from our wanderings to seek pardon through the all-sufficient merits of our Redeemer.  And we need to pray earnestly for the power of the Holy Spirit to give us a precious revival in our hearts and among the unconverted."   When I read the lines that said we need to come back from our wanderings to seek pardon, I knew that I had to get back to the basics and the formula that works.  Prayer in all things and constant self revival and renewal are paramount in following the cross. 

I recalled the days when people came to hear the gospel and not the rhetoric or rituals.  I recalled the days of baptism before the devil introduced those who had been caught by man but not cleaned by God.   I longed for those days of yesterday in which we brought people to Christ and lead by example.  I then realized that it was not others who had strayed but I had wandered from the path.  I realized that the Shepherd leads and the sheep follow.  I came to realize that I must place my whole trust in Christ and do His bidding, regardless the cost (My whole trust is in God, and I am ready for whatever He may ordain; Lee).

Back to basics means that I no longer serve organizations, denominations, clubs, or other affiliations but serve GOD first and the people second. I KNOW that soon He will guide me to that great revival beside the river and I will once again see His handiwork amongst the people.  For now I once again see the vision as HE has ordained for my path.  This year we will see His mighty miracles as we continue to embrace the lessons of life that He places along our path daily and NO longer will I be caught up in man’s rhetoric, rituals or ridiculous need for labels and titles.  Did He not promise us that we would be made new?  Did He not say He would provide all our needs?  Be ready!  As surely as the son rose this morning He’s coming and He brings with Him the joy of salvation and the agony of eternal damnation for those who have not accepted him.  Friends, let us all get back to the basics and realize self serving serves no one other than the beast from below.  Friends, look towards the clouds and seek HIS guidance, remembering that we are nothing more that poor sinners, unworthy of the love of God but trusting alone in Christ Jesus for our salvation.  Friends, I remain disabled.  I am  simply a poor sinner unworthy of the love of God and trusting alone in Christ Jesus for my salvation.   The old general.

"Help me to be, to think, to act what is right, make me truthful, honest and honorable in all things; make me intellectually honest for the sake of right and honor and without thought of reward to me." R. E. Lee