Hardwired with Jeff Wickwire

You are not guaranteed a single second more on Earth than the ones you have already been given. There are plenty of people who got out of bed one morning without knowing that they wouldn’t be ending their day on this side of eternity. Pastor Jeff doesn’t want you to waste the time you have on this Earth, which is why he quotes the book of Galatians to remind you that you should take every opportunity to do good on the Earth. You never know which good deed will be your last in this world.

Philosophy is one of the vehicles that mankind has built in an effort to understand reality on its own terms. Countless people have turned to philosophy to round out their own worldviews and attempt to fill the God-sized hole in their hearts. But when you realize that all of mankind’s wisdom is eclipsed by the glory of God, you don’t need to listen to those dead men and their thoughts about the world anymore. Pastor Jeff reminds you that you have a direct line of communication the Creator of the universe.

In C.S. Lewis’ book, The Screwtape Letters, the demon Screwtape says that the easiest road to hell is a gradual one, without signposts or warnings along the way. In today’s message, Pastor Jeff warns you how easy it is to harden your heart against God. Most people who reject the Lord don’t do it in some big emotional moment; it’s usually the result of many small decisions over a long period of time. But you can make small everyday decisions to open your heart towards God as well!

Allowing offenses and grudges to become implanted in your mind will only lead to more negative thoughts. It becomes a great big feedback loop, as your mind spirals further and further into depression and despair. Well, Pastor Jeff reminds you today that God offers you a different way to live! In order to break free from the spiral, you must focus your thoughts on God! His grace gives you the ability to let go of the things that used to offend you, so that you can live in the freedom that Christ offers you.

One of the most important jobs of a farmer is to prepare the soil for the seeding of plants. Soil must be tilled, fertilizer must be added, and seeds must be carefully placed in the ground in a way that they can grow and flourish. Well, Pastor Jeff reminds you in today’s message that the process of being born again starts with the seed of the Kingdom of God being planted in your heart. That seed doesn’t take root at the same time for everyone, but the fruit it bears is always based on God’s perfect timing!

If you spend significant time in a foreign country, you may notice yourself slowly adopting some of the mannerisms of your host culture. It can be little things like expecting different weather patterns, or it can be something as significant as the way you greet someone for the first time! Pastor Jeff teaches you today that even though Joseph spent most of his life in Egypt, the most important part of his cultural identity remained intact. Joseph remained faithful to God, and God remained faithful to him.

Now, don’t look directly at the sun, but picture in your mind how big that shining star is in the morning sky. From your perspective, it’s not all that large! But in reality, the entire Earth can fit inside the Sun 1.3 million times! Pastor Jeff teaches you today that you are even smaller than that in God’s eyes. The Lord can see everything that is going on in the world, and He isn’t surprised by anything that happens to you. God doesn’t need your help or guidance; He just needs you to be obedient.

If you were to get lost in a forest, would you rather have a hand-drawn map made by a child or a detailed map of the area with major bodies of water and nearby roads? Clearly, the second option would help you find your way out of danger and back to civilization, while the hand-drawn map would be inaccurate and lead you astray. Well, Pastor Jeff puts it bluntly today, when he reminds you that your heart is an imperfect guide for your life. If you want to navigate the world safely, you need God’s map to be your guide.

In order to follow God completely, you need to recognize that His ways are higher than your own and that His plans supersede yours. There will be times in life where His plans line up with yours, but there will also be times where His answer to you is “no”, and you watch your enemy or rival receive the victory that you had been praying for. Pastor Jeff doesn’t want you to be discouraged when that happens; he wants you to remember that all will be made right at the end of days.

Have you ever watched Rocky? One of the most iconic scenes from that movie is Rocky’s training montage, where you can see him working out to the point of exhaustion, pushing himself further and further until he accomplishes his goals. Well, Pastor Jeff reminds you today that if you want to live a great life for God, you are going to have to face difficult trials. Those tough times aren’t there to knock you down. Instead, God sets trials in your life in order to help you grow stronger in your faith!