Harvest messages are brought to you by Harvest Partners. To receive free email daily devotions or to become a Harvest Partner, please visit us online at harvest.org. Let's welcome Johnny Erickson Tata. Oh, wow. Wow.
Go for you guys. And I am certain that a lot of that applause was for my husband of 35 years. Applaud him. Yeah. I'm going to come down a little bit closer to, oh here we go.
This thing, I think it, yeah, it's all better.
Okay.
Well, Johnny, thanks for coming back. You know, you were here last Christmas, remember? I I cannot believe what a year has gone. I know, is it?
So fast. And you look great. You haven't aged at all. Thank you. I had a full head of hair last Christmas.
You remember that? That was a hair piece I was wearing, so I stopped wearing it. No, I'm kidding. But I remember that message you gave. And it just impacted me.
In fact, what we did, you gave a message to the ladies, and we took your message, and I showed it on a Thursday night to everybody, because they said everyone needs to hear this message. And so I thought it brought such a great perspective on Christmas. But Johnny, if you wouldn't mind, you know, not everyone knows your story. It's hard to believe. Many do, of course, but there are some who are meeting you here for the first time.
And of course, your life changed in 1967. You were a young girl, and like any young girl, you loved to hike and ride horses and swim and dive. Yeah, dive. And so you are a very active young lady. And then an event happened that of course changed your life.
And that brings you to today where you've spent almost 50 years in a wheelchair. 50 years. You know, I'd mentioned I'd like to dive, and I guess I was a little bit cocky sitting on the edge of that raft in the water. And I took a very reckless dive into what ended up being extremely shallow water. I hit the sandbar, it snapped my head back, crunched my vertebrae.
severed my spinal cord and left me without use of my hands or my legs.
Now When they took me to the hospital, I was so depressed, so despairing. The one bright spot was going to occupational therapy. Because in occupational therapy, Uh they Let me put a pen between my teeth. And I think we've got a photo of that. I'm not sure.
Up there. It's my occupational therapist and me. Let's put that image up on the screen of Johnny with their pen. Is it there? Not yet.
I'll let you know when it's up there. There it is.
Okay, that's that. That's me and my occupational therapist. I must confess at first I did not like having to put a pencil between my teeth. I kept spitting it out. And uh My occupational therapist kept taking it off the floor and wiping it off with Lysol and sticking it back in my mouth.
But when I finally got proficient, In Drawing, because I was an artist before my accident. This is the first image I drew. Go back to that image. Wow. When I drew this, Greg.
My thought was Oh God. This is now my life. This is it. And I tried to convey all the horror. And the despair, the depression.
My goodness, I would wrench my head back and forth on the hospital pillow every night, hoping to break my neck up at a higher level and thereby end my life. But um That picture is, to me, a precious memory of what God can Take us from when we embrace His son Jesus. Yes. And I have a second. image I want to put up.
May I? Please. Real quick.
Now, I did not draw this one. This is a friend of mine who drew this. But as you can see, it's a puzzle drawing. And sometimes when Tragedy strikes. It's like God has come and He's upset the puzzle table.
And all the puzzles go flying. And we, logical, rational people that we are, go scrambling desperately, hoping to find all the puzzle pieces so we can quickly put them back together and make our life make sense. We want everything to fit, we want everything to be tidy and orderly. But wisdom I I learned is not uh Being able to put all the puzzle pieces together. Wisdom is...
Trusting God even when most of the puzzle pieces go missing. Ain't going to find those pieces until the other side of eternity. But wisdom is trusting God even when life doesn't make sense. That reminds me of a story that Corey Tin Boom told. You remember Corey Tin Boom.
Oh, yes. She said to me the last time I saw her when she was alive. I saw her at her funeral, but. Anyway, she was alive in heaven. Yeah, she was alive.
Yeah. She was alive in heaven. She said, Oh, Johnny, one day we're going to dance together in heaven. You have a thick Dutch accent. Yes.
Well, the reason I brought her up is it reminded me of a story she used to tell. Of course, she went through all of her suffering in the concentration camp, Revensbrook, and with her sister and lost her sister and father and was released. But remember, she would talk about that stitching. On one side, it would be, I think, a scripture, perhaps, but on the other side, it was all. Tattered threads with no rhyme or reason, but it's sort of a picture of from our side, it looks like tattered threads or a puzzle scattered.
But from God's side, there's a logic to it because there's something that you believe in, that we all believe in, or should believe in, and it's called the sovereignty of God. Tell us what this, we hear that phrase. What is the sovereignty of God and what does that mean to you and what you face every day?
Well, at first, when I heard about the sovereignty of God, that is, that the God of the Bible is. A god who whose overarching decrees govern everything that happens. At first, I was frightened by that idea. It was scary. Because if that was the God who allowed this to happen, Then How can he possibly be good?
What is his idea of good? But God allows all sorts of things he does not approve of. He doesn't approve of spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis. He doesn't approve of stroke. He does not approve of Down syndrome or autism or Alzheimer's.
But a Christian friend shared with me 10 little words when I was first injured that changed my life. God permits what he hates. to accomplish that which he loves. And the way he explained it, Greg, was that he pointed to Jesus at the cross. Look what God permitted.
Treason? Injustice? Murder? Torture? How can any of that be the Father's will?
And yet we're told in Acts chapter 4, verse 28, That Keep Permitted, it says that Acts 4.28. God I've got this right on the tip of my tongue. I really do. Actually, look it up, Greg, X428. You can probably retain it better than I can.
I should have it memorized, but I think I know where you're going, but I want to make sure I get it right. Get it right because it's very important. It's not in the Old or New Testament. The writer of the book of Acts is talking about the evil men who instigated the cross of Christ. And this is what he said about these men.
You know, it's not in the. I found the verse. For me, it's like reading through a contact lens in a small print Bible.
Okay, I can do it. 420. Oh my goodness, we both need our glasses. That's too small. It's impossible.
Can you read it? Yeah. This is that. I know this first by heart. These men did.
What God's power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Yeah, do whatever your hand and your purpose determined before to be done.
So there you go. Treason, injustice, murder, and in torture.
So, right there, God permitted something He hated. The crucifixion, the gruesome crucifixion, the carnage, the terrible crucifixion of his own precious son. He permitted what he hated to accomplish something that he loved. What could he possibly love more than his own son? What would he prize above his son's own crucifixion?
Our salvation. Our salvation. And so, although the devil may have instigated. The events that led up to the crucifixion You know, treason, injustice, murder, torture. God won't have anything to do with those things in terms of his wanting or delighting in them happening.
But, God aborted those devilish schemes. To serve his own ends and accomplish his own purposes. I like the way Dorothy Sayers once said it. God reaches down into what otherwise looks like terrible evil, and he, hi-ya! He wrenches out of it positive good for us and glory for himself.
And so the world's worst murder. Becomes the world's only salvation. And my friend who shared those ten little words with me: God permits what he hates to accomplish that which he loves. Said, Johnny, the same is true in your life. God permitted what he hated, a spinal cord injury, to accomplish something that he loves more than the hardship you are going to have to go through for the rest of your life, and that is.
Christ in me, the hope. And oh my goodness, Greg, uh I've given up trying to untangle. the matted threads underneath that broidery that you spoke about. I've given it up because The whole point. behind my quadriplegia.
Is that I get to know Jesus. In such a tender, warm, poignant, personal, powerful way. Oh my goodness, every single morning when I wake up. I think I shared this with the women when I was here the last time. Literally, I wake up in the morning.
And my girlfriends are running water for coffee. They're going to come into my bedroom. They're going to have a cheery, happy hello. And there I am, almost 98% of the time. Lying there.
With my eyes closed thinking, God, I hate quadriplegia. I am so tired of this. I have no strength for this day. I have no resources, no power, no energy. I cannot do quadriplegia today.
But Jesus, you can.
So you can, I can do all things, do you?
So, would you please be the good quadriplegic today? Because I cannot do it. And it is the perfect example of Dying to self.
So that God's power. can live through me, which makes the smile. that I have on my face when I wheel out of the front door. In the morning. Ain't made a cold gate.
This is a real smile. hard fought for and hard won. every single morning. And Greg That's the Christian way to wake up. That's the best way to wake up.
That's the biblical way to wake up. That's right. Needing Jesus. Desperately. And I really need them.
I really do. We all do. No idea. I really do. Can't do it without him.
Yeah. So, from the worst injustice and travesty of all time, the murder and crucifixion of the very Son of God, came the greatest good of all time.
So, when we apply the sovereignty of God to our life, what it is saying is: you may be going through something now that makes no sense, but ultimately, you're going to see God's plan and purpose. Part of it, this side of heaven, but certainly all of it on the other side. But for now, It's not so much an issue of why, because you can ask that forever. And people in the Bible ask why. Even Jesus on the cross said, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
But I think there has to come a point where we ask what, as in, well, what do I do? And you've taken your very difficult pain and you've used it as a tool. For God's glory. You've used it as a weapon against the forces of darkness, and you continue to do so. And we thank you for that.
Here's something you wrote. You're a very good writer, by the way. Am I? Yes, I have to tell you that. Thank you.
You know, when you talk with Johnny, it's like whatever you ask her when she speaks, it's like, was that just pre-written? Did that actually just come out that way from your very well-organized brain or what? You're just so articulate. But you wrote this: quote, I knew in a vague sort of way that answers for my questions and about my paralysis were probably hidden somewhere between the pages of the Bible, but I had no idea where.
So there are certain passages, and you already took us to one, that I could obviously not read very well. Me neither. Yeah. But I think of another one that I'm sure is meaningful to you, and I'm sure you could add to this list, and please do. But one that comes to mind is an off-quoted verse, maybe not always understood, Romans 8:28.
Is that a verse that has brought comfort to you? Is it a verse that. Initially Was hard to deal with and later brought comfort? Or was it always a verse that was like, yeah, I get that?
Well, Romans 8.28. And okay, you're asking me to quote this one too, right?
Well, you know, all things work together. All things work together for good to them who love God and are called according to his purpose. And then the next verse in Romans 8:29 says that all these things are fitting together into a pattern for good. to conform you to the image of Jesus Christ. And so I see that I don't know.
I don't want to second guess God, Greg, but I do think that... that God has permitted this accident. To make me more like Jesus. He prizes in my life Patience, endurance, self-control, compassion, kindness. All of these things are far more important.
Then walking. They are far more important than walking and having use of your hands. And so one of the qualities of Jesus is Compassion.
Well, no, going back, I'm going back up. One of the qualities of Jesus It's a hatred of sin. When we say we want to be like Jesus, we normally think of all those qualities I just listed. But if we really want to Get bare knuckles about it. Yeah.
The quality that is most like Jesus is his Hatred. of anxiety, fear, worship, prejudice, snobbery. I mean self-righteousness. These are the things that he hates. And so Suffering is like the textbook that'll teach you about who you really are.
And I often liken my disability to a lemon that God squeezes in the morning. And out comes The cranky crabbiness. The sour disposition, the peevish attitude. And when I see that about myself, oh my goodness, I say, Jesus, I don't want to be that person. That was Johnny from yesterday.
Please, I want to be a different Johnny today. Would you make me more like Jesus and help me get rid of this sin? This this this Ickiness in my life that is so offensive to you and unpleasant to other people. The second quality, I think, for me at least, a hatred of sin, and secondly, Compassion. I talk to a lot of people with disabilities.
who are as disabled as I am. And I'm pretty disabled. Can't do my own toileting routines. Can't make my own dinner, can't cut my food, can't hold a bottle of Coke. But I talk to a lot of people like me who are disabled less than I am, some who are disabled more than I am, and they're depressed.
Hmm. It's totally humanly understandable why they would be depressed. Oh my goodness, I was depressed for years. It took three years for me to dig up out of that miry pit of despair. But what I will often tell people with disabilities is Get up tomorrow morning.
And Get dressed. Wheel out the front door if you're able. And go find somebody in your community who's hurting worse than you are. Who's hurting worse than you are? And I think that that is a sure remedy.
depression. To look for other people who are hurting more than you are and help them. That's the 2 Corinthians chapter 1, kind of. We've been comforted for the benefit of others. And it's one reason why I started Johnny and Friends, a ministry that distributes wheelchairs around the world and Bibles.
And we hold retreats for special needs families, and both here in America and in international developing nations, and yada, yada, yada. But I've been so blessed. Man, I want to squeeze every ounce of ministry effort that I possibly can out of this quadriplegic body to pass on the blessing to others. I've been given so much. You've been given so much.
We've been given so much. Find somebody else who's hurting worse than you are. And make a difference for Christ and their lives. Amen. Yeah, that's right.
I read there's a 10-step cure to depression. Step number one, find someone that is worse off than you and help them. Step number two, repeat step number one nine more times. I like that. But depression can be bigger than, I mean, that's a great piece of advice and something we all should do.
But I mean, you've dealt with severe depression. And in the holidays, a lot of people are depressed. And maybe it's because they expect Christmas to deliver what it can't. They expect Christmas to be the end-all, or maybe getting together with family. But you know, people have broken families and they have problems and false expectations and a list of other things.
But they might be dealing with depression, but there might be someone here listening or watching later that has lost a loved one, and now this is a marker of time that my loved one was with me last year, and they're not here this year, or maybe they've had. An event, a tragedy since last Christmas, and now here they are in this place. What would you say, like if someone is depressed right now, they're like they're in the pit and they don't know how to get out of the pit?
Okay, you've given us a great piece of advice. Find someone that is. You know, hurting more than you. How did you, or not? How did you, how did you, how do you, how do you?
continue to climb out. and be the better Johnny, if you will, and face each day.
Well, I've got two friends here, Jen and Rainey, sitting over there. They were the ones who got me up this morning and got me dressed and did my toileting routines and put on the lipstick. They do good lipstick in hair. Yes, they do. You look great.
They really do. Yeah. But they will tell you They will tell you that because of my daily battle with chronic pain. which incidentally makes my quadriplegia look like a walk in the park. They will tell you that there are times when I'm.
So depressed when I come to work. And I quick rush by the receptionist's desk and I wheel upstairs fast and I close the office door and I grab them and I say, Girls, Please pray for me. I need help. I need your prayers, don't I, girls? I need prayer.
And I think if anyone is depressed, and I I will counsel people with disabilities in the same way. Try ever so hard not to be opp depressed alone. Because God never intended for us to suffer in isolation. It's why He created spiritual community, it's why He created Harvest Christian Fellowship. Find somebody who will pray for you.
Because we wrestle not against. Spinal cord injury, or chronic pain, or stroke, or autism, or Alzheimer's, or bankruptcy, or an unexpected divorce. We wrestle not against the flesh and blood of these things. We wrestle against Powers and principalities who would love nothing more than to keep us steeped in depression. They would love to convince you that you're never going to get rid of that cloud of despair over your head.
Well, you know what? That's a lie. That's a lot so find people who will pray for you. Earnest prayer warriors who will buckle down, hit their knees, press their hands together, and plead. to heaven on your behalf.
And I know that there is a fabulous prayer team here at Harvest. In fact, before the service, that's what I wanted to do. Send me out to be where the prayer is. I want to be where the prayer is. And I think that's what people who are struggling with depression Need to do, or at least their loved ones need to do that for them.
Contact some good Christian friends who will earnestly, specifically, committedly pray. For that individual. Yes, amen. Tell me a little bit about how you met Ken. And tell us a little bit about your very wonderful marriage that God has blessed you with.
Oh the man, I love him so. You'll never know. When he takes me in his arms. Anyway. That's good, I like that.
Yeah, Johnny, um Quick quiz, who sung that in what movie?
Well, I don't know that song. Oh, come on.
Sorry? She said Judy Garland. Is that right? No, not Judy Garland. Oh, come on.
Barbara Streisand. Barbara Streisand and what movie? What movie? Funny girl. She sings it's the last song.
And I love it. Every time I see my husband dressed in his Brooks Brothers shirt, heading off to church in the morning, Sundays, sometimes he'll open the front door, and before I pass him by, oh my man, I love him so very much. My husband and I were both in our 30s. I liked being single. I was in my early 30s.
He was single as well. And we were attending both attending John MacArthur's Church. He was away one Sunday. And so there was some visiting pastor who was preaching. It wasn't you?
Yeah. Because the sermon was boring.
So we know it wasn't you, right? Excuse me, the sermon was. And you know, it's Sunday. You don't want to be sitting there being bored in the Lord's house. And so I asked the Holy Spirit, look.
Okay, so then you haven't heard some boring sermons, huh? They have. Yeah, right. Anyway, the Holy Spirit nudged me, and I thought, you know, I got to do something that honors God during this hour. And so my eyes fell on the back of this man's head, who was sitting about Five or six pews in front of me, didn't know his name, didn't see if he was wearing a wedding ring, but I just felt.
Comp. to pray for him, which I did for the balance of that sermon. I prayed that, oh my goodness, if he had conflicts at work, they'd be resolved. If there were problems with his family, they would be resolved. I prayed that he would remain morally pure.
I prayed that if he did not know Jesus, there might be something in the sermon that this guy was saying that might rescue him out of his sin. And by the time a benediction was over, I almost... wheeled up to this man to tell him Yeah. Uh, guess what I did for you? But I thought that would look awfully um pushy.
So we happen to be introduced to mutual friends about two or three months later, and literally, the first thing I said to Kentata, where are you, Kentata? Is he over there? He's right there. First thing I said to Ken, stand up, Ken, because I want them to see you. The first thing I said to that man was.
Turn around, let me see the First thing I said was. Turn around and let me see the back of your head. I know you, I said, and then I proceeded to tell him what I had John, I prayed for him and And we ended up marrying about a year and a half later. Yeah. How long have you been married then?
35 years now. 35 years, wow. Fantastic.
Well First, Christmas is here, we know, because of the Poinsetias. Is that how you pronounce it, Poinsetias? And all around us are the signs. And when you were here last time, you did such a great job sharing so many important things. And I thought you did a fantastic job explaining what Christmas should be.
And I think we sort of so romanticized this story. I'm talking now about the Nativity story itself. that that maybe we miss The real raw Profound meaning of it, you know, because we see the Mary and Joseph bathed in blue light, and the animals are bowing reverently, and you know, the stars in the distance, and the wise men are there. They probably weren't even there, they came later. But, you know, we have this romanticized image, and I think we've missed.
What really happened when God came to this earth, and you said this last time, because ultimately, of course, Christ came to go to the cross. You said, the cross is God's taking on flesh and blood and saying, Me too. I understand, I identify, I am God with you. After all, I am Emmanuel. God with you.
Share a little bit about how you see Christmas and what we might be missing in this season.
Well, uh think about it. I mean When Mary and Joseph took that 60-mile journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. It was no Girl Scout hike. I mean, this was a rocky, rugged road, three-day journey, married, nine months pregnant, jostling and jogging on a donkey and having to turn by the dirt road to let other caravans go past. And then in the dust which they're eating, they continue on their journey.
They get to Bethlehem. There's no room at the inn, except that they are told there is room in a stable. And so The Son of God does not enter human history with trumpets blasting and red carpets rolling. He doesn't enter with pomp and circumstance. He gets himself born.
In a stinky stable on straw, In a splintered wood manger, From the very onset of his life, he was identifying with our weakness. You don't think God understands? He does. He gets it. He resonates with your weakness.
It it it it he owns it. And uh I I think that sometimes we forget that when Jesus was born, This was the one man born to die. This was God's way of saying the war is over. The war is over. There is no longer enmity.
You'd be better under you know, explaining what that word means than I would. Emmity, how would you say what enmity is?
Well, opposition to God. Even hating God, opposing God. Yep, the enmity is over. There is no enmity. no longer between God and man.
And Jesus When he was on the cross, He bore all of the Father's white-hot wrath against your sin and mine. He absorbed it. He either the apple of God's eye turned brown with the rot of our sin. He was steeped, he was soaked in our sin. and the stench that must have arisen To the Father's nostrils.
No wonder God the Father turned his back on his own son. Which means that God the Father has no more anger left for you and me. No more white-hot wrath. No more. Emmity, no more.
Judgment. It was all taken care of at the cross, which Greg makes me love Jesus so much. Oh, if I don't love him enough. If you find that your soul is dry and cracked, and you find that your spirit is not warm with devotion to your Savior, you think about those things that Greg and I just talked about: how. Jesus absorbed.
the wrath of the Father so that all he has left for us. is forgiveness, mercy, love, tender loving kindness, compassion. What a savior. What a savior. Kyle, where young.
In fact, you know, that is such an exclamation point. I don't know about you, but my heart is just filled to overflowing just thinking about that. We've got to, as a corporate group, Praise God for it.
So sing with it. Joy to the world, the Lord is come. Let earth receive her king. Let every heart prepare him room. And heaven and nature sing.
And heaven and nature sing. Let heaven and nature sing. I love that love. You know we sit on We should do a record together. We could call it.
No, I've got the title. I've got the title, Beauty and the Beast. What do you think? You know, my favorite verse in that wonderful carol is the third one. No more let sin or sorrow grow, nor thorns infest the ground.
He's come to make his blessings known, far as the curse is found. Isn't that good news? Wow. There's some great theology in those old Christmas songs. A lot of people miss it.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead See, hail incarnate deity. You know, pleases man with man to dwell, Jesus are Emmanuel. Man, just those words are, you know, they're biblical. Absolutely. I'm going to sort of shift gears now and talk about a subject you've written a book on.
And I wrote a book on it. My book isn't as good as your book on the topic, but we both love the subject, heaven. Oh my goodness. Yes. I mean, and you know, so in your book called Heaven, Your Real Home.
You write this, I love this. Just 30 seconds in heaven. will atone for all the heartache and hardship you went through. Probably just a second or two, you'll look out in your rearview mirror and you'll see Earth like a half-forgotten dream, and suddenly, You will be home. I love that.
Earth, a half-forgotten dream, and suddenly you will be home. You know, Johnny, when you get to heaven, You believe your questions will be answered and What do you think it will be like? And I'm sure you've thought about this. The moment you enter heaven and see heaven for the first time, have you ever just, you know, you have such a vivid imagination, you're an artist, you speak so eloquently and write? Just what do you think it will be like when you first enter heaven?
Okay, do you know do you know the Castaway the movie Castaways? Have y'all seen that movie Castaways, Tom Hank? Oh, yeah. The theme music. When I hear the theme music play to the Castaways, This is going to sound silly.
I can see the pearly gate slowly open. I can see my Dead form rise. I can feel the strength. Of resurrected legs holding up my glorified body, and I take gentle steps and they come. You gotta go find the theme music to cast away and listen to it.
because it is awesome. And that's what I sense. It's like... This marvelous sense of wonder. And Greg, just earlier today I was reading Philippians 3:20.
We are citizens of that place, citizens of heaven, and we eagerly expect a Savior from there. Not just expect a Savior. We eagerly, I love that adverb, eagerly expect a Savior from there. The Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring everything under His who has brought everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies. to be like his glorious body.
But please don't be thinking, Greg, that I I'm most looking forward to the body that works. Looking forward to the glorified heart. Hmm. I want a heart that no longer tries to twist the truth. I want a heart that doesn't Hog the spotlight.
I want a heart that doesn't always want to try to get its way. I want a heart that is quick to give credit to others. I want a heart that is not anxious or fearful about the future. I'm one of heart that trusts God. and is instant in obedience and absolute in its trust.
That's what I want. I want a glorified heart.
So every single morning, As I like to say, I get actively engaged. in my own sanctification. Oh God, like I said earlier, I don't want to be the Johnny I was yesterday. Tell them what sanctification means. Thank you.
Okay, you're the theologian.
Well, I'm asking you, I like the way you say it better than I do. Oh, geez. If you say it, it'll be eloquent. If I say it, they'll fall asleep.
Well, okay.
Well, when we come to Christ, we're justified, right? Yes. We're justified. It's a one-time event. Yeah, the th the the the gavel is banged.
And your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. But it's a little like Congress passing the Clean Water Act. Because the next day, you can't go out to the Los Angeles River and drink clean water, right? It's going to take a long time for that Clean Water Act to kick into gear and make the Los Angeles River flow sweetly so that you can drink from it, right?
Well, that's sanctification. As colloquially as I can explain it, it's then taking that justification. We're justified before God. Thank you, Jesus. And then we work it out.
Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, the Holy Spirit tells us. Make your calling and election sure. Do you have doubts about your salvation? Start obeying God. And if you don't know where to start obeying God, how about um Philippians chapter 2 verse 14.
Which says, do everything without complaining. There you go. That's a good place to obey. That's a start. You can start living the will of God.
Tomorrow morning by purposing to go through the day, in fact, the rest of your life. without complaining. And as you do, you will have obeyed. And God will transform your life. You'll change.
You won't be the same Mary or Joe or Bob you were yesterday. You'll be a different person. Because that's what it means to behold the glory of God and be changed from glory to glory to glory. And to become like him. That's a wonderful thing, sanctification.
And if you don't know much about it, I'm sure Greg's written about it, so you ought to read that. I love the way you put it. You know, you quoted the verse, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Then it goes on to say, For it is God that works in you, both to will and do of his good pleasure. And the phrase work out is interesting because it's a phrase that was used to describe going into a mine and getting the gold out.
So it's like the gold is there, like your analogy, the Clean Water Act, it's been passed, but now we have to apply it. And so it's like, work it out, which means carry it to the gold. Not work for your own salvation. It's a gift from God, but work it out. And it relates to heaven.
Yes. Because, as Jonathan Edward once said, this is my favorite all-time quote from Jonathan Edwards, who is America's premier theologian. In the 17th century, he's one of America's actually one of America's greatest thinkers. And this is what he said. Every day And I'm I'm I'm colloquial I'm making this in the vernacular.
You know, I can't speak 17th century English. But what he was saying was: every day, you and I, have an opportunity to stretch our soul's capacity for heaven. Because everything we do down here on Earth Has a direct bearing on our capacity for joy and worship and service in heaven. I don't want to be, quote, least in the kingdom of heaven. The Bible talks about people who will be, quote, least in the kingdom of heaven.
I don't want to be there. And I do not want to diminish. my eternal estate. I want to build to war it, lay up treasures in heaven about it, because I want to experience the fullest that I possibly can of joy and worship and service in heaven. But it all is linked, it all depends.
To the degree that we trust and obey God down here on earth. And Jonathan Edwards went further. He talked about these various degrees in heaven.
Some of us will have joy the size of a thimble. Others like Billy Graham might have Joy the size of a super tanker. Others might have joy the size of a bathtub. But we're not going to be envious of each other in heaven. because all of our capacities will be absolutely filled to overflowing and we will be so delighted to enjoy each other and our Savior.
So don't jeopardize your eternal estate. We only got... wants to go around in life. Only once. Don't jeopardize it.
Heaven's going to be a long time. And as C. S. Lewis said, this is merely the title page. Of the real story that's about to begin on the other side of your tombstone.
So don't risk it, don't jeopardize it. Trust and obey, and in so doing, increase your capacity for joy and worship and service in heaven, which in turn means you can. Cast more crowns at Jesus' feet. Hallelujah. Yeah, you know, we talk about the afterlife.
I mean, maybe we should call this life here the before life. It's so brief compared to eternity that lasts forever. And in Colossians 3, Paul tells us to, you know, set your mind on things that are above. And it's interesting because it could translate out, think very carefully about these things, or a very simplified translation, think heaven. But then the objection is, well, they're so heavenly-minded, they're no earthly good.
And my response is, well, some people are so earthly-minded, they're no heavenly good. You know, what do you think? And you've already touched on it, but like, so when we hear we should seek the things that are above or think heaven, you know, how can thinking about heaven? And Contemplating what Scripture teaches about heaven affects us and life on earth. How does that work out practically?
Well, I think a good rule of thumb is before you make a choice, Before you let those biting words slip your mouth, Before you complain or gossip, Before you choose an immoral path, Stop and think. Would you want would you want the movie reel of that to be shown in heaven? Would you want that to be shown in heaven about you? I don't. I don't I I I I I I I I I want to present to God As much of myself that is his As is possible, in the sense of my sanctification, in the sense of.
Jesus in me. I want to see more of Jesus in me. And so just think twice before you choose an immoral path. A snarky path. I love that word, snarky.
Yeah. Snarky. That's how I am in the morning when I wake up. I'm snarky. And I hate that.
Learn to hate those things about yourself. And if you go and if you think you don't have those things in your life, Ask your husband or wife. I'm serious. They'll tell you. Ken will tell you that I have told him, sweetheart.
Would you please point out in my life things that you think I need to change? There's areas in my life that I'm sure I'm blind to. Would you point out to me things I need to change? And keep short lists with the friends and neighbors and coworkers that you have. If you offend them, Make it right.
I had told Rainey, I think, on a couple of occasions, Rainy, That was the wrong thing of me to say. I am so sorry. I regret it. It was thoughtless of me, and not only thoughtless, it was rude. Would you please forgive me?
And the result of that is that Rainey and I are better friends. We're better friends.
So those are just some practical ways I think that you can get ready for heaven. Amen. I love that, Johnny. You know, Johnny has written a new book called A Spectacle of Glory: God's Light Shining Through Me Every Day. And you know, when you Listen to her, just the profound insights are incredible, and this book is filled with them.
And so tell us a little bit about this book. Did it just come out? And this is sort of a devotional. You would read a page or two every day, a few and a half pages or so. It's a 365-page devotional.
I wrote it for my friends in 2017. And you can either, I think, maybe get it here at the bookstore, or you can order it at johnnyandfriends.org. Can I tell you about the title? Please. The title is A Spectacle of Glory.
When John Owen John? John Owen. Was it John Owen or John Newton? It was John Newton.
Okay, now I need a theologian to tell me which one it was. Probably John Newton. He wrote about how Moses. in Exodus chapter three. When he was shepherding, the the flock of his father-in-law Jephro, Jethro, in the desert.
He turned aside and he saw a bush. That was a flaming bush. It was the presence of the great I am. And he noticed that. The bush was burning.
And yet it was unconsumed. And in Exodus chapter 3, it records Moses saying, Let me turn aside to see this strange sight. Christians who suffer yet suffer graciously. who have a godly response to their suffering. who limit the complaining.
We are like Burning bushes unconsumed. The chronic pain, the quadriplegia, the inability to walk or run, can't hold things with your hands. I want people to look at me and say, Why is that burning bush not consumed? Why are you not consumed by your trials, Mrs. Tata?
And it's a strange sight. But like Moses, I think it sparks curiosity and not only other Christians, but among a cynical and skeptical world. People see Christians not complaining, although they're suffering so greatly. Let me find out what this is all about. That girl's God must be amazing to inspire that kind of loyalty.
That's what I want people to think. When they see my smile in an elevator, you know, I can't do a lot in an elevator. I can sit in my wheelchair and sing Amazing Grace or Hummit. And there are people, and I'm singing, Humming Amazing Grace. But they can connect the dots.
And so everywhere at all times. You know, we're on display. People are watching. And we can either dishonor the playwright and ad-lib our lines and do something stupid that stains his reputation and makes him look really bad. Or We can live obediently.
Trustfully. Kindly, compassionately, and it'll make your neighbors, your coworkers, look at you and think.
Okay, why is this person not complaining. Her his wife just suffered a massive stroke. You know what it is. He just got the diagnosis of cancer. Her husband just walked out on her.
Why is she smiling? I want to know about that.
So that inspired the title, A Spectacle of Glory. We are all spectacles of God's glory as we obey Him and trust Him. Yes. You know, when Paul and Silas are thrown in prison, The Bible says at midnight they began to sing praises to God. And it says the other prisoners listened.
It's interesting in the original language, it's they listen with pleasure. They probably never heard a concert in that prison before. And then, of course, they were treated cruelly by the jailer. But then an earthquake came, and the jailer, being a Roman guard, knew the penalty was he would be put to death for losing his prisoners. Paul said, Don't do yourself any harm.
We're here. And then the jailer said, Sir, what must I do to be saved? And it's Paul and Silas effectively earned the right that they're suffering. To reach that man, and he was moved deeply. He was a hard man.
And, you know, when you take your pain and you use it for God's glory, and we all take whatever pain we have in life, and we have different kinds of pain, some absolutely more than others. But every one of us is going to face pain. We're going to lose loved ones. We're going to have setbacks. We're going to have things happen that we had not planned for.
But we have to just take that platform and use it, as you see in your book, as a spectacle. Of glory. Absolutely. Now, you have a Bible project you've worked on as well. That is.
Tell us about that, because that sounds really interesting to me.
Well, you know, you've been hearing me quote a lot of theology. I'm no theologian. I don't have master's degrees behind my name. You're a theologian, all right?
Well, you're sweet to say that, but uh But when I was first injured, I had a lot of questions for God, and I did not know the answers. And so my Christian friends who were counseling me were in over their heads. And so they connected me with a young man named Steve Estes. I have co-authored several books with him. He was only 17 years old, but he knew the Bible.
Like the back of his hand. And I peppered him with so many questions. and every Thursday night for a full year. Uh he counseled me through God's word. And um And uh Before you know it, before the year was out, there were like 50.
50, 60 other young people coming to my living room wanting to listen to what this young man had to say. By the way, he's a. Father of eight children, a grandfather of I don't know how many grandkids, and pastor's a thriving, booming church in Pennsylvania.
So he's a remarkable man. But anyway I always hoped That I might be able to work with a Bible publisher to craft. A special edition of the Word of God, which would Be people's Steve Estes. I wanted a Bible that would be the same kind of companion that I had. To show where the hope is, where the encouragement is, where the insights are about God's sovereignty.
And what about depression, and what about miraculous healing? And what about chronic pain? How can God be good but allow so much suffering in the world? Come on, who sets the world's agenda? Is it the devil or is it God?
And what's the relationship there? Tough questions.
So this Bible answers them. And there are answers. Yeah. Suffering is a mystery. And we can't understand all the answers.
But there are enough clues in the Bible to help make clear God's intentions, God's heart.
So the Bible is called The Beyond Suffering Bible, and there's a graphic of it up there, published by Tyndale. And we at Johnny and Friends worked six years on this particular edition of the Word of God. It is for people who suffer. It's especially for people with disabilities, mothers and fathers of kids with special needs, and they're caregivers. It's a great Bible for caregivers.
So if you're looking to give a Bible to someone who's gone through a recent Bad medical diagnosis, a botched surgery, whatever, this would be a good Bible to give.
Sounds great, Johnny. You know, let me do kind of a lightning round. This little bit from the sublime to the ridiculous now. These are just real simple questions, like Johnny Erickson Tata. What is your favorite colour?
Really? Do you have a favorite color? I love blue. That's my favorite color. Really?
Yes. Blue, all blue. Heartache, all heartache.
Okay.
Every question you're going to ask me is going to have a song in it. Yeah, I have songs too. Yeah, I have songs too. Um She wore blue velvet. Right.
Blue. You saw me standing alone. Yeah, that's a good song. I like that. That's all it.
Okay, favorite food. We talked about food in the back room. What is your Mexican, Italian? Do you like sushi? What do you like?
I love well, I love sushi. Yeah. Love sushi, yeah. I love sashimi. Because I'm from Maryland.
And so, you know, I like oyster stew and all that good stuff. I love my mother's crab cakes. Oh, yeah. Crab cakes are great. I love them.
My wife loves crab cakes too. Yeah, and we even order. The $36 a can jumbo lump crab from Chrisfield, Maryland. It's like it takes a mortgage payment to But you know, when I really want to taste my mother's crab cakes, I I order big time from Gelson's. Yeah, good.
So, what makes you laugh? My husband Yeah. Girls, the girls who get me up in the morning, they're all nodding their heads over there. I mean he comes into the, sometimes he's wearing the minion eyes, you know. Yeah.
Sometimes he does this very silly impression of Dr. Yamaguchi. Wow. And we won't go there because it's kind of ethnic and racial. But you know he's Asian so he can get away with it.
But my husband really makes me laugh. He's a he's a got a great sense of humor.
So what makes you sad. A wasted life. Yes. I know some people who are who are wasting their lives. And they have so much.
So much to be thankful for, so many material blessings. But they Either turned away from God and are not believers, not followers of Jesus, or they are followers of Jesus. But they've chosen a carnal path. And you know, I'm of the persuasion. of Hebrews chapter 12.
I'll tell you. Craig? When I was in high school, I named Christ as my Savior. I accepted Jesus at a Young Life weekend retreat. And I was involved in a Bible study and doing great things, but on Friday night, in the back seat of my boyfriend's car, It was another story.
And so I felt terribly guilty. Oh God, I'm so sorry. But then, what do you know? I'd confess my sins on Sunday morning, and next Friday night, it would be a repeat of the same old thing until. I had dug myself into slavery.
And it was impossible to break free of sexual sin. Couldn't do it. And so In April of 1967, after a sordid date with my boyfriend, I came home one Friday night, threw myself into bed, sobbed into my pillow, Oh, God I'm going to go away to college in just a couple of weeks, and I know I just know what I'm going to do there because my boyfriend's going to the same college. We're just gonna sleep together and I'll take birth control pills and I... And I'm gonna make A mess of stuff.
I'm such a hypocrite. I don't want to be, though. Please, Jesus, do something in my life to turn it around. And then I broke my neck three months later. Was God dealing harshly with me?
I thought so in the beginning. I mean I I was a I I was I was outraged that God could take take a prayer so seriously. And why did you why did you take that prayer so seriously? And, you know, I spat things out at him like, Okay? That's the way you want to be.
I'm never going to trust you with another from one of my prayers again. That's it. And you know, I just, but I realized what I was doing is digging myself into another cycle of slavery. bitterness, and there's nothing worse than a bitter spirit.
So I can look back and see that my diving accident, and you may disagree with me, you may think it makes God look harsh. But I believe it was an example of Hebrews chapter 12. A father loves the child that he disciplines. If the child is not disciplined, If a wayward, rebellious child who names his father as his father is is being disobedient and unruly and rebellious and stiff-necked and stubborn. A loving father.
Will reproof and correct that child and bring about discipline. That doesn't mean that God is punishing us. It's not retribution. Like, throw her in jail and see how that feels.
So, there, slam the door, throw away the keys. No, no, but it is. Punishment, quote, punishment in the sense of discipline and restoration. Not retribution, but restoration. God restored me through this accident, and oh my goodness.
I often I I often um at least about three or four times a week. I'll be sitting. At work. Or I'll be in my house and Can't be just so you know, wonderfully supportive and I'm sitting there saying to myself, actually, I'm praying. Jesus.
Oh Jesus. Thank you for. allowing my broken neck. Man, you were such a wise God. I didn't like it at the time, but you were so good and so wise.
Look what you have done. You've brought such peace into my heart and set me free of sin. Bless you, and it's just a constant wellspring of praise to my Savior because of what he's done in my life. And it's, I think, discipline. You might disagree, others might disagree.
And you're free to disagree, because who really understands God's purpose is an intent? He hadn't perhaps maybe other things on his mind. Maybe. When I read Hebrews 12, I think no. I think that it's discipline.
Yeah, I mean, we will know when we get to heaven. You know, my son, Christopher, died in an automobile accident, you know, eight years ago. And he had a conversation with his brother Jonathan, and Jonathan was struggling with drugs. And Christopher had come through that and had recommitted his life to Christ. And he was talking to his brother, and he said.
You know, what's it going to take, Jonathan, for you to kind of come to your senses? And the next day, Christopher. was in heaven. And that's what it took to bring Jonathan. Back to Christ.
So I don't look at that and say, okay, God took Christopher to bring Jonathan to a place of recommitment. I look at it more like God took Christopher in his sovereignty, in his will. I don't know why. I know God's in control. I know God loves me.
I know I'll see my son again. But despite this tragedy, just like what happened to you, that was tragic, but despite the tragedy, God has Brought honor and brought Jonathan to himself and touched so many other lives. And though we miss our son so deeply, we see that he can, he can, well, as you say here, it can be a spectacle of glory. And you know, I think another thing, Johnny, I think that God looked at you and a young woman. Yes, you were going the wrong direction, but he saw a vessel.
That he could trust with his glory, that would have integrity and would walk with him and would honor him. And he said, I'm going to put her in a place. You've heard the expression: if you see a turtle on a fence post, you know he didn't get there by himself. Right?
So God. You know, people would listen to your testimony if you stood before us as a healthy lady, but because you're in the place you're in, you've been able to bring honor to the Lord in an amazing way. And so we thank you for that and not wasting your pain and being a blessing to many, so many, including me. I talk about you all the time. They really do.
They know that. They know I talk about you. You're one of my heroes of the faith. Wow. Wow.
No question.
Well, when you get to heaven, Johnny, what would you like to hear the Lord say to you? My husband, um See, I've never talked about this or said this anywhere. But um he has a favorite name for me, G. Gigi. Um it's because my sister, when I was a little girl, called me Jonathan Grundy, born on Monday, Christian on Tuesday, blah blah blah.
And so Jonathan Grundy. He heard my sister recite that little poem and he kind of picked up the Jonathan Grundy and it's J G and then it became G G. I've often told my friends that When I get to heaven, I want to see Jesus and have him walk up to me tenderly. Put both hands on the side of my cheek and say, welcome home, G. Welcome home, GT.
Oh my goodness, I get tears in my eyes. Even thinking about it. But then I hope he says. Ken, you're gonna have to help me here. I'm so sorry.
I am. have quadriplegic lungs and uh They don't work real well. But I hope that Don't be alarmed. Don't call 911. Just to help me.
Yeah. Ugh.
Okay, now you gotta set me up, sweetheart.
Okay, there you go. That's it. Thank you, Hun. I'm my best audiovisual aid of one message. That's this.
Then I want to hear Jesus say, well done.
Well done, Johnny. You are trustworthy in a few things.
Now I'm going to put you in charge of 10 cities. No, thank you. I'll just take a little, you know, my little mention, but I want to hear those words.
Well done, good and faithful servants. Amen. In your book, Kevin, your new home, you write this. No more about our new bodies. No more bulging muscles or balding tops.
I'm happy about that. No varicose veins or crow's feet. Remember this, no more cellulite or support hose. Forget those thunder thighs and highway hips. That was my nickname in high school.
What was your nickname? Thunder Thighs. Oh.
Well because you know because I was so good on the lacrosse team and the hockey team.
So, no more thunder thighs and highway hips. Just a quick leapfrog over the tombstone, and it's the body you've always dreamed of. Fit and trim, smooth and sleek. Yeah. And that's our hope.
And let me just close with this question. Johnny.
Someone's listening to you right now and it you know, maybe they're disabled, maybe they're facing a tragedy, maybe everything's kind of going well relatively in life, but the biggest problem of all is that sin that separates us from God. They see you talking about your faith in Jesus and how he gives you the strength. For each day and the hope that you have of heaven, the hope that we all have.
So, someone that's listening to you right now wonders: how can I have that faith? How can I have Jesus in my heart? In a way Have a relationship with God like Johnny has, what would you say to that person?
Well, if um If you've come tonight, Dragged here by your elbow. by your Christian friend. And you weren't sure you wanted to come, but You've been sitting there and the things that Greg and I have been saying have warmed your heart. You know there's something that has the ring of truth in what we're saying. And your heart is being warmed.
It ain't me. And it's not Greg talking. It's the Holy Spirit. God is bending over backward. to bring you home.
And there's no better time to come home than at Christmas.
So I would just encourage you. To certainly celebrate the advent of Jesus, a baby in a manger. But remember that the cradle always leads to the cross. look at the cross of Calvary and see a Saviour who has rescued you already from your sins. All you need to do It's trusty minute.
And believe him for it. And invite His Holy Spirit to sit on the throne of your heart as you confess your sin and say, Jesus, I don't want to follow my old way of doing things. I don't want to be the stiff-necked, stubborn person that my husband knows I am. And not for me. I want to change.
I want you to change me. Give me new life in you. And then give me the power to wake up tomorrow morning. Trusting you. in a fresh new way.
And uh You'll be on your way home. When you put your hand in the hand of Christ. For those of you who are Christians... Perhaps God is calling you to rise to some new, fresh level of confidence in Christ. You are tired of a mediocre Christian walk.
You want to rise to a new level of trust and confidence in him. Get in the practice of getting actively engaged in your own sanctification every single morning. Be intentional about the way you live tomorrow. Think about the choices you're making. Think about the words before they come off your tongue.
Die to the sins. that he died for on his cross for you. That's what it means to become like a man's death. Daily pick up your cross and die to the sins that He died for on His cross for you. And my goodness.
Your soul will be so much better bonded to the heart of your Savior. Your heart's going to get beating in rhythm with His, and before you know it, His joy, because He shares His joy on His terms. And His terms call for us to, in some measure, suffer as his own son suffered when he walked on earth.
So get your heart beating in rhythm with His, and before you know it, His joy is going to spill over heaven's walls, splash up in your heart, ever fest out to others in an ecstatic encouragement, a river of encouragement, and then rise up back to the Lord in a fountain of praise. Don't you want to live that way? Amen. Don't you want to live that way? Thank you.
Oh, my goodness. The world would be turned upside down. Hallelujah. Amen. Let's thank Johnny Erickson Tata for being here tonight.
I've got the gun. Excellent. Yeah. Just incredible. Isn't that amazing?
Well, I'm just so blessed to be able to. Sit there and talk with her. And I thought we would close with a prayer. And I would like to extend that invitation for you to believe in Jesus. You know, there are some of you who have never made that commitment to Christ.
I thought it was very interesting and very candid what Johnny shared about when she was a young girl. I've never heard her tell that story before and the struggles she was having with promiscuity and immorality. And, you know, just, yeah, that's a story of some young kid here tonight, a young man, a young woman. And then there's somebody else that is dealing with other problems in life. And whatever it is, the answer is Jesus.
You know, I was thinking when she was talking about that, I thought of that song, I'll Be Home for Christmas, you know, but home with the Lord, home in a relationship with God. And then one day we'll be home in heaven. And that is the hope only the Christian has.
So, if you're not sure if Christ is in your heart right now, if you don't have the confidence that you'll go to heaven when you die, if you want this relationship with the Lord like Johnny has and people around you have, I'm going to lead you in a prayer right now where you can ask Christ to forgive you of all of your sin. No matter what you've done, He'll forgive you. But you have to be sorry for that sin. You have to turn from that sin. And you need to ask him to come into your life.
And he'll do it. Because Jesus says, I stand at the door and I knock. And if you'll hear my voice and open the door, I will come in.
So he'll come in, live inside of you. That's the message of Christmas. Emmanuel, God is with us. That's what the word means. And he can be with you and he can be in you tonight.
And he's just a prayer away.
So we're going to close in prayer. And let me invite you to believe, or for some of you maybe, to make a recommitment to Christ if you need to tonight. Let's all bow our heads. Father, thank you for this night and thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for us. And Lord Jesus, thank you for coming.
You are born in the manger. And you lived a perfect life, and then you died that perfect death, and you absorbed the wrath of the Father in our place, and then you rose again from the dead. and you stand ready to come into any human heart. And I pray for those that don't know you that they will come to you now. No, their heads are bowed.
And our eyes are closed, and we're praying. If you would like Jesus Christ to come into your life, If you would like him to forgive you of your sin, If you would like to know with certainty that you will go to heaven when you die, wherever you are, would you lift your hand up? Let me pray for you. You want Christ to come into your life. You want to believe in Him.
You want your sin forgiven. Raise your hand up wherever you are, and I'll pray for you tonight. Wherever you are, just slip your hand up. Let me pray for you. Just raise your hand.
If you want Christ to forgive you, God bless you. You want this relationship with God. You want to go to heaven. Raise your hand up. Let me pray for you.
You've done things you're ashamed of and sorry for, and you need God to forgive you of those things. Raise your hand up. Let me pray for you. God bless you. God bless you as well.
God bless you, each one of you. God bless. Anybody else, raise your hand up. God bless you. God bless you too.
While the heads are still bowed, some of you would say, you know what, I've been living in two worlds. Trying to walk with Christ, but also doing things I know I shouldn't be doing. And I don't want to live that way anymore. I want to make a recommitment to really follow Christ. God has spoken to me tonight.
If that's your desire, why don't you raise your hand up? Let me pray for you tonight. God bless you. Anybody else? I think there might be a few more that want to do this.
You know you need to make this Deeper commitment to Christ. Raise your hand up. Let me pray for you right now. God bless you. God bless you.
Anybody else? Just raise your hand up. I'll pray for you. Not going to ask you to come forward tonight, but I'm going to pray for you. And I want you to take that little step of faith and raise your hand up.
Kind of like if you're out drowning and you need help and you want the lifeguard to notice you, you hold your hand up, you call out. Anybody else? This last moment, raise your hand up. Let me pray for you. God bless you.
God bless you. God bless each one.
Now, all of you that have raised your hand, I want you to pray this prayer right where you are. In fact, pray it out loud after me. Just pray this prayer. And even if you didn't raise your hand, but you want to make this commitment or recommitment to Christ, pray this out loud right where you stand. Pray this: Lord Jesus.
I know I have sinned against you. And I am sorry for my sin. And I turn from my sin. And I choose to follow you. As Savior and as Lord.
As friend, And as God. From this moment forward. Thank you for hearing this prayer. Thank you for Forgiving me now. In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen. God bless each one of you that prayed that prayer. Amen. God bless you.
