Touching Lives With Dr. James Merritt

What if the most brilliant mind of the 20th century was completely wrong about the most important question in life? Albert Einstein was named “Person of the Century” by Time Magazine, and his influence is everywhere you look today— from the atomic bomb to your smartphone. But as brilliant as he was in scientific theory, he unfortunately missed it when it came to spiritual theology. Even though Einstein believed in a being with “superior reasoning power,” he said, “There is a God, but we could never know Him.” I’m certainly no Einstein when it comes to IQ, but I thankfully and joyfully disagree with what he said. There is a God, and His Word declares that He can be known. The incredible truth is this: You don’t have to be a pastor or have outstanding character to know Him. Anyone can know God. That is the beginning of understanding the truth about yourself and the world. But first, you’ve got to remove the one barrier that keeps most people from ever knowing God, discover the one thing God actually wants you t

President Calvin Coolidge, known as “Silent Cal” for how rarely he spoke on anything, was once asked after church what the preacher had talked about in his sermon. “Sin,” Coolidge said. The reporter pressed: “Well, what did he say about it?” Coolidge replied: “He was against it.” That covers it pretty well. God is against sin. His Word is against sin. His holiness is against sin. And the cross of Jesus Christ is what God did about sin. In I John, the Apostle writes to two groups of people: those who believe they’re saved but aren’t, and those who are saved but aren’t sure they are. John is now going to deal with a problem that vexes every believer, and the closer you walk with God, the more it frustrates you: the daily battle with sin. Every single day of your Christian life is a battle. And John has three profoundly encouraging truths to take with you to your battle station and help you win.

Did you know that if the sun’s light ceased, the earth would freeze within days? All plant life would die, the oxygen would collapse, and humanity would perish within weeks, leaving our planet a frozen, silent slab of rock. That is how foundational light is to every form of life. One of the greatest statements Jesus ever made speaks to how essential He is to the cosmos, the culture, and our own souls: “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12, NIV). John picks up that truth in 1 John 1:5–10 and makes it deeply personal, asking us to do something harder than just flipping a switch for illumination. We are to honestly ask whether we are walking in the light or just saying that we are. There are four things John tells us we must keep doing if God’s light is truly living in us.

I was 3½ years old, standing before an open casket looking at my grandfather, the man I called Papa, wondering why he wouldn’t wake up. My aunt finally pulled me away and said, “He’s not waking up.” God planted a seed in my heart that day. I came to realize that the single most important thing any person can know, in light of the fact that we are all going to die, is to know for certain that when you do, you will be with God in Heaven forever. But wanting to know and actually knowing are two very different things. Mark Twain famously said, “It ain’t what you know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” I know of nothing more dangerous than being sure you’re going to Heaven when you’re not and nothing more miserable than being on your way to Heaven but not knowing how or why. That is exactly who the Apostle John is writing to. In five chapters he uses the word “know” 39 times, because Jesus didn’t die on the cross to give us a “hope-so” or “feel-so” salvation. He died to gi

Napoleon’s foreign minister once said, “You can do anything you like with bayonets, except sit on them.” That is exactly what most Americans do with their Bibles. Eighty-eight percent of Americans own at least one Bible, yet nearly half of Christians say they are too busy to read it. George Washington rose at five every morning to spend an hour on his knees before an open Bible, because he understood something most people miss. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (NIV). This one verse tells us exactly what the Bible is and what it does. As you study these four truths about the power of God’s Word, you will be equipped to pick up this sword, wield it in your life, and never set it down again.

Most people could answer this question without hesitation: What is the most important birth in the entire Bible? Christmas makes that one easy. But here’s the harder question: What is the second most important birth in Scripture? In Genesis 21, a 90-year-old woman named Sarah finally gives birth to a son named Isaac, the child God had promised 25 years earlier. It sounds like a personal miracle for one elderly couple, but it was far more than that. That one birth set off a chain reaction, from Isaac to Jacob, from Jacob to Judah, from Judah to David, and from David to Jesus. Without Isaac, there is no Israel. Without Israel, there is no Jesus. Without Jesus, there is no Gospel. God is a missionary God, the Bible is a missionary book, and, if you have a heart for God, you will have a missionary heart.

What does it look like to be completely, unreservedly committed to God? In 1519, Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés sailed to Mexico with 11 ships, more than 500 men, and odds completely against him. When he arrived, he gave his men a shocking order: Burn the ships. Retreat was no longer an option. They were all in. Over 3,000 years earlier, a man named Abraham faced his own burn-the-ships moment. God had finally given him the son he had waited 25 years for, a boy named Isaac, and now God was asking Abraham to give him back. What happens on that mountain in Genesis 22 is one of the most breathtaking stories in all of Scripture. It shows us what giving really is, what giving really does, and why giving is one of the most important things you will ever do.

In 1875, poet William Ernest Henley lay in a hospital bed, one leg already amputated, and wrote these now-famous words: “I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” It sounds courageous, but Scripture tells a different story: “Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him” (Psalm 115:3, NIV). In Genesis 17, God appears to Abraham and introduces Himself by a name never used before in all of Scripture—El-Shaddai, God Almighty—because Abraham still hasn’t grasped who is truly in charge. What Abraham discovers in this encounter is the one truth that can anchor any life: When everything seems out of control, everything is under God’s control. To live in that reality, there are three things you need to do: Walk before the Lord, wait on the Lord, and watch for the Lord.

In algebra, x represents the unknown—the variable that, once you solve for it, makes everything else make sense. Abraham’s life looks that way too: unlikely candidate, impossible promise, uncertain path. But Genesis 15 reveals the x—the one variable that explains everything. It was faith in God. This chapter, which many scholars consider the most important in the entire Old Testament, reveals for the first time how a sinful human being can be made right with a holy God. Abraham shows us that faith isn’t passive; it drives out fear, it takes God at His word, and it holds on to His promises. There are three things Abraham did that activated the God factor in his life, and they’ll do the same in yours.

There are three words that are absolutely true, and if you’ve lived long enough, you’ve already said both “amen” and “oh, me” to all of them. Those three words? Life is tough. No matter how many holes you plug in the dam of life, another one pops open. Maybe it’s when the rug is pulled out from under you, a dream dies, or you feel like you’ve hit a dead end with nowhere left to go. I remember a Peanuts comic strip where Lucy was philosophizing again, as she always did, to poor Charlie Brown. “On the cruise ship of life,” she declared, “some people face their deck chairs forward to see where they’re going, while others face them backward to see where they’ve been.” She turned to Charlie and asked which way his chairs were facing. He frowned and said, “I can’t even get mine unfolded.” That was exactly where two disciples found themselves as they traveled the road to Emmaus—hopes buried beneath a stone, dreams dead. And they had nowhere to turn. It was there, on the worst road of their lives, that they met the r

What makes someone truly brave? William Wallace, Scotland’s 13th-century national hero, led his outnumbered army to victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge, proving Scotland could defeat the mighty English. The movie Braveheart immortalized his courage with the famous line: “They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!” The film won five Academy Awards and made more than $209 million worldwide. But here’s the thing—parts of the movie were made up. We don’t know if Wallace actually said those lines, and the movie’s climactic battle scene didn’t happen in an open field (it would have been a massacre). The real battle occurred on a narrow bridge. I’m taking you back to what I believe is the original braveheart—a man whose story is completely accurate and should be made into a movie. His name is Abraham. This story in Genesis 14 shows more about Abraham’s greatness than any other part of his life, revealing how we, too, can be bravehearts. The Apostle Paul reminds us, “Now these things occurred a

Have you ever made a promise to stick with something 100% only to cave at 98%? Clayton Christiansen, the famous Harvard Business School professor, taught that it’s easier to hold your principles 100% of the time than 98% of the time—because at 98%, you’re constantly debating whether “this time” is the exception. Abraham discovered this truth the hard way. God had called him to leave everything behind and follow Him to a new land, promising to bless him personally, nationally, and globally. Abraham packed up and obeyed, mostly. He took his nephew Lot when God said leave everyone, and when famine hit the Promised Land, he panicked and fled to Egypt without asking God. What started as faith turned into doubt, and doubt is simply forgetting God. Every time Abraham dropped from 100% trust to 98% trust, he made decisions that nearly cost him everything. It cost his integrity, his wife, and his witness. When doubt knocks at your door, let God answer. Discover three ways doubt attacks your faith, and how to let God a

Who were Jesus’ favorite Old Testament heroes? If you guessed Moses, you’d be right—Jesus mentioned him 25 times. But number two might surprise you. Abraham, referenced 17 times, appears in Jesus’ teaching nearly as often. Why did Jesus love talking about this man? Because Abraham shows us a relationship with God that doesn’t start with our searching for Him, but with His grace finding us. Three thousand years before Jesus walked the earth, God spoke to a 75-year-old idol worshiper living in present-day Iraq and gave one command: “Go.” Abraham didn’t know where he was going, why he was going, or what would happen when he got there. But he knew who was telling him to go, and that was enough. Every time you trust God’s word and obey His will, you discover what Abraham learned—that when you walk with God, He shows you things you could never see standing still. Learn the three steps that take you from where you are to where God wants you to be.

What if the most important meal you’ll ever eat isn’t about satisfying physical hunger but remembering spiritual salvation? Three thousand years ago in Egypt, Jewish families smeared lamb’s blood on their doorposts so God’s angel of death would “pass over” their homes. One thousand years later, Jesus transformed that ancient Passover meal into something far more personal. He established the Lord’s Supper. In it, He showed that He was the ultimate Passover Lamb and His blood would cover the sins of all who believe. Because of His death and His shed blood, a holy God can pass over your sins. This isn’t a funeral; it’s a celebration of the One who is alive. Every time you take this meal, God invites you to remember and appreciate what happened, examine what’s happening, and anticipate what’s coming.

What happens when you trust the wrong guide? While driving through northwest Indiana, a man named Iftikhar Hussain drove off a ramp to a bridge that no longer existed, killing his wife Zohra. Police believe he ignored numerous barricades including orange barrels, cones, large “Road Closed” signs, and concrete barriers, all because he was listening too closely to his GPS. His wife died not because a bridge was out but because her husband made the wrong decision. The story is a heartbreaking picture of what life is really about. The force of your life and the course of your life are defined by your decisions. You are where you are, who you are, and what you are right now because of your decisions. Dr. Seuss said it best: “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.” In Genesis 13, we meet Abraham’s nephew Lot, whose name fits perfectly. He had a choice between two lots of land and chose the wrong lot, and it cost him a whole lot. The story teach

In the aftermath of any tragedy, we face this reality: Evil is real and rampant. There is no place on this planet that is evilfree. As one author wrote, “I will never understand those who can read the headlines every day and then assert that people are basically good ... Evil is woven into the fabric of humanity.” Throughout our study of Elijah, we’ve seen him facing or fleeing evil, but always returning to fight it, because that’s what it means to live the God life. And it’s not to be confused with the good life. While the good life might avoid evil, ignore it, or let others deal with it, those living the God life don’t have that option.

It is the worst drought in biblical history: 3½ years, 42 months, 1,278 days, 30,660 hours without a single drop of rain. Imagine that for a moment. The stench of death from countless animal carcasses, every day dreading the immense thirst. It’s safe to say if you were in the umbrella business you went out of business. Even to this day with all of our technological advancement, all of our increase in knowledge, and all of our financial resources and education, we know (whether we admit it or not) that only God can get us out of drought. Through one of the most famous prophets in the Old Testament, you see how you, too, can live the God life—a life that is pure, powerful, and prayerful. You can see God work in your family, at work, and in your future because the secret to a powerful life is a prayerful life.

Ever find yourself staring at the ceiling at 3 AM, whispering desperate questions like, “God, where are you?” “Do you even care about me?” “Are my prayers hitting the ceiling and bouncing back?” If so, you’re following in the footsteps of spiritual giants. In 1 Kings 17, the great prophet Elijah barely survived a powerful showdown with false prophets, idolaters, and a wicked king and queen. Alone and desperate at the bank of a small brook, receiving food from scavenging ravens, Elijah looks doubt in the eye. Maybe you’ve followed God and lived according to His Word, but the economy crashes, you lose your job, or the marriage ends. What do you hold on to when doubt feels stronger than belief? Watch how Elijah walks through the valley of despair to the other side of doubt, remembering one timeless truth: If you trust and obey, God clears the way. As you trust God, you discover His promise, provision, providence, and power.

If you say that someone is “living the good life,” you mean they’re living in comfort and luxury with few problems or worries. The good life is what our culture celebrates—financial success, personal comfort, and freedom from hardship. But there’s something far greater, far more fulfilling, and far more enduring than the good life—it’s “The God Life.” God wants you to experience the good life by living the God life. It is a life lived in the intimate presence of God, made possible through the supernatural power of God, all for the magnificent praise of God. The God life ignites when you’re accomplishing the divine purpose God created you for, reflecting His glory in everything you do, and offering His goodness to a broken world that desperately needs it. How do you enter the God life? Learn from a man by the name of Elijah.

One of the most amazing sights in America is the giant Sequoia tree. It towers up to 325 feet tall, weighs over 6,000 tons, and can live more than 3,000 years. The famous General Sherman tree is 275 feet tall and 100 feet wide at its trunk, with roots stretching 80 feet in diameter. But that massive, nearly indestructible tree started from a seed no bigger than a tomato seed. That’s the power of a single seed. And when that tree matures, it produces 400,000 seeds every year, capable of creating entire forests. Jesus understood this power, which is why He told a parable about the most powerful seed of all, God’s Word. Every believer is called to be a seed sower, and Psalm 126 gives us both the promise and the pattern of what that looks like. “Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them” (Psalm 126:5–6, NIV). Once you understand what it means to “sow with tears,” you’ll learn why some seeds produc