…while catching catfish…

While sitting in a boat this morning, sliding chicken livers onto and catfish off of fishhooks, I thought of a very basic principle that I haven’t preached on or mentioned lately.  I thought of the difference between faith and foolishness. 

 

Is it foolish for an obscure fugitive of the law, now an old shepherd, to try to make demands of the world’s most powerful and brutal authoritarian monarch? 

Is it foolish for a civilian teenager, still a young shepherd, to accept a military challenge from a seasoned giant twice his size?

Is it foolish for a  man to promise that rain will cease at his command, that fire will fall from the sky at his request or that a dead child will rise alive at his prayer?

Is it foolish to marry a harlot, pull a building down own your own head or to accept your pregnant fiancé’s claim that she is a virgin?

 

From a human perspective, every one of these Biblical scenarios stinks of foolishness.  The only reason Moses wasn’t acting foolishly in actuality is this – God told him to go to Pharaoh.  In the same way - God gave David the burden and power to defeat Goliath; Elijah stopped the rain in keeping with God’s promise; God commanded Hosea to marry a whore; Joseph accepted the truth told him by an angel of the Lord, etc.  In every case the actions and attitudes of these saints were obedient responses to the instructions of God.  They were men of faith because they willingly obeyed God, regardless of the illogical nature of the requirements or the insurmountable odds against success.

 

An action (no matter how scientifically absurd) is a product of faith, and an indicator of faith, if it is an obedient response to God’s command.

 

An action (no matter how scientifically sensible) is a product of foolishness, and an indicator of foolishness, if it is a solo attempt without God’s approval.

 

Sometimes the things that God expects of us make perfect sense to us (He told Samuel to hide the reason that he was headed for Jesse’s house).

 

Sometimes the things that God expects of us make no sense at all (He told Abraham to take his only son to the mountain and to offer him as a sacrifice there).

 

At times we may be able to figure out on our own what the most reasonable and sensible course of action to take is in any given situation.

 

At other times we may attempt risky and dangerous things of our own imagination and volition.

 

It matters not what the action is.  Whether we are giving the gospel or building an ark, we must always consult with God before proceeding through the doorways of life.  We must be submissive to His direction regardless of whether or not His “ideas” are appealing, acceptable and rational – or not.  King Asa got into trouble for going to the doctor without consulting with God, apparently it cost him his life.  Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit from carrying the gospel (at one particular time) to Asia or Bithynia. 

 

To go to Africa without God’s call would be foolish.  To stay in America if one is called to Africa would also be foolish.  It is never our works, never our actions that are significant; it is only the wants, the wishes, the desires, the commands; the demands of God.  If God says it, that settles it.  We are wise and faithful stewards of our lives if we obediently come into happy compliance with God’s directives.  We are foolish and unjust stewards of our lives if we simply attempt to invent our own journey – no matter how wholesome our chosen path may be from our perspective, no matter how defensible in a court of human philosophy.

 

Whether therefore ye eat pickles or drink sweet tea, or anything else that you do, do all for the glory of God.  --  AND  --  Without faith it is impossible to please God.  --  AND – anything we do while doubting and wondering about God’s approval – it is sin. 

 

PS:  I’m sure glad that catching catfish today fit within His plan.  Certainly a work of faith, not of foolishness.  ;-)

Fear Not

 

“To fear, or not to fear, that is the question.”

 

In some cases, a lack of fear is dangerous.  In both Psalm 36:1 and Romans 3:10-18 the Bible says that the problem with unbelieving transgressors is that “there is no fear of God before their eyes.”

 

These days, you’re not likely to hear someone describe a great Christian as a “God-fearing” man or woman.  Why not?  Is it not politically correct or something?  Apparently, current sensitivities require that religious people (who want to be acceptable) must only discuss the positive, attractive and gentle traits of God’s character and personality.  In certain circles, it is only allowable to describe God as a kind, loving, forgiving, happy, fathering, generous and merciful friend who gives and rewards, but never takes or destroys. 

 

I do not want to detract from these wonderful and true attributes of God’s goodness.  I have indeed found Him to be a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  He has been kind and loving, forgiving and generous toward me.  He has been a merciful Father who has granted to me over and over again the confidence (through His Word and by His Spirit) that He is smiling at me; that He is happy with me; that He is pleased with me.  It certainly seems to me like His patience and benevolence outpaces his justice and wrath.   

 

But…

 

According to the Scripture, the same God who smiles so broadly at His children also frowns severely at wickedness.  (Psalm 7:11b “God is angry with the wicked every day.”)  I know I mentioned some of this Tuesday of this week in my blog on hell, but I’m reminded that He is described in the Bible as jealous and angry.  He hates sin and executes vengeance upon the unrighteous.  He made the hell in which He will someday banish the Devil and his demons.  He is the righteous Judge and the Almighty Lord.  So, is he to be feared?

 

Let’s let God be true and every man a liar.

 

In the Old Testament, in the same chapter that Moses commanded everyone, saying, “Thou shalt love the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 6:5) he also commanded in the same context, “Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God” (Deuteronomy 6:13)

 

The wise man Solomon saw the importance of it, saying, “It shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him.” (Ecclesiastes 8:12)  Then in 12:13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

 

God longs for this proper respect from His creatures.  He said to Moses after a good display of fear from the Israelites at Horeb in Deuteronomy 5:29, “O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always!”

 

Don’t pass all this off as just pre-incarnation theology, remember that the apostles still preached it undiluted after the ascension.  One example is I Peter 2:17c where it is a command that stands alone as a whole sentence, “Fear God.”

 

We know that it’ll still be around in the ages to come, for it is part of the proclamation of the gospel in Revelation 14:7 as the angel preaches the same message, “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God.”

 

So are Christians to be fearful or not?  “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

 

Consider these portions of Holy Writ:

Revelation 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

 

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

 

1John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

 

Before I get more confused, let’s simplify with some certain conclusions:

For God’s children, there are two kinds of fear toward God, both are wholesome: 1) respectful awe that draws me toward God, and 2) dreadful terror that drives me to my knees.  Horror and trepidation is for the disobedient.  Wonder and admiration is for the obedient.  Obedience paves the way to love.  Love obliterates the necessity for fear of judgment, but it doesn't preclude the need for reverential fear.  A Christian who is out of fellowship with God has a good reason to be afraid.  “For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives.” (Hebrews 12:6)  A Christian who is walking with God still has that proper respect for the power, position, authority and wisdom of God.  It is this sense that contributes tremendously toward keeping our behavior in check.  And, we have no reason to be afraid of anything other than God if we are walking in accordance with His direction: Psalm 118:6 “The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?”

 

For unregenerate men, they do not fear God now, but they will someday.  They will fear Him, but it will be too late for them to benefit from that fear.  They do fear one another.  They fear nature.  They are sometimes superstitious.  They worry.  They fear things that are imagined.  They fear reality.  They fear the unknown.  Or, in some bewildering cases they fear nothing at all.  But, in any case, they do not fear God – if they did they would repent and be changed. 

 

“Fear” is not intrinsically good, nor is it evil.  It is like worship, love, faith and obedience.  It is generic.  The object of our fear is what defines the fear as healthy or destructive.  Therefore Jesus said, “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”  (Matthew 10:28) 

 

Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare: but whoso puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”

 

“No Fear!”  “Ain’t Skeered!”  Well, you had better be scared of a whole bunch of things, unless you’re washed in the blood.  If you are God’s child, nothing and nobody should bring a fear to your heart that exceeds your fear of God.  I know this is true – now if I can just live like it.

 

I want to be an obedient, God-fearing man!

 

Hebrews 10:31 “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

 

I view “reverential fear” as the symbiotic partner of “love” just like “repentance” is the symbiotic partner of “faith.”  It takes both for the benefits of either to be realized.

 

As such, a proper mix of “hellfire and brimstone” with “the good news of the gospel” is most likely to keep us balanced in our approach to God.  Praise God there is a heaven, but, we need to be reminded that there is also a hell. 

 

Fear is good… if properly applied.

“How to Live the Perfect Life”

 

Paul – the apostle of prolific revelation – made a couple of statements in his life and about his life; statements that are stunning; claims that boggle my mind.

 

1. “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, ‘Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.’  And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.” (Acts 23:1-2)
2. “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day…” (II Timothy 4:6-8)

How could these statements be made by the same man who claimed to be the chief of sinners?  Paul was the one who said, “Oh, wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”

 

There seems to me to be an abundant measure of juxtaposition and incongruity in his varying descriptions of his life.  Of course, we are all sinners.  We all make mistakes.  We all have things in our past that we are ashamed of.  I assume that most of us have present temptations that we are careful to keep under the public’s radar.  I would gladly bet the back forty on the great likelihood and probability of future failures in my life and in yours.  So how can we live our life in such a way that we could say at the end (or in the middle for that matter), “I have no regrets” (or even, “I have few regrets.”)

 

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NOTICE:  The following poem was originally sent to me in an e-mail.  Today (July 20, 2007) I found out - from the author - who wrote it and why.  Please visit http://trainland.tripod.com/poems1.htm to read more of her wonderful poetry.  I'm leaving what I originally published in here but am adding the correct version with  it's credits.  Here it is unbesmirched:

Just for this day.

Just for this morning, I am going to smile whenever I see your face.
and laugh when I feel like crying.

Just for this morning, I will let you wake up softly, all rumpled in your
flannel and I will hold you until you are ready.

Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and
smile and say you're beautiful.

Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you
up and take you to the park to play.

Just for this morning, I am going to eat a huge breakfast , with bacon
eggs, toast and waffles, and you don't have to eat any.

Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you
teach me how to put that 100 piece puzzle together.

Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the
computer off, and sit with you in the garden blowing bubbles.

Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble
when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

Just for this afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be
when you grow up or who you might have been before your diagnosis.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't
stand over you trying to 'fix' things.

Just for this afternoon, I will let you put all kinds of barettes in my
hair, and put lipstick on my face, and I will tell you how pretty you have made me look.

Just for this afternoon I will take you to McDonalds and buy us both a
Happy meal so you can have both toys.

Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story
about how you were born, and how much we love you.

Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the bathtub and not get
angry when you throw water over your sister's head.

Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the
porch swing and count all the stars.

Just for this evening, I will bring you glasses of water, and snuggle
beside you for three hours and miss my favorite show on t.v.

Just for this evening, When I kneel down to pray, I will simply be
grateful for all that I have and not ask for anything, except

just one more day.

Sally

Autism is not the end of the World. . . . just
the beginning of a new one.
copyright. 1999. Sally Meyer

My apologies and admiration to Sally Meyer.  Now, back to the blog as it was origianlly written.

 

----------------------------------------------

 

I read an emotional piece this morning that I want to plug in here:

This morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying.

This morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is.

This morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

This morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

This afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off. I’ll sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

This afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by.

This afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

This afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

This afternoon, we will go to McDonald's and buy us both a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

This evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

This evening, I will let you splash in the tub and I’ll not get angry.

This evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

This evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows.

This evening when I run my finger through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me such a great gift – you!

I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And, when I kiss you good night I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except for another day with you…

 

I was deeply stirred as I read it.  I was emotional again when I edited it for this blog.  Why?  Because of regrets!  At the age of 32, I already regret not spending more time with my children.  I regret fussing over spilled milk.  I regret sending my kids to bed without tucking them in.  I regret saying no when they ask me to come play with them.  I lament, and feel sorry, and regret…

 

Amazingly I received a different story this morning that fits perfectly here:

One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. 

Suddenly my daughter, Aspen, spoke up from her relaxed position in her seat, "Dad, I'm thinking of something."  This announcement usually meant she had been pondering some fact for a while, and was now ready to expound all that her six-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear.

"What are you thinking?" I asked.

"The rain!" she began, "is like sin, and the windshield wipers are like God wiping our sins away."

After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. "That's really good, Aspen."  Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little girl take this revelation? So I asked, "Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?"

Aspen didn't hesitate one moment with her answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."

 

I believe that the reason that Paul could say, “My conscience is clear; I have fought a good fight; there is a reward waiting for me!” is because he had the right accountant and he kept short accounts with Him.  It is one thing to fall, to fail, to sin; it is quite another to continue in it, aware; stubborn; rebellious; hard.  Paul never ceased his struggle against evil.  He had the weakness of his flesh to deal with daily, but he understood the mercy and forgiveness of God.  He understood the power of justification.  He knew that though (like the rest of the human race) the imagination of his heart was evil (Genesis 8:21), God, who is faithful and full of power, is repeatedly willing to wipe his children clean again each time there is repentance.  Failures may fall like raindrops upon the windshield of our conscience, blurring our view and hindering our progress, yet God is their to push the guilt aside (even though He knows that He will have to do it again all to soon).    

 

I once heard Dr. Fred Moritz say this:

"Sinners leap into sin and love it,

  Saints lapse into sin and loath it!"

 

I do regret many things from my distant past.  I even feel remorse for things in my recent past.  There are decisions I have made today that cause doubts to arise in my mind and that catapult forth in me tinges of angst and sorrow.  Is it reasonably possible to expect that I might someday look back over my life and say, “I did what I was supposed to do” – like Paul said?

 

I think that it all boils down to whether I live by faith or not.  In an attitude of faith we recognize, admit and despise our fallen frailty and utter brokenness, but, at the same time, we trust and depend upon God’s infinite ability and willingness to do great things with broken instruments. 

 

I can hear my Father saying:

"God can draw a straight line with a crooked stick."

 

Babies aren’t failures because they dirty their diapers.  It isn’t very fun to deal with.  We certainly anticipate the day when they will be past that stage.  But, that’s just what babies do.  And, I’m persuaded that God does not consider us to be failures because we soil ourselves in our journey.  That doesn’t mean He is pleased with “behavioral poop.”  He’s working on us and waiting for us to grow up.  He has bigger and better plans for us in eternity.  But, we can feel his pleasure upon us in spite of our human propensity for malfunctions and mistakes.  It’s never “OK” to do the wrong thing; to make a mess.  But, by my own testimony I can vouch for the fact that God does not necessarily bid us a permanent adieu when we “blow it” again.

 

Because God has not given up on me, I have not given up on myself either.  I still can’t say, “No regrets.”  But, I pray that when my life is over, I will hear, “Well done, you are a good and faithful servant.”  If I hear those words from my Savior, surly I will know what it means to have a mind free from regret. 

 

I guess I’ll have to wait and see…

“Everybody’s going to Heaven!?!?”

 

One should not expect theological accuracy from the likes of National Geographic, nor should one be surprised by heterodoxy from the higher echelons of Roman Catholicism.

 

With the encouragement of one of my fellow members here at GBC, I watched a documentary on TV last night.  It was an examination of the Revelation of John the Divine; the last, the greatest and the most important book in the Bible.

 

It was interesting.  Tim LeHay was one of the guest commentators.  Though there was a fairly thorough presentation of dispensational eschatology; it was, of course, as one should expect, counterbalanced with plenty of doubt, criticism, scholarly meanderings and speculations.  There were a few things that really caught my attention.

 

1. A total disrespect for the very idea that the “rapture” could be a Biblical concept.  It was stated that the rapture is mysteriously absent from the Apocalypse of John the Apostle (though, I see it clearly in Revelation 4:1).  No mention was made of other prophetic Scriptures that teach it plainly.  (Like I Thessalonians 4: 13-17; “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”)
2. The whole book was credited to the experience, genius and attitude of John.  Again, one would expect unbelievers to leave out Divine Inspiration, but ignoring it still makes viable interpretations of the text virtually impossible.  National Geographic basically described John’s writing as an outgrowth of his fears and hatred of the Roman Empire.  Sure, John was not in love with the Roman Empire.  Doubtless God used his experiences with the Romans to temper and tone the text, yet John was truly writing of things much greater than the political situation of his day.  In visions God carried John far past the demise of the Roman Empire as it was known then.
3. The last and greatest disturbance for me was their handling of eternal judgment.  They had a couple of liberal clergymen speak of God’s love and kindness, about how nice God is and how he shouldn’t be feared.  Then they mentioned that the theological advisers to the Pope are currently working on an official church declaration that will basically say that hell is likely to be empty in eternity (interpretation - everybody gets by without eternal flames).  Never mind the fact that Jesus said, “Wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.”  (Matthew 7:13b-14).  One of the scholars referred to the idea of hell, a lake of fire, eternal judgment, damnation and torment as being a vulgar projection of how God handles humans.  So, with the wave of their critical wand and a blink of their “enlightened” eyes, God is transformed from the Holy God of the Bible to some mythical nice guy who can’t say no to anybody.  I’ve got news for these “everybody’s-gonna’-make-it-in” heretics.  If God was such a weak-stomached genie (rather than the Almighty Lord of Glory, who is clothed with righteousness and justice), why did he plan the horrible torture and death of his own Son (Acts 2:23).  God is loving and kind, but he is also good and faithful.  He said in Psalm 9:17 “The wicked shall be turned into hell.”  In Revelation 21:8 he spoke of the eternal lake of fire into which unbelievers will be cast, in which the unrighteous will suffer forever.  Which scenario is vulgar, 1) God allowing sinners to be justly punished (sinners who rejected his love, spat upon His Son, refused the free gift of eternal life and chose to wallow in the muck of their Father the Devil), or 2) someone’s imagined god allowing evil to go unpunished.  If there is no hell; then where and when do the pedophiles, violent fathers, murderers, rapists, terrorist, abortionist, homosexuals, and cruel dictators receive the just recompense of their deeds?  A theology that places an unrepentant Jeffrey Dahmer in heaven is much more vulgar than one that places any unbeliever in hell!  God created the human race perfect and innocent.  He placed us in a perfect environment and blessed us with unlimited pleasures and opportunities.  What was our response?  We did the one and only thing that He told us not to do.  God had NO OBLIGATION to rescue even one single person from the condemnation and death that we brought upon ourselves in the Garden.  Each one in the minority who escape hell will do so because of the unmerited favor, mercy, grace and goodness of our Creator.  The only unfair thing that He ever did was to come and die for worthless creatures like me.  The problem with manufacturing our own hamartiology and theology is that we turn ourselves into the judges of the souls of men.  It is certain that we could never be good judges.  All judgment is in the hands of the Son of God, 1) He is qualified, and 2) he has laid out his requirements for escaping hell.  He that has Jesus, has eternal life; he who does not is still under the wrath of God (I John 5:12).  Faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to escape the real fires of hell – the opinions of National Geographic Journalists and Catholic theologians notwithstanding!

Isaiah 5:20 “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”  When some educated idiot calls God’s holiness “vulgar,” it is not one of those things that I can sit quiet about.

 

I say with John the Baptist, “Repent! The kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

I say with Paul, “How can one escape, if this great salvation is neglected?”

 

Now is the time, today is the day of salvation!  The time will come when it will be too late.  Rather than attempting to redefine God, instead of trying to turn hell into a myth; scholars and theologians would do well to read and heed Isaiah 45:22, “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.”

 

Not everybody will make it into heaven!  God wants everybody to go, but only the blood bought, born again children of God will get in.  Most people will spend an eternity without God. 

The Danger of False Assumptions

Before heading off to Baltimore again yesterday, I spray-cleaned our inflatable water toys (a pool and a two part slide/pool combination).  They had water in them before I cleaned them, but afterward I left them empty.  Well, we returned home very late last night to find that there were no water toys in our back yard. 

 

What do you think we said to each other?  “Who took our things?”

 

Why is it that people frequently assume the worst? 

 

We even talked about calling the police.  Fortunately we didn’t – it hardly seemed justifiable for a $20.^oo inflatable kiddy pool and a $30.^oo slide.  But, cheap as they were, they were important to us because they are important to our kids.  In fact, Kayla bought the slide with her own birthday money.  So, after assuming that some kleptomaniac has stolen our 10’ long pool and the other two-part slide (which is at least 12’ feet long); we went to bed.  This morning Tonya asked me to ride around the neighborhood to see if I could find anything.  I found all three items.  The wind had blown them into three different yards, the ten feet long pool was a whole city block away from our house.

 

All my nice neighbors explained why they didn’t bring the items back.  One said that since we were not home she just kept it overnight.  Another didn’t know which house it had came from.  Again, my point is validated.  Evidently my neighbors assumed that I might think they took my toys, so, kindly, apologetically, almost defensively they were careful to tell me why my stuff was in their yard.  Even my interpretation of their statements reinforces my theory that we naturally look at the down side of things.  Perhaps they were just innocently telling me the facts, but to me, they appeared to be making sure that I didn’t think that they stole the things.

 

Considering history and humanity, it is very unusual that here in America, (according to the constitution) accused criminals are to be considered innocent until it is proven that they are guilty.  Human nature generally pushes us the other way.  Under the weight of an accusation, we tend to think people are guilty until they have proved their innocence, and, even then, we may look at them forever with suspicion.  This is harsh, in my very subjective opinion, because innocence is much more difficult to prove than is guilt.  One of the reasons that innocence is hard to prove is because people assume the worst. 

 

In the house of Potiphar, Joseph had the worst assumed about him.  When upon this earth in ministry as the Son of Man, Jesus had the worst false assumptions thrown at him.  When John Mark forsook the Lord’s work, the apostle Paul assumed the worst and wrote him off as useless, but that wasn’t the case.

 

Our propensity to live out our pessimistic predisposition is an expected byproduct of our fallen condition.  If we can remember this, we will be less paranoid, less critical, harder to offend and more difficult to discourage.  When I rush to a conclusion, I generally come to the wrong conclusion.  Making an ill-informed decision is a sure way to flub one’s way to failure.  We need to slow down, take it easy, give people the benefit of the doubt and live James 1:19b – “be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”  Why?  Because (the next verse explains) “the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

 

Jumping to conclusions is a good way to live a stress filled; fear riddled; angry life.  False assumptions will get even the wisest of men into deep trouble. 

 

You know the old saying; “Look before you leap!” 

Rambling thoughts about the mundane frustrations and glorious blessings of yesterday...

 

What’s on my mind today? 

# 1, Pastor Dave Stewart – he had surgery yesterday to have a growth removed from his head.

# 2, Richard LeJeune, my friend and former student is getting married today. 

# 3, I got lost on the city streets of Baltimore yesterday.

 

The topics that merit attention would be a surgery or a wedding.  These are both very significant events.  However, very prominent in my mind is the circumnavigation of a “somewhat rough” section of “Baldumer” (as I have learned to call it, with a barely audible "u" in the middle) that I led under the careful watching eye of my lovely wife.  We were guided off the main roads by a borrowed TomTom (a talking GPS guidance system), but then its battery died so we were in the middle of an unknown world of tall buildings and red lights.  It’s hard for me to forget the continuous block circling that we did on the one way streets in Baltimore.  It’s annoying to remember the sound of our talking GPS phone telling us that it was “recalculating” our “route” and, “to take the first legal U-turn” because I had made a wrong turn (or six).  In view of these problems, and the people walking everywhere, the fact that it was dark, the rundown buildings everywhere, the fact that I’m a country bumpkin and the chaotically senseless solutions that Tonya and I kept “suggesting” to each other intermittently at continually increasing decibel levels; the trip was good for causing ulcers and headaches, but of little worth otherwise.  No, that’s actually not true: it was very satisfying to see one (who has been faithful to God as a young man) being joined together with a lady who loves God.  It was also very sobering and weighty to see Pastor Stewart lying with his head in a bandage in a Neuro Critical Care Unit at John Hopkins Hospital. 

 

Truly, my path crossed with several of God’s choice servants yesterday.  

1. A man of God, Pastor Tewel is the preacher performing the wedding ceremony. (he’s also my sister Debbie’s former pastor).
2. A man of God, Tim LeJeune is the groom’s father, my former boss, the founder and principal of Rosedale Christian School.
3. A man of God, Dave Stewart is my predecessor at GBC, a friend to me and to many others.  I consider him to be the unofficial Pastor Emeritus at Grace.
4. A man of God, Richard LeJeune (the groom) is my friend, former student and former accountability partner.  He was the tool that God used to finally get me to faithfully read my Bible daily.  He would ask me every day to tell him what I learned in my “quiet time” with God the day before.  Being the High School Bible teacher, it got embarrassing having to admit over and again that I had missed my reading.  I read completely through the Bible for the first time ever, while Richard nagged me on toward maturity. 
5. A man of God, Timmy LeJeune, Jr is anything but a junior.  He told me that he is 6’ 4”, but he appears to be more like 6’ 6”.  He’s a student at Hyles Anderson College, studying for the ministry. 
6. A man of God, (can’t remember his name, he is the groomsman to my left in the wedding) is in Maryland this weekend visiting a church in Glen Burnie, MD; planning on coming there soon to help the pastor there for two years, then going out from that church to establish a new church somewhere in MD.

 

It was so thrilling to be around so many men who are called to the ministry of the proclamation of God’s truth.  I had to ask myself how in the world I can be in a list with those men. 

 

Life is truly a diverse and bewildering adventure.  I haven’t been sick at all in almost a year, but now that I’m supposed to sing in my friend’s wedding, I’ve just about lost my voice to some deep throat/chest problem that has given me a little congestion and has drained my energy.  Life is also thrilling!  Renewing old acquaintances, kissing my children after not seeing them all day, chatting with my wife, seeing the beauty that truly is all around us – these things counterbalance the unpleasant experiences.

 

But, the best thing that has happened to me since my salvation occurred under the influential preaching of Dr. Ron Comfort.  He said in a message seven years ago at BBC, “God has called enough men into the ministry to win the world to Christ, but most of them have not surrendered to His call.”  It would have been no more effective if he had caused an angel to appear before me telling me to go preach.  I immediately turned to the back of my Bible and wrote, “I will go!”  God had been working on me for some time prior to that.  God had caused a couple of verses in Exodus to punch me in the gut, Exodus 4:11-12, “The LORD said unto Moses, Who has made man’s mouth? or who makes the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the LORD?  Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth, and teach you what you shall say.”

 

I can still remember just before my ordination when God gave me another verse.  Micah 3:8 “Truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.”

 

I have the best “job” a man could have.  I wouldn’t trade with the president of the United States, (at least, I don’t think I would), to me it would be a step down.  There is nothing like knowing that one is in the very center of God’s will, doing God’s work, God’s way for His glory.  To be a messenger, a preacher, a pastor in the ministry of the gospel is most exhilarating.  How I long to be a man of God, a “Gabriel” who proclaims “Elijah (The Lord, He is God)!” loudly and proudly.  May I constantly glory in the cross of Christ!

 

I’ve got it good, and I know it.  I don’t take it for granted.  I’m very grateful.  And, I certainly recognize the absolute necessity of God’s hand upon me. 

 

In John 15:5c Jesus said, “Without me ye can do nothing.”  That was a negative statement.  He gave the same truth in a positive form in Matthew 28:18, 20 and Acts 1:8  “Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” 

 

Truly, as an ambassador of Christ, life is grand!    

“Stranded on an Island”

 

If you were banished to a deserted island and could have only one material thing, what would it be?  I would want my Bible.  Not because I’m super spiritual, but because it is the only thing on this earth that I can think of that can never be exhausted, used up.  Rather than becoming boring, it gets better and better, more interesting, more awe inspiring with repeated use. 

 

Perhaps there are other good things that could be chosen instead.  A radio would be nice, I suppose, assuming there’s a station to be heard. 

 

If I could only have one suit of clothes, I would take blue jeans and a baggy T-shirt.

If I could only take one person, it would be my wife – obviously.

If I could only have one food, I would choose my Mamma’s southern style biscuits – just as obviously. 

 

Another scenario I heard once was this: if your house was burning down and everyone was out safely; if you had the chance to grab one thing on the way out, what would it be?  Assuming I’m wearing something, I would want to take my sweet little girlfriend, “Dell.”  Tonya told me once that she gets jealous because I spend more time with “Dell” than with her.  “Dell” is my Inspiron 1150 laptop computer.  Before you laugh at me, you have to realize that I have literally thousands of pictures, songs and writings saved on “Dell’s” hard-drive.     

 

Seriously though, what things are most significant, important and valuable in our lives?  If you were banished to that hypothetical island, would you choose to take your wardrobe above everything else?  Not likely.  Maybe it would be a gun collection, a music collection, a set of fine china, an old car or your recliner?  Again – not likely.  The real question is this, why do we expend so much time, energy, money and interest in things that may be impressive, but they are not actually relevant?

 

One of my worst problems is my desire to impress people.  Perhaps I’m not alone, but company in foolishness doesn’t improve the chances of it being acceptable to God.  Actually, impressing someone can serve a good purpose.  It is true that, to some extent, one who is “attractive” can get attention by being such, and then turn the focus quickly to God.  Solomon exemplified this phenomenon with the Queen of Sheba; she was attracted to his wisdom, then, by it, was introduced to his God.  The important thing, though, is not whether or not the things that I do, or the things that I have, are impressive, but whether or not they are relevant.

 

In preaching, I have choices to make.  Am I trying to be interesting, funny, entertaining, appealing, clever, intelligent and eloquent, or am I trying to communicate the truth clearly, simply, concisely, passionately, compassionately and powerfully.  The truth is; I strive for all of the above.  Oratorical tools such as humor or eloquence can be used as window dressings to attract folk’s attention toward some things that are truly valuable in and of themselves.  However, the primary purpose is to bring people’s attention to things that have eternal relevance, not just to bring some temporary effect of interest, enjoyment or admiration.  I must 1) say what God tells me to say, and 2) I should say it a way that is understandable and applicable to the people to whom I am speaking. 

 

This applies in every aspect of our lives.  The cars we drive, the houses we buy, the yard we keep, the food we prepare, the job we do, the clothes we wear, the conversations we have, the songs we sing, the things we learn; if we are just trying to impress people, then we are stuck in a rut of immaturity and carnality. 

 

Hypothetically, if “Joe Shmo” keeps an immaculate yard because 1) he enjoys the work, 2) he likes seeing order and 3) he wants others to enjoy the view – this is commendable, not evil, but it’s still not the highest motivation.  If “Joe” just wants to be the envy of the neighborhood, this is reprehensible pride.  If “Joe” realizes that his immaculate flower beds can be a conversation starter, allowing him to tell people about Christ, then this is wholesome, holy and wise.

 

I beg you to read these three verses.  They explode with power!

Colossians 3:2 “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.”

Matthew 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.”

2 Corinthians 4:18 “We look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

 

If you made it through those three without skipping anything, then read these.

 

2 Peter 3:10  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.”

Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Deacon Phelps preached me a sermon the other day about Matthew 6:19-21, which says, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

 

With Eternity's values in view, Lord,

With Eternity's values in view;

May I do each day's work for Jesus,

With Eternity's values in view.  

 

I know I’m not the first person to consider this.  In fact, for example, my brother Robert’s church’s website is entitled Eternally Significant.  Nevertheless, we all need to be reminded that we should be spending our time, talent and treasures on things that matter, not on things that are irrelevant (even if they are impressive).

     

My blog today is dedicated to Miss Doris…

 

One of our members, Miss Doris Dixon, is headed “across the bridge” this morning to have a stent inserted in or around her heart.  I’m not exactly a student of anatomy or medicine, so these type things are somewhat foreign to me.  Evidently, if a vessel, vein or artery that is too small or is partially clogged in a place (and so is restricting the flow of blood), there is a tiny perforated plastic or metal springy kind of contraption that is inserted into the canal.  This little thing opens up the avenue and allows normal circulation once again.  But what causes the problems that brings about a need for the insertion of these miniature marvels?  Again, I’m no doctor, but I understand that it’s the plaque or fat that builds up in there.  

 

I can’t help but think of some things that clog up the flow of truth to my mind, just as plaque constricts the flow of blood in the body.

1. Inherited Traits – even in a perfect environment, I would struggle with inhibitions to clear spiritual thought.  We are fallen creatures.  Just like a person who takes perfect care of their body (with a balanced diet, good exercise and adequate rest) can still have blood flow problems, even so, because of the hereditary nature of sinfulness, a carefully sheltered mind can still be effected by the restricting effects of deception.  Jesus explained this in Mark 7:20-23 “That which comes out of the man, that defiles the man.  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.”  You have heard it before; nobody had to teach me to lie, to steal, to lust or to be selfish.  If I had never seen another person misbehave; if I had never heard or read of sin, I would still be a sinner; I would still sin.  In this fallen world, sin is as natural and inevitable to our race as is sickness, pain and death.  My fallen nature sometimes prevents me from grasping truth.
2. Allowed Distractions – even in the life of a Christian, there are things that we see and hear that distort our perception of reality and pervert our view of truth and of life.  In II Peter 2:7-8, it is recorded that “Just Lot” was “…vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds).”  How else could it have occurred to him to offer his two virgin daughters to the sexual exploitation and abuse of the perverted sodomites (Genesis 19:8)?  No wonder the Psalmist wrote in 101:3, “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”  Whether intentional or incidental, images and explanations of evil corrupt our minds and inhibit our ability to perceive truth.  Exposure to evil has an inoculating effect on the mind of a man: we build a resistance to it and as a result we no longer exhibit a perceivable reaction to pollution.  Oh, we can still be destroyed by the evil; we just die like a frog in a warming pot, oblivious to the danger.
3. Spiritual Misinformation – we are in a battle against the Devil; a literal, living, intelligent and powerful foe.  He wars against God, against the holy angels of God and against the church of God.  Sometimes, we pray, but Satan slows the response of the forces of righteousness (Daniel 10:12-13).  Sometimes, the truth is taught, but it is as if Satan provides misinterpretations for every clear doctrine of God. 

For example: I was thinking yesterday about the Devil’s various distortions of the gospel.  There are too many to discuss them all, but a few of the most common are:

1. The gospel is only for the pre-selected; salvation is inevitable. WRONG!
2. The gospel is temporary; salvation must be maintained. WRONG!
3. The gospel is all-encompassing; salvation is universal. WRONG!
4. The gospel is optional; salvation is one of the ways to God. WRONG!
5. The gospel is partial; salvation must be completed by some outward exhibition. WRONG! (may I pause to expand the discussion here).  There is no “work” attached to salvation by grace through faith (as a requirement for entrance into heaven).  A person can be born again and eternally secure

                                                              i.      without praying a sinners prayer,

                                                            ii.      without being baptized,

                                                          iii.      without being associated with any particular denomination,

                                                           iv.      without growing and maturing spiritually,

                                                             v.      without a good understanding of soteriology and

                                                           vi.      without partaking of any sacrament/ordinance.

These things are not evil (for the most part), in fact, when I got saved, I prayed a sinners prayer, I got baptized afterward, I’m associated with Independent Baptists, I have grown and matured (some) spiritually, I have a good understanding of the bottom side of soteriology and I partake regularly of the elements; HOWEVER, my faith is placed only in Jesus Christ.  If a person is trusting in a prayer they prayed, a ceremony they participated in, membership in a group or knowledge they have attained then they are clearly going about to establish their own righteousness (Romans 10:3) and they need, instead, to submit to the righteousness of God that is offered as a free gift to those who will repent and place their faith in Jesus.

 

(Pardon my rabbit trail, back to the topic now).  How clearly do you and I see truth today?  Has the free flow of the knowledge of God been interrupted or slowed down by our own fallen nature, by some distraction that we have allowed into our lives (to divert our attention) or by a false prophet or an evil spirit?  It is imperative that we draw close to God so that he might break out the plaque with the balloon of His Word inserted under the powerful and gentle influence and control of the Holy Spirit.  We need the stent of confession as a scaffold to support the weak walls of our mind, our eyes and ears.

 

Divine surgery began in the garden when God took a rib from Adam and formed the last and best thing in his six days of creativity.  Divine surgery is still needed today.  We need God to cut the sinful cancer, self-indulging fat, hard-hearted plaque and worldly infection out of our mind so that we might be healthy and whole spiritually.  It will be a major operation; invasive surgery, in fact.  I need a lobotomy and a transplant.  May I prove my point?

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  I really like the wording of Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” 

 

Ephesians 5:18, concerning our minds, “And be not drunk (controlled) with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled (controlled) with the Spirit.”

 

Paul desired the installment of holy stents in II Thessalonians 3:1, where he said, “Brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course.”

 

My prayer: “Father, bless Doris, her family and the doctors today!  Restore the normal flow of blood through her body.  Bless me, my family, GBC and the readers of this blog today!  Restore the free flow of truth to our minds.” 

“No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.” - Job

 

The last thing some of us need is an excuse to be cynical. 

 

However, in I Corinthians 7:40 Paul used smiting verbiage adeptly (just as Job had), Paul wrote “…and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.”

 

Both Job and Paul were targeting “know-it-all” opponents who were waxing boisterous in pseudo-eloquence and self-aggrandizing didacticism (while really only stating the seemingly obvious).  My favorite is Job’s words to his three “friends” in Job 12:2.  He effectively reminded them that they did not have all the answers to the difficult questions of life.  

 

It would help me tremendously if I would look in the mirror every day and remind myself that I don’t know everything.  I’m not touting the value of agnosticism.  There are certainly some things that we can know; things that we can be confident and sure about.  On the other hand, there are questions that are very difficult, questions that should cause us to bow our head to admit that we just don’t know.

 

God used a little sarcasm in Psalm 50:12 when He said, “If I were hungry, I would not tell thee.” 

 

Amazingly in all three examples that I’ve thought of this morning, the inability of someone, the insignificance of someone’s power is being roughly exposed.  It seems that our natural smug self-confidence is a putrid scab that covers our actual weaknesses.  Sarcasm seems perfectly tooled for pealing back the scab and exposing our frailties. 

 

1.      Job’s friends would have done better to remain quiet on the eighth day.  They wisely sat in silent sadness for a week.  Then, unfortunately, they opened their mouths in abuse and discouragement.  How does the old saying go? “It’s better to keep one’s mouth shut and be thought to be ignorant, than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.”  It’s scriptural, “Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise: and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding” (Proverbs 17:28).

 

2.      Paul was defending the wonderful advantages of celibacy against some anticipated arguments from those who would know nothing of it and who would decry it’s uselessness.  It is good not to pass judgment on something that is not yet understood.  There are times to just sit down, zip the lips and listen.  What did Solomon say in Proverbs 18:13?  “He that answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame unto him.”

 

3.      God knows that He does not need us.  He does not need anything!  We, however, delude ourselves, pretending that we are essential, indispensable, valuable and vital to God’s program, plan and pleasure.  While it’s true that God has chosen to use us, it is his condescension and grace that makes us useful, (not our own importance, power, skill or knowledge).  Again, Solomon spoke wisely in Ecclesiastes 5:2 saying, “Be not rash with your mouth, and let not your heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and you upon earth: therefore let your words be few.”

 

I can remember as a teacher calling down students who thought that what they had to say to their fellow pupils was more important than what I was saying as their instructor.  In gentle sarcasm I would ask them if they had something to share with the whole class.  Usually, wisdom would prevail; they would apologize and sit quietly after that.

 

Moral:  A man can learn more by listening, reading and thinking than by talking and writing.  Today, I commit myself to more study and less blabber, lest cynical rebuke be required to bring me back into my rightful place. 

 

How about you?  Do you act as if you know everything?  Arrogance is one of the things that God deeply despises.

 

 “The LORD hates these things: yes, they are an abomination unto him:

# 1 A proud look…” - Proverbs 6:16-17a 

 

“Be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble.” – I Peter 5:5c

 

We are to have confidence and boldness when holding the clear revelation of God in our hands.  We are to be careful, meek, humble, hesitant and even silent when we are unsure of God’s position on a matter.  Peter rushed ahead and offered to construct tabernacles for Moses, Elijah and Jesus on the mount of transfiguration.  In Luke 9:33c-35 the Spirit tells us that Peter did this “…not knowing what he said.  But while he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud, and there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son: hear him.’”  God hid the sights from impetuous Peter and then basically said, “Peter, shut up and listen.  If you’ll be quiet you might learn something.”

 

“A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterwards.” - Proverbs 29:11 

 

Conceited ‘expert’ advice is deplorable.  Silence is golden…

 

Of course, there is “…a time to keep silence, and a time to speak” - Ecclesiastes 3:7

1. It is insanity to speak up when you do not know what to say.
2. It is cowardly to keep silence when you know what to say.

This is why I haven’t written a blog on sublapsarianism, but I do not hesitate to remind everyone of our utter dependence upon God’s mercy. 

I Never Had a Grandpa.

 

The only one of my grandparents that I ever knew was my Mom’s Mom.  To me, Arthur Jart Littleton Talley was a very old man in overalls in black and white photos in Mamma’s picture box.  Grandpa Meherg was the sharp young man in a portrait, a portrait of a gentleman who looked like a couple of my uncles.  So, to me, I never had an actual Grandpa.  Until today, I don’t suppose I ever really even seriously considered the fact that I never knew my Grandfathers.  I was contemplating Father’s Day, and thinking of my own father, when it occurred to me that I don’t know what kind of fathers my parents had.  Oh, I’ve heard skimpy accounts of history from the family.  As I recall, Grandpa Talley was a farmer and a Baptist Deacon, who could eat corn on the cob – even though he didn’t have any teeth (don’t ask me how those things are connected).  Grandpa Meherg was an educator who died when my mother was still a child.  He was injured and paralyzed somehow by a chiropractor (a fact that has kept me out of chiropractor’s offices all my life).

 

Though I never “had” a Grandfather, I did have a grand father – still do.  The word “grand” means; outstanding, impressive, worthy of respect, wonderful and memorable.

 

Thinking of the things that I remember best about my Dad from my childhood brings me to try to write a tribute about him (in a weak and loose conglomeration of poetry and prose).

 

Arthur Talley, Jr.; (my Grand Father)

 

To his face, I never called him “Father” or “Dad,”

To us he was known as “Deddy.”

(Our pronunciation was so bad,

He was called “Deaddy,” not “Daddy” or “Diddy”).

 

It was before I was born that his hair went away,

In that respect he was like a “grampaw,”

“God made a few beautiful heads,” he’d say

“The rest He covered with hair.”

 

He taught me to sing hymn # 162, “Living by Faith.”

He taught me to eat diverse, spicy and exotic foods.

He taught me how to throw a football, how to catch a baseball, how to shoot a lay-up and how to aim a running bounce pass so that it would hit him in the chest.

He taught me how to drive a straight shift, how to change the oil in a car.

He taught me how to understand Fractions; I can still remember how clearly he explained it.

He taught me how to swim (I thought I would drown).

He taught me of the birds and the bees.

He taught me to tithe and to never skip church (even if we were snowed in at home).

By example, he taught me the importance of family devotions.

 

“Deddy” had a grand job, “Research Engineer in Textile Technology,”

It seemed like one of the neatest jobs on earth.

Yet he could do “real” things like kill a chicken or skin a rabbit.

 

He could snap his fingers so loud that it hurt my ears.

He loved to sing, (he was always the loudest voice in the church).

He laughed like all of his brother’s and sisters.

 

He could grow anything in our gigantic garden, but potatoes I remember best.  He would wash them and dry them in the shade of a maple tree, then put them in the basement (where the ones we didn’t eat would sprout by spring).

 

He always raised his eyebrows in a fierce V shape when he talked about Jimmy Carter, immodest women, lazy men or dead preaching.

 

I recall cutting firewood with him; plowing and planting the garden, burning brush, washing cars and numberless other tasks that he did with us boys, tasks that were as regular as the springing buttercups.

 

He could sing, “How Great Thou Art,” “Blessed Assurance” and “Beulah Land” without practicing.

 

I remember…

his gun, a very old 16 gauge cracker-jack,

his class ring, worn-down gold with a black stone,

his rack of odd ties,

and his yellow handled pocketknife.

 

He was a man of immense confidence. 

He was a man of deep convictions. 

 

He was a Father, a husband, a neighbor, a citizen, a Christian, a preacher, a singer and a worker. 

 

He loved old fashioned music, old fashioned preaching and old fashioned standards.  He loved family reunions.  He loved revival meetings.  He loved ice-water. He loved bragging on his kids.  He loved to tease Momma.  He loved ice cream, buttermilk and cornbread, hot peppers, onions and Alabama football (not all at the same time though).  He loved church.  He loved the Bible.  He loved good preachers.  He loved good people.  He loved God.

 

To my Father, Thursday night visitation was as important as Sunday morning church services.  He was early to everything and usually among the last to leave.  He was (and is) an honest, hardworking, spirit-filled man of God. 

 

I suppose he’s not perfect.  He could certainly be hard, severe and demanding. 

 

He could swing a belt as effectively against my gluteus muscles (though not as often) as Mamma could use up a willow “hickory” switch in the bend of my knees.  I never doubted his love for me, though sometimes I wondered about his compassion.    

 

I’m very proud of my father.  I hope I can be as “grand” of a father to my kids as their grandfather was to me.

 

Was today’s blog a spiritual one?  You tell me…

 

Deuteronomy 5:16 “Honour thy father!”

 

I love you Daddy and I’m glad and thankful that you’re my Dad.

Keeping Focused

 

If you haven’t read yesterday’s blog, please scroll down and read it, instead of today’s.  Yesterday’s was late, today’s is early.  I really had a burden as I wrote yesterday.  I hope that (though it is a bit long) it will be encouraging.

 

This morning I awakened with a weird stinging in my toe that would not go away.  It’s not actually painful, just annoying.  So, I got up early to see the sun rise.  As I sat on the front steps, ate my strawberry pop tart and drank my Yuban coffee, I thought about the slogan we have at GBC.

 

It’s simple, “We Preach Christ!”

 

A wonderful lady in our church mentioned to me this week that she found that phrase in the Bible.  It did not occur to me that I have never actually pointed out where I got the slogan.  So, here it is…

 

In I Corinthians 1:23 Paul cried out, “We Preach Christ!”  One should really read verses 21-25 to understand the context.  “After that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

 

I am not clever or bright, but I do know how to plagiarize and copy things that I love.  When I went to Crown College for a Pastor’s conference two years ago, I saw their slogan everywhere.  It came from Acts 5:42 “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”  I liked that so much I decided to pick one very similar.  Not just to be like them, although that would be fine, but because it helps me to stay focused on my mission. 

 

Paul said that the Jews wanted to see miraculous proof that his message was truly from God.  He said that the Gentiles desired logical proof.  Instead, Paul gave the simple truth and let the power of the Spirit convince those who would believe.  He presented the glorious picture of Jesus Christ, dieing for the lost.  The Christ of Calvary was Paul’s theme; and, why not?  Jesus himself said, “And I, if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me!”

 

In reading the slogan, “We Preach Christ,” I’m constantly reminded that I am not here (primarily) to impress people, to persuade or convince people, to rationalize, to sensationalize, to perform or even educate; I’m here to present the glorious person of Christ, the Son of God, the Savior of the World.

 

The great question of the ages is found in Matthew 22:42 “What think ye of Christ?”

 

The first message that I can remember preaching after being saved was from Colossians 1:18.  (I stole it from my Dad).  Verses 16-19 read like this: “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.  And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.  For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell”

 

At Grace, we sometimes sing the wonderful chorus “You Are My All in All.”  It reads like this:

You are my strength when I am weak

You are the treasure that I seek

You are my all in all

 

Seeking You as a precious jewel

Lord to give up, I’d be a fool

You are my all in all

 

Taking my sin, my cross, my shame

Rising again, I bless Your name

You are my all in all

 

When I fall down, You pick me up

When I am dry, You fill my cup

You are my all in all

 

Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your name

 

I truly want Him to be the “all” in my life.  I want to be able to say (in practice as I can in principle) like my hero Paul in Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”  I want him to be preeminent in my life, in my home, in my ministry and in the world around me.

 

So, I strive to stay focused on the priority and purpose of my life.  As such…

 

I preach Christ!

“Elizabeth’s Leap”

 

Elizabeth cowered in horror on the corner of the roof of the old bell tower.  The sunset had been breathtakingly beautiful when she had climbed up to perch on the edge of the ancient structure.  But now, the wind was howling with terrifying force, and the old bells were clanging continually in an annoying noise of dissonance that would have prevented sane thought in the most stable of minds… but, Elizabeth’s mind was hardly stable.  She was a 7 year old orphan clinging in trepidation to the tattered remnants of the crumbling wood that once formed the steep octagon top of her ideal lookout spot. 

 

Liz was one of many orphans in the overcrowded institution known as Fort Hope.  There were far too many children and not enough supervision, that’s why she was able to slip out unnoticed that evening to go watch the sunset.  She usually watched it through the translucent window panes at the head of her middle bunk on the second floor of the dormitory.  She had seen the silhouette of the antique bell tower many times as the grand ball of fire dipped toward the ocean waves.  She had thought of how wondrous the sunset would be if she could watch it from the top of that tower, in peace, instead of through the dirty window with the sound of fussing, fighting and crying all around her.  

 

Good news had come to Liz that day.  She was going to be adopted.  She was so thrilled.  She had been given a picture of the family that was to come for her in the morning.  Roger, a preacher, was to be her new Dad; Danny her new brother.  She was so excited that she couldn’t even eat the meager supper that she normally devoured greedily in a few brief gobbled bites.  Instead of answering the questions of the kids around her at the table, she had given her bowl of turnips to Hans and had slipped out the side door of the cafeteria.

 

Wandering around outside that evening, Liz had looked at the bell tower and realized that if she was ever going to get to see that sunset that she had imagined so many times, tonight was her last chance.  She stepped quietly through the rough hedge that closely surrounded the orphanage and began walking down the path to the beach.  It wasn’t far.  She reached the rickety, winding stairs in a few minutes.  Carefully she maneuvered her way slowly up and around the missing steps, broken boards and rotten spots on her way to the ideal spot high above the ground, away from the orphanage and in view the growing, fading sun.  How she wished that she had asked Sara to come with her.  She had told Sara that she would do this someday, but now that she was here it was actually quite lonely.

 

Elizabeth watched the sun set as tears rolled down her face, tears of joy because of the beauty, and because she was finally going to escape the miserable world of – as the older kids called it – Fort Hopeless. 

 

When the last shades of white, blue, yellow, orange, red and pink had faded into blackness, Elizabeth turned to begin crawling back to the hole she had come through to get onto the roof.  The shadows were so long.  She went to what she thought was the hole, but found that it was only a place where the shingles had been ripped away by the winds.  Even now, the wind was beginning to pick up a bit.  Elizabeth began to feel frightened.  She looked around for the hole.  Which way was it?  There it was!   A little closer to the edge over to her left.  She eased her way over to it, scooting on her bottom, getting her over-worn dress caught in a nail that was protruding from a beam beneath the boards over which she moved.  She paused to free her dress, but, instead, in fear and hurried frustration, tore it in yet another place (as if she didn’t have enough patches and stitches in it already).  Finally, making it to the hole she let her feet dangle inside. Liz peered down to find her first step.  The hole was as black and impenetrable to sight as the sludge that oozed from the drain pipes behind the kitchen and the bath-house.  She hadn’t anticipated this predicament.  In utter fear she trembled with the realization that if she were to go through the hole, she had no idea where the sure footholds were and where the dilapidated stairway was weak or missing.  She edged away from the hole as she shook with awful tremors of scared anxiety. 

 

“I’ll be here all night!”  She thought. “Why did I come out here?  Why didn’t I just stay at the table?”

 

During supper Roger, Danny and Silvia Nixon had come to the orphanage to meet Elizabeth a day early.  They wanted to surprise her with a new dress and hat for her trip with them the next morning.  Roger had also decided that if they were to sign the paperwork that night, it would save them all time and hassle in the morning.  They would be able to get an earlier start on their journey taking Elizabeth to her new home with them.

 

When Elizabeth could not be found in the cafeteria, the bathhouse or the dormitory, the orphanage supervisor suggested that, perhaps the Nixon’s should just return the following day.

 

“I’m sure the little troublemaker ’ll show up later,” she quipped, “we ain’t lost any of these here rascals in quite a while.  After all, there ain’t no place for them to go anyhow, ‘less they think they can navigate them woods or swim cross the ocean, and ain’t never had a girl dumb enough to try either trip… a boy or two, but never a girl.  They ain’t got the guts I s’pose.”

 

Appalled, but suppressing his anger, Roger inquired if he and Danny might take a look around for little Liz.  Ms. Ingle reluctantly told them, “Suit yer’selves, but the gate gits closed at midnight, right after the garbage truck leaves.  Better be out before then.  We ain’t got no place fer ye t’sleep.”

 

It was while they were calling out Liz’s name toward the sea side of the orphanage that Sara came over and told Mr. Nixon about Elizabeth’s dream of watching the sunset from the old tower.  Roger and Danny thanked the little girl and plowed through the brush toward the tower.  It was no trouble finding it even in the closing darkness.  The clanging of the bells was increasing in volume steadily as the wind was picking up in intensity.

 

As they neared the tower Roger looked up and saw, outlined vaguely between him and the faint starlight, the figure of the poor girl huddled close to the edge of the roof.  He tried to call out to her, but his voice was muffled by the wind, drowned out by the banging bells and the crashing waves nearby.  Even so, though Roger didn’t know it, Liz was sobbing so uncontrollably that any faint wisps of Roger’s calls would have been unnoticed by the little orphan anyway.  Roger found his way to the doorway of the tower.  He didn’t have a flashlight or lantern with him.  He was afraid to go back to get one and leave the girl there alone.  In fact, he was afraid to take the time to go up the tower while Liz could at any moment be blown from the roof.  He couldn’t send Danny for help; Danny had just turned eight years old.  It wasn’t very likely that he would be able to find his way back in this unfamiliar place and in the dark.  As Roger moved back to a place where he could see the image of the girl outlined against the sky, Danny produced a small penlight from his pocket.  It was a cheap trinket that he had won from a grab machine on his eighth birthday.  Roger told him to check inside the tower, to see if he could make it up to Elizabeth.  “If you can get to her, you can get her to come down with you.  I’m sure she’s scared and can see even less than we can.  I’ve got to stay here to catch her if she falls.  Go on son!” Mr. Nixon shouted above the wind “I’ll stay right here.  And, Danny, be careful! That building is older than I am!”

 

Danny slowly and carefully made his way to the roof.  He reached the hole but could not get Elizabeth’s attention.  She was so scared now that her eyes were closed as she continued to cry.  Hesitantly, Danny came through the hole and out onto the roof.  When he reached the little girl he reached out and laid his hand on her shoulder and shouted for her to come with him.  The feeling of an unexpected hand and the sound of a stranger’s voice surprised her so much that she jerked with one great spasm of shock and surprise.  In her flailing start, she knocked Danny’s tiny light from his hand.  It bounced off the roof, went out and disappeared into the pitch black darkness below. 

 

Roger saw it and almost fainted in amazement at the impossibility of the dilemma.  He didn’t know about the condition of the stairs, so in desperation he stumbled through the darkness to the door and began to make his assent.  He hadn’t made it to the third step when the stairway collapsed under his weight.  He fell face-first; shins, knees and forearms into the floor beneath the stairwell.  Dazed but not seriously injured he scrambled chaotically back outside to make sure the two figures were still on the roof.  It was then that he saw Danny standing on the edge appearing as if he were ready to do a swan dive off the tower.  He frantically staggered to the spot just below Danny and then stood horrified staring up at the outstretched body of his son leaning; then falling like dead weight straight toward him.

 

Danny had talked to Elizabeth after losing his flashlight.  After calming her down and telling her who he was, he assured her that while they both knew that they would not make it down the stairs without a light, he was certain that if they were to jump from the tower, his Father would catch them.  They could not see the ground or Mr. Nixon, but Danny assured her with passionate pleas that his Dad was there and that he would catch them if they fell.  He made her promise that if he would jump, she would count to 20 and then jump too.  With one last shout, making her promise him again that she would do it too, he crawled to the very edge, felt it with his fingers, stood… and fell backwards, as if he were falling onto his parents down covered water bed, pretending to be shot by a black-hatted cowboy.  HE was barely even nervous.  He was sure that His Father would catch him… and… He did. 

 

Mr. Nixon caught his son like a heavy sack of potatoes and they both crumbled heavily to the ground.  Roger clutched the boy tightly, but Danny began wiggling, squirming and freeing himself from his Father’s hold immediately.  “You’ve got to catch her too,” he screamed, “she’s gonna’ jump next!” 

 

Through tears, with heart racing, Roger leaped to his feet as he lifted his eyes and saw Elizabeth standing, with arms above her head, on the edge of the tower.  As the wind whistled vehemently in his ears, as the bells tolled their chaotic tones, as the waves crashed thunderously nearby, as Danny screamed “Do it!” at the top of his lungs, little Elizabeth, who had never met Mr. Nixon, who had no way of knowing for sure what was below her, based upon the confidence and example of Danny, tilted her head backward and dropped like a rock into the oblivious blackness below her. 

 

It was at that very moment that Roger understood what faith really is.  He had been a Christian for years, a minister of the Gospel, a preacher of God’s love; but at that moment, for the first time, he recognized the true nature of trusting one who can not be seen, heard or proved.  As he caught Elizabeth and they tumbled safely to the earth together, Roger understood more plainly than any study could have ever revealed to him, what it means to totally and without recourse surrender in complete trust to the power of God’s saving grace. 

 

Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

Friend, have faith in God!

 

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…” 

Deuteronomy 33:27   

The Issue of Repentance

 

In Acts 20:20-21 Paul the apostle spoke to the Ephesians about his gospel ministry.  In describing his message he said, “I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have showed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.”

 

This seems to be a very uncontroversial passage.  What could be simpler or plainer than this gospel preached by Paul?  Yet I have repeatedly encountered statements contrary to these words of Paul, statements by fellow believers in my own circle of stirring.

1. On bus visitation once my partner made the statement that repentance was for the Jews, not for the Gentiles.
2. In college my Bible Doctrines professor said that repentance is not necessary for salvation.
3. I had a pastor who preached vehemently that repentance is a work that follows salvation, not an attitude that accompanies the new birth.
4. A book I was given had one thesis – “repentance can’t be necessary for salvation because God repents” (it made no sense to me).
5. I’ve heard two very famous Baptist evangelists say that repentance in salvation only applies to unbelief.
6. At a youth activity I read a pastor’s poem (on a bulletin board) that clearly called any gospel that includes repentance, “a works salvation gospel.”
7. In the book “So Great Salvation” by Charles Ryrie, in chapter 9 he said that repentance is and is not a condition for receiving eternal life.  He said it depends on the definition of repentance; that it is only a prerequisite if it is a synonym for faith.  

I’m not prepared to start accusing people of heresy, I’m just not certain that we should be so afraid of the word “repent.” 

 

John the Baptist, Jesus and Peter had no problem telling sinners to repent.  They were not afraid of people trying to “improve” their way into the family of God.  In Mark 1:14-15, Jesus preached “the gospel of the kingdom of God, saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.’”

 

God is not the author of confusion; Satan is.  There are two misinterpretations of repentance that must be avoided.

1. Diluting repentance until humility, willingness to obey, surrender, guilt, shame, sorrow and sin are absent from the soteriologic picture altogether.
2. Emphasizing repentance until behavior, actions, works, fruit, change, obedience, holiness, perfection, righteousness and maturity are tied so closely to it that the soteriologic picture looks like the Mosaic law again.  

Let God be true and every man a liar.  Lucifer is the father of lies, the master of deception and disguise.  We must stand on the truth despite the shaded closeness of the Devils lies.  He is an expert in creating morph monsters that resemble the real thing.  Jesus said in Luke 13:3, “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” 

 

We begin by admitting that unregenerate men must repent if they are to receive forgiveness and everlasting life.  The key, then, is to understand 1) what repentance is and 2) what the object of repentance is.  We don’t have too much problem with this in defining faith – surely it will work with repentance.

1. The word “repent” means to change your mind or purpose for the better; to think differently. 
2. The objects of repentance can be divided into two prepositional phrases.  Of the Thessalonians, Paul said, “ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1Thessalonians 1:9); TO GOD, FROM IDOLS.  The objects of repentance are 1) what is forsaken and 2) who is accepted. 

It makes no difference what sinful thing holds the sinner in bondage.  Each one of us had unique appetites that imprisoned us prior to our salvation.  Regardless of what your idol was, it was sinful.  You had to change your mind about who was boss in order to come to God.  Every sinner has a problem with wanting his own way.  In repentance there is a decision that God’s way is better, more appealing and acceptable.  In the new birth a lost man chooses to receive Christ as LORD and Savior (II Peter).  Will he live up to his surrender to Christ the Lord?  No, but he certainly can’t/won’t come with full intentions of reneging. 

 

The question is this.  Can a person come to Christ for forgiveness and salvation while maintaining a “don’t tell me what to do” attitude?  The answer is a resounding, NO!  I remember sharing a witnessing experience with a fellow preacher several years ago.  I had been witnessing to a girl when she stopped me to tell me that she was in an immoral relationship and was not willing to give it up.  The preacher’s response to me was that it was unfortunate that the topic came up!  How is it unfortunate that the issue of sin arose in a conversation about salvation?  Am I the only one puzzled by that mentality?  Obviously a person does not have to clean up their life before coming to Christ, but rebellion during salvation is such an absurd concept as to deserve no consideration at all.  

 

Repentance is necessary for salvation.  It is one of the two twin pillars of Biblical soteriology.  Why be afraid of preaching salvation like the Bible teaches it? 

 

Repentance is a product of sorrow, shame and regret.  An unsaved individual reconsiders his past and decides that he was wrong, that he must be changed and that only God can change him – and so, in humility, in a new position of being yielded to the will of God, he is ready to place his faith in God.  Is he likely to still have many sinful habits in his life after being redeemed?  Sure!  But, to pretend that we can bring a man to Christ without shining a spotlight on the ugliness of evil is head-in-the-sand theology.    

 

 “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7 

1. Repentance – forsaking my way
2. Faith – returning to God
3. Forgiveness – abundant pardon

That’s the order given over and over in the Scripture.  Can these things be simultaneous in reality? Sure!  But logic, experience and revelation place them in a proper order.

 

I don’t teach a “lordship salvation” (which says, ‘He is either Lord of all or He’s not Lord at all’).  Fruit is a product of salvation, not a condition to obtaining it.

 

Neither do I teach “easy-believism” (which typically says, “Just pray this prayer and you’re in").  Belief is more than an assent to the veracity of facts.

 

Let’s stick to the straight gospel.

1.      All men are sinners.

2.      God hates all sin.

3.      Sinners are headed for hell.

4.      No man can rescue himself.

5.      Christ died in every sinners place.

6.      He offers forgiveness.

7.      Repent of your sin and trust Christ as Savior.

8.      Heaven and holiness are now sure.

 

Neither faith nor repentance is a self-manufactured work.  They are both gracious gifts of God wrought by the working of the Spirit of Christ.  After all, salvation is mystical and mysterious.  God does the rebuking, the wooing, the forgiving, the receiving and the changing.  A man who bows meekly to the working of the Holy Ghost and the truth of the Scripture will certainly become a child of God regardless of his concept of any gospel outline.  Salvation is not best described as a formula, a process, a possession, an event or a condition – it is a person; Jesus Christ.

 

He that has the Son, has life! 

 

Babies don’t have to understand all about birth to be born, but they do have to actually exit the womb.

“Proud Illusions”

 

There is a goal to be reached; a level to attain; a peak to climb – right?  The apex of my Christian life will one day be realized – right?  I will reach a plateau of impregnable security and will no longer be tempted and seduced by the petty pleasures of cursed human existence – right?

 

I know better.  Both experiential and revelatory evidence confirms that the idea of arriving at a permanent zenith of impeccable maturity (while still living in our flesh) is a mirage; an illusion.  It is easy to become disenchanted with striving for the mastery when only moments of victory are probable. 

 

AFTER many years of faithful service to God, Noah got drunk and lay naked before his own son.  He was by no means immune to making mistakes just because he had found grace in the eyes of God in the past.

 

Solomon was led into idolatry AFTER being used by God to build the first temple.  Apparently the superior excellence of his wisdom did not prevent him from making some extremely foolish choices.

 

Aged Abraham slept with his wife’s servant.  I guess he was subject to weakness too.

 

Moses struck the rock.  That meek man was susceptible to pride.

 

Toward the end of his ministry, John the Baptist wondered about the identity of Christ Himself.  This great man was not beyond the possibility of doubts.

 

Peter sank AFTER he had successfully walked on water.

 

Samson lost his eyes to the Philistines AFTER many victories over them.

 

Israel lost to the small village at Ai AFTER a sound and total success at Jericho. 

 

Am I better than these?  Are you mightier than these? 

 

Am I wiser than Solomon?  Do I love God more than David did?  Am I more devout than Job?  Am I more humble than Moses?  Not Likely!

 

Because I still live in the flesh, there is the terrible possibility and probability that I will fail God again in the future.  It is not implausible for you or me to fall in a way that would besmirch the testimony of Christ.  This doesn’t mean that we can justly resign ourselves to the inevitability of defeat and surrender now, it just means that we must be sober, we must be vigilant; our adversary the Devil is walking around like a lion seeking to devour us.  Alone, I’m no match for Lucifer.  If I stand independent of the Spirit, miserable failure is not just likely, it is guaranteed!

 

Trophies from my past do not assure me of peace in the future. 

 

Ezekiel 33:12 “The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him in the day of his transgression… neither shall the righteous be able to live for his righteousness in the day that he sins.  When I [God] say to the righteous, that he shall surely live; if he trust to his own righteousness, and commit iniquity, all his righteousnesses shall not be remembered; but for his iniquity that he hath committed, he shall die for it.”

 

I don’t doubt the security of the eternal destiny of the soul of a justified individual.  There are too many Scriptural and rational reasons (solidifying the permanent state of blessedness of God’s children) for me to call into question the permanence of salvation.  If salvation was a losable possession, I am certain that everyone would loose it and heaven would never have human inhabitants.  I’m talking about the grave danger of the destruction of a testimony, the shelving of a useful disciple or the deep damaging of one’s fellowship with God.

 

I’ve lost heroes before.  Adultery, corruption, deception, pornography, fear, pride, false doctrine, bitterness, addiction and even suicide have been used by the Devil (in the lives of Great people that I have followed) to topple leaders from the stage of influence upon which they once stood regally.  I’m not judging these people or looking down upon them with condescension.  All sin is sin.  I’m no better than the Biblical examples of failure.  I’m no better than the tangible illustrations of failure that (unfortunately) God has allowed me to encounter personally.  I live by God’s grace.  There hath NO temptation taken them but such as is common to man.  I can only conclude that everybody fails: from the shiniest saint to the crummiest backslider… we all fail.  But, there are some who give in to their vices one time to many (only God knows where His line is drawn).  We’ve seen hero’s fall on what was purportedly their first escapade into indulgence.  We’ve seen them fall after years of dark private struggles that were hidden during outwardly effective ministries.  Some recover and return to effective service, others fade away into irrelevancy.  I’m convinced that there is always a way to escape, but one who rejects the offer of God’s powerful deliverance can then be subjugated to public discipline from the Almighty hand of Justice.

 

We foolishly make the mistake of placing men on pedestals of greatness.  Only Christ deserves to be on a pedestal of absolute honor and reverence.  If my faith is in a man, I am sure to be disappointed.  If your confidence is in a human hero, you will be let down.  We look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; the one and only perfect example.  Paul said, follow me, but only as I follow Christ.  It is assumed that 1) Paul could have veered from the right path, and 2) that (in the event of human failure) Christ would still be there for us to follow.

 

Don’t belittle the faults of fallen leaders.  Paul said in I Timothy 5:20 that spiritual leaders who are known to be in sin should be publicly reprimanded.  “Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.”  I’m not saying that the transgressions of fallen soldiers should be minimized because of the hidden or potential failures of those still standing – I’m just saying, take heed, let him that thinks He stands, watch out, because we all can fall. 

 

Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before the fall.  We can not honesty say about ourselves or about another – “I could never do that!” or, “They could never do that!”  Without God’s offered grace and our willing faith, there is no limit to the depths of our depravity.  Our flesh is in no way currently improved by our redemption; it is as debauched and decadent as ever.

 

We can enjoy attention, relish admiration, strive for the praise of men, work to be noticed, but truly, praise and worship are always misplaced and unwarranted when directed solely toward men.  God alone is worthy of undying, unflinching, loyal, devoted, confident, unashamed, unabashed and unconditional worship. 

 

It is delusional to imagine that we can achieve the status of constant and impregnable perfection in this life.  God demands holiness and perfection of His children, but that is positional by justification and practical only in a momentary and temporary state of humble dependence upon the Spirit.  Can these moments be lined up to make a minute, an hour, a day or a month, a year or a life of consistent surrender to God?  Hypothetically, yes!  Pragmatically, there is limit (don't ask me what that limit is, I have no idea.  I'm sure it varies)!  I’ll get some disagreement on that point, perhaps, but I stand by my statement. 

 

Sure, as believers, in the Spirit we have the Power to obey, but we don’t have whatever it takes to keep the Spirit in charge without interruption.  Is it interest, passion, faith, sense or fear that we lack?  Frankly, I don’t know.  But I know what Paul said in Romans 7:18-25

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.  For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me.  I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.  For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:  But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.  O wretched man that I am!  Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

Paul called his tendency to fail, “a law.”  He was saying, “It’s a sure thing. I’ve failed before. I’m gonna’ fail again.”  He didn’t excuse it or shrug it off as insignificant, but he did not deny the reality of the principle.  Sinners sin! 

 

John walked the same path in I John 1:8 – 2:1

 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous…”

If I say to myself or to you (by my words or by my attitude) that I no longer sin, then I’m lying.  John said we all sin – it is practically (and I don’t mean almost, I mean in practice, in real life as opposed to abstract philosophy) unavoidable.  Eventual missteps are as sure and as natural as future breaths and heartbeats.  We can pretend that the word “eventual” might refer to a minor, distant, very short-lived faux pas.  However, Paul indicated that our sinfulness is more of a constant struggle to keep from drowning than a periodic, intermittent splash of acid rain.

 

I’m not excusing evil.  Paul said in Romans 6-8 that we have everything we need, that there is never an excuse for failure.  We have the Holy Ghost, the very person and power that effected the perfection of the life of Jesus Christ.  I must never adopt a nonchalant attitude of compliance toward my flesh.  I must magnify every singular infraction, then magnify God’s forgiveness and (in humility, repentance, faith and obedience) begin again each moment that I live.  God’s will for me is beginning right now!  I can not change the past.  I can not control the future.  But, I can yield in the present. 

 

Hope in an illusive “better tomorrow” will only bring disappointment.  A climax of the cumulative effects of grace (culminating in a state of aloof disengagement from the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the eyes and the pride of life) may be a door through which we can pass as believers, but it is not an inescapable world to dwell in.  There is only an entrance in our relationship with the Father, but there are both entrances and exits in our fellowship.  My mind must be made up again and again.  My pledge of allegiance must be habitual, repeated time and time again.  Sure, there was a point of initial dedication, but in geometry I learned that a line is a series of an infinite number of points extending without end in two opposite directions.  A ray is a series of an infinite number of points extending without end in one direction.  When a single point is drawn outside of the constant path and direction of the line or ray, the series is broken.  Obedient moments make up segments of our life that are honoring to God.  As a whole your life may be characterized as pleasing to God.  But don’t imagine that you or that anyone else has arrived and can no longer trip.  That wonderful condition will only be realized when you die or when the rapture occurs.  Until then, put on your armor, soldier, because we are still in a very dangerous war.  And, if you see a wounded comrade, don't hit him while he's down, help him up - you might be next.

 

Galatians 6:1 “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”

My son Seth has reached a questioning stage of life.  He likes to ask many deep and searching questions that have no simple answers.  His inquisitive nature is a good thing to some degree and I’m pleased to see that he is thinking beyond Tonka trucks and Spiderman.  Unfortunately he inherits a vivid and wild imagination from his father.  As a kid I could easily waste whole days in school daydreaming and fabricating parallel dimensions in my mind.

 

When Seth asks me something like, “What if chairs could walk?”  I usually respond impatiently with a question like, “What if elephants could fly?”  I find that turning the crazy cerebral research back on him gives me two or three consecutive seconds of peace.  I hate to admit to him that I have some peculiar “what if” questions myself.  Here are a few examples…

 

Р     What if Adam had not eaten that fruit?

Р     What if Noah had stopped building the ark?

Р     What if Abraham had stayed in Ur?

Р     What if Esau had turned down Jacob’s soup?

Р     What if Pharaoh had allowed the Israelites to leave when Moses first requested permission?

Р     What if Moses had spoken to the rock the second time instead of smiting it?

Р     What if the Jews had accepted Jesus as their Messiah during His incarnation?

Р     What if I had the apostolic power to heal the sick, speak in various languages without studying them, survive mortal injuries and raise the dead?

Р     What if the South had won the Civil War?

Р     What if the flow of fossil fuels and electricity was somehow halted for a year?

Р     What if I had stayed in college for another degree or two?

Р     What if my wife bought me a Corvette?

 

Now, before we start looking for actual answers to these “earth shattering” inquiries, maybe we should take a moment to read 2 Timothy 2:23; “Avoid foolish and unlearned questions;” and, Genesis 8:21 “the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth;” and, Romans 1:21 which says that the vain imaginations of men darkens their foolish hearts; and 2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”  

 

Before delving into philosophical and hypothetical questions it is good to first inquire about the nature of the query.  Will finding an answer to this question bring me closer to God or distract me from Him?  In Colossians 2:8 Paul warns us to “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy.”  While an inquiring mind can be an asset, it can also be a detriment.  An unbridled imagination can lead very quickly to agnosticism.  While I agree that there are postulated scenarios with no perceivable solution, thesis that bring endless speculation; there are also some very pertinent issues that the inquisitive person can evaluate and analyze to great personal and spiritual benefit?

 

Р     What if I were totally and completely yielded to the control of the Spirit of God?

Р     What if I were to actually seek God’s direction in every step I take today?

Р     What if I do everything God tells me to do today?

Р     What if I loved God with all my heart, with all my soul, with my entire mind and with all my strength?

Р     What if I loved my neighbor as I love myself?

Р     What if I was truly willing to do anything, go anywhere, and surrender everything to please my Savior?

Р     What if I were to shed the worldly distractions and actually set my affections on things above?

Р     What if we all were to seek first the kingdom of God rather than wasting our energy building castles in the sand?

 

In the words of a wise man I once heard: it’s not the things that I don’t know that bothers me, it’s the things that I do know.  We can “what if” our way into a corner of bewilderment and uselessness, or we can focus on reality, today and actually accomplish something of eternal value.

 

In 2 Corinthians 1:12 Paul was so happy that “in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God” he lived and taught everyone around him.  Again, in chapter 11 verse 3 he said, “I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 

 

I don’t need to have an answer to every question imaginable; I just need to have an answer for hope the lies within me.  When person asks me why I’m so sure that I’m on good grounds with God, how I know I’m eternally safe – I should have a definite, confident, passionate and convincing answer.  Theoretically, there are many times when an honest believer will have to simply say, “I don’t know.”  But, there are some things that we must know.  There is no excuse for ignorance about the truth of salvation or Christian service.  There is no way we should be blind, deaf and dumb when asked about our relationship or fellowship with Jesus Christ.

 

I still like the words of the x-blind man in John 9:25; “one thing I know, I was blind, but now I see!”  He didn’t know everything, in fact, he didn’t know much of anything, but he knew about the power of God that had changed him. 

 

In I Corinthians 1 & 2 Paul summed up the right sentiments when he wrote, “He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.  When I came to you, I came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.   For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 

 

 In Philippians 3 Paul said it even more succinctly…

            Oh, that I may know Him!

 

Deep and marvelous questions aren’t always so very important.  A creative imagination is not necessarily so valuable.  But, the knowledge of God and obedience to Him is absolutely priceless! 

 

Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Catalyst, Power, Reason and Oversight

 

For every effect, there is somewhere a cause.  But is God always that cause?  Is He ultimately to blame for every event in life?

 

I will never understand how and why God does what He does, allows what He allows and prevents what He prevents.  God’s ways are past finding out.  However, some meditation on what we do know about God’s modus operandi can help us to do more worshiping and less doubting. 

 

The discussion is once again centered on the sovereignty of God. 

 

God has the power to do anything.  He has the right to do anything.  He has the authority to do anything.  BUT… God does not do everything that can be done.  He does not even do every good thing that can be done.  For example: Jesus said, “You have not, because you ask not!”  Clearly there are good things that God wants to do for His children, but he doesn’t do, because they do not have the faith, the courage or the interest to ask for it.

 

In II Kings 13 we read of an encounter between Joash king of Israel and Elisha the prophet.  Elisha told Joash to strike the ground with his arrows.  Joash hit the ground three times and then stood still.  Elisha then got angry because Joash wasn’t more passionate.  Elisha said that if he had smitten the ground 5 or 6 times then God would have delivered Syria completely into his hands, but as it was, Joash would only defeat the Syrians 3 times.  Now, I realize that trying to draw a definitive line between the prerogative of God and the choices of men can sometimes be rather difficult, but Elisha was at least saying that God could have, would have done more if Joash had been more zealous in his attitude.

 

Without a doubt we can say that God is the original cause.  Without Him, without His mighty hand of purpose and design, there would be nobody or nothing else.  But at some juncture there must (according to the Scripture) be a point at which we separate God from effects that we see.  When a pedophile molests an innocent child, we don’t say that God forced him to do so.  Certainly God does not design, plan, purpose, cause or like the actions of such perverts.  Yet, if He chose to, He could prevent these things from happening.  Hence, I remind you that His ways are so far beyond our capacity to comprehend them that it is both unwise and unfair for us to attempt to judge His methods.  We are sure to misinterpret the character and reality of God if we determine to examine Him and declare the entirety of His person just by the minute segment of His being that we view through the circumstances of life that we encounter.  This is where faith enters with great force and effect.  I may not see what God is doing, but, because He said that He is good, loving and kind – I believe it to be true and entrust Him (without criticism) with my life and with the governing of the whole universe. 

 

In Genesis 18 Abraham wondered at the destruction of Sodom, which was impending.  He asked God about His ways, yet in the end He recognized that God had the right and the wisdom to do what is best.

 

Job had more questions than just about anyone I’ve ever read behind.  But in the end, when God answered Job, He said that as God, he has everything under control and needs no advice or council.

 

God did not kill Job’s kids – but He could have prevented their death.  God allowed Satan to kill Job’s children.  Satan has no influence or strength that God doesn’t permit him to possess.  Yet it was Satan who caused Job’s pain and God who allowed it. 

 

It simplifies things for me to enumerate the obvious.  So, here goes…

1. ALL good things come from God.
2. Everything that happens is either caused by God or allowed by God.
3. Just because God allows something to happen does not mean that He supports it, endorses it, likes it, or that He wanted it to happen.
4. Some things that appear to be “bad” come from God.
5. Some “bad” things are totally my own fault – not God’s fault or Satan’s fault.
6. Some “bad” things are not my fault personally, but are a product of the general curse upon creation, because of the sin of Adam.
7. Some bad things are a product of Satan’s efforts.
8. The judgment of events in this life can not be accurately made until the story is completely told.

 

In II Corinthians 4 Paul makes a very bold statement about the apparent imbalance of suffering and pain in this life.  He wrote in verses 17 and 18, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

 

Shall the thing formed say to Him that formed it, why hast thou made me thus?  We were created solely for God’s pleasure.  Those who refuse to grant God the pleasure that He desires will most certainly give Him the glory that He deserves. 

 

Two verses in closing this discussion:

Ezekiel 33:11 “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die?”    

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

 

Don’t ever blame God for your problems, your pain, your diseases, your heartaches, your miseries, your losses or your sins.  But, always be sure to give Him credit for every solution, every comfort, every moment of health, every blessing, every love, every moment of joy, every success and every good thing.

 

God is good, all the time!

All the time, God is good!

 

Romans 8:32 “He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?”

 

God is never cruel, never harsh, never unkind, never unfair, never short-tempered, never sadistic, never mean or evil.

 

He is longsuffering, gentle, loving, kind, tender, patient, gracious, merciful and good.  Oh, I know, He is holy, righteous and just – therefore no evil will ever escape judgment.  Just don’t ever forget that according to Ezra 9:13, “after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass” we can say with Ezra, “Thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us deliverance.”

 

Nobody can ever justly say.  “God was wrong.  God should have done this differently.” 

“Danger in My Living Room”

 

She had heard the stories; old folks sitting around spinning tales of the creature that lurked behind the door. That’s all they were, right? Stories.

 

It was a humid, lazy day in a small coastal town of Maryland; children were playing games under the water sprinklers; parents sitting on the porch trying to catch a gentle breeze. Everything seemed normal on the surface, but no one could imagine the evil that festered within.

 

Was the heat causing her eyes to play tricks on her? Was there something glaring out from the window as she pulled into the driveway? No, laughing at herself, must be the steam rising off of the walkway. Fumbling with keys and doing a juggling act with her purse and cell phone, she manages to finally open the door. Aaah, the air conditioner was a welcome relief.  Putting down her purse, she does the usual search for her husband. In the garden, of course.

 

Why was the hair on her neck rising and a queasy feeling stirring in her stomach? Before she could swallow the lump that had developed in her throat, the shadowy figure caught her alone in the living room. She tried with all her might to fight. Her husband, up to his head in peas and butterbeans, was oblivious to her slowing breaths.

 

One last movement and, alas, it was over. The evil recliner had won.

 

If only she had gone to church.

Being Like God…

 

In what ways are we like God?

 

The word ‘image’ in Genesis 1:27 means: “resemblance, likeness, form, phantom, empty, vain show, or representative figure.”  In other words, when God made man He used Himself as the pattern to follow, hence if a hypothetical ‘objective outsider’ were to look at the human race (at least, prior to the fall), the impression would be something like this, “these people remind me of the Creator” (assuming this theoretical audience is familiar with Jehovah God).  Now, the significance of this is that there is nothing else (ignoring angels) in the entire universe that is made in the likeness of the Creator.  It may be obvious that some wise and intelligent being designed the stars, the plants and the animals.  It may even be clear that God Almighty made all of the elements and forces in nature.  But, only Adam’s race reflects the likeness of God Himself.  So, the question is, in what way(s) are we like Him?  And, did the fall obliterate this likeness?

 

In Genesis 5:1 it is said that Adam was made in the likeness of God.  “Likeness” is a different word with a similar meaning.  It means: “like, similitude, manner or fashion.”  I know that all of this is important, because God uses this quality in men as the reason for capitol punishment in Genesis 9:6. 

 

When one studies the New Testament the statements are even bolder in some ways.  For example: in I Corinthians 11:7 Paul wrote that we are the image and glory of God.  In this computer age, we all should know very well what an icon is.  An icon is a symbol that represents something else that is bigger, better and more significant.  If you click on the “trash bin” icon on your desktop you will find a way to the actual “trash bin” on your computer.  In I Corinthians 11 Paul wrote that we are icons (images) of our Creator.  When Adam was made he was a portrait of dignity and godliness.  He was like God in many ways:

1.      He was holy, pure and undefiled.

2.      He was alive, possessing the very life of God himself – eternal in its nature.

3.      He existed as one man in three parts; body, soul and spirit.

4.      He possessed the emotional and rational qualities of his Father.

5.      He was perfect and good in every way!

6.      He was a free agent.  He could choose with his own will what to do or not to do.  (He was not controlled by instincts.  Though he was certainly capable of being influenced from without and from within, he had the power, ability and delegated right to make decisions regardless of his desires, circumstances or logic).

 

In James 3:9 we read that man was made after the similitude of God.  The word “similitude” means “sameness.”  This passage says that we resemble God; that we can be compared to Him; that one can find things that are parallel, harmonious, and symmetrical in our existence.  Quite literally, we are an illustration of who God is and what He is like.  This is why our heart aches with sympathy for the weak and downtrodden; because that’s the way God feels.  This is why we understand (in part) and experience love, morality, truth, beauty, eternity and forgiveness.  But the likeness seen has been marred.  While many of God’s traits are still reflected in the human race, the lines are twisted, the colors faded, the sound muffled, the image broken.  It is as if one is looking at God through a very dirty, broken, and bent mirror.  Oh, you can see the impression, but the view is no longer true.  It is for this reason that Christ came into the world.  According to the Scriptures, Jesus took upon himself our form, was made in the likeness of human flesh, was found in fashion as a man; yet he (unlike Adam) retained the godliness of the Father.  Jesus never (he couldn’t have) allowed the reflection of the Almighty to be hindered by ungodliness.  Is it a wonder that He said, “If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.”  Jesus was not just a replacement for Adam, He was a better “icon” of the Father because he was Divine.  Jesus did not just portray the dignity of the Almighty, Jesus was God manifested in human flesh.

 

But this is not the end…

 

Jesus came to recover the perfection in humanity that had been destroyed by Adam’s rebellion.  In Christ, the awesome glory of the Father is again able to shine through the broken life of a believer.  When a man is regenerated, the process of sanctification begins and the power and perfection of God can be seen more and more clearly each day as he grows in faith and obedience.

 

I Corinthians 15:49 states that “as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.”  In my life I have been an example of my former father, the father of lies (the Devil); and, I have been a great illustration of what the first Adam was like: earthly, fallen, mortal, rebellious, foolish, proud and selfish.  But, by God’s grace and power, the day will come when I will once again be like my true Father, like God Himself.  Not like him in omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, infinity or essence; but, very much like him in holiness, in glory, in perfection, in dignity and in love.  I’ll never be God!  I’ll never be a god.  But, I’ll be a son of God; spiritual, heavenly and worthy to stand in His presence – all through Christ. 

 

I pointed out in a sermon recently that Satan was lying (big surprise) in Genesis 3:5, eat this and “ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.”  Adam and Eve did not need to be like gods, they were already like God.  Acquaintance with evil did not make them mightier, it did not give them a greater understanding of reality, it did not promote them in the hierarchy of creation – it demoted them.  They lost much of the likeness that they were created with.  But, fear not, little flock… all is not lost.  Only God can take a story that is ruined and make it even better than it was before!

 

I John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see him as He is.”    

 

Do we have to wait till we get to heaven to reflect the glory of God?  I trow not!

 

Am I an accurate image of godliness today?  I am supposed to be.  I have the Spirit living in me.  I have the Power to overcome that evil nature that is within me.  If someone is looking for God, they should find His qualities in you and me. 

 

We are to magnify (not hinder or hide) the reality of who He is!    

We Don’t Get What We Do Deserve…

 

Together, two of the most wonderful words in the Bible are the words “But God.”

 

In Ephesians 2:1-10 the little conjunction “but” (connected with the name of the Father of lights) gives me ample reason to worship my Savior today.

 

The glorious passage (in full) reads like this….

And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 

 

But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

Honestly, I can’t imagine that there could be any reference in the Scripture that could fill me with such comfort, peace, joy and motivation.  I was dead, I was in my sin, I was disobedient, I was worldly and God was angry with me… BUT GOD brought me to life, took me away from sin, made me holy, gave me a new home and is now overflowing with kindness toward me… all through Jesus Christ, yes, but because of HIS MERCY.  If we had gotten justice, we’d surely be lost, but we found mercy when we knelt at the cross! 

 

What is mercy? It is an action that flows forth from God Almighty because of the tender compassion of His heart.  HE CARES!  He sees us in our fallen, condemned, helpless, hopeless, hell-bound, empty, weak and pitiful state… and it breaks His heart.  He extends a hand of mercy, of kindness, of good will toward us because He is such a loving God, not because we are worth saving, but because He is powerful enough to change us, because He has the prerogative to do as He pleases, because he enjoys our worship and our fellowship.

 

Evidently, God feels NO obligation from without.  However, he feels intense desire from within – He longs for us; He craves an opportunity to express His goodness upon us.  He has no need, but is filled with passion.  He is infinitely complete alone, yet he wants to share with you and with me.  His glory, His wisdom, His power, His love is immeasurable; our ugliness, our foolishness, our impotence, our selfishness is obvious – yet, in Christ, He gently took away those things which made us “filthy” and replaced them with His holy qualities through the Spirit which now abides in us.

 

Mercy!  Mercy!  Mercy!  Have you thanked Him lately for not giving you the justice that you did and do deserve?  The reproach that should have rested on my shoulders, He took on the cross.  Jesus died so I don’t have to. 

 

I remember hearing a message once (out of Mark chapter five) entitle, “She Changed Doctors.”  The woman who touched Jesus and was healed was used as a beautiful metaphorical illustration of our salvation:

Before she touched Christ she was “a certain woman,” afterward He called her “Daughter.”

She had a blood problem, but Jesus made her whole.

She had suffered much, but after the miracle she left in peace.

She had seen many physicians, but now met the Great Physician.

She was out of resources, but came to Christ empty-handed and received mercy.

Her efforts and the efforts of others improved her condition none, but her faith in Jesus allowed her to be completely cured.

Jesus knew it when she touched Him; He knew that it was a different kind of touch than the jostling of the crowd.

She had two wonderful qualities – fear and faith, as a result she is found worshipping Him and speaking the truth.

(These analogies could take all day expounding – they are simple, just read Mark 5:25-35 and look for the parallels yourself).

I remember that the sermon I heard from Mark 5 was interrupted in the middle by another preacher who came to the pulpit uninvited and began to quote Ephesians 2:1-4.  I’ve never seen so much crying, laughing, shouting and praise in all of my life as I saw that day. 

 

A clear glimpse of God’s mercy will cause us to be filled with adoration and gratitude toward God.

 

No wonder David repeated the phrase “His mercy endures forever” 26 times in Psalm 136.  David was an unworthy, but happy, recipient of that mercy.

 

I don’t frequently go to the book of Lamentations, yet in chapter 3 verse 21-23 you can read of the riches of God’s mercy.  The weeping prophet Jeremiah said, “This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is Thy faithfulness.”

Playing to our strengths…

The best offense is a good defense; or, the best defense is a good offense.  Either version of the proverb can be illustrated and defended.  True – if either my offense or my defense is incredible to a high and evident degree, my opponent may be intimidated enough to avoid confrontation or wise enough to look for an easier target. 

 

The edition that holds the most water in my opinion, is the second version: “the best defense is a good offense.”  I take it to mean that when one is backed into a corner and feels helpless; perhaps an attack can turn the tables and serve to gain an advantage for the underdog.

 

Probably a better piece of advice is: to “play to your strengths.”  Rather than trying to figure out whether defensive or offensive strategies are superior, perhaps time would be better spent simply doing whatever it is that we do best.  In football, both sides of the squad are vital to the success of the whole team.  In life (which is a spiritual war) both protecting and attacking are needful.  Protection and progress are both important.  We hold the shield of faith in one hand and the sword of the spirit in the other.       

 

In basketball, I’m better at offense than I am at defense.  For years I have exhausted the majority of my energy with the ball in my hand.  It is not a matter of which one is more important – it is simply true that I am more easily motivated while on offense.  In street-ball a good offense can overshadow a poor defense.  What does it matter if I’m not a good defender when I’m playing make-um-take-um and scoring every time – right?  Victory is sure.  But I don’t think that it is the offense/defense quality that is so significant in that case; it’s simply a matter of ability, interest and opportunity. 

Ability – I can usually hit lay-ups.

Interest – I’m motivated more while holding the basketball in my hands than I am without it.

Opportunity – I’m frequently taller and heavier than my opponents and therefore have an unfair advantage.

 

Well, I’m actually rambling a bit and saying little or nothing, so let’s move on.  In life we are to serve the Lord and fight the Devil.  But what should we focus on?  I could spend countless hours doing things that I’m not good at; or, I can focus on the things I have abilities, talents and opportunities in and actually get allot done!

 

The industrialization of the world succeeded when specialization became dominate.  Things that were once made by craftsmen who knew how to produce products from start to finish are now made by teams of experts who specialize in one single step in the process of production.  This is not man’s invention, but God’s.  God made our bodies with members and organs that specialize.  The apostle Paul spoke of seeing eyes, hearing ears and feeling hands.  It is absurd to expect ears to see or eyes to hear.  We use these organs for what they do best.

 

Maybe you are a Jack-of-all-trades.  Great!  But, tell me, what do you do best?  What are you called to do?  What is your