Why I still need Grace

I had a rough day the other day…I guess I’ve had a number of rough days recently for different reasons.  But the other day was particularly hard.  And its not for any one reason.  I didn’t get much sleep the night before so was tired.  I didn’t have much sleep because I was up late finishing something that was due the next day.  Because I had things due the next day I didn’t get to spend the time with my family in the morning that I ought to have.  Throughout the day things just didn’t seem right.  My service to the Lord was off, I felt distracted, not quite “with it” as my father in law says.  I  misunderstood some things on a number of occasions that took conversations that I had in the wrong direction.  I felt pretty awful most of the day.  Things just didn’t seem right.  You ever had a day like that?

I guess I still haven’t quite recovered from that but have taken to listening to a particular song recently that encouraged me a great deal.  (Sometimes I feel like Saul whose only help from a distressing spirit was song…not that I feel like I have a distressing spirit attacking me or anything like that, though I guess you never know with those sorts of things).  Anyway, this particular song is about the “long way home.”  The songwriter sings about a great adventure that he started out on when his Father took him on a journey.  And that he didn’t know when he started how deep the valleys would be and how high the mountains would be.  But what he did know, because of his Father, was that he was going to make it…that he’d make it there soon and that he just needed to keep pressing on to that time.  Thats some good theology.  Theology is not only found in text books, sometimes its in a song (in fact it should be in all of our songs to one another in the body of Christ Colossians 3:16).  Regardless its what I needed to hear.

Couple that with an exhortation that my prof gave in class a couple of weeks ago going through I Corinthians 10.  “No temptation has come upon you but such as is common to man.”  When I was in the midst of my gloomy day I felt lonely.  I didn’t feel lonely because I was physically alone or because I didn’t have support available from family or friend.  But I felt lonely because I was thinking that no one else really understood what was on my heart and in my mind, even if I did explain it either they still wouldn’t understand or else whatever I said would just be making excuses or complaining and so I should just keep my mouth shut.  I mean, I really wanted to do the right thing by not complaining or making excuses, its far easier to do that then to simply hold your tongue when you know you’re not having the best day.  At any rate, the Lord reminded me by that passage that there really is no temptation, no trouble, no problem that has come upon me but what is common to all men.  Whatever you are facing today, I am 99% sure that someone else in the history of others has gone through it before…and made it through.  And odds are that you’ve experienced the same, or similar things before in your life and made it through.  And so its really not as bad as you think it is.  Of course going through a long, dark tunnel, walking through a deep valley or climbing a steep mountain will always feel like a long dark tunnel, a deep valley and a steep mountain.  But the fact that we can call it a dark tunnel, deep valley or steep mountain means that someone has gone before us (to the other side) in order to identify it and distinguish it from the eternal Abyss that it feels like.  And that also means that we too can make it through.

I don’t know what it is for you.  I know what it is for me.  Life is busy and many things are difficult.  But they are not insurmountable because I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to keep me through it all.  I know that He is coming for me soon (though soon may be 5 minutes or 50 years), I know that He is coming.  And I know that the uncomfortable, distasteful change and trial that I endure is really only for a short time in comparison to the immeasurable richness of His Kindness that He has in store for me.  If you know Jesus…this is for you.  Until then, remember when you have those hard days, when you are not quite right, remember that this is why He gives greater grace.

Maranatha (Our Lord, come!)

Trayvon Martin

The case of Trayvon Martin is both sad and tragic.  Certainly there is much that we simply do not know concerning the events that took place that evening.  Many will assume that they know based on the limited information that has been slowly leaked from the media.  But the only ones who really know what happened on that night were Trayvon Martin, Mr. Zimmerman and God.  Besides that as much as we like to speculate, amateur arm-chair detectives that we are, we simply don’t have the first hand knowledge of what happened.

What do we know?  We know that it is a tragedy and that this dear family is mourning the loss of their son who at the end of the day will not be returned to them no matter what the exact circumstances were at the time, or no matter the outcome of the investigation.  We know that some things were likely not handled correctly nor with equity for all who are involved.  We also know that there are many who would seek to use this tragedy as a platform for increased visibility and as an opportunity to ride their soap box of choice.   Furthermore, we know that the apparent racial prejudices surrounding this tragedy are had on both sides.  Neither side will admit but both still harbor feelings of prejudice.  And it takes situations like this (which would not likely breach the news if both parties were either black or white) to bring out those apparent and remaining prejudices.

What does this tragic event in the life of our theoretically socially advanced society remind us of…those of us who desire a heart of wisdom and not merely a heart that holds on to bitterness and pride?

1.  Sin is still a problem.  That is a no brainer…at least it should be.  Any death is a reminder for us that sin is still a problem.  The Scripture says that the wages of sin is death.  Thus all die because all sin.  The tragic nature of death only intensifies the reality of the sin problem.  Whether a person dies of old age, cancer, a car wreck or a gunshot wound, death is both tragic in itself and a tragic reminder that mankind, the human race has a sin problem that has not yet been resolved.  But there is One who has been appointed to resolve this problem.

2.  Race is still a problem.  The way that we use race is really misleading.  If you are a person of faith then we understand that there are no separate races, for we are all born from one man, Adam.  And even if that were not so (I am speaking in foolish terms because it is inconceivable to me that we would have come from an animal which is much lesser in significance than we are in the eyes of our Creator) even if it were true that we evolved from monkeys we would still only be one race of people…all having the same ancestry, all having the same blood pulsing through our veins.  If we have all come from different places in the world or have all had different tongues in recent years, these things are not enough to makes such a grandiose claim that there is more than one race.  Thus in my mind race should not be an issue.

Furthermore, to those who have faith, in Christ there is no distinction to be made between those who are from one people group or another.  All who are in Christ are a part of God’s family and thus are brother and sister.  That ought to be our attitude.  “Our people” are God’s people.  The color of your skin, the culture of those who are closest to you in relation should not matter.  Christ should.  Now I don’t expect for those who are without the faith to understand nor to consent to this latter point.  But it saddens and sometimes deeply disturbs me to hear those who would profess to be followers of Christ quick to claim their allegiance to skin color rather than Christ.  Racial inequity continues and will continue because men are sinners.  We who have faith ought not respond as if we are just like them, without knowledge, without faith.  Continuing to focus on racial inequity, using it as a platform to further hatred and division does not help to solve the problem and it dishonors the Lord who died so that we (people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation) would have peace together in Him.

Christian, do not marvel at the sin of the world.  Magnify the glory of Christ in His Church of diverse peoples.  Use these tragic days, not as a means of perpetuating hatred but rather as a means of propogating the gospel of Christ that reconciles sinners one to another.

3.  Injustice is a problem.  This is related to the first point.  Injustice is as a result of sin.  Between a man and his neighbor, between the accused and the judge in the courtroom, between citizen and King; injustice abounds.  And this is so because of sin.  When men do unjust things to one another (whether by fist or by gunshot) we ought to mourn.  And we ought to mourn because a man has lifted up his fist against another who is also made in the likeness of God.  Both men are made in His image and thus both ought to be honored.  And yet dishonor is done between one man and another and this ought not be so.  It dishonors our collective human race when men act unjustly towards one another.  Besides which who is competent between two sinners?  Would you be a just judge between those two men who lifted up their hands against each other?  Are your hands innocent of shed blood?  Have you never hated another man in your heart?  Let you who are without sin cast the first stone against Zimmerman.   Who among men is able to do such a thing?  We dare not use our own fallen, wicked, sin stained judgment against a man whom we do not know, in a situation in which we have incomplete knowledge to judge his wickedness when we have our own.  You who call for justice, what about the justice due concerning your sin against others?  What about the hatred that you’ve had in your heart against your mother, father, brother, neighbor?  What about the times when you’ve lifted your hand in anger against another?  What about your infidelity?  What about your foolish pride?  Who will bring justice against your wickedness against the God of Heaven?  There is One who has been appointed and who is worthy to resolve this matter of injustice.

4.  Whatever happened to compassion?  We – bystanders – pride ourselves in having the “right” response of outrage, awe and are quick to judge.  I could certainly understand the response of shock, disbelief, grief, perhaps hatred, and a desire for justice from the family who lost their son in a such a senseless way.   These emotions are quite natural when we go through such trials.   But beyond the initial shock, what ought our response be to Mr. Zimmerman?  No matter what the circumstances his life is now ruined.  Do we dare think that he took lightly to murdering a young man in the street?  Do we think that he failed to consider the ramifications of this to his family?  Perhaps the answer to those things is yes.  Perhaps he was so callous as to murder a young man in cold blood.  Perhaps he simply didn’t care what ramifications it would have on him or his family.  Should we respond to him with hatred or with pity?  Whether he took these things lightly or carefully considered and did it only as a last resort as he claims, we ought not respond to him with hatred but with pity.  When he pulled that trigger he changed the lives of many.  Each one of us will give an account one day before The Judge.  The One who has All Authority to cast both body and soul into Hell.  And each one of us will stand before Him and have to answer for what deeds we’ve done in the body.   This man will have to one day give an account to the Judge, of all flesh, for why he chose to take the life of that young man on that day.  And His judgment then will be final and severe.  We do not have to seek revenge for this young man’s death.  Scripture says clearly “leave room for His vengance, ‘vengance is mine I will repay, says the Lord.’”  Rather we ought to pity him.  And we ought to, as we are also exhorted, “love our enemies.”  Whatever was his reasoning, in times past, perhaps today, (perhaps even now while you are reading my post disagreeing with my every word) you have had hatred enough in your heart to pull the trigger against another.  Bottom line…you are no better.

I recall the news of Osama Bin Laden’s death where many, including many Christians, were almost rejoicing at his death.  I wrote a post about that here  The Death of the Wicked.  My thoughts then are essentially the same as they are now.  I am speaking to you believer.  We ought not join with them in the folly of their judgments on matters too great for our limited wisdom to discern.  The Lord will Judge.  The Day is coming soon enough when justice and equity will be brought upon the Earth.  In that day, every lofty heart, every foolish thought, every bit of hatred, every ounce of prejudice, all strife, wars and rumors of wars, everyone who has ever thumbed their nose against the All Mighty God will be silenced.  And He will have His Day.  The race of men will fall.  Only those who are in the 2nd Adam will stand.

I am saddened for Trayvon, his family, Mr. Zimmerman and his family.  It saddens me that death still reigns, and that inequity and injustice are still part and parcel in our day.  What is sadder yet is all of those who presume to have a handle on how to judge others when they haven’t considered in what way they themselves will be judged by the Lord.   But I am hopeful in a God who has provided both a Savior to remedy the problem of death by taking away our sin (including our pride against others), and a Lord who will some day soon return bringing justice and equity to all.

Maranatha

Heat, a Car Wash and the values of life

I sat out in my car today to eat lunch…for those who know how hot its been, yes I am a little crazy sometimes.  My car doesn’t have ac so I parked under a tree and put the windows down.  As I sat there in front of a car wash a guy pulled up in a fancy looking red car.  Nice and gleaming bright in the sun.  Looked like it had been washed, professionally detailed, washed again, buffed, touched up and then repeated.  This fella stepped out of his car – at the gas station – took out this special looking bottle of some sort of cleaner (not sure exactly, didn’t see it clear enough) and started to spray certain portions of the front and side of his car.  Then he pulled out this nice looking cloth and wiped in or off the stuff that he sprayed.  Again, not sure exactly what it was but looked spiffy.  Then after he had done all of that, standing out in the heat and taking his time to carefully and delicately wipe with his special cloth…he pulled in to the car wash at the gas station to have his car washed.

What was strange to me was that the car looked in pristine shape.  Either he had just driven it off the lot or else he had taken very good care of it since he did such that it looked brand new still.  It was an impressive looking car.  As he wiped and buffed; however i couldn’t help but to think of the fact that he was spending so much time working on his car that had likely dropped in value the moment he turned it on to drive off the parking lot.  And not only that but every rev of the engine, every pothole, every time the oil pulsed through the engine, every time a light came on at dusk, every time the wind blew, that car was loosing value.  He spent a good 20 minutes of his life (not including the car wash) preparing and caring for something that was losing value by the minute.  You ever think about that?

Henry Scougal said “the worth of a soul is to be determined by the object of its love.”  So true that statement.  I don’t know that fella.  Could be a fine upstanding citizen.  Could have been a  fellow believer.  Could have had a family just as I, working a similar job as I – though i doubt it from the likes of that car – could have been around the same age as I and the likes.  But at that moment the thing that he valued the most (enough to spend 20 – 30 minutes of his day giving care and attention to) was in fact losing value with each moment regardless of how much he wiped or buffed.  The object of his love at that moment, the thing that he chose to spend his time on – meticulously caring for it – was worth-less.

Here is my question.  How much time do you spend on things that are losing value with time?  How much time do you spend on things that depreciate?  Why not spend your time investing in things that gain value?  Perhaps most of you can see the wisdom in that.  Perhaps you’re thinking (though you also spend time buffing and waxing your car on Saturday’s) yeah, maybe I should spend more time on things that appreciate with time…things with a greater value.  What are some things that appreciate?  Your home (not necessarily in this economy), certain musical instruments, gold, the stock market (just threw that in there for kicks), a good education…fairly short list and shaky at best.  Well, what if you spent your time on those things…are they worth it?

What if I told you that those things…even those things that are prized, valuable possessions by most in the world because they are deemed to yield the best over time; in the big scheme of life are still worth-less than your time?  Those things are passing.  The cold, hard reality of life is that you could spend your life chasing those things and drop dead tomorrow to enjoy none of the “fruit” of what you thought was worth your time.  Or you could spend your life chasing those things only to find yourself in a dead end economy where everything is turned upside down.  You could spend your life chasing after those things only to have someone else beat you to it in the end, or else take it from you altogether once you’ve achieved it.  Or, you could even get all of those things…but as so many spend the rest of your life alone, regretting that you hadn’t taken time to care for people and thus alienating yourself from meaningful relationships (take a look around at those who “have it all,” are they really happy, or are they riding the next high until they have one too many and are snubbed out?)

What is your soul worth?  I can tell you what its worth by what you spend the most of your time thinking on, pursuing, talking about and dreaming of.  The reality of life is this…”the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”  The earth and its works will be burned up.  Whatever you are pursuing in this life that is not eternal will be burned up.  If it is not associated with Jesus Christ, then it will be consumed by the purifying fires of God’s judgment.  He has judged the world and it is lacking.  Its been hot in Maryland.  But that’s nothing in comparison to what is coming to the world and its works.  Don’t waste your life.

Mark 8:36-37  

36 “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?  37 “For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

2 Peter 3:10-14 

“the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.  11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,  12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!  13 But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.  14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless”

Death

Death is never easy.  In fact, it can be devastating.  As a Christian, I believe that God never intended for death to be such a part of life.  In the very beginning when He created man, he stated plainly “it is not good for man to be alone.”  And yet when we look around what we see, almost 100% of the time is that death wins.  Hands down, no matter how hard or fast we swing, no matter how many pills we pop, how many surgeries, no matter how many lifts and tucks, death always wins.  Death wins and we find ourselves separate from those whom we love and care for.  Why?

Why have we never mastered our greatest enemy?  We look at terrorism as an evil, menacing threat that we should stop at nothing to prevent.  We wage war, we sacrifice our children, all in the name of a freedom that we seek to protect when if you think about it we are never truly free.  We’re never truly free from the one thing that truly enslaves us, the one thing that has conquered all men from as far back as we can remember…death. Why have we never been able to conquer this evil?

Again, as a Christian I believe that the God prescribed death to all of mankind as the ultimate penalty for our disobedience.  He made very clear what His will was and we willingly chose to disobey.  He gave us ample freedom, ample provision in every way in addition to perfect communion with Him and instead we chose disobedience and its penalty…death.  Death, separation.  Separation from all that is good.   Separation first from the giver of life, God, himself.  Separation from communion and fellowship with him.  Our relationship with him is no longer perfect, we no longer enjoy long peaceful walks with God, instead people try to have nothing to do with God and usually not because they truly think that all that we see in its complexities and grandeur came about by chance, but rather because they know deep inside that He is and they choose not to submit to His authority as Creator.  We are separate from one another.  Relationships are severed in death.  People are indiscriminately ripped from those whom they love.  Health doesn’t matter.  Age doesn’t matter.  Socioeconomic status doesn’t matter.  Sexual preference or religious adherence doesn’t matter.  Death comes to all.  And as they say, “misery loves company.”  Thus the effects of the fear of death, the fear of leaving this life overshadows our hearts throughout our stay on earth, we all fight and strive against one another to best one another, to take advantage of one another, to get “all that we can get out of life” while we still live.  And that is our lot.

Death will forever stand as a memorial to mankind of what happens when one chooses to shake his fist in defiance against the One who created him.  One that will forever remind us of our sin, our shortcomings, our weakness, even our inability to stand before a Holy God who beckons our submission to His will.

So what can we do?  Nothing.  We can do nothing.  We are utterly helpless against death.  We are only able to sit by idly as our loved ones, friends, co-workers and eventually ourselves are made subject to death.  Mankind will never…mark my words…never be able to overcome this most formidable enemy…on his own.

We can do nothing…but the good news is that we don’t have to, because Jesus Christ has done it all.  “According to His mercy, we have been born again to a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…”  That is God’s solution.  God’s solution is not that we would be able to conquer death, but that Jesus Christ would conquer death for us.

He has come, He has lived and He has died a death (a horrible death) that is substitutionary in that Jesus died, not as a penalty for His own sin (He didn’t have any) but as a penalty for our sins.  And because He didn’t die for His own sins, once the judgment of death was measured out upon Him for our sins, death could no longer hold Him; thus He was raised from the dead.  Jesus’ resurrection is God’s solution for our problem of death.

Separations come…this life is full of them.  Death, as it would appear, is the final separation.  Separation of the soul and body, separation of one loved one from another.  Separation from this life to the next.  And yet Jesus, the resurrected One, the One who has power over death gives eternal life to those who obey His word.  Those who trust Him as Lord are given His eternal, indestructible, Holy, resurrected life; with the hope that even the physical death that befalls all of mankind, will not hold him.  We, who believe, have hope because Jesus is alive!

Death is a painful, often devastating event.  And yet death is not the end.  And it need not be the end for anyone.  We who do believe are obligated both for the Jew and the Greek, the circumcised and uncircumcised, slave or free, to offer this free gift of God to everyone.  And that so that they may too be rescued from the fear of death, rescued from its power; and truly and finally liberated into the freedom that Christ Himself enjoys, to enjoy God and live before Him forever!

Would you have His joy today?  Would you have His peace?  Would you be set free from the bondage of the fear of death?  Would you be set free from the power that death holds over both the weakest and strongest of men?  Turn to Jesus.  No one who comes to Him will be disappointed.  All who believe in Him will have His eternal life as a free gift from Him.

As for me and my house, we will trust the Lord.  I don’t believe that I am yet done what He would have for me to do in this life.  I am not yet tired of this journey.  But whenever He should call me home, I will go bounding forth as a schoolboy who has just been released to go home.

The Death of the Wicked

Seems a bit strange to me to be celebrating the death of any man, even one such as Osama Bin Laden.  I didn’t hear about it until this morning on my way into work.  At work, of course there was a bit of a buzz about it, a number of folks commenting as if it was a reason for which to celebrate.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I certainly understand the frustration, even the hatred that some would feel towards a man who – it could be said, and I’m sure it has (or at least been thought) – is the reason for the deaths of thousands over the past years since 9/11.  Certainly to those who were more directly affected by that horrific event, this man embodied the heinousness of the act that we must not forget was perpetrated by more than just one man.

That seems to be the very irony of it.  This man was one of many who worked to bring about the terror of 9/11.  One could say that it was the catalyst to numerous other casualties in subsequent wars.  And yet each individual person who contributed to the act of terror are also responsible for their actions.  And yet it is this man alone who gains much of the attention as the “symbol” of terrorism and “extremism.”

It seems to me that many (certainly not all) who are quick to point the blame at one man for the wickedness of his deeds have done so at the expense of a view of their own wickedness.  What do I mean by that?  I mean that men like Osama Bin Laden, and others who set to such acts of terrorism, carelessly taking lives and acting as judge over those whom he has never met; men like him symbolize more than just terrorism.  They really symbolize an exposure of the depths of depravity and sin in the hearts of all men.  People like him expose the wickedness that is in all of our hearts by our very nature.  And in seeking his conviction, we seek to diminish the evil that is in our own hearts and/or to write it off because we are simply “not as bad as him.”  We think to ourselves that we “could never” do the things that he did or participate in the evil acts that he did; thus we excuse ourselves as “innocent” or “basically good” and label him as evil and corrupt.

Listen, Osama Bin Laden had evil and wickedness in his heart.  However the only difference between him and the next guy is that the next guy hasn’t gone that far…yet.  The same wickedness in his hearts is in the heart of every man woman and child born in the world.  What child needs to be taught how to cry for what they want?  What child needs to be taught how to disobey a command from their parent?   How do they learn so easily how to lie in order to get themselves out of trouble?  Why do adults commit adultery?  What real profit is there?  Why do people steal?  Why murder?  You say “I don’t do those things, so I’m still good.”  Well, have you ever lusted in your heart toward another person who is not your husband or wife?  Have you ever taken a pen or pencil, even a piece of paper from work that you did not pay for?  Have you ever hated someone so much so that you fantasized about their harm or even death?  If you have then again the only difference between you and the most wicked in the world is that you haven’t gone that far…yet.

I don’t rejoice in the death of another man.  Even a man the likes of Bin Laden.  Because I am first a follower of Christ.  And as a follower of Christ, I look at every soul, apart from Christ, as a lost soul walking about in the darkness that permeates this world…all of them on the very precipice of destruction, being held by a very thin fabric of grace that the Almighty has extended for this season.  Each and every one who walks about in the darkness has the opportunity to be changed, to have the darkness expelled from their midst and to be flooded with the light of life, with the light of the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Holy One.  And yet they’ll have that opportunity only when they come to faith in the Sovereign Lord and lone Savior of the World, Jesus Christ.

I suppose I speak primarily to those who believe now.  Do not rejoice as do so many at the death of this one who, for all we know may never have had the opportunity to hear of the light of life.  Do not rejoice that his life has been snubbed out, knowing that you have been forgiven much.  Which of you has gone through life without sin such that you could stand as his judge for the wickedness that he has done in this life?  Which of you could be judge, jury and executioner to him when your own heart has been as dark, if not darker at times?  Because you were better at hiding the darkness in your heart, excusing it, covering it with so much false piety and religiosity do not think yourself better.  I’d much rather know that a person hates me because they confess it to my face then to have someone smile in my face and curse me in their hearts or to my back.  And yet that is what so many do.  They smile to the world, they do their religious duty in the world.  They give their alms to God and yet in their hearts they curse His law, they curse His holiness, they curse His word and His will for their own wicked desires.

Where are those who long for, not the death of the wicked (people) but the death of wickedness?  Where are those who would hold protests, all night vigils, form groups, write petitions and create all manner of an uproar over the wickedness that permeates our hearts?  We create a great swell of outcry over the wickedness of one man, what about the wickedness in your own heart?

Were God ever to expose the darkness in each of our hearts at any moment…perhaps even now as you sit wherever you are and in the midst of whatever you are doing…were He to expose the darkness that has crept in and out of your hearts and minds in the course of this day, none of us would stand.  Were He to shine His light upon it, all of us would be ashamed.  And yet it is His grace that withholds judgment.  Furthermore it is His Son who removes judgment for those who come to Him by faith with humility of heart, pleading for the light of life.

None of us deserve life.  All of us deserve the wrath of the Almighty…and yet He is gracious.  He is gracious and He has, in these last days extended His gracious hand to us in giving His Son to be the Savior of the World.  All men, everywhere, people from every tribe, tongue and nation are welcome to come to feast at the table of His grace as offered in the death, burial and resurrection of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Have your sins forgiven, have your hearts washed clean, replaced with a heart of flesh, not a heart of stone.  Be crucified to the sin that so easily ensnares your heart and be raised again in the newness of His righteous life.  Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus and you shall be saved!

If you have been saved, while there is still time, call others set their hope on the only One who is able to offer them eternal salvation from the wrath that is to come.

John 8:12  then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

Acts 17:30-31  God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,  31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”

Jonah 4:2  You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity.

2 Peter 3:9   The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:13  according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Colossians 3:3-4  you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  4 When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Ephesians 2:1-10  you were dead in your trespasses and sins,  2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),  6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,  7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.  10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Hebrews 7:25-28  He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.  26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens;  27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.  28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.

Romans 10:9-13  9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;  10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.  11 For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”  12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;  13 for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

What does it profit?

It occurred to me that people in the world tend to talk a good deal about planning for the future, being goal oriented, climbing ladders of success, striving for excellence etc. But really its all hogwash. And if they were really consistent with their efforts, they would likely either develop a severe fear of death or become intensely religious (which I believe becomes of many who get older and realize that their time is growing short – which by then it is often too late).

What did Jesus say? What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and to lose his soul? I say to you o man, who seeks fame and fortune, glory and power in this life; what will it profit you to gain the whole world and in the end lose your soul? So what if you gain all that your heart desires in this life, what becomes of your possessions and your life in the next? You are so fixated on planning for the future and aiming for success, what about success in the life to come? Have you yet considered that end?

Do not work for the food which perishes, but work for that which does not perish, for that which leads to eternal life. This life is found only in the One who hung on a tree, was buried and is risen to life again. He is the One who grants a hope for the future that is a living hope because He lives. He is the only One who provides an eternal pension plan, not one taxed by government, a failing economy or left to some fool to squander. His inheritance is imperishable, undefiled, will not fade away and which will be kept for you in heaven by the true and living God, the One who is His Father who has promised Him and all who love Him all things.

You want it all, He’s got it. Come to Christ. Happy Easter, Maranatha!

The duty of delight (repost)

I am again reposting this from a previous year’s post.  I think I might have to revisit this for myself yearly.  I find it interesting to see where I’ve come from and how far I still have to go.  While I think that I have been making strides in my devotion to the Lord, I know that I still fall short.  Part of my struggle is busyness.  I get busy with life, busy with responsibilities, busy with various other distractions, let alone my own selfishness and slothfulness.  I get busy and forget the effort that I must put into pursuing a deeper communion with the Lord.  No one every climbed Everest from an armchair.  No one ever sailed solo around the world who was content with “good enough.”  And no one ever reached the stars who was satisfied with the way of the world around them.  And yet those who do these things are held in the highest regard as pursuing those things that are most valuable with the greatest effort.

And yet where are the men and women who see a deeper and growing communion with the true and living God as that which is most valuable?  Where are those who would say with the Apostle that “all other things are garbage in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord?”

Jesus Himself endured the cross, despised the shame and has been highly exalted for His faithful service.  We celebrate the effect of His faithful service as we reflect upon His death, burial and resurrection at Easter.  And yet it is not merely the effect of His faithful service that should cause us to awe, but also His endurance to the end of that service.  It is this endurance that I need to be reminded of in my own life.  That I am not here for myself and my own desires.  I am not here to do whatever my heart desires.  But rather I am here to serve my Risen Savior, to pursue a deeper communion with Him, to see and savor the true and living God through Him and to glorify Him forever.

Father “give me the grace [and the delight] to do what you command and command me to do your will.”

December 21, 2002:

“In reading Piper’s ‘Gods Passion for His Glory,’ Edwards’ life is told and his book is included…on page 74 it talks about the difference between believing that God is holy and merciful and ‘sensing’ God’s holiness and mercy.  He says that we must have a ‘true taste’ and delight in God’s mercy and holiness.  I think that is what is lacking in my life…a true passion for God.  What does it mean to truly hunger for and delight in God’s Glory?  To sense God’s grace, mercy and holiness.  I think to sense God’s holiness means to abstain from sin.  Much more of it to abhor sin.  [The one who] utterly despises sin is the one who truly senses God’s holiness.  To sense God’s holiness I imagine is to feel the suns warm rays on a clear sunny day at the beach.  To [taste the sweetness of] and feel the liquid of your favorite drink going down your esophagus.  I think to sense God’s holiness is to have the hairs on the back of your neck stand on edge at the thought that though you are lone, someone is very much there with you.  But not just anyone.  This someone is the one whom the prophet of old spoke of as lofty and exalted.  This one is the one who’s train utterly fills the temple.  The one whom both the heavens and earth flee before.  This one is encircled by burning lights who cry out day and night that He is holy, holy, holy.  That someone who resides inside of those called by His name.  To sense God’s holiness is not only to abstain from but to shudder at the thought of sin.  To sense God’s holiness is to wish oneself accursed, yea even utterly destroyed due to one’s complete destitution before Him.  To sense God’s holiness in totality would be to cease to exist.  To be done away with.  Yet to sense God’s holiness is to be flooded with more than abundant grace and mercy at the recognition of a life saved.  Herein is our delight.  That a holy God would be entertained by wretched, worthless sinners such as we.  That a holy God would extend Himself to those wretched, worthless creatures to give them access to Himself.  That a holy God would give the best that could ever be given, Himself, to worthless wretched creatures in spite of themselves.  Oh the depths of the riches of the glorious grace and mercy of God in His unfathomable lovingkindness toward men!!!”

Oh for that sort of delight.  For that sort of passion.  I think that this is a life long pursuit.  Many would probably give up in pursuing a delight in God for the difficulty of it.  It is climbing the highest mountain.  It is walking the longest road.  And yet it holds the satisfaction of reaching its peak, or of finding your destination.  It is the refreshment of a cool breeze on a hot and humid day.  More than that, it is a warm blanket and a cup of cocoa (coffee for me) on a cold winters evening.  More than that…it is your last – first kiss…it is the groom seeing his bride for the first time at the altar…it is the enjoyment of seeing your child for the very first time, when they take their first breath in this world…it is a good nights rest.  And it is greater than that still.  What is your greatest, longest lasting pleasure and delight?  It is that, except infinitely more enjoyable, infinitely more holy, infinitely more glorious.  To delight in God, who is the greatest good…it is unspeakable.

I long for that delight.  I desire that sort of delight.  The journey toward such a delight is long, and it is difficult.  But it is good.  It is good because that which is its aim is infinitely delightful.  The pursuit of worldly gain and other such possessions is empty and shallow.  It is temporary.  It is flawed and soiled by sin’s stain.  But God is Holy and Righteous and Good, Perfect, Glorious, Gracious, Loving, Merciful…to write the love of God is a futile endeavor.  But to pursue the love of God, will never leave one ashamed.

I titled this the duty of delight, because it is a task.  It is a difficult, labor some task.  I could have just as well titled it the “pursuit of delight in God” or something like that.  As much as I would pursue prayer for the sake of communion with God, I would more pursue delight in God.  Delight in God would make all of my pursuits in God infinitely more enjoyable.

You are Gracious and Compassionate…slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.  I pray for each of my dear friends who would read this…I pray for us all, that you would create in us a heart that finds its highest joy, its greatest good in You and You alone.  May our hearts be sick, as David wrote, may our hearts pant after You as a deer for water.  May our souls thirst for You, the Living God, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in an unapproachable light and yet who has made Yourself known to us through Your Son, the Man Jesus Christ.  May we not grow tired, may we not grow weary in seeking this.   Burn His light into our hearts….burn it so that we can desire no one or no thing besides You.  Let us fall in love with the thought of His appearing.  Even so, Come Lord Jesus! Amen.

“O taste and see that the LORD is good, how blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 34:8

“You will make known to me the path of life, in your presence is the fullness of joy, in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

A humbling reminder…

I had a bad attitude today…a sinful attitude.  Its easy to justify a sinful response to someone, particularly when you feel that you have rightly discerned their heart and motive in the matter.  But that justification is just as wrong as any justification that they might render concerning their own behavior; furthermore my discernment is not infallible.  So what makes the difference between them and I?  As far as I know, from their behavior they are not a follower of Christ.  And yet based solely on my own heart response (even if I suppressed foolish behavior) some might wonder if I were a follower of Christ.  So what makes the difference?

I guess the difference comes in what I do with that sinful response.  For the one who follows Christ sin must be dealt with.  Really there are two issues involved in a situation like this.  First is what do you do with a person who has sinned against you?  How do you respond to such a thing.  Second is – if you haven’t responded well – what do you do with your sinful attitude.  Really the other person has probably gone on about their business for the day, they aren’t even thinking about you but you are still fuming.  I’m trying to be real with this because I struggled with it for quite a bit this afternoon.

Concerning the first issue, what do you do when a person sins against you.  My first response today was to become agitated.  Part of the issue is that I was already a bit agitated from something that happened yesterday (both of these issues transpired around work…).  So I should have dealt with it yesterday before the LORD but I did not.  BIG PROBLEM.  When you let a sinful response fester in your heart it is bound to take root and grow into something worse.  So when someone sins against you deal with it immediately.  If you are not in the place to where you can address the person as a believer, and they won’t respond otherwise, then you may need to simply right it off.  I was thinking on a passage in Psalm 37 about not fretting because of evildoers…ceasing from anger and forsaking wrath because it will only lead to evildoing.  In other words, when you become angry about an evildoers actions and respond in anger that response is itself evildoing and leads to further evildoing.  Furthermore we are to follow the lead of Christ who when reviled did not respond in anger but kept entrusting Himself to the One who judges rightly (I Peter 2:23).  This is the example that we have, thus we ought to follow it in all of our doing.

One further thing, when we are sinned against by someone else, our first response is often characterized by a preoccupation with ourselves and how we feel that we have been wronged.   Its not necessarily about justice, though we may say that it is.  Its often about retribution and/or seeking to be recompensed for some right of ours that we feel has been violated.

Sin is a violation against the LORD.  And the LORD is gracious.  He has been gracious to us in Christ, thus we ought to seek to be gracious to all others, regardless of what offense they make.

Titus says

Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed,  2 to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.  3 For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,  5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,  6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  7 so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  (3:1-7)

We are to show every consideration for all men, we are to be kind, to malign no one, to be peaceable and gentle to all, because we were all once foolish…and because God showed us His kindness and love by sending Christ to die for us, not because of our good deeds, but because of His mercy.  If God has done this for us in Christ, we must do no less.

Furthermore God is the One who exacts vengeance, who brings justice.

Romans 12:19-21

19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.  20 “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.”  21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Thus we must leave room for God to bring justice, because His justice is righteous.  Ours is often selfish.  And it is His alone to give as He is the Judge of all things.

Concerning the second issue, if you haven’t responded well, what do you do with your sinful response?  My sinful response was in the heart.  Thus I had to deal with it before the LORD first.  I had to realize that it was sinful.  When I thought a little longer about it and reflected upon some passages of scripture that I had been praying through recently, I was convicted.   Thus I had to seek Him for forgiveness because ultimately any offense is an offense against the LORD who Himself is righteous and expects righteousness from all.  Because some cannot, and we all do not live up to His standard does not require that He lower the standard.  He has provided Christ to help us to be acceptable to God because of Christ and not ourselves.  Thanks be to God!  Seeking the Word was crucial in that step because the Word of God is that which brings conviction to the heart and correction.  It also gives wisdom to know how to respond in the future.

The next step would have been to seek forgiveness from this other person because of your sinful attitude toward them.  Regardless of whether or not they were privy to your sinful attitude.  Especially if it is a believer.  Seeking forgiveness from them for your sinful attitude towards them helps to restore your relationship with them.  If you are not able to seek forgiveness because they are separate from you geographically or otherwise then you must entrust that situation to the LORD.  But be humble and seek the forgiveness.  In my case, the individuals against whom I sinned I will not likely see again.  That is sad because I fear that I may have left a negative view of myself behind for them.  Of course this is not for my sake alone but for the sake of the name of the LORD by whom I am called.  We often (myself included) forget this.  We don’t merely represent ourselves, thus we don’t always have to be right or to “save face” in a given situation.  If we know the LORD, if we follow Christ; then it is His glory that we ought to seek to preserve.  And often the best way to do that is not by retaliation or an angry sinful response, but by humility, being “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger” as James says, and by entrusting ourselves to the LORD, the Righteous Judge.

 

I pray that this confession and exhortation would be a blessing to you today.  Until He comes…

 

Psalm 37:1-11

Do not fret because of evildoers, Be not envious toward wrongdoers.  2 For they will wither quickly like the grass And fade like the green herb.  3 Trust in the LORD and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.  4 Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.  5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.  6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light And your judgment as the noonday.  7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.  8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath; Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.  9 For evildoers will be cut off, But those who wait for the LORD, they will inherit the land.  10 Yet a little while and the wicked man will be no more; And you will look carefully for his place and he will not be there.  11 But the humble will inherit the land And will delight themselves in abundant prosperity.

James 1:19-20

19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;  20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Psalm 18 – 150 Days of Purposeful Meditation (Day 18)

God is worthy of our adoration.  Scripture says “I love You, O LORD, my strength” (v 1).

I feel that this verse could stand alone as a meditation for our souls.  For what more does our soul need but more of God?  I’ll point out only a few things about this verse.

First of all is that David starts out the Psalm with these simple words “I love you, O LORD…”  Of all that he could have said to begin this Psalm, these three words were first on his lips.  I love You…  Of all that is dearest to our hearts to hear from those whom we love, are these three words, I love you.  Of all of those things that would be for our encouragement, strength and help are these three words, I love you.  Of all that would express our greatest passion, our deepest desires, our highest delight over some One, it would be summed up in these three words “I love you.”  For David, a man after God’s heart, a man who sought God’s heart; these three words were meant to express his tremendous gratitude to the LORD for His deliverance.  I love You.

The older I get in the LORD, the more I realize that the true prize of my faith is not what I know, but is how well I know it.  And how well you know a thing is determined by whether or not it has penetrated your heart.  I may know my favorite football team, but I do not know them well.  Thus my enjoyment of them will only go so far.  I know my neighbors, but I do not know them well, thus my desire to be with them, to have company with them will only go so far.  I know many of my extended family, some better than others, and to the degree that I know them I will desire close fellowship with them.  I know my wife.  And I know her well.  And the longer we walk together in this life, the more we communicate, the more we experience together, the more difficulty we have to endure together, to more we are able to rejoice together, I will get to know her better and my love for her will grow.  I love my wife now and I will continue to grow in my love for, desire for and appreciation for my wife.

I know much about scripture, perhaps more than many others who have not had the privilege of theological education.  But knowing about scripture does not equate to loving the LORD.  What I know about the LORD must penetrate my heart, I must know the value of Him, I must see the wisdom of His ways, I must experience His word at work in my life, I must go through difficulty with Him, and experience the joys of knowing Him and obedience before what I know will be of any value to me.

When David says I love You O LORD, he says this to express a heart which has known both cognitively and experientially the goodness of the LORD.  Just read the rest of the Psalm and you will understand what I mean.  He has experienced the LORD at work.  And in experiencing Him at work, his head knowledge moved his heart.  Job said “I had heard about you by the hearing of my ear but now my eye sees You…” at the end of all of his struggles.

Second, David says “I love You, O LORD...”  I think that we can easily forget that the name LORD is not a casual title to be used in the place of God.  It is in fact the name by which the Hebrews came to identify their God from any other God.  He is the LORD.  He is the “I AM.”  He is the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end.  He is who He is without the help of anyone or anything.  He is the I AM.  This is the God to whom David prayed.  This is the God of scripture, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  This is the One True God, apart from whom there is nothing, and in whom we live and move and exist.  He is the LORD, the Creator of Heaven and Earth.  And He is the One to whom David prays I love You, O LORD.  Learn His name, seek His face.  Call upon Him, pursue Him, forsake any other.  And you will not be ashamed.  The One True God, the LORD is His name.

Third, David calls this God, the LORD, his “strength.”  David is known as a mighty King, a great King.  One of the greatest in Israels history.  And yet this man who would afford great fame among his people reduces himself, humbles himself by not boasting in his accomplishments nor in his own abilities but by boasting in the LORD, his God.  He says You, O LORD are my strength.  He goes on to describe the LORD as his strength in terms of Him being his “rock,” his “fortress,” his “deliverer,” he says that God is the One in whom he takes “refuge.”  When the battle wages on, the storm rages about him, the waves break over him, David calls upon the LORD, His God and takes refuge in Him.

O, taste and see that the LORD is good.  Pursue a deeper love for Him this year.  Make your every ambition to grow in the knowledge of Him.  Dig deep, sweat and labor to know Him and you will never be ashamed. You can have a close and personal fellowship with the One True God and Creator of Heaven and Earth.  His name is the LORD.  And He invites you to come to Him.  He invites you to take refuge in Him.  He invites you to become strong in His strength.  And He makes it possible in the One whom we call Lord, Jesus Christ. Through Him, this can be the prayer of your heart, “I love You, O LORD, my strength.”

“For scripture says ‘whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed’…for ‘whoever will call upon the name of the LORD will be saved.’”

 

A prayer and charge for your children to start the New Year

From King David to his son Solomon:

“Know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind.  For the LORD searches all hearts and understands every intent of the thoughts.  If you seek Him, He will let you find Him, but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever.” I Chronicles 28:9