Where is your victory?

I just learned that a dear sweet older saint was taken to be with the Lord just recently. I don’t know when, my wife just received word. It was a bit shocking, not so much of a surprise, though she was not – to our knowledge – sick to death. She was of great encouragement to my wife, so it was difficult for her to hear about. And yet as we both sat down thinking about this dear sweet woman and the impact that she had, on my wife in particular, and the love that she showed for us when we were married, we couldn’t help but rejoice.

We rejoiced for her, instead of weeping for her, because the Lord has shown Himself gracious again. The death of a saint is not a thing of itself to rejoice in. The manner in which a person may die has no innate glory of itself. But the product of that death – that they are instantly taken into the presence of the Lord – is certainly something over which to rejoice.

The more I grow and learn about the Lord, the more I grow and learn about the vileness and wickedness of this life and those who love this life, the more my inner man yearns to see the day when we stand in the Holy presence of Almighty God forever. And the more I understand these things, the more I understand the death of a saint to be His grace to them in bringing them sooner into His presence than later. Death will never be easy for us. And indeed death was never intended to be easy for us. I think that I’ve said in an earlier post that death was never intended to be. Death, or separation is not what God intended for His creation. He created us to be together. He created woman for man and that they be together. He designed us to “be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth and subdue it.” He intended for us to all, together fulfill this plan throughout the earth. But because we sinned, when we sinned, instantly separation arose. Separation arose between us with one another and separation arose between us and God. And eventually that separation, that death, bore itself out in our physical bodies. The reality of spiritual separation became a physical reality as we are not just spiritual or physical beings but both. And what happens to one happens to the other part of us. Thus we all die because we all sin. But because of God’s rich mercy He has graciously bestowed the righteousness of His Son to us who believe. Thus the curse and penalty of sin have been forever removed. And He has granted us life, everlasting, a renewed relationship with one another and with Him for eternity. While this is a present reality – our renewed life – His plans and purposes are still being worked out in this life, thus we presently still await the final consummation when He will totally renew all things. Until that day, we who believe, still die. But we no longer have to fear death – as those who are without the hope of Christ. For Christ has conquered death for us – having proven that by rising from the dead. Thus the death of a saint before the return of Christ is God’s grace, in bringing that saint home to be in His presence, to enjoy eternal rest, comfort, peace, grace, no more to experience hurt, pain, sorrow, sin, or death.

They have gone on ahead of us. They have traveled to those shores of which our hearts assure us, of which our souls long, of which this world has no knowledge.

“O death, where is your victory? O death where is your sting? The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law, but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 15:55-57.

Blessed be the Name of the LORD!

Why do we always ask “why” when difficulty strikes?  I’m not talking about after we’ve had time to think about it, pray about it, and have others comfort and encourage us through it.  I’m talking about the initial gut response.  When something difficult happens our first thought, more often than not is “why?”  Why me, why now, why this?  Strange it seems, particularly once you’ve gone through the trial that you even asked why to begin with.  Then again, I guess sometimes all you’re left with is why with no further response from the Lord.  Some things, we’ll never know and were never meant to know.  Somethings He makes clear to us knowing that we are flesh, weaklings.

But where does that gut response of “why” come from?  Most likely it comes from the expectation that we deserve only good in life.  Certainly for the unbeliever there is often that expectation.  That they are inherently good and that they deserve only good to come.  Even that god, their god, is a god of only good things and that disaster and calamity should never befall them.  But that is not the God of the Bible.  That is certainly not the Father of Jesus Christ nor the Father of His Church.

So what about believers?  When disaster and calamity strikes and we respond with “why” what are we saying?  I think that we too are saying “why me, why this, why now?”  And I think that we are often responding with that thinking that we too deserve only good things.  Is that wrong of us to assume?  We are children of the King.  Children in the Beloved.  We are the Lord’s and we expect that He will work out everything for our good and His glory in the end…right?  And what about those who are more charismatic among us who assert that there aren’t really any difficulties that should befall us and that we shouldn’t even be physically sick (I recently had someone who was of the charismatic persuasion say to me – with reference to Isaiah 53 – that Jesus’ bore our sicknesses and that through His death we are healed and so my wife’s physical distress would be healed if we believed that and claimed it).  What about that?  There is certainly much to be said for their faith, though their interpretation of scripture is somewhat lacking.  And there is much to be said about their fervency for prayer and trusting that God would move because they pray in faith.

But what else are they saying?  In a sense, and I don’t believe that everyone of them is saying this nor do I believe that every other believer thinks this way but for the most part it is probably true, in a sense they are saying that God should give us what we ask for no matter what it is and that we shouldn’t ever experience physical or any other distress because God never meant it to be that way for us.  That is so close to the truth its almost difficult to combat.  Certainly God created us “good” and for “good.”  However things did not remain that way.  And there is really no promise in scripture that now things ought to be completely good and at ease for us as believers.  Quite the opposite.  I’ve been reading through I Peter and he assumes that difficulty will arise and that this difficulty is a part of what it means to walk in Christ’s footsteps.  Certainly Paul’s life – who was a man of faith and a man of prayer – was full of difficulty.  Are we to assume that he was in some sort of sin or that he didn’t have enough faith or that he didn’t pray earnestly enough and that this is why his life was marked with difficulty both physical and otherwise?  Certainly not.  And ultimately we have Jesus who said “in this life you will have tribulation but to be of good cheer because I have overcome the world.”  And His life, what was it if not marked by “grief and sorrow.”  Are we, His disciples, to live a life greater than He, our Master?

I guess in the final analysis we have to conclude that what is “our good” that God is working all things toward, is ultimately not up to us.  In other words we can’t and won’t know what the “good” is that God is working all things toward.  We don’t really know what good thing we need and we don’t really know how best to work out situations and circumstances in our lives in order to reach that good.  But we can rest in knowing that God knows.  And we can rest in knowing that God is the One who is and always will be in control and that He is at work to work all things together for our good, whether they are “good” or “bad” according to our perspective.

In the end, we must assert with Job that it would be foolish to only be willing to accept good from God and not adversity.  Accepting the good and adversity in this respect is more of an attitude adjustment.  There is not really anything that we can do to accept or reject adversity from God.  But the acceptance, as we saw – at least from the first and last couple of chapters of  Job – has more to do with an attitude that doesn’t question God’s motives but which accepts that He is in control, that His plans and purposes are higher than we can conceive and that whether He gives or takes, He is and always shall be blessed.

A very sobering story…

Death is not dying

We all walk through the valley of death’s shadow.  All of us who are born in the flesh will die.  When it comes to you, how will you face it?  This is the story of a young woman, who is dying from cancer, sharing her testimony and the gospel to over 600 women at a Church.

Grace at Work

“I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged faithful by appointing me to this service, though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him, but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” I Tim 1:12-14

Watching the grace of God at work in someone else’s life can be pretty exciting.  Watching it unfold in your own life can be sometimes overwhelming and humbling.  In the past 7 days I have preached my first wedding and funeral.  Life is full of so many highs and lows and as a Preacher, you must be prepared for all of it.  That the Lord would use me to encourage and exhort some who are beginning their lives together in marriage is extremely humbling.  And just 12 hours later hearing word that in my own family, tragedy…that which is common to all men…had struck, and that my cousin had died suddenly.  And that day my Aunt asked me to speak at his funeral.

A servant obeys his master.  I am a servant.  The Lord commanded and I went.  It was difficult and frightening, knowing that there were many at both of these events who did not know the Lord.  It is always a frightening thing to me to step into the place of “teacher” knowing that we shall receive the “stricter judgment” and that there is life and death hanging in the balance.  But the Lord carried me, His servant, through it all.  Through the challenging and humbling words delivered at the Wedding, and also through the tumultuous and emotional words delivered at my cousins funeral.

I even saw the grace of God at work in my attitude throughout this past week.  I’ll suffice it to say that there were a number of things done and said in the process of planning the funeral by some folks who are supposed to be Christian, which was thoroughly disappointing and discouraging to the family.  And it was personally offensive to me as a servant of the Gospel to be associated with those people.  Paul often spoke of those who would peddle the word of God for gain.  In Phil 1, he mentioned some of those folks who “preached Christ” in order to bring harm to him, while he was in his chains; or else for their own gain.  I don’t even think that these people know Christ, much less can preach Christ.  But they have the pursuit of their own gain in good order.

At any rate, please, if you remember, pray for my family.  Pray that God’s Grace would be more than abundant in the gospel, which was presented – in spite of some – that it would penetrate the hearts of my family to provide comfort and that they might come to know eternal life which is to “know God and Jesus Christ whom He had sent.”  John 17:3

Death

My cousin died this past weekend. Death never gets easier. As long as I live, separation – while I can comprehend from a theological perspective – will always cause grief. It is inescapable. We all grieve in different ways and at different times…but we all must grieve.

My grief struck me today when I was at work. I was doing fine until I was reminded of something about my cousin. It was hard for me to hold back tears. He used to stay with my brother and I…I guess baby sit us, though we were all relatively close in age…at least he and my brother are not too far off. But he used to hang with us alot…we even used to go over my aunts house to hang with them alot. And he would play video games with my brother and I all the time…he even lived with us for a bit when we were all older. Strange what things you don’t consciously think about until separation occurs. Then all the thoughts come flooding back…because they are gone.

We were never really meant to be alone. When God created man in the garden he said that it is “not good” for man to be alone. I don’t think that he meant that solely with regards to marriage. I think that He never intended for us to face separation.

It is our sin that separates us from God and from each other. And that is why it is so painful. Paul said in I Cor 15, that the “sting of death is sin.” And that so because there is a punishment which awaits those who have never been reconciled with God prior to death.

“But,” Paul continues, “thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” My heart goes out to my family. And I pray for my family that they would also have my hope. My hope is in the Lord. It is not in long life. It is not in a good life – financially or otherwise. My hope and trust is that at the end of my life, my Lord Jesus Christ will lead me to victory, from the grave to the home of His Eternal Father in heaven.

Please pray for us. Pray that the Word would go forth on Saturday.

Suffering and difficulty

I won’t claim to have experienced the greatest suffering and difficulty that life may bring.  I know that I am far from it.  Sure I have had difficulty and frustration in life but I know that there are many others who experience daily physical, emotional and spiritual pain and even persecution for the cause of Christ.

But the more I think about it, I am becoming convinced that God intends for pain to act as a cleansing agent for those who are His.  We are not of this world.  We are aliens and sojourners.  But sometimes we forget this.  Sometimes we are persuaded to think of this life as our sole reason for existence.  We think of this world as our home and its joys as the greatest or best that there is…

But, beloved, God has promised us so much more than that.  He has promised us an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, unfading and which is reserved for us in Heaven, an inheritance which He has promised to keep us safe in order to receive, according to 1 Peter.  That is what we have to look forward to.   That is our hope.  We do not hope like the rest of the world that things will “just turn out okay.”  We do not hope against hope or hope in hope…whatever that means.  We hope in the eternal rest and blessing that is promised to those of us who are in the Son whom the Father has given all things.  We hope in Christ and His return.  We hope in the day that He ushers in Peace, Justice, Righteousness, Prosperity; the time where there will be no more wars, no more turmoil, no more uncertainty, no more tears, no more sorrow, no more sickness and no more death.  That time will not happen until after our Lord returns for us.  Therefore that is what we hope for.  We hope for His return and we look forward to it.  We have no other hope.   We have no greater thing to look forward to.

When suffering and difficulty come…do not fret…be not anxious, nor be afraid.  Think of it as the Lord’s way of continuing to prepare you for His rest.  If you are sick or dying, do not fear.  Think of it as the Lord’s way of shedding you of your earthly tent so that you may finally put on your heavenly one.  If you are without…fill in the blank…in this life; think of it as the Lord preparing your heart to desire more the riches that are imperishable, not defiled by sin and everlasting.

Maranatha!

Why do you love God?

If you love God, why?  Do you love Him because of what He does or because of who He is?  This is a very important distinction.  And it is most clearly seen in how we view adversity/trial/tragedy.

Moving beyond the initial shock and emotional pain caused by such things, those who merely love God for what He does will find it hard to continue to love Him when difficulty does strike.  And perhaps those people choose to express a love for God initially but as time goes on and the weight and effect of the difficulty/tragedy continues to take its toll; those who only love God for His benefits will soon buckle under the pressure.  Whether outwardly or inwardly they will go the way of Job’s first wife, choosing to “curse God and die.”  Of course the choice to curse God and die because of what happens is an admission that God exists; and is at least somewhat admirable.  Some go so far as to reject the very notion of God merely on the basis of such tragedies and difficulties that they endure.  And regardless of the reality that none of us really deserve good from God, we all still feel that He owes it to us.  And so when He doesn’t give it, we become bitter and angry.

However, for those who love God for who He is; no amount of tragedy or difficulty will change that love.  Because in all of it, we know that God never changes in His essential character.  He is always good.  He is always love.  His disposition to His godly ones is always grace and benevolence.  Knowing that He never changes, always, at all times, gives reason for those who truly love Him to praise Him and rejoice in Him.  Certainly pain comes.  Certainly disappointment comes.  Certainly we fail to understand His purpose and methods in some tragedy and adversity that we endure.  But we know that none of those things changes who He is.  He gives, and He takes away.  Blessed be His name.  This is the anchor of our soul.  This is star that guides our way in the bleakest of nights.  God is God.  He is not a man that He should change His disposition towards us for no good reason…or even for a reason that we think is good.  His disposition toward those who love Him, toward those who He has called according to His purpose, is always love.  And so long as He continues to be the “I am”; so shall His disposition be toward those who are His.

So, the question becomes, why do you love God?  I know that adversity/trial/tragedy will come in this life.  It may affect me in a more profound way than I had ever expected.  No one knows what tomorrow may hold.  But we do know, and we must trust that God will continue to be God.  And that as much change as we undergo, finite as our existence is, He will never change in His love for us.  Love Him for who He is, love Him as He is; and there you will find great reward.  Love Him merely for what He does for you, and even in what good He brings to you, you will never find true satisfaction.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive”

While I know that it is true, I was incredibly blessed tonight to have been at my friend Anthony’s funeral.  The testimonies and worship was incredibly encouraging.  My heart still aches for my dear sister, for Anthony’s family and many friends left behind.  And my prayers will continue to go up to our Father on their behalf.

But I am truly encouraged remembering that the family of God will never truly part from each other, though we are separate for a time, as we wait for the return of our Savior and King who will “wipe away every tear from [our] eyes.”

Grief and the loss of a brother

Grieving takes on many different forms.  I don’t need a psychologist to tell me that.  You experience shock, anger, disbelief, denial, depression and perhaps some others.  It lasts for different lengths of time for different people.  Depending on how close you are to the situation, the pain can remain for years, perhaps never to completely go away.

How should we respond to grief as believers?  How should we respond to tragedy?  The quick godly (and correct) answer is to understand that God has a purpose for tragedy and that we should trust in His wisdom.  But we won’t all feel that way.  And we certainly won’t all think that way.  And that is not always  the answer that you should give to someone grieving.  While you “know” what is biblical and what is right, those who are grieving will not always feel that way.  And they need to know that its okay.  Grieving is never condemned in scripture.  It is never looked down upon.  Jesus wept for Lazurus.  He was saddened for Jerusalem and its disbelief.  We are often told to weep with those who weep.

Grieving is natural and must happen.  In fact it should happen, especially for us Christians.  Particularly because we are the Body of Christ.  And as the Body of Christ, we all loose when one of us is injured.  When one of us is hurt…and when one of us goes to be with the Lord.  We all should grieve.  And grieving must take its course.  And in time we must all be reminded that death is not the end for Christians.

Its interesting, I shared the loss of my friend with unbelievers and they were totally at a loss for words.  They had nothing to add.  I knew that they would not.  I didn’t expect prayer or and encouraging word or a scripture quoted for comfort.  But I was quickly reminded from that of the verse that one of my brothers recently quoted that we do not grieve “as those who have no hope.”  For those who have no hope, grief is terrifying.  It is stifling.  It is heartwrenching and often it is permanent without the “hope” of relief.

But Christians have Christ.  And Christ is our life.  And because He is our life, and because He lives, we know that we truly live, though we may die.  Though our bodies may decay, though they may wear down, though they may suddenly stop, for not apparent reason…we know that we truly live.

Christ is our life.  We grieve…but not as those who don’t have hope.  We weep.  But only for a season.  Even if that season lasts throughout the rest of our lives…it will come to an end.  Because we will be reunited.  And in the meanwhile, we have that hope as an anchor of our souls.  Namely that God’s word is sure and that we are approaching the time of our rest, in Christ, with all of the saints of God.

“But we would not have you ignorant brethren concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive who are left until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with the cry of command, with the archangel’s call, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words.“  I Thess 4:13-18

Pray for my brother’s family.  And pray for my sister who is left behind but who is not alone.  And pray for our family, God’s family which has suffered the loss of one of her good soldiers.