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 posting this again (from a last year post), I was going through the archives and noticed it and was again struck by how far I fall short of this sort of delight.  I pray that the Lord would use it to refresh your soul and to inspire you to pursue delight in the God of all glory.

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So we just moved and I am going through some of my old papers in order to shed some extra weight so to speak and clear up my shelves.  I write a lot.  I didn’t realize how much I’ve written…scratched notes and thoughts down on random scraps of paper and/or half used journals that I am uncovering.  Strange.  I think sometimes I loose them or put them down and move on to the next one.  Anyway, here is an excerpt from one of my “journal” entries from 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

13 July, 2010 05:53

“Thus says the Lord, cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord…blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. For he will be like a tree planted by the water that extends its roots in the stream and will not fear when the heat comes but its leaves will be green and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit.” Jeremiah 17:5-8

Happy Father’s Day!

For all the brothers who are fathers: “Principles of Spiritual Fathering”

Musings on the god of autonomy…

The god of autonomy is a cruel taskmaster, dealing out worry, doubt and uncertainty about one’s existence, purpose and end. The god of autonomy promises a pleasureful, fun filled life, however that is short lived, and is soon over-ruled by another mysterious force called consequence. Though for the unbeliever consequence cannot really exist because that would require a mover or force who has determined both the standard and means of application for such consequence. Perhaps he would call the unmoved mover behind consequence chance and would scoff at those who would suggest that there are constants in the realm of consequence (such that one could say “if you do this such and such will happen”) because this admission would rule out chance altogether. What then is one left with but the imagination fueled by faith to suggest that there is really no Sovereign who moves behind, in and through
the complexities of life? And oh what imagination and what faith one must have to hold to this.

9 March, 2010 10:55

I stand in awe at the miracle of conception, pregnancy, labor and delivery of children. Anyone who doesn’t recognize this as from the hands of the Almighty God, maker of heaven, earth, and all that it contains is a fool.
There is no conceivable reason to believe that “chance” is the God of conception. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

Our Blessed Hope

“there’s an anchor for my soul…though my heart and flesh may fail, I can say it is well, Jesus has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed, victory is won, He is risen from the dead, and I will rise when He calls my name, no more sorrow, no more pain, I will rise on eagle’s wings, before my God fall on my knees, and rise! I will rise…I will rise!”

So long as you are on the winning team…

At the end of the day it really only matters if your team wins. watching the Vikings the other day was a little painful. they had what it took. they were the better team. but they kept making stupid mistakes and poor decisions which disqualified them. reminds me of what Paul said about running the race so as to win and buffeting his body so as not to be disqualified. i guess then there is a lesson from both teams. poor decisions and foolish mistakes, no matter how “good” you are can cost you all that you worked for, all that you hold dear (the Ravens are another fine example of this). and the flip side of that
is the realization that even if you dont play too well at times, so long as victory is achieved, so long as you are on the winning team at the end of the day thats all that matters.

Recent Messages

Here are a couple of recent messages.  The first has been one of my favorite studies recently, drawn from 2 Timothy.  I’m starting to feel a certain kindred spirit with Timothy for a number of reasons.  I can appreciate his situation there in Ephesus though I am no where close to it.  But certain elements of his character and calling I can relate to.

The Blessing of a Word Drive Disciple

This next message is on Psa 67 and is a part of our Missions Emphasis weeks at HBC.  The three messages were to work together, the first (the one I delivered) to give a general view of Missions as God’s overall plan for redemption.  The second to talk specifically about a Biblical philosophy of Missions for the church.  And the third to be even more practical in terms of how to develop and implement missions in the local church.  As I listened to it again, I realize that it could use a lot of work, though I think that the point is made.  I would definitely recommend listening to the other two as well.  “What is Biblical Missions” and “Send them in a manner worthy.”  Their links are in the “HBC – Audio” on the left side of this page.

The Joy of the Nations is in the Rule of the Lord

Too heavenly minded…

I’ve been on a roll the past few days. I think that this is the most that I’ve blogged straight in a few months. I always have thoughts of blogging but don’t seem to find the time to get here to write them down.

Anyway, I was getting dressed this morning, and as I often do, thought to myself…”this could be the last outfit that I put on.” Now to some that might be incredibly morbid or negative. But in my mind, its reality. Death is real. Death can strike at any moment. There is no age, there is no socio-economic status, there is no stage of life nor level of health that can stay death. It comes to all because all sin, and that is the wages of sin.

As a believer I recognize that death is not something to fear. Death does not have mastery over me, no more than it has over my Lord and Master Jesus Christ who overpowered death on the third day after he died on the cross. And so I don’t have to be apprehensive about death. Death will serve to usher me in the presence of my Lord and God sooner than any victory or pleasure that this world could afford. I certainly don’t look forward to the process of dying or to whatever possible means there are of dying. I don’t need to fear dying either but the prospect of dying some horrible death is certainly not appealing to me. Whether it is death or dying, though, I know that I will soon be in the presence of my Lord.

Knowing that, I began thinking again…perhaps I should rather say to myself “this is the outfit that I could be wearing when I go to meet my Lord.” That is a much more encouraging thought. And as I was thinking of it, I was thinking through the remainder of my day. And why it is that I would only have such a thought as I was getting dressed.

Have you ever thought to yourself, in the midst of your day…”this is what I could be wearing when I go to meet my Lord.” Or else “this is what I could be thinking, saying, feeling or watching when I go to meet my Lord.” That is really where the rubber meets the road. That is what Moses prayed, that the Lord would “teach us to number our days.”

It seems that there is much wisdom to be gained by going into the house of mourning. I am reminded of a conversation with a brother just yesterday about the same subject. What difference should it make in our day to day, moment to moment lives to know that at any moment we could be face to face with our Lord and Creator to give an account for what we have done. What difference in our day to day lives should it make to think to ourselves “this is the last word that could roll from my tongue before I stand before the Judge of the Universe, the Holy One.”

Some would say that thinking about spiritual things too much can make you “too heavenly minded to be any earthly good.” I would say that in order for you to be or do any earthly good, you must be heavenly minded. For it is only in recognizing the brevity of your earthly life, the reality of heaven and the Lord of heaven, that you can truly accomplish anything of value not only for this life, but also for that to come. And further it is only in rightly apprehending the spiritual reality of God and eternity that you can live in such a way that you will not be ashamed at His coming or at your going.