Righteous Destruction

When the sin of God's people in Israel multiplied before the LORD, judgment by the hand of their enemies was the LORD's righteous remedy.  They sold themselves to rebellion, sin and idolatry, so God sold them as slaves into the hands Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.  It is ironic that Israel had been given the Law of Moses, had built the temple as God's dwelling place and had priests and Levites who conducted worship and corrupted themselves, yet it was Nebuchadnezzar who did God's will in destroying Jerusalem.  God had a good purpose and plan even in displacing the people and making the city a ruin, for He would refine them and cause them to return to Him (and the land He gave them as an inheritance) at His appointed time.

Consider what is written in Isaiah 10:20-23:  "And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as have escaped of the house of Jacob, will never again depend on him who defeated them, but will depend on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. ²¹ The remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the Mighty God. ²² For though your people, O Israel, be as the sand of the sea, a remnant of them will return; the destruction decreed shall overflow with righteousness. ²³ For the Lord GOD of hosts will make a determined end in the midst of all the land."  For a season the children of Israel were made to depend on those who defeated them because they would depend on the LORD God in truth.  God preserved a remnant who would place their trust and reliance upon God who chastened them even as a father does his son in whom he delights.  Though it seemed no good could come from the destruction and death, God had a determined end in mind for the good of His people.

God had decreed destruction that would "overflow with righteousness."  This opposes our assumption that building is good and tearing down is bad.  Tearing down is often necessary to build something better, like when a house is condemned and uninhabitable.  God was like a builder who tore down a building who possessed the skill, resources and plans to rebuild and spare no expense.  God directed Nebuchadnezzar to raze the ornate temple Solomon built to the foundation with the intent to make His people the humble temples of the Holy Spirit He would inhabit.  The physical destruction of a building dedicated to keeping the covenant of law preceded the establishment of a new covenant by grace through faith in Jesus.  The people prided themselves in the temple and gave their lives to defend it, yet God in due time would send His son Jesus to die for the sins of the world so all can be made new creations by the power of the Gospel.

Out of the wreckage of Jerusalem and a long period of captivity God would preserve a faithful remnant, and this is good for us to remember in the midst of trials and difficult seasons.  This observation should not cause us to minimise the struggle or pain people experience, that we ought to dismiss grief and troubles we or others face, but to realise God has plans to miraculously redeem them for good.  Romans 8:28-29 holds forth this assurance that is more sure and predictable than the force of gravity on earth:  "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."  Rather than seeing predestination as God choosing some and excluding others, it is better to view it as the guarantee that all who choose to trust Jesus were first called and chosen by Him.  From the death of His only begotten Son God has brought the promise of new life He has freely extended to all.  The question is, will we receive Jesus by faith and be faithful?

Your Fear and Dread

Regardless how many times we have read the Bible or done in-depth study of it, one can never predict what God will say to us through His word.  Yesterday I received instruction concerning a defining factor in relation to conspiracies or conspiracy theories.  I differentiate the two by the first being one as a matter of fact (like when Absalom declared himself king over Israel whilst king David reigned) and the other as a fanciful, far-fetched report gained second-hand through individuals who claim to have inside information (with regular updates!), have an online presence and often are selling something.

Last night I read Isaiah 8:11-13 (NIV) that says:  "The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people. He said: ¹² "Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. ¹³ The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread."  Coupled with conspiracy--whether real or imagined--are feelings of fear and dread.  When David heard his son declared himself king, there was an opportunity to justify fear of the future or what action he was to take.  Rather than being afraid of what was out of his control, David was to fear and dread the LORD Almighty whose perfect love casts out all fear.  Knowing God is sovereign and mighty over all, our Good Shepherd, provider and deliverer, we do not need to fear what man or armies can do to us.

One of the common threads in what I would call conspiracy theories is the leveraging of our own fears to spread a message, take action, doubting anything considered established or "mainstream," and to have loyalty and allegiance to those who drip feed incredible claims.  I have observed fear and dread take hold in the church and cause divisions when Y2K was a thing.  Some of those who peddled hysterical claims online or in books that were ultimately proved false (because they did not take place) have continued to profit off sowing doubt and fear in the minds of impressionable people.  The subject matter changes, but the fearmongering continues like a pyramid scheme built of fear and dread.  Dear Christian, let us be discerning about our motives in seeking out and spreading messages that are designed to put people in fear.  It is possible to foolishly wield scriptures to put people in fear of the government, possible loss of freedoms or future suffering when our aim ought to point to the holy God, the one we are to fear and dread.

The Hebrew words translated fear and dread are basically the same, and this is an example of parallelism frequently employed in Hebrew poetry.  It means "fear, terror, awe."  God is worthy to be our central focus and awesome in our eyes, able to do everything without fail.  Those who trust in God knowing He is for us have a sure refuge in time of trouble, the promise of provision and protection, and eternal and abundant life by His grace.  Due to trust in Jesus conspiracies, whether real or imagined, ought not to trouble us at all because Jesus has overcome the world, provided perfect peace and gives us all that pertains to life and godliness.  Your fear and dread is a hallowed space that only the LORD Almighty is worthy of.  When tempted to fear what man can do, praise the LORD for what He has done and has promised to do.

Taking a Stand

This morning at church I did something out of the ordinary for me by inviting people to stand in repentance for sin and to pray together.  I explained to the congregation that until now God has given us all opportunity to repent of our sin, yet repentance is something we can neglect.  We can feel shame or guilt over sin, be disappointed in ourselves for continuing to sin, or be troubled by the consequences for our sin but never actually repent of it with contrition before the LORD.  As a shepherd leads sheep to the water and it is up to them to drink, so it is for those who preach and teach the word of God and seek to lead people to walk in God's ways.  Those who drink deeply of the living water of the Holy Spirit only do so because God has first drawn them.

One reason why it is not my first inclination to ask people to respond to a sermon in church publicly is because it is the easy thing to do.  Please don't misunderstand me:  there can be quite a battle that rages within a person that makes going forward, standing or even raising a hand very difficult to do.  I faced this battle many times during my Christian walk.  But the situation is contrived in an environment where much of the pressure we feel to respond is because of those around us and what they may be doing or thinking.  Having received an exhortation to repent of our sin, we can feel pressure to comply and demonstrate we are listening and doing what is right.  There can be countless reasons people stand or go forward at an invitation that have nothing to do with obedience or submission to God.

At a youth camp I spoke at last week, a youth pastor gave an invitation to people to raise their hands, to repeat a prayer and to go forward.  These are all good things to do when prompted by faith in God and submission to Him.  Just because some will go because their friends are going does not mean taking a stand for Jesus in response to an invitation is without merit.  However, the real stand of repentance is not taken when every eye is closed and head is bowed in the sanctuary but is when no one else is around and you are sitting at your computer and tempted to look at porn, when you want to have another glass of wine, when no one knows you are eyeing a pretty woman or a handsome man.  The stand of repentance of sin is taken when the pressure is on at work to lie and you choose to tell the truth even when it comes at a price; it is in confessing selfish attitudes and cursing in your heart to God who knows full well the corruption of our flesh.

I was blessed beyond measure at camp when a sea of young people were jumping and singing up front to worship music and a young man remained sitting in his seat, scowling with his arms crossed.  It may have been the Holy Spirit was speaking louder and more clearly to that lad who seemed to dig in his heels when all his friends were up front having fun.  While at one stage I may have rejoiced over all those kids who went forward to worship--imagining I had something to do with it--I rejoiced over the one with arms crossed who refused to sing.  Had he made a mockery of the invitation, he would have gone up with all his friends.  But I suspect he was stewing because God was speaking.  I know that young man is deeply loved by God and it is God's will he be saved, and God has done and will do everything to redeem his soul from destruction for eternal glory.  It may be the one who looks least likely to follow Jesus can be transformed to be the one who lives for Jesus faithfully for all his days, so great is the power of our God to save.

Those who will repent of their sin and take a stand for Christ is not during a church service but in all hours of the day when there are continual temptations and opportunities to sin.  We take our stand for Christ, not in the presence of others who observe us standing in church, but before the LORD who sees the thoughts and motives of our hearts.  Going forward in a sermon after wrestling with our conscience does not provide forgiveness, salvation or sanctification but by yielding to Jesus through faith every day as His disciples, loving and trusting Him.

Counting the Cost

Today I had a chat with Christians about our need to count the cost in following Jesus.  Our saviour Jesus is not an useful addition or convenient accessory that improves our life but He is our life.  Jesus spoke about considering the cost of following Him and drew upon practical examples to teach His disciples.

Jesus said in Luke 14:25-33, "Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them,
²⁶  "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it--²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

The required cost of discipleship is to love and be loyal to Jesus above anything and all others (including ourselves), even those who are related to us.  It means dying to self, choosing to daily lay our lives down in obedience to Jesus as He lay down His own life for the sake of sinners.  A servant is not above his master, and since our Master Jesus freely sacrificed Himself for the glory of God in obedience to His will, so ought we to do in living a life that pleases Him.  Jesus spoke about how a person building a tower considers the cost of the project before starting construction.  A tower could not fulfil its purpose if only a foundation was built.  Everyone would recognise the folly and how laughable it would be to start a project that could not be finished.  All the effort and financial investment would be wasted on a "tower" that never stood.

The second illustration Jesus used was a king on the cusp of battle who was severely undermanned.  The king needed to decide if victory was assured or at least probable with his current fighting force.  If it turned out the king faced a battle he could not win, it would be wise would send a delegation to ask for conditions of peace so him, his army and kingdom would be preserved.  This common sense is also true concerning Christians.  If we are unwilling to bear our cross and come after Jesus, if we do not want to go where He is going and build our lives upon His wisdom, choosing to hear His voice and obey Him, it makes a mockery of Jesus and discipleship.  Those who lose their lives for Christ sake will find them, and those who refuse to forsake their lives--their ways, plans, ambitions, fleshly desires, assumptions, thoughts and sins--cannot be His disciples.  You might as well try to fight a battle you cannot possibly win.  Following Jesus means we follow Him exclusively and continually His way.

Paul, a faithful disciple of Jesus, wrote in Philippians 3:7-11 about how loss for Christ's sake resulted only in gain:  "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."  When Paul shed the skin of everything he once prided himself in, he found himself enriched beyond measure through righteousness by faith in Jesus, the knowledge of Jesus, the power of resurrection to new and eternal life, and the fellowship of His sufferings.  Paul was richer in the end, and it all came at the cost of Christ's shed blood and by the power of the Gospel.  We lose nothing in giving everything God requires because God gives us freely everything that pertains to life and godliness.

We decide to follow Jesus knowing it is not a one-time decision but a choice we are content and glad to make every day as we hear and obey His voice.  If we will be new creations by faith in Jesus, we also ought to walk in newness of life.  Otherwise we are like a silly builder who starts building a tower without a foundation, materials or money to finish the task and assumes the project will be soon finished.  It is like a foolish king who sends his troops into a battle where no victory is possible.  Trusting, obeying and following Jesus is not merely a priority for us but the only option for His disciples.  If we are unwilling to agree to Christ's conditions or trust in Him, then we cannot be His disciples--simple as that.