Taking Up Your Cross

Following the Good Friday service yesterday, my wife Laura and I had a thought-provoking talk.  It is my practice to ask Laura what God revealed to her for personal application during the sermon.  "It was good," she said.  "But I think it would have been good to talk more specifically about what 'taking up your cross' means.  That phrase is used so often in Christian circles it has almost lost all meaning."  She was absolutely right.  The term has even been adapted into modern vernacular outside the church.  When people face irritating or frustrating circumstances they hate but must endure they say with a sigh, "I guess this is my cross to bear."  The ironic thing is, that's not how Christ approached His crucifixion.  It was no drudgery.  He approached it with fierce determination and willingness, knowing His hour had come.  For the joy that was set before Him Jesus endured the cross and ultimately rose victorious.

The sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God on the cross was ordained by the Father from before the world began.  Jesus came to seek and save the lost, and for the purpose that He might demonstrate the love of God for fallen man through sacrifice.  The cross was Christ's calling.  It was purposed by God to satisfy divine justice.  There can be no forgiveness without atonement.  Atonement means to redeem, to buy back.  It carries the meaning of an exchange, to reconcile, restore.  In the Old Testament under the Law, atonement occurred by the shedding of the blood of an animal.  The wages of sin is death, so the death of the sacrifice was exchanged for the life of the sinner.  When Jesus took up His cross and was crucified on Calvary, His shed blood once for all provided atonement for all who repent, trust in Him, and obey the Gospel.  If I were to die on a cross, it would have no redeeming power because I am a sinner.  So what is Jesus talking about when He commands we deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Him?

The Father purposed that Jesus would be a sacrifice.  This taking up our cross is our reasonable service to God as disciples.  The cross we are told to take up is the calling God has placed upon our lives as living sacrifices unto God.  Some people would love to follow Jesus without meeting the other conditions Jesus speaks of.  They believe they can follow Jesus without denying themselves or without embracing the calling of self-sacrifice God has ordained for their life.  But Jesus gives us indispensable insight with His command in Luke 9:23-24:  "Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. ²⁴ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it."  Jesus could not have remained a sinless sacrifice if He chose to avoid the cross.  He would have ceased from walking in the will of His Father in heaven.  Personal consequences for the results of disobedience or rebellion should never be seen as "a cross to bear."  Jesus had never done anything wrong, yet He was called to carry His cross and be nailed to it.  God had a purpose in Christ going to the cross, and He has a calling and a purpose for your life as well.  Even as God strengthened Jesus to answer His call faithfully to the end, so He will empower and comfort us.

This calling and purpose God intends we take up is to be done daily.  It is not a "one-off" decision.  Since we live in a body of flesh that resists and even resents the righteous demands of our Father, we must continue to deny ourselves.  We must labour through the power of the Holy Spirit to cast down arguments and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience to Christ.  The denial of self enables us to submit to God's commands and divine will.  Focusing on our cross can never give us the strength to carry it.  Our eyes must be fixed upon Christ's example of sacrifice on the cross and His current risen state.  We must place our trust in Him alone.  We do not serve a dying or dead God, but the One True Living God!  Because He is alive, He has the power to strengthen and enable us to do everything He calls us to.  By God's grace we can follow Jesus Christ to death and glory.  The path to glory always passes through the cross.

I close with a quote by J. Oswald Sanders:  "Self-sacifice is part of the price that must be paid daily.  A cross stands in the way of spiritual leadership, a cross upon which the leader must consent to be impaled.  Heaven's demands are absolute, 'He laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren' (1 John 3:16).  The degree to which we allow the cross of Christ to work in us will be the measure in which the resurrection life of Christ can be manifested through us." (Spiritual Leadership, 1st Edition, pg. 142)  Taking up our cross involves a decision to first drop everything which may hinder or weaken our grip.  Once we have emptied our hands, we must decide to take up the cross.  It is God who strengthens us to lift it and Christ will bear it with us.  Instead of being a horrible weight, it is a path to fellowship and closeness with God obtainable through no other means.  Praise God for the cross!

Sodium Chloride and the Chemist

When the earth was young, a chemist considered the elements and compounds which comprise all living things.  "I know what I will do," said the man.  "I will bring together Sodium and Chlorine, joining them perfectly.  They will be one:  Sodium Chloride, or NaCl.  This unity of 40% Sodium and 60% Chloride will provide flavouring for food, act as a preservative, and will have a long shelf-life."

The chemist was excited, as the close bonds between the chemicals were a picture of the intimacy he hoped to share someday with his bride.  "I will make a special place on my table for this salt," he said aloud.  He produced a crystal shaker and poured the salt into the valuable vessel.  "As long as you live, Sodium and Chloride, you shall remain together as one.  What God has joined together let not man separate."

Sodium and Chloride were pleased to remain together even as the chemist had joined them.  Had they remained alone, Sodium would have been a metal and Chlorine a gas.  Only when they were united together could they be NaCl, or salt.

A day came when two Sodium molecules walked up to NaCl.  "We've been thinking," Sodium A began.  "We've noticed your special arrangement, being displayed on the table.  We believe we have every right to be salt, just like you."

"I'm afraid that's not up to me," said Sodium Chloride.  "We were placed in this chemical arrangement by the chemist.  He's the one who provided this shaker in which we reside.  It is ordained by him that we remain here until death parts us."

"To hell with the chemist," said Sodium B.  "We do not believe in any such chemist, and if he did exist he must obviously be a bigot and a fool.  We will be salt, and we will get our own salt shaker to prove it."

It was not long before two Chlorine molecules floated up to the salt shaker on the table.  Chlorine A began:  "We've heard that you said Sodium A and Sodium B cannot be salt.  I suppose you would suggest we cannot be salt either."

"Chlorine with Chlorine could never be salt," said NaCl.  "The relationship we share is defined by our chemical properties.  To be genuine salt, the properties of the compound is 60% chlorine and 40% sodium. Two molecules of Chlorine living in a shaker or being displayed on the table does not make you salt."

"We have a problem with that," said Chlorine B, "and we will take this matter to high court."

The prosecution addressed the judge:  "Your honour, it is a grave act of discrimination that this nation will not allow Sodium and Sodium to be salt.  Equally repulsive to my clients is the notion that Chlorine and Chlorine cannot be salt either.  I demand that my clients have the opportunity to live together in a salt shaker exactly like the one provided for NaCl.  I want them to be displayed openly on the table as equals, even as nature intended."

"There is no legal restriction that prevents Sodium and Sodium from residing in a salt-shaker together," said the judge.  "Your problem is not with the laws or people of this nation but with the chemist who abides according to absolute law.  You seem to think that if Chlorine and Chlorine were to live in a salt shaker they should be recognised as salt.  But it does not take a chemist to know that is impossible."  The judge sat back for a moment in thoughtful silence.  "No doubt the day will come when Sodium and Sodium will abide together in a crystal shaker like NaCl, even displayed on the table.  But it will never, ever be salt.  Take it up with the chemist if you want, but his word is unalterable."  Down came the gavel with a crack.  "Case closed."

The Straight Way

I saw a "Mythbusters" episode during which Adam and Jamie put to test the theory it is impossible for people to walk in a straight line blindfolded.  It was comical to watch Adam and Jamie try walking, swimming, and even driving with their eyes covered.  Try as they might, they never remotely were able to travel in a straight line.  It wasn't long before they literally were walking in circles.  When the blacked out glasses or goggles came off, they were amazed how far they had veered off course.  Even when they constructed a device so they might work together to walk straight, they failed.  The "myth" was confirmed:  without the use of their eyes or ears, they were absolutely lost.

At the end of the program, Adam and Jamie walked through thick woods.  Without survival training, Adam was able to walk a fairly straight line.  Harnessing prior training and making use of the sun, Jamie stayed right on target.  Even with bucket on his head to simulate "white-out" conditions, Jamie remained on course.  The primary observation I made from watching these men trying to walk straight was how futile their attempts were when deprived of sight.  The ability to see made all the difference.  Spiritually the principle is true.  When a man is spiritually dead, he is also blind.  He remains without life and spiritual understanding.  Man could never find the way to heaven on his own, even if he did his very best.  We could not by accident hope to arrive at a heavenly destination.  Only through the Gospel can a man be born again and made to see.  Jesus is the One who came to open the eyes of the blind, set the captives free, and raise the dead through repentance and faith in Him.  God has given His Word as a compass, GPS, map, and survival manual all in one.  Unless we familiarise ourselves with the scripture and consult it often, we might as well be walking in circles in the dark.

Just like the sun is a critical tool for orienteering, so Christ is for us.  Hebrews 12:1-3 says, "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls."  When we look to Jesus, we are shown the Way.  Considering Him in all we do, even in the midst of trials and struggles, keeps us from weariness and discouragement.  We don't need to grope in the dark for God when He has clearly revealed Himself to us as the Light of the World.  His "will" is not some ambiguous notion only confirmed with signs and wonders:  we should not look to a fleece when we should look to Christ guided by the indwelling Spirit.

With eyes on the Son Jesus Christ, may we say with the psalmist in Psalm 143:8:  "Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You."  When we look into those eyes of love, we find hope, strength, and direction for every step of our lives.  Perfect knowledge of every step isn't as important as knowing the One who has ordered your steps.  Look unto Jesus, trust in Him, and you will know the Way.

Can You Earn It?

"Saving Private Ryan" was an instant classic.  It is a moving film which follows a group of Army Rangers during World War II and their mission to bring Private Ryan safely home.  The plot follows Captain John H. Miller as he leads a team of men through dangerous territory to find Ryan.  It was not an easy task.  It ended up costing many men their lives, including Captain Miller.  As he sat dying on the bridge valiantly held by the Allied forces, his final words to Ryan were, "James...earn this.  Earn it."

Captain Miller and many others gave the ultimate sacrifice to fulfill their orders and bring James Ryan safely home.  Miller pointed to the enormous cost and sacrifice demonstrated by his fellows soldiers as the impetus for Ryan to live a life worthy of it.  At the end of the film, an elderly Ryan stood at the grave of the deceased Captain, wondering if he had done enough.  In my opinion, there is no possible way Ryan could have ever lived a good enough life to justify the cost.  Yet that's not really the point.  Ryan lived his life mindful of the price paid and was moved to do his best.  What more could he possibly do?  The lives lost on the field of battle for country and to save him no doubt spurned Ryan on to finish well.

As Easter draws near, I am reminded of the greatest sacrifice ever.  It was not on the field of battle, nor was it for country or a single man.  Jesus Christ was without sin, and laid down His life on Calvary for the sins of the world.  There is no possible way that we can live our lives worthy of earning such a sacrifice of love and grace, that God would put on human flesh and die for sinful men.  Jesus never suggested for us to earn that sacrifice.  It is too high a price.  It is a gift which can only be received.  But we would do well to live motivated by His sacrifice.  Even as Private Ryan remembered the exhortation spoken to him by a dying Captain, so we ought to remember the sacrifice of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, we have been given the ability to walk worthily of Christ's sacrifice.  We are not worthy of His sacrifice, but we can walk in a way that honours and glorifies God for all He has done.  Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 reads, "You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; ¹¹ as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, ¹² that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory."  The Greek word translated "worthy" here means, "appropriately, as becoming."  What is the appropriate way for us to live, seeing that Christ gave all for us?  Paul's conduct was appropriate:  devout, just, and blameless, like Jesus before him.

The prayer recorded in Colossians 1:9-15 well describes this calling for those who have received Christ:  "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; ¹¹ strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; ¹² giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. ¹³ He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, ¹⁴ in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."  We can't live a good enough life to earn it, but let's walk worthy of Christ's sacrifice.

Are You Committed?

Looking for a snapshot of genuine faith?  We need look no other place but to Christ.  1 Peter 2:19-24 provides a clear view of this high calling:  "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² "Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth"; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed."

We are not saved by our good works, but saved for them.  Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  It is our reasonable service to be living sacrifices unto God, wholly submitted to His will and purposes.  Doing good is one aspect of the Christian life that ought to be a natural outflow of the Holy Spirit within us, not a source of pride.  Our flesh is sometimes willing and able to go this far.  There are many people in the world who do "good" things who have no knowledge of God.  Faith enters the picture when we do good and suffer for it patiently with a heart focused on Christ.  Jesus went about only doing good, perfectly performing the will of the Father.  Yet He suffered much during His life on earth, culminating with His crucifixion on Calvary.  Even then He did not become bitter, angry, or threaten, "...but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously."  Three days after His death on the cross, He rose from the grave proving His power over it.  It is in the power of the resurrection that Christians live today.

The life of a Christian is one of commitment.  It is far more than an ideal or a mental assent to doctrine:  it is a life of faith in the living God.  It is an undying loyalty and belief that no matter what trials or difficulties we may face for doing good and standing for righteousness, we are God's and He is ours.  It is a denial of self and a belief in God according to knowledge revealed through the scriptures.  It is not just ignoring the hurtful comments, violent assaults, slander, mockery, and scorn directed at us, but in willingly committing ourselves to God's hands, knowing that Jesus suffered for us.  Jesus committed Himself to God the Father, knowing He is a righteous judge.  The Father would never allow Jesus to see corruption in the grave because He had committed no sin.  Jesus never even told a lie.  He was always casting His cares upon the Father, because His Father loved Him.

A day will come when all the wrongs in this world will be made right.  A day will come when all the lies of Satan will be swept away.  A day will come when Jesus Christ sits on His throne, having destroyed the power of the devil.  A day of reckoning will come where all people will be judged according to God's righteousness.  Knowing this, we ought to take Christ's example to heart.  Am I embracing my calling?  It is not a question of "Am I doing good?" but when I do good and suffer do I take it patiently with rejoicing?  May the righteous acts recorded in Acts 5:41-42 mark our lives as well:  "So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. ⁴² And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

Have you committed yourself to Him who judges righteously?  Rejoice when you do good and suffer, for this is your calling.  Peace and joy is not found in the absence of conflict, but through a right standing with Jesus Christ.  He says to us in John 15:9-12, "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. ¹¹ These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. ¹² This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."

Changing the Way We Think

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away."

Timothy 3:1-5

Paul warned Timothy of a grave danger in the church. It was not that this peril did not yet exist in Paul’s day, but would become more and more evident. The times we are facing today are as perilous as they have ever been. There is hardly anything more perilous than delusion. The Greek word for “lovers of themselves” is “philautos,” which means “selfish, self-centred, narcissistic.” After all these sinful attributes are mentioned, the last part should grab our attention: "having a form of godliness but denying its power.” This should be a grave warning to us. This scripture reveals there are people who think they have a relationship with God but they are deceived. They have a form of godliness on the outside but it is merely a work of the flesh. The source of power for every Christian is only obtained through repentance, regeneration through the Gospel, and walking in the Spirit. Are we willing to put ourselves under the microscope of this text alone? It is only after we are willing to own our sins and repent that we can be free from them.

God has provided His Word so He might change the way we think. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he. "Eat and drink!" he says to you, but his heart is not with you.” God uses many instruments to perform His will, but ultimately it takes exposure to God’s Word and the power of the Holy Spirit to convince man of his sin, need for repentance, and salvation through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What is true for conversion is also true for sanctification. We bring all sorts of notions, assumptions, and ideas we pick up from the world or our delusions into our Christian walk. School and the world are not only ethical battlegrounds but spiritual ones. If Satan can over time influence your mind through his many tools – music, movies, media, people, even trials - he can distort the way you see God, yourself, and others, negatively affecting your effectiveness for Christ. The only way we can know if we are a “lover of self” rather than a lover of God is when God’s Word is brought to bear directly upon our own lives.

Let’s be honest: if we can read this passage without a prick in our hearts or consciences, either we are completely without sin, or the scripture is not impacting us as it should! Something is preventing the Word of God from penetrating our hearts. Has there been a time recently you were offended when you read Christ’s words? Have you been shocked by things God has said or done in scripture? As you read the Bible, has your view of God’s character changed? When is the last time you were emotionally touched or involved as you read? If we haven’t been shocked, offended, or confused when we read something in God's perfect Word, we have blunted the message! The Bible is more than a doctrinal handbook or a platform for debate: it contains the Words of life. The Bible exists to tear down our misconceptions of God, love, and grace and build them new upon the rock-solid foundation of Jesus Christ. God wants to change the way we think, and may God use His Word to accomplish this necessary work.

May the scriptures engage us, mind, body and soul. God has given us the scripture to reveal Himself to us. Being infinite, how much more is there to discover about Him! He has given us the Holy Spirit to indwell us so we might understand the things He intends to teach us. He has given us the Bible to correct our misunderstandings and assumptions. He has given us the Word to instruct us in righteousness. I thank God for the way He gently leads and teaches those who seek Him. Before we can adequately lead, we must submit to be led by Him. We must be under authority before we can rightly wield it.  Praise God He has granted us the mind of Christ through the indwelling Spirit!

Acquire Christ!

After I walked my sons to the bus stop today, I kept on walking.  I took the long way home for additional exercise, and passed through a residential area of Kellyville and back to my home in Beaumont Hills.  It was a great time of reflection and drinking in the beauty of the birds, trees, and clouds. For the first time this year, I noticed an autumn bite in the morning weather.  It was also a great opportunity to speak with the LORD, casting cares upon Him.  Towards the end of the walk I happened to pass by an open garage door.  It was organised and stocked with nice things.  Funny, I thought to myself as I looked away:  I have no desire for anything in there.  In that moment I experience unnatural peace and contentment.  I thanked God I did not feel the slightest twinge of covetousness or envy when I saw expensive, great things that were not mine.  I'm so happy God has freed and kept me from sin!

Jesus said in Luke 12:15, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  We live in a world that does not believe Jesus.  The world completely believes quality of your life is dictated by your possessions!  A Christian is someone who has discovered that true life is found only in Jesus Christ by faith.  Take away all my stuff and I still have Christ.  Take away my health and my life and I still have eternal life!  Yet many people - even Christians - can have their lives wrapped up in their possessions.  Our thoughts can be consumed with what we have, don't have, or what we really want to have.  Lately I have watched a couple of "hoarding" shows on TV which illustrate the struggle some people have with hoarding things.  A pattern which can be immediately observed between the various personalities is that holding onto things pushes people away.  What is true in the natural is often true in the spiritual.  When we fall into the trap of covetousness, we push God away.  We can covet whether we have things or not.

Covetousness, like all other sins, is wretched.  It springs from a lack of contentment with what God has graciously provided.  When we covet we are telling God what He has given us is not good enough.  It reveals we are selfish, we do not trust God to know what we need, and stands in firm denial He is able to satisfy our needs.  We internally slander God for not acquiescing to our desires and judgments.  Bitterness, envy, discontent, and selfishness are the brood of covetousness.  God keep me from this sin!  Though we may not covet for a whole day, we must be mindful we can slip into this grave error in a moment.  God is wise to keep us from having things.  Our perceived lack brings covetousness to the birth and should reveal our sin to us.  Then we can repent, refocus our eyes upon Christ, and remember that God shall supply all our needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.  When things become more important than God or others, we have slipped into idolatry.  Only God can deliver from this slough.

We can heap up riches to ourselves, but without relationships it is little more than rubbish.  They say that one man's trash is another man's treasure, but to isolate yourself from people or God because of stuff is foolishness.  Spurgeon tells a story of a dying miser in his bed, with full bags of money under his arms. He said to each one, "Must I leave you?  Have I lived all these years for you, and now must I leave you?"  He writes, "There is a tale told of another, who had many pains in his death, and especially the great pain of a disturbed conscience.  He also had his money bags brought, one by one, with his mortgages, and bonds, and deeds, and putting them near his heart, he sighed, and said, 'These won't do; these won't do; these won't do; take them away!  What poor things they all are when I most need comfort in my dying moments.'" (Spurgeon, Lectures to My Students, pg. 381)  Acquiring more is not the means to satisfaction, comfort, and peace.  Real joy and comfort for eternity is discovered when we give ourselves away to God.  It is in that place of surrender that we receive greater riches from God than money can buy.

Appealing Love

Because "love" these days has become a generic term, God's love can seem vague and nondescript.  Love often is a product of perspective formed according to our judgments.  While some of these judgments may spring from scripture, many assumptions of what love must be come from the wisdom of the flesh.  The flesh cannot know or understand the love of God except God reveal it because it is a spiritually discerned truth.  Hollywood has tried to paint a picture of love through film, but it is woefully lacking.  The message Hollywood is peddling about love is basically this:  love is a feeling of desire consummated in a sexual relationship.  Love has been divorced from God or morality.  Sex has been removed from the context and sanctity of marriage God ordained.  The world's idea of love sticks close to the satanic principle of "Do what thou wilt" instead of the biblical "Do God's will."

We see a description of God's love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7:  "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; ⁵ does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; ⁶ does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; ⁷ bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."  Can you imagine God's love being the model for government, business, and family?  That day will someday come when Christ ushers in His kingdom.  Christ's love is to be the defining attribute of the church:  people will know we are Christians by our love.  Unfortunately, the church in general is not often commended for great love.  This brings me great sadness and is a poor representation of God.  But let me add, the love of Christ does not look like what the world calls love.  The world thinks love is permissive, soft, careless, evolving, and immoral - by biblical standards.  God's love is sacrificial, gracious, unconditional, and active towards all.  God's love is holy and righteous.  Man's love springs from love of self and depends upon selfish parameters.  Whether to love is based upon what he wants and what he receives from the deal.  True love is only discovered when we receive the love of God and abide therein.

Last night I read a passage which holds forth a practical aspect of God's love.  All of God's love is practical and meant to be lived out, by the way!  Paul writes in Philemon 1:8-9:  "Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, ⁹ yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you--being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ..."  The law contained many commands and demands for God's people to obey.  Paul had every right because of his role, age, and status in the Christian community to make demands.  He could have commanded that Philemon do what was right.  Instead of being heavy-handed, love compelled him to appeal to Philemon.  There is a big difference between "commanding" and "appealing."  Man's love is all about fairness.  God's love is all about grace.  It does not force or demand.  God's love entreats and invites.  These verses helped me to better grasp what God's love looks like.  It does not say, "Do this or else!"  It says, "Because God loves you, please do this."

In 2 Corinthians 5:14 Paul also writes, "For the love of Christ constrains us..."  I used to think this only meant, "Because I love God I will do something."  That is a lower meaning of the passage.  The feelings of love I muster up ebbs and flows according to my circumstances.  My mood or physical health affects my desire to demonstrate love for God and others.  But the love of Christ - His love demonstrated towards me when He died in my place on the cross - that love never changes.  It is still as pure, holy, righteous, and wonderful as it ever was.  It is love that appears even more brilliant in my worst circumstances.  Indeed, my appreciation of the love of God for sinners like me actually grows over time as I begin to better grasp it!  The more we recognise how much God loves us the more we will love Him.  As our maturity continues in faith, God's love will find more practical release through our lives to the people all around us.

Let us walk in God's love.  Instead of commanding or demanding, let us appeal and entreat.  Let us reach out to all without partiality, for God's love has been thus revealed to us through Christ.

Times of Refreshment

"Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. ¹⁷ It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed."

Exodus 31:16-17

This is a remarkable passage.  From the beginning of creation, God established a seven-day week.  He created the heavens, sea, earth, and all that is in them in six actual days.  God is an eternal being and chose to operate within the confines of time, establishing the orbits of the planets according to a 24-hour day consisting of morning and night.  God created time, seasons, months, and years.  In the Mosaic law, God told His people that the Sabbath day was a sign between them, affirming that God in six days made the heavens and earth and rested on the seventh.  I see no reason to debate and argue about the actual age of the universe.  There is no consensus view, and the most "accurate" views based upon new discoveries continue to drastically evolve.  The world most certainly had a beginning, and according to God's divine plan it will have an end.  It was not man that decided on 24-hour days or 365-day years:  it was dictated by the heavenly design God created and implements, for in Him all things consist. 

Isaiah 40:28 says, "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable."  Now isn't it interesting that God never faints, is weary, or sleeps, and yet He chose to rest on the seventh day?  Even more thought provoking than the fact God rested for a day is that He was refreshed.  He chose to remain under the confines of time for a day, enjoying the beauty and wonder of what He had made.  The crown jewel of God's creation is man, the only creature made in the image of the invisible God.  God made made distinct from all other animals, having breathed into him a living soul.  Ecclesiastes 3:21 affirms the difference:  "Who knows the spirit of the sons of men, which goes upward, and the spirit of the animal, which goes down to the earth?"  The thought that God can be refreshed is an amazing truth.  It was like He sat back to rest and a delicious, cool breeze washed over Him.

The Sabbath was a shadow of Jesus Christ, the Messiah who would come to earth and fulfill the Law.  Colossians 2:16-17 tells us, "So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, ¹⁷ which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ." Christians today are freed from the strict limits of the Law concerning the Sabbath because Jesus has fulfilled it.  God chose to reveal Himself to man as a man, placing Himself in the person of Jesus under the restrictions of time, years, hours, minutes, and seconds.  We no longer need to heed the shadow when the substance indwells us and leads us by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus taught that the Sabbath was created for man, not man for the Sabbath.  Instead of seeking to find rest only for our bodies, it is through Jesus we find rest for our souls.  He called out in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

Rest and refreshment do not come from taking time off work or laying around the house on a Saturday or Sunday:  true lasting refreshment comes from fellowship with Jesus Christ.  Acts 3:19 says, "Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord."  When we spend time in the presence of the LORD, both He and us are refreshed.  How delightful is the refreshment that comes from the presence of God!  Let us return the favour!

God With Us

Since Christ has ushered in a New Covenant through His shed blood, the rites and ordinances of temple worship have been fulfilled.  Even if the Temple was rebuilt and the Ark of the Covenant found, it would be an empty exercise.  Instead of the Spirit of God dwelling in the Holy of Holies above the Ark of the Covenant, through the Gospel Christians are made the temple of the Holy Spirit.  Unfathomable access to God and His throne room of grace have been made possible through the indwelling Spirit of God within us through the Gospel.  I am always amazed and grateful we no longer have to follow the letter of the Mosaic law concerning the temple.  God laid down very specific commands and a process of worship that had to be obeyed.  The consequences for disobedience were very severe:  death to the priests who transgressed!

Though God is worth all effort and sacrifice, the demands of the law seemed to create an incredible inconvenience to come before the presence of God with the shedding of blood of sacrifices and offerings made by fire on the sanctified altar.  The lamp was to be kept perpetually burning, and bread was to be kept on the Table of Showbread always.  Every day lambs needed to be sacrificed.  Priests needed to be washed, anointed, and sanctified to perform their duties.  Worship of God was literally a full-time, 24 hours a day job.  It was labour the Jews were joyful to relish, for they worshiped the One True God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth who revealed Himself especially to them.  He committed His laws and statutes to them as a people:  He would be their God, and they would be His people.  They shared a special relationship with God because God chose them.

God spoke to me today as I read a scripture in Exodus 29:44-45:  "So I will consecrate the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. I will also consecrate both Aaron and his sons to minister to Me as priests. ⁴⁵ I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God."  It makes sense that man should want to know God and draw near to Him.  The phenomenal thing is not the specifics of the pattern of the temple, the articles, or vestments, but that God desired to dwell among His people!  Here is the point:  God did not implement these laws because He wanted to make it difficult to approach Him.  God made a way so man could approach Him.  God fervently desired to dwell among His people.  But if He dwelt among them as a holy, righteous God without the appropriate sanctifying safeguards, they would be utterly consumed in a moment.  God wanted to be among His people with a fervent desire His people could never know.  The laws governing temple worship were there for the protection of the people - not to create a cross to bear.  Temple worship did not even provide the closeness God desired, so He sent His only Son Jesus.  Jesus would bear a cross for us on Calvary, when He bore the sins for all mankind as the perfect Lamb of God.

From the beginning it was never what a man could do for God, but what God has done for man!  Let all people rejoice, for God desires to dwell with you forever!  Jesus came to redeem men to Himself.  Jesus says in John 14:3, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."  Again, the Old Testament rules and regulations pointed to the person of Jesus Christ who would fulfill them.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Jesus is called Immanuel, translated "God with us."  He will never leave or forsake those who have been purchased by His blood through the Gospel.

God Revealed to Babes

Yesterday I finished the book There Is A God, a book by Anthony Flew.  For fifty years he was a leading atheist and professional philosopher who denied and argued against the existence of God.  He was an adherent to the Socratic principle of "following the evidence wherever it leads."  After half a century of being an atheist, Anthony Flew startled the world by saying he had changed his mind.  The overwhelming array of evidence convinced Flew of the existence of a "God" he describes as "self-existent, immutable, immaterial, omnipotent, and omniscient Being." (pg. 155)

It is a very satisfying thought that Anthony Flew was a man of such distinction and quality in the field of philosophy for fifty years and arrived to a place of believing in God based upon the evidence.  The book primarily interested me because I was curious what earth-shattering evidence would make an atheist change to a deist.  In a way, reading the book was a little anti-climactic.  Why?  Because the evidence he speaks of is the exact same evidence that already confirmed God's existence to me!  I do not consider myself an intellectual or academic, and indeed I am not.  I have not taught philosophy at a any level for a single class, nor have I been exposed to the breadth of evidence Anthony Flew has.  He graduated from Oxford and later taught there, and I went to a Junior College and later worked in construction!  Yet we have arrived at the same place:  we both believe God exists.

I am reminded of the words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 11:25-27:  "At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. ²⁶ Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. ²⁷ All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  Consider the goodness and grace of God, that He would reveal Himself to babes!  There are intellectuals who can tie my brain in a knot with a sentence who are devoid of the knowledge of God.  They wrestle for years over problems that Jesus Christ unravels with a single verse of scripture when guided by the Holy Spirit.  People debate, argue, and draw battle lines over philosophies or ethics which have been simply declared by God.  I have heard men dogmatically speak of the elegance of their scientific theories while being bankrupt of the true wisdom of God.  God turns the wisdom of such into foolishness.  God's wisdom is so much higher, pure, and altogether wonderful man's greatest discoveries or triumphs cannot compare.  All the intricate and amazing discoveries man makes today only add evidence to support the existence of God - not deny Him.

It is one thing to acknowledge God.  It is another thing altogether to know Him.  God has made this possible through the person of Jesus Christ.  Jesus says, "No one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."  If we seek to intimately know the Father, we do so only through the Son Jesus Christ.  What is the next thing Jesus says in the passage?  Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Science and philosophy alone cannot account for the fundamental needs and desires of human beings.  There are no suitable answers for the yearning God has placed in the human heart for love, acceptance, and life.  Jesus not only supplies answers, but He is the substance, the personification of God's wisdom made accessible to man.  Believing that God exists is the first step towards salvation found ultimately in Jesus Christ, a risen LORD and Saviour.

You believe God exists?  Then seek after Him with your whole heart.  God's Word promises in Deuteronomy 4:29, "But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul."  He desires that you know Him and abide with Him forever!  That is a reason God has given us evidence of His existence.  May He open our eyes to see Him, our ears to hear Him, and our hearts to receive Him!

Faith and Politics

An article I read the other day still has me thinking.  It was a write-up of a "60 Minute" interview of Tony Abbott, Leader of the Opposition and potential candidate for the Prime Minister role at the next national election.  The article reads, "Mr Abbott, who once trained for the priesthood, said religion would not play a part in how he would govern if he won office.  He said faith was important and had helped shape him as a person.  "But it must never, never dictate my politics,'' he said."  I frankly admit I struggle with the concept that it is admirable for a man's character and principles not to dictate the decisions he makes in political office.  Looking at the quote from another tack, I wonder if these words can possibly be true.  Politics has the potential to rip the heart and will out of the very people in whose hands rest the power to forge government according to the same faith and values which made that person a fit candidate to lead in the first place!

This goes way deeper than politics, of course.  There are many people with genuine faith in God that never allow it to dictate their way of doing business, their way of parenting, their way of conducting their lives outside the confines of a church building.  What good is your faith unless it is lived out?  What profit is there is a mental ascent to truth which never reveals itself in your actions?  What good is it to have Christians in public office unless they are willing to live like Christians?  I understand being a politician today is the art of rhetoric, posturing, sympathising, party and self-promotion, and offering future promises.  It is about working together with people and groups which are often fiercely divided, making demands or offering concessions if it aids the party to promote legislation and policies.  Parties in government seek to provide "checks and balances" to limit one group from having all the power.  Because in Australia we have a representative government, it makes sense that a Prime Minister whose job it is to represent their party should not allow their personal convictions to dictate policy.  The Prime Minister is not a king who makes all the laws as he personally sees fit.  He must operate within the current system.  But here is the point:  IF the Prime Minister is first a servant of the King of Kings Jesus Christ, and second a public servant in Australian politics, should his or her faith in God "play a part in how he or she governs" through decisions and policies?

I expect there to be a divide between the answers.  I expect people to answer "Yes," "No," and "Yes and no!"  When we share beliefs and principles with people in office, it is natural we would desire they openly uphold them with their policies.  But when people with views contrary to ours hold office, we appreciate when they show restraint in adopting hard lines according to their personal views.  Perhaps this is a bit of a double standard.  People are amazingly hard to please.  Christian bands have been rejected by people because they are "too Christian" and others because they are "too worldly."  It is hard to know if we merely toe or cross the arbitrary lines of public favour.  It is fine and good to have an opinion of others, but how carefully have we examined the way we conduct our own lives?  It is a double standard we ought not to perpetuate, no matter what others do.  What or who dictates your principles, character, and decisions?  Maybe being a good Christian means you are a bad politician.  I believe Christians make the best politicians, but only when they allow God to dictate their politics as well as every other part of their lives.  Those who have submitted under the rule of Christ in humility are made fit by the Holy Spirit to wield authority governed by love.  Each must make his own decision of how he will live, for we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ.  Every Christian will have his works put through the fire.

If we would only weigh our words, attitudes, thoughts, and actions according to scriptural truth now, we will undoubtedly have more to show for our efforts when we enter into eternal rest.  To stand in judgment of politicians is useless.  Let us examine our own hearts and work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.  Why do we labour to please men and forget about glorifying God?  Man is impossible to please.  Is there any cost or sacrifice too great when it comes to pleasing God? 

Do You Need Him?

When speaking of Christian ministry I have heard many people say, "God doesn't need us."  I agree with the statement.  He loves us and has chosen to use people as His instruments and vessels - along with angels, storms, plagues, and even donkeys.  It is a good mind set to keep as we abide in Christ:  God doesn't need me, but I really need Him!  He is able to raise up servants of Abraham from stones if need be.  That being said, He has opened the doors of heaven and invited all who will repent, believe the Gospel, and enter by faith.  God has given Himself to those who obey Him in the person of the Holy Spirit.  God is the one who makes us useful and profitable for His glory.

As I was reading the scriptures last night, I saw this truth illustrated in wonderful fashion.  Jesus had risen from the dead and Peter announced to fellow followers of Jesus:  "I'm going fishing!"  It sounded like a good idea and they all went along.  They fished all night long from a boat and caught absolutely nothing.  When morning came, they saw a man on the beach who called out to them.  "Hey boys!  Caught your breakfast yet?"  No, they said.  The man on the beach shouted out, "Cast your net over the right side of the boat, and you'll find fish."  I wonder the thoughts that passed through the men as they muttered to each other in frustration, fatigued by fishing the night through.  Who cares what side of the boat you fish from?  It's a boat, for crying out loud! Their thoughts of the fishing "expert" instantly left them when their nets hit the water, for they were suddenly full to the breaking point with fish.  Unable to lift the heavy catch, they started rowing for shore.  It became evident this curious man on the beach was none other than Jesus Christ, their risen LORD.

The thing which I find interesting is when the fishermen lug the packed net to shore, they found Jesus already had a fire of coals with fish and bread cooking.  The net was miraculously free from any damage.  Jesus knew the disciples would catch fish, for He was clearly the cause.  But Jesus chose not to wait to use any fish from the catch to feed his weary disciples.  Whether the cooking fish was as a result of a miracle or He bought the fish at the market, I cannot say.  But what I can say is the fish Jesus provided was enough to feed them all - without the miraculous catch.  After the fish were laid out and counted - 153 large fish to be precise - Jesus invited the men to eat what He had already prepared.  The need for breakfast was supplied by Christ before the men caught a single fish.  Yet when they were obedient to His directives, their efforts were rewarded with abundance.

As they ate together, Jesus used the great catch as an object lesson.  John 21:15 reads, "So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs."  In my mind I see Jesus waving His nail-scarred hand towards the fish Simon had been futilely trying to catch all night without result:  "Do you love me more than these?"  Jesus did not want to be loved merely as a cause for fishing success, or because He provided food for Peter's belly.  At that moment Peter needed to make a decision.  Jesus did not need Peter's efforts to spread the Gospel.  Peter's best labour and energy in his flesh would avail nothing for the kingdom of God.  Jesus did not need Peter, but He loved and wanted him.  Peter responded, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."  His life would prove that Peter spoke the truth and indeed loved Him.  We never read of Peter fishing for fish again, for through the Holy Spirit Jesus would make Peter a bold, effective fisher of men.

God doesn't need us to do anything because He is sufficient in Himself.  Yet He has invited, redeemed, accepted us and granted us the awesome privilege of serving Him.  We serve by permission, not by commandment.  Praise God for such grace and love, that He calls to us and directs our lives according to His perfect will.  The thing you are willing to chase all night to catch, the thing you labour for and consumes your thought, that is the thing that Jesus points to and says, "Do you love me more than this?"  Let us love Jesus most of all, for only He can supply our needs.

Bridging Visa and Building Houses

From the moment God began to establish our family in Australia, I have looked upon it as a permanent move.  When it comes to serving God in a foreign field, there can be an overwhelming amount of "unknowns."  The timing for visa approval, God's provision of money, and the administration of paperwork are just a few of them.  There is much that lays outside our ability to directly control.  The stress level of our lives has been greatly eased through committing those things into God's capable hands.  The call is to be casting our cares upon Him, and God helping us we do.  We are called to be faithful to do our part, and God will be faithful to fulfill His Word.  We sow the seed, and He will make it grow.

We came to Australia over two years ago on a tourist visa.  While in country we applied for a 428 Religious Worker's visa and a bridging visa was issued.  It was later approved and allowed us to stay in country for two years.  After the two years the 428 Religious Worker's Visa could be renewed.  But last year our family received a letter in July which notified us that the 428 visa was no longer a path to permanent residency.  That would have been bad news by itself.  We were informed, however, that the church could nominate me under a Minister of Religion Visa which is a permanent residency visa.  That was welcome news indeed!  The church has now lodged the nomination and application with Australian immigration and we have been notified that a bridging visa is now in place.  Instead of having to leave the country in April, we can now stay in country until the visa application is completely resolved.  At the moment it appears we will be in Australia for a while - and God willing permanently!

Even before our family immigrated to Australia, God directed me to take to heart Jeremiah 29:5-7:  "Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. ⁶ Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters--that you may be increased there, and not diminished. ⁷ And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the LORD for it; for in its peace you will have peace."  When we face uncertainty, the temptation is to hold back from putting down deep roots.  God used this passage to impress upon my heart that whether He has us in Australia for two years or seventy years, live like this is our permanent home.  As citizens of heaven we recognise this is not our real home, but we are to commit ourselves fully to the people, work, activities, and culture of our new home.  Instead of pining for what is old, comfortable, and familiar, we must open our arms and hearts to these beautiful people God has called us to serve without reservation.  We should enroll the kids in school for the year, buy that second car we need, renew the insurance for the whole year, and live trusting that God has placed us here according to His will.  Jeremiah 29 influenced me to live like we aren't going anywhere!

This is a great illustration for people who believe God has called them into a particular ministry.  Because God has revealed a call for them to serve in a specific role - say a pastor - they are reluctant to serve in other capacities.  Or perhaps they see their church fellowship languishing and begin to sit in judgment, withholding contributions of time and resources.  Let me encourage you:  wherever God has you in fellowship, give Him your all.  Serve with all your might no matter how long you might remain at the fellowship.  Build houses, plant gardens, and eat of their fruit.  Get married, settle down!  I offer these not as literal commands for you to perform, but to keep in mind the principle God intends.  A day may come when God moves you into a new arena of ministry, a day when the calling upon your life sees ultimate fruition, that day when you have a one-way ticket to a foreign country!  But as long as God tarries, wait on the LORD.  Many people succumb to waiting for the LORD.  They are always waiting for God to do something before they obey in the first place.  They never put down roots and begin to wilt.  Start serving and labouring for God's glory right where He has you and when God moves you, continue serving like you won't be going anywhere for a while.

I praise God for the bridging visa He has provided for our family, and our prayer is that our application for permanent residency will be quickly approved.  I desire to spend and be spent for Jesus Christ in Australia for His glory, for He is worthy of all honour.  I am grateful for the friends and family who have greatly enriched our lives during these two years.  No doubt God has much more to do both in and through us here!

The Peach Tree Lesson

In my back yard growing up, we had three fruit trees:  plum, apricot and peach.  The plum and apricot trees produced the sweetest, tastiest fruit of their kind.  The peach tree was almost always a disappointment.  It didn't produce nearly the volume or the quality of fruit as the other trees.  One year, however, the peach tree was absolutely loaded with fruit!  I remember talking with my mom about what a wonderful harvest of peaches we would have.  Before the fruit was ripe, I remember the shock of going outside and seeing our prize future harvest lying on the ground:  the tree had fallen over!  It was obvious what had happened as it lay wilted on the ground.  The trunk had been eaten out from the centre by termites or a type of borer insect.  The exceptionally large amount of fruit the tree produced that year caused it finally to give way.  That was the end of that tree and fresh homegrown peaches for us!

As a kid, I wasn't overly concerned about the "health" of our fruit trees.  I didn't understand how the health of the tree often dictates the quality and volume of fruit produced.  I just wanted to eat the fruit!  Sometimes in our spiritual walk with Christ we can become focused on the fruit.  We want to see obvious signs of God's power at work in our lives and churches.  We want to see instant transformation in the lives of people by the Holy Spirit, like buds on the tree turning into fuzzy green little peaches in a matter of days.  Who doesn't?  But God taught me a valuable lesson from thinking back upon that fallen tree.  What good is fruitfulness if the tree doesn't have the strength to bear it?  What good is green inedible fruit if it never becomes ripe for harvest?  In 1 Timothy 3:6, Paul warns Timothy not to place spiritual "novices" into roles of authority and leadership.  They can easily be lifted up with pride and great will be their fall.

I believe this principle follows in the body of Christ as well.  It takes time for the church to be strengthened by the growth and maturity of individual members to support the fruitful ministry of the local church.  I have seen churches that were so intent on making a difference in their community that fell apart because they had not been strengthened within. Church leaders can have a God-given plan and vision they feel compelled to initiate before the Body is ready and prepared to shoulder the load.  People might try gimmicks and programs which only produce unnatural growth in a church, like a body-builder who cycles steroids.  When a weight lifter or athlete hasn't been seeing the gains he wants from workouts alone, there may be a temptation to take steroids to boost muscle mass for quick results and recovery.  The problem is, those unnatural gains will have long-term negative side effects.  It is better for the church to be led by the Spirit in all things, letting down the nets only at Christ's Word, than to fish all night long trying to be fruitful through the efforts of the flesh.

Paul testified in 1 Corinthians 3:6:  "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase."  Paul and Apollos had God-given roles in which He greatly used them.  Yet Paul understood that God was the sole reason why their efforts were profitable.  God provided the good seed of His Word, the refreshing Living Water through the Holy Spirit, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ bore much fruit.  It was all God's doing, and it is marvelous in my eyes.  Whether we are in a stage of sending down the roots deep to strengthen and stabilise, pruning, rapid growth, or a season of bountiful fruitfulness, let us be content.  Let us take heed to ourselves, that we do not focus on our foliage and green fruit when we are being eaten away within.  Let us encourage and strengthen one another in the LORD, for great is His faithfulness.

Ichabod Spencer Excerpt

Ichabod Spencer is a pastor who served in the New York region in the mid 1800's.  There is a man who knew much about bringing anxious souls to faith in Christ.  We are told after we are born again to "be anxious for nothing," yet the church would profit greatly from this sort of anxiousness!  Unless a man is anxious about his condition apart from God, his hypocrisy, the sins of his lips and heart, and the eternal damnation which awaits him, it seems he does not believe in God, hell, or judgment at all!  It is a foolish thing for Christians to seek to ease the concern of anxious unbelievers by offering the comforts, grace, and love of God to those who have rejected Him.  There are few things worse a Christian can do than by easing the conscience of one who is under conviction by the Holy Spirit.  Leave them under God's conviction, direct them to obey God's Word, and intercede for them in prayer.  Only then will they flee to Christ in desperation and be His forever!

Pastor Spencer writes in his book A Pastor's Sketches:  "There are multitudes in our congregations, who are just waiting, while they ought to be acting; who have a sort of indefinite hope about the aids of the Holy Spirit yet to be experienced, while they are pursuing the very course to fail of attaining any such aids.  They think they must wait.  They think wrong.  They must work, if they would have God work in them.  There can be no religion without obedience.  And there is not likely to be, with any sinner, a just sense of his dependence, till he earnestly intends and attempts to obey the gospel.  Religion is practical.  Much of its light comes by practical attempts.  'If you will do the works, ye shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God.'"

He relates a story of a woman who heard the truth of scripture but was reluctant to respond to it.  She was waiting for a deeper conviction - basically a feeling - before she would come to Christ and obey Him in faith.  It was only after God revealed the wickedness of her heart that she was born again.  Here is the conclusion in their own words beginning with the seeker who had made peace with God:

"At that time I knew almost nothing of my heart.  I never found out how much it was opposed to God and His demands, till some time afterwards, when I resolved that I would become a Christian that very day."

"And did your resolve bring you to Christ?"

"Oh, no!  Not at all.  It did me no good.  My heart would not yield.  I was opposed to God, and found I was such a sinner that I could do nothing for myself.  My resolutions did me no good, and I gave up all and just cried for mercy.  A while after that I began to be at peace.  I do not know how it is, but I have done nothing for myself.  Indeed, when I cried so for mercy, I had given up trying to do anything.  It seems to me that when I gave up trying, and cried to God, He did everything for me." (A Pastor's Sketches, Spencer, pg. 77)

It is not our resolve or our works which save us.  It is not by might, nor by power, but by God's Holy Spirit.  Do you see your heart as desperately wicked in your natural state, defiantly opposed to God beyond your ability to understand?  That is our true condition in our flesh.  But praise be to God, who has given us the Holy Spirit to convict of sin, of righteousness, judgment, and leads us into all truth.  God does for us what we could never hope to do ourselves through the power of the Gospel.

Fear God!

Throughout the history of the church, heretical views and doctrines have wormed their way into the minds and hearts of Christians.  The only defense the church has against such doctrines is the perfect, entire Word of God.  Heresies are doctrines of demons which gain strength in hearts and minds that oppose the unchanging truth of scripture.  "Heresy" is defined in the Webster's 1828 dictionary as, "A fundamental error in religion, or an error of opinion respecting some fundamental doctrine of religion...The scriptures being the standard of faith, any opinion that is repugnant to its doctrine is heresy."  The Bible is not a platform to support man's opinions or confirm his beliefs:  it is meant to shape them completely according to God's righteous standard.  Unless scripture is the sole basis for my belief, I build upon shifting sand.

In the New Testament, many of the books were written as letters to confront heresies which threatened the health and viability of the Body of Christ.  These threats persist today.  The church has been under assault by Satan since the beginning and it should not surprise us he remains relentless in his labour to distract, confuse, paralyse, and pollute the church through all means at his disposal.  At times Satan has sought to stomp out the Christians by force.  Other times he has sought to unify church with state.  Now he is most effective through worldly philosophies, watered-down truth, and subtly influencing belief through deluding the very Christians who comprise the church.  When we wander from the absolutes of the Word, error is certain.

One of the heresies I believe is especially sinister is the idea that because we are under grace, we no longer need to fear God.  God through Christ has become a friend we can cuddle up to.  The "fear of God" has been antiquated to a time when men were under the Law and were children of wrath.  This concept has no support or strength in either the Old or New Testaments.  This is by no means an exhaustive look at all the evidence, but hopefully will provide ample support to label the suggestion that we no longer need to fear God as abominable heresy.

What exactly is the "fear" of the LORD?  Though there are different words in the original languages used for fear, most have a similar range of meaning.  There are two aspects to this fear:  the first is terror and fright, and the second is reverence.  Fear can make us physically tremble with fright, and our minds can be blown with awe and amazement.  When we see a volcano erupt and the lava shoot hundreds of feet into the air, it takes our breath away.  We know that it is so hot it would kill us and wisdom demands we keep our distance.  Our heart sinks for the people we see running for cover as the flow slowly gains ground on their position.  Yet if we happened to be standing on the crater of that volcano when it blew, we would be absolutely terrified.  We would not gaze in appreciation at the eruption because if we do not do something death is certain!  It is the same thing when we look at a lion in a cage.  We can appreciate his beautiful mane, powerful muscles, and his throaty roar.  It is not terrifying to be on the safe side of the glass, yet we respect the lion's power enough to know he is not to be played with like a kitten.  Should we find ourselves on the inside of that cage without an escape, the terror of being torn limb from limb would be a reality as the teeth began to crunch our bones.

Because people struggle with the idea of God being loving but also fierce in wrath (as the Bible declares), this "fear" of God has been taken to only mean "reverence; awe" instead of the full-defintion which includes:  "afraid; terror; dread."  It is not just the unbelievers who ought to fear God.  What does Jesus say in Matthew 10:28?  "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."  In reference to God judging His people the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 10:30-31:  "For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The LORD will judge His people." ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."  There is a lie that has permeated the minds of some people that they do not need to worry about judgment because Christ has taken their place as a substitute.  It is true that those who are born again will never face God's wrath or face the fires of hell.  Yet the scripture says in 2 Corinthians 5:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."  We ought to heed the words given in Hebrews 12:28-29:  "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. ²⁹ For our God is a consuming fire."  We are all called to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

Allow me to hold forth three purposes we are to fear God with both trembling and reverence.  Good doctrine is profitable for the glory of God and our sanctification.  When we do not fear God as we ought, we will be deficient in three key areas in our walks.

• We must fear God to know Him.  Proverbs 9:10 says, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."  Unless I fear the LORD, I cannot know God.  The fear of the LORD is the first fundamental step in knowing Him.  Jesus has become for us wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30).  It is the knowledge that God has all power, that He is righteous, and I will be judged according to His righteousness.  If I trembled when I was going to be swatted before my parents, how much more should I tremble before God!  The fear of God makes this knowledge personal.
•  The fear of God keeps us from sin.  Exodus 20:20 reads, "And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin."  The fear of God keeps me from disobedience, and the Holy Spirit enables us to live righteously.  When God appeared on Mount Sinai the people were terrified.  Moses told them not to run away from Him in terror, but understand His terrible appearance kept them from sin.  It was as if they were looking at a caged lion:  should they choose sin, however, He would certainly chasten them.  Who wants to be chastened by the Lion of the Tribe of Judah?
• The fear of God grants us an effective witness.  2 Corinthians 5:11 says, "Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences."  Those who fear the LORD are aware of His love, power, and that He knows all things.  We are eyewitnesses of His power to save and also His power to destroy.  Jesus has come to give us abundant life, but woe to those who reject Him!  It would be better for those who reject Him to never have been born.

This misunderstanding of the fear of the LORD has led to chronic weakness in the church in these three areas:  knowing God, avoidance of sin/righteous living, and a strong evangelistic witness.  To correct these flaws, our first step is to repent and seek God's forgiveness that we have not feared God as we should.  Do you fear God - not just with a reverence or respect, but with fear and trembling?  Do not fall for the lie that the fear of God is outdated or is unprofitable under the New Covenant.  Let us heed the command of Jesus Christ:  "Fear Him!"

Sweet and Bitter

"Then I took the little book out of the angel's hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. ¹¹ And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings."

Revelation 10:10-11

The Word of God is filled with sweetness.  To know that it has been written by God to reveal Himself to us is a remarkable privilege.  How humbling the thought, that God would write such a personal letter to us!  Studying the Bible is not to be limited to gathering information or refining theological doctrines:  it is all about transformation of our lives.  Unless the Word of God makes a practical difference in our lives through stripping away of falsehoods, revealing Christ, renewing our minds, and changing the way we live, it has not accomplished its purpose.

In the passage concerning John and the little book, it was not enough for him to hear it read.  He needed to consume the word and allow it to become a part of him.  He needed to chew, swallow, thoroughly digest and understand the meaning before he could accomplish the purpose God had for him:  to prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.  It is the same with us and the scriptures.  We also are to do more than read or listen to the scriptures.  We must allow God's Word to be our sustenance and choose to obey the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Reading God's Word without putting it into practice is like chewing food but spitting it out before we swallow.  We will miss the whole purpose for putting food in our mouths in the first place!

In John's mouth the book was sweet, but in his belly it was bitter.  Had John spat out the book, all he would have tasted was sweetness.  Yet God intended that the word that was sweet in his mouth would be bitter in his belly.  The truth of scripture is exciting and like honey for sweetness.  It is the joy of our hearts to know God has given us exceedingly great and precious promises.  Yet when we absorb the truth of scripture into our minds and hearts, we are given the responsibility to speak and live accordingly.  To our redeemed souls the Word is sweet, yet the same words are bitter to our flesh.  How the flesh hates being governed by God or anyone rather than self!  The words which bring us much comfort and assurance of salvation are sweet.  Because we know them to be true, there is also bitterness in the knowledge that some people will choose to reject the Gospel and face an eternity in hell.  It is sweet to know God speaks to us, but the flesh loathes and resists our sanctification.  With knowledge and freedom comes responsibility.

This is a good reminder that if we only find bitterness in the scripture, we are missing something.  There is sweetness to be found.  We live in a day spoken of in Isaiah 5:20-21:  "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"  We are called to rightly divide the Word of truth, not avoid passages which confront us.  God's Word is sweetness to our souls if we will believe and receive.  God entreats us with love and desire, not disgust and revulsion.  God has promised His Word will endure forever.  It is I who need to change.  If I find a passage particularly bitter to my taste, perhaps the flavour has been masked by my own prejudice, misconceptions, and unrighteous judgments.

Let us not labour only to read God's Word, but allow the scriptures to have the impact God intends in our lives.  When the Word becomes bitter in our stomach, it is a perfect time for self examination.  How has my spiritual diet been of late?  Is my life lining up with commands and doctrines of Christ?  Repentance and forgiveness can bring sweetness where there has only been bitterness and despair.  Don't be surprised if you find that truth burning within you to the point you become weary of holding it in.  Rejoice believer, for God has committed a message to share!