Look to Christ!

Mr. Kennedy was my History teacher at Emerald Junior High in 1993.  He was a man in control, a seasoned veteran of the classroom.  He was one of those older men who had a gruff persona, but also had that twinkle in his eye.  I liked him from the first day.  My appreciation of his experience, knowledge, and teaching methods only grew as the year progressed.  When graduation from year 8 finally came, I mustered up the courage to ask him to sign my yearbook.  He obliged.  After writing a quick note, he said with a straight face, "I usually don't write half that much."  I received his statement as a compliment, and after reading his message knew it was.

Out of all the messages written in my yearbook by friends and teachers, his meant the most to me.  It still means a lot to me now.  Mr. Kennedy was a man who only knew me as a student in his class for a short time, yet there was a man who believed in me.  Outside of my parents and family relations, I don't know of any others who expressed what he did in a couple of sentences.  He concluded with a sentence at the time I hoped would prove prophetic:  "You will do well in anything you try."  It was an important encouragement at an awkward time in my life.  I had entered into public school after being home schooled for 3 years, and was preparing to transition into high school.  I thank God for Mr. Kennedy and the encouragement he provided.  Twenty-one years have passed, and my appreciation for his care burns undimmed.

Back in those days I could never have imagined where the LORD would lead me.  I had aspirations of being a forensic pathologist or a coroner.  Perhaps a baseball career or my budding golf interest would pay future dividends.  God opened a door after two years of university to go into a construction trade, mechanical insulation.  And after a decade God did the absolute unthinkable:  called me into pastoral ministry.  Then God even went further to lead me to settle in Australia and pastor a church!  When I consider how God has directed my life, it blows me away.  I am most thankful and appreciative of all He has done.

I had a strange series of thoughts the other day, and in retrospect I do not know they were mine.  There were suggestions, statements rooted in doubt that did not spring from a perspective of faith.  The devil can be most subtle.  "Look at all your High School friends," the thoughts began.  "Some are doctors, lawyers, professors, business owners, corporate executives, a commercial pilot, a professional baseball player, well-known people of wealth and distinction.  And what have you done?  You are virtually unknown.  Think what could have been should you have chosen a different path.  You could have done this, done that, been somebody."  I didn't think long before I realised the futility of it.  There was an undertone of discontent, envy, and greed that reeked of sulfur in those thoughts.  I confessed my sin as I prayed:  "Please forgive me LORD for even giving place to those thoughts for a second.  Your way is the right way.  I'm happy right where I am, and my satisfaction is in you."

The path of faith in Christ is the only one worth traveling.  If there is anything I desire to do well, it is to follow Jesus faithfully all my days.  I am not rich in worldly goods, but I have all I need.  I am not well known in this world, but I am known by God as His dear child.  And I am not alone!  Last night I read with great delight a passage of a man who has gone before me.  Moses was a man who was raised as a prince, trained by the very best, and at 40 years old had a bright future.  He had wealth, intelligence, fame, and security.  Yet Moses chose to forfeit it all to serve God, believing only God could supply true wealth.  Hebrews 11:24-26:  "By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, ²⁵ choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, ²⁶ esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward."  There it is!  Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt.  I too have come to the conclusion that the reproach of Christ is greater than all this world could ever offer.  My convictions and beliefs have cost me superficial friendships, but the gain I have through friendship with God and fellowship in the church is of far greater and eternal value.

When you are tempted to look back on what could have been, instead look to the God who was, is, and is to come.  Regret promotes decay and death, whereas faith and hope in God bring light and life.  God is the one who does all things well, and He does not even need to try.  It is a beautiful day when our identity is found in Christ alone:  in the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering.  God is a Redeemer who provides joy unspeakable and peace that passes understanding for eternity.  Jesus is the One who makes all things new!

Forget Formulas

As Christians, we must take care not to make formulas out of facts.  Scripture is packed with important facts relevant for personal and broad applications.  There is a tendency in people - compared by God as sheep in many instances - for us to walk in the footsteps of whomever we follow.  When we see a result we appreciate, we seek to follow the same steps so we might too have a particular experience or outcome for ourselves.  "How did you make the cake so moist?"  "What product did you use to have such healthy looking hair?"  "Who details your car?  I never seem to get that deep shine."  "How do you stay so positive after all that has happened to you?"  So we follow a recipe, buy product and follow the instructions carefully, call the mobile detailer, or do our best to follow advice.  Sheep tend towards imitation, not innovation.

There are many who claim to have the answers we are all looking for.  There are hucksters who sell their wares at the fair, offer free seminars with a "free" gift promised to the first 50 who call, and plenty of folks willing to sell you information to increase your net worth.  The same can be true concerning spiritual matters.  Some have developed plans to increase church size, books have been written outlining how to pray and prepare studies, and some hold seminars on how to pursue religious experiences.  Formulaic approaches may be more entrenched in your life than you might think.  We couple biblical facts with our experiences and figure if someone desires an experience, they can do what we have done.  But the fact remains:  there are no formulas when it comes to knowing God and experiencing all He has for us.  There are plenty of facts and things in common between people who have known God, but God Himself is the only true common denominator.

Man likes to be in control.  He enjoys sitting down at a particular hour, pushing a button on the remote, having the television turn on, and watching the program he expected to be on air.  This is all very predictable, entertaining, and comfortable.  The modern television watcher even has more control than he used to, for he can record, pause, and rewind television with a button.  He can stand up and make himself a proper coffee and not miss a second.  It is in this culture of convenience and ease where God stands in stark contrast.  There is no formula to know God or steps we take in a particular order to have fellowship with Him.  This is no button to push, no convenient time frame provided, no pause button.  There are facts in scripture that teach us of God, His righteous character, reasonable requirements, and our fitting response.  There is no prayer that saves a man from hell.  There is no series of actions we can take in our flesh to accomplish what God does only through the Holy Spirit.  God is consistent in is holiness and righteousness, but the means and methods He uses are widely varied as our experiences and feelings.

We do a great disservice to God when the way of salvation is reduced to a formula, a "repeat after me" statement devised either for convenient use in groups or to quantify results.  "If you just prayed that prayer," I have heard someone say, "you are now a child of God."  That is presumptuous at best, abominable falsehood at worst.  Please don't misunderstand:  it very well may be at that very moment people were justified through faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour.  Perhaps you look back to a time when after uttering a prayer you were convinced of your justification by faith.  But it was not the prayer, hand-raising, or coming forward that accomplished the divine regeneration:  it is the power of God that makes a person born again by the Holy Spirit.  Sadly, it is at that moment when some seekers stop seeking.  They have found all they wanted - assurance of salvation - even if from a mere man.  This assurance may be granted after a genuine conversion, but it might be an illusion.  God does not look to see if we have ticked external boxes, but looks upon the heart.

It is the scriptures that teach us the way of salvation and provide ample assurance.  I believe everyone must wrestle individually with God, even as Jacob did.  Whether it is salvation or baptism with the Holy Spirit, it is for each and every one of us to seek God humble, fervently, presenting ourselves as surrendered servants to His will.  We are not alone in our search.  God has given us the Holy Scriptures and other believers to join us along the road in our pursuit of Christ.  God has seen fit to establish the church of which Christ is Head, scattered throughout the earth.  He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill and come upon us in power.  We must be careful not to adopt the means of Simon, a man spoken of in Acts 8:18-19:  "And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, ¹⁹ saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit."  Instead of seeking God, Simon sought the help of man.  He offered corruptible money to obtain power only given by God as He sees fit according to His purposes.  Simon saw what he believed to be a formula for people to receive the Holy Spirit, yet this was no formula!  Sometimes the Holy Spirit was given to people without the laying on of hands (Acts 10:44).

The point?  Formulas are no substitute to knowing God in personal relationship.  As they mislead, formulas also disillusion.  "I have prayed that prayer and nothing happened."  "I prayed for healing like a book said and my aunt still passed away."  "I have sought spiritual gifts but I guess those things aren't for me."  What hardness, pain, doubt, and disunity can result!  When our experiences trump God's Word in our minds, we build on a foundation of sand.  Let us renew our desire to seek God with all our hearts according to His Word.  May our desire for closeness and intimacy increase as we grow in grace and knowledge of who God is and all He has done.  When we fall into the trap of formula instead of friendship with God we miss the point:  we miss knowing the One who has revealed Himself.  We should not approach God for experiences, though we will have them.  We should not seek God for power, though He empowers all Christians to perform His will.  God will never be a means to our end.  When God is our end, the best will never end.

Ignorance is No Fix

While driving this morning, I noticed something a bit odd in my rear-view mirror.  The vehicle behind me had what appeared to be a parking ticked tucked underneath the windscreen wiper, flapping madly in the breeze.  I wondered if the person hadn't noticed it before they climbed into their car.  But then again, perhaps the driver had noticed it.  Maybe they thought if they kept driving and the ticket happened to fly out, they could deny all knowledge of being ticketed for parking illegally.  People aren't that silly, are they?

I wondered.  Every driver with a reasonable amount of sense knows when they are ticketed, their details have been recorded by the governing body to enforce legal parking.  The loss of the paper ticket does not erase their infraction, nor will it wipe the fine they owe from the record.  It would be utterly foolish to ignore that ticket, watch the wind pry it loose from the wiper, shrug the shoulders and ask with a grin:  "What ticket?"

There is no doubt in my mind this is a similar approach some take with God and His righteous requirements.  They drive around (so to speak) with little scraps of paper flying from their vehicle they hope will slip away to litter the ground as they speed along.  Some think they do themselves a favour by ignoring their debt of sin before God.  Perhaps they believe that when they stand before God on the Day of Judgment they can "play dumb" and by pleading willful ignorance they can escape the enormous, compounded fine they owe for a life of sin.  Ignorance does not provide freedom from the Law and its righteous demands.  The only way to "fix" a ticket is to deal with it with the governing body and meet their conditions in the time permitted.  In similar fashion, the only way our sins are forgiven is when we own up to it before God, humbling ourselves according to God's conditions.  Our sins need not hang over our heads because atonement and forgiveness has been provided to all who repent and trust in Jesus Christ as LORD.

Ever so often it is reported on news stations a sting has been carried out to arrest people who have outstanding warrants for all manner of crimes.  These home arrests are typically carried out when the lawbreakers would not expect it, usually before the light of day when they are asleep in their beds.  We know that God often requires the souls of people at a time they do not expect.  Every word and deed will be brought under His righteous judgment.  Both Christians and non-Christians will be brought before God and will be required to give an answer, either of the quality of our stewardship or the denial of Christ.  When God brings it to our attention we have transgressed, let us take that slip of paper and own it, choosing repentance over willful ignorance.  Praise God He has provided the means of our atonement, forgiveness, righteousness, and reconciliation!

The Blessedness

When Paul wrote his epistle to the church in Galatia, he did not waste much time before going straight to the heart of the matter.  After a brief introduction, he launched into the purpose of his letter with grave concern.  The growing church in Galatia had initially responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ with great joy.  But after Paul left them, others came to the body of believers and perverted the message of the Gospel.  The people in the fellowship abandoned the simple grace of God and adopted a legalistic approach - that as followers of Christ, they were compelled to keep the ordinances given to Moses.  They had come to God through grace, yet they were deceived to think they were justified through their works.

The issue Paul dealt with severely in the Galatian church is not unfamiliar today.  There are many people who make a joyful acceptance of the Gospel yet it is not long before they are turned aside from the simplicity of it.  They heap upon themselves doctrines of men taught as the commands of God.  Some align themselves will Paul, Apollos, or Cephas instead of Christ!  Like the Pharisees before them, they work to measure up to an arbitrary standard and forget their calling to follow Christ and make disciples who follow Jesus too!  Christ drew them with His love, mercy, and grace, yet some professing believers do not demonstrate the same simplicity of heart.  How many have shipwrecked through devilish deceptions disguised as piety!  How many have become twisted, angry, frustrated souls, trying to accomplish through the flesh what Jesus has done through the Spirit!  My heart breaks for those who are turned aside from the Gospel through their revelations and knowledge.

The Galatians did what is common for all men:  they followed mere men.  They were fickle and easily fooled, not having a strong foundation in the Word of God.  God used Paul to expose them to the truth of the Gospel, but it was not long until they saw him as an enemy!  Paul wrote in Galatians 4:13-17:  "You know that because of physical infirmity I preached the gospel to you at the first. ¹⁴ And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. ¹⁵ What then was the blessing you enjoyed? For I bear you witness that, if possible, you would have plucked out your own eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth? ¹⁷ They zealously court you, but for no good; yes, they want to exclude you, that you may be zealous for them."  Paul did not come to Galatia as a grand orator, nor did he have any manipulative motives.  He was deeply burdened by the possibility they were not even born again, for their lives had no evidence of Christ's love or good fruit.

Beware the day when we trade the blessedness of the Gospel for anything less!  If any doctrine or emphasis begins to trump the Gospel of Jesus Christ, His love and grace, it is only a matter of time before we will begin to alienate ourselves from those who truly love us.  It is so tragic when Christians see fellow believers as enemies, reconcilable only if they choose to agree with their pet doctrine or emphasis.  People will know we are Christians by the love we have toward one another.  When we keep in clear view the blessedness of Christ's Gospel, His love will be evident and fruitful through us for God's glory.

Reading Right

As I prepared a study in the book of Proverbs, a thought crossed my mind.  How many times in the past I have read those sayings of divine wisdom almost as I would read quotes from famous people?  Job 12:11 says, "Does not the ear test words and the mouth taste its food?"  What tastes lovely to one person may not appeal to someone else.  There is a range of subjectivity to personal preferences when it comes to food.  When we hear or read a quote, a process similar to tasting food is begun.  As we chew the food, no hands are forcing us to do so.  At any moment, we can decide that bite is simply too much to handle and spit it out. As we read a statement or hear words spoken, we weigh the words against our beliefs.  We can choose to reject what is said or file it away for future use because we agree.

The absolute worst way to read the Bible is to weigh the proverbs or sayings against our own experience or opinions.  The Bible is not true by virtue of my agreeing with it, but on the basis that it is actually what it claims to be in its entirety:  the Spirit-breathed Word of God.  What a mistake we make when we read a proverb and say, "Hmm, does my experience agree with this statement?  Do my prior opinions line up with the implications of what is being said?  Because I can think of an example from my own life to support it or I already happen to agree, I believe it is true."  This is a grave error and one to be avoided at all cost.  The Bible is not like a book of quotes where we are free to pick and choose what is true based upon our feelings, experience, or implications we agree with already.  It must be viewed as absolutely authoritative and true, trumping all my opinions, even my own experience viewed through the skewed perspective of the passage of time and my human frame.

There is a right way to read scripture if we are convinced it is the Word of God from a position of belief.  It is true on the basis of the righteousness of the Author, who through the Holy Spirit moved men to pen these immortal passages.  It's true that we can draw many examples to illustrate the truth of scripture from the pages of the Bible, our own lives, the world in which we live, confirmed through history.  Confirmation is everywhere for those who read with personal knowledge of the God who wrote those words.  They are indeed the words of life and that without controversy.

Increasing and Abounding in Love

I love it when God opens my eyes to a particular verse and then continues to bring it to my attention day after day.  Through His Word God speaks.  The repetition provides confirmation of the particular area God is directing me to pray, and reveals how intentional God is to speak into my life.  It also prompts a response from me, for in His wisdom God knows exactly what I need even if I am unaware or clueless.  1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 says, "And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, ¹³ so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."  What the LORD continue to impress upon me is my need to increase and abound in love to one another and to all.  God points out my faults and insufficiency so I will admit my need and seek Him as my sufficiency.

I am aware of my need to grow in love for God and others in a theoretical sense, but God wants me to accept this as His will for me right now.  The Bible confirms this is a process all believers should embrace according to His will.  God does not simply desire my love increase but to abound.  Instead of measuring out active love to a select few, I am called as a follower of Christ to seek Him that I might increase and abound in love to all!  Only through Christ can our love increase and abound.  Jesus said in John 10:10-11, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep."  Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Though Jesus died on a cross and rose from the dead almost two thousand years ago, His demonstration of love remains in the present tense.  Our love for one another must also perpetually remain in the present tense through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The apostle Paul did not "attain" in this life.  His life after being born again was marked by his increasing and abundant love for God, fellow believers, and all people.  But while he remained in a body of flesh, the road of sanctification stretched out far before him.  If Paul needed this growth, how much more do I need to increase in love as well!  I do not want to be content only with a measurable increase of love demonstrated through my life, but a super-abundance of Christ's supernatural love.  This is not something I can do by my best efforts, but God delights to cause my love to increase and abound towards all.  He is able!  This is not a work He will do until I admit my great lack, confess my sin in repentance, and walk in obedience to Him by faith.  It is the LORD who will make me increase and abound in love, and I'm thankful He will do this so He might "establish my heart blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."

Scripture Teaching

How spiritually healthy and rewarding it is when our steps require faith in God!  The flesh hates feeling out of control, but what a blessing it is to walk in the truth that God is in control.  I experienced one such moment today.  Earlier today God brought to pass the culmination of a desire that has grown since I first visited Phil and Linda White in Brisbane, Australia in 2009:  teaching scripture to students in a public school.  During one of our chats, Linda told me that in public schools in Australia scripture is taught by qualified volunteers from local churches.  I could hardly believe it!  Hailing from the United States of America, a nation hamstrung by political correctness and supposed implications of "separation of Church and State" with corresponding restrictions, this seemed too good to be true.

An open door to teach scripture in public schools stands open in Australia, and God opened a door to teach scripture in my own suburb.  One week after moving house, I received a call from a coordinator of the scripture classes to inquire concerning a character reference.  It turned out there was a vacancy that had just opened up.  It is a remarkable opportunity to expose kids to the truth of scripture and introduce them to God.  The fact is, scripture teaching works!  Students are free to opt out of scripture teaching, and those who do are taught "ethics."  I would be curious to know the origin and foundation of those ethics!

When going through the modules to be qualified to teach scripture, I was amazed at the objectives according to the Rawlinson Report and the current NSW Education Act.  Taken from a Youthworks Training booklet, the five reasons scripture teaching exists are:

• to develop an ability to interpret religious data within the traditions of their particular faith
• to gain an appreciation of specific religious interpretations of issues and problems in which committed people apply their faith to life
• to translate their learning about their faith into active expression in a worshipping community
• to encounter, in a peer group-learning context, religious teaching given from a position of faith and committment by a person explicitly associated with the religious community
• to be aware of the availability of personal and group counselling in the area of religious need

As I entered the school today, it certainly was an act of reliance upon God.  The flesh never enjoys striking into unfamiliar territory.  I could sense doubts and worries being thrown my way by the enemy, reasons why I should not bother teaching scripture.  I had heard the class was difficult, nearly unmanageable!  There is no doubt God gave me a peace and utterance as I shared from the scriptures.  Overall everyone was engaged and attentive.  Perhaps the accent had something to do with that!  Because God promises His Word does not return void, I know seeds were planted, watered, and in His time according to His grace will be fruitful.

Have you recently taken new steps of faith?  If you are a Christian, this is what God has called us to.  By receiving the Gospel by grace through faith we have signed up to take more steps of faith!  If our lives do not require a walk of faith -going into situations outside our comfort zone where God is our only peace and help - then we must wonder if we are trusting Christ at all!  What joy comes from this walk of faith, though our days be filled with unknowns and growing challenges.  When we walk in faith in God, we walk closer to Christ.  He will always lead us in the right way!

Walking Wisely

My family and I have been hosts this week to a couple which have long been a positive, godly influence in our lives.  It was a pleasure showing them the sights of Sydney and we greatly enjoyed their insights as we chatted about ministry and family.  There is great encouragement when the global body of Christ unites together under His banner of love.  The support of gracious brothers and sisters in Christ is a gift God has provided we do well to embrace.

Last night as a small group of us gathered at Calvary Chapel Sydney for a Bible study, we considered practical ways to walk in wisdom.  Many things were discussed:  being born again, humility, heeding God's Word, fellowship with God through prayer, discipline, and obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  There was one aspect in particular that God impressed upon me to emphasise, not that it is more important than the rest.  I do believe, however, it is an aspect which can be quite foreign in our individualistic, self-centered societies:  we have a deep need to be in regular fellowship with Christians.  I do not simply mean attending a local church.  I am talking about forging close friendships centered upon Christ where we are unashamed and transparent, cultivating relationships where all have the freedom to encourage, exhort, rebuke, confess sin and struggles, and strengthen one another by pointing to Christ.

If as born again Christians we are each part of Christ's Body the church, then we must be united in worship of God and fellowship with one another with love and grace, bearing one another's burdens.  We cannot do this alone.  I believe there are many who think they can live for Christ alone and continue to grow.  With the power of the Holy Spirit within them, the Bible to guide them, books and podcasts to encourage them, they do not need to cultivate relationships with other Christians.  That is like a leg saying it does not need the ankle or foot to remain upright!  We are not to view church as a support system for our benefit (though we do greatly benefit from unity in Christ), but to consider how we might practically provide strength for the Body.  We do this by reaching individual lives and ministering to each according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Those who are born again are called to provide edification of the Body through love.  The gifts and resources God has given you are not intended for your sole benefit, but for the good and strengthening of others.  The early church laid hold of this calling with both hands, and by His grace we can do the same.

Jesus did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.  Some make the mistake of focusing on service and neglect to fix their eyes and hearts on Christ.  Others think the church exists for their benefit instead of considering how they might contribute to the strengthening and edifying the Body through love.  We must move beyond maintaining a relationship with God and press on in faith in Christ so we might grow and encourage others to do the same.  God's intention was not that we labour to protect ourselves from the world but that we would overcome it through Him.  Christianity is not defined by what we don't do, but is established upon the fact God knows us and we know Him through the Gospel.  Too many times we focus on "not sinning" instead of walking in the Spirit through abiding in Christ.  God places individuals in our lives to sharpen us, not to make us miserable or hopeless.  Jesus is our hope and peace!

Rejoice believer, for you are not alone!  Jesus has promised to never leave or forsake us.  He has also united us to fellow Christians that we might run with endurance the race set before each of us.  We may not agree on every point of doctrine or emphasis, but love covers a multitude of my sins.  We walk wisely when we forge relationships where God remains the centre, chief joy, and our all in all.

Purity in Worship

"And he broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images, and filled their places with the bones of men."

2 Kings 23:14

The two first commands of the 10 Commandments boom from the Creator of All, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" and "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image."  These are commands all people have broken, even those who claim to trust in God.  God's people agreed to a covenant with God on His terms, that they would love and obey Him.  Yet over the passage of time, generations grew up who did not know the LORD or follow Him exclusively.  They began to worship the gods of the native people and their religious activities were devoid of worship as God intended.

Throughout the history of Israel and Judah, the majority of kings did not worship the LORD and led the nation into idolatry.  There were, however, kings raised up by God who sought to destroy the high places and eradicate the gross idolatry that corrupted the worship of the true God of Israel.  Josiah was one such king.  He re-established the covenant before the LORD and destroyed the pillars, altars, and high places used for idolatrous practices.  Then Josiah did something very interesting.  After breaking in pieces the pillars and images, he filled the area with the bones of men.  Under the Law of God, to touch a dead body or bone made the transgressor ceremonially unclean.  These bones sent a clear message to all who intended to offer sacrifice to the demonic entity:  the place was unclean, and to offer a sacrifice in this place meant those bones could just as easily be yours!

This brought an interesting thought to mind.  The bones littering the ground did not make the high place any more unclean than before.  The worship of any god or image other than God Almighty was unclean, yet the people did not see it.  It took the desecration of the pillars and the pollution with dead things to demonstrate to the people how horrible sin and the consequences were.  This display grabbed the attention of the people.  It's possible for people - even God's people - to be engaged in horrendous activities we don't even realise are sinful.  The way we think, speak, and act slip past our guard unnoticed.  It takes the searching power and conviction of the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see how sinful sin is.  It is a glorious day when the thing we once embraced as fun and wholesome is now as attractive to us as rotting corpses and unclean as bones.  Instead of clearing the carnage and justifying ourselves to continue according to our traditions, may we seek guidance from God in His Word on how we can worship and glorify Him.  Too many times we simply built another altar, erect another image, or seek out another pillar in a shady high place instead of seeking the LORD alone.

What a wonder, that God rejoices in the repentance of His people!  Our sin brought death, but God provides life, grace, and peace through Jesus.  Let us not neglect God's order of things.  It does no good to tear down altars before we have agreed with God's covenant through the Gospel.  We must first repent and be born again!  Once that heavenly transaction has taken place, during our lives we will ever be waging a war against our flesh and the subtle temptations of the devil.  May the pastures where the Good Shepherd leads us to grace be kept free from the pillars and idolatrous images.  God desires and deserves all our worship.

Find True Security

"The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: 'He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. ⁴ And he shall be like the light of the morning when the sun rises, a morning without clouds, like the tender grass springing out of the earth, by clear shining after rain.' ⁵ "Although my house is not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure. For this is all my salvation and all my desire; will He not make it increase?"

2 Samuel 23:3-5

For almost a week now, the beginning of verse 5 keeps ringing through my head.  God had revealed to David the state of the man who rules justly in the fear of God.  God compared such a man to the first light of the sunrise, warm rays warming the horizon, without a cloud or threat of storm.  He also likened that man to tender grass that springs out of the earth, providing food for beast and men.  In addition fresh growth and vibrancy, this ruler is like the clear shining after rain:  refreshed, cleansed, and satisfied.  Then comes the confession of humble David:  "Although my house is not so with God..."  God had revealed the truth, the unshakable reality of the man who walks in godliness.  David was a man after God's own heart, but he recognised he was far from perfect.  He had not achieved this ideal reality, and he wasn't afraid to admit it.

This is one thing I admire about David.  He did not pretend he was perfect, nor did he try to fool himself into believing everything was fine.  A godly man is honest, sincere, and transparent, and David was all these things.  It seems these days a man in authority - a king, minister, father, or boss - does not feel at liberty to expose his warts, sins of his past, or the troubled condition where he finds himself.  Admitting weakness or faults represents God poorly some think, and they refuse to acknowledge sin or personal problems even with their friends.  I say such think wrong.  My admission of failure and that my house is not so with God reveals clearly I need Him.  If people are stumbled because of my faults or bad decisions of my kin, perhaps they have put too much stock in following men.  People stumbled at the words and works of the infallible Christ:  how much more if they follow mere men?  David does an amazing thing as king by these admissions:  "God says a just ruler is like the light of the sunrise without clouds, but I cannot say that of me.  God revealed to me that one who rules in the fear of God is like tender grass springing from the earth, yet that does not resemble me or my family."  David knew he was deeply flawed, and this understanding made room for God's unfathomable grace. 

"Although my house is not so with God, yet He has made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things and secure."  Though David was not perfect, God had given him an everlasting covenant.  The agreement God had with David was eternal and secure.  This gave David great peace, for he understood physical and emotional insecurity very well.  For years he fled from the face of King Saul who tried to murder him.  Even after he was established on the throne, he fled from Jerusalem when his son Absalom tried the usurp the throne.  He found himself in danger in fields, caves, castles, and in the open field.  Could he accuse God of wrong?  No.  David nor his house was perfect before God.  His life was one of thunderstorms, screaming winds, and desolation.  Being king did not end his troubles, in fact, during his time as king is when he weathered some of the most fierce storms.  Yet in all his trials, the light of God shone through his circumstances with illuminating clarity.  The Holy Spirit was upon David to guide his fingers in battle as well as penning many prophetic Psalms in scripture.

David had times of trouble and uncertainty, and it was in these times the eternal covenant God had made with him kept him centered on what mattered.  A covenant is only as strong as the one who establishes the covenant.  God, with all wisdom, power, and grace, established a covenant with David.  He promised to establish His house forever, even though David or his house was not so with God.  He would send Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Son of David, to be the Messiah whose kingdom will endure forever and ever.  For all who repent and trust in Christ, with us Jesus has established a covenant through His own blood.  We don't need to be perfect to receive His gracious forgiveness, nor do we need to meet God's ideals before the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us.  What a wonder, that although me and my house are not so with God, God has offered to us an everlasting covenant through the Gospel.

Let us follow David's lead in admitting we are not perfect, and neither is our house.  It is by grace we have been saved through faith and not of ourselves.  Though there be storms on the horizon or floods swelling all around us, we can look to the God who has given us an everlasting covenant.  Those who seek the LORD with find Him, and with Him is everlasting security and peace.