Contrition in Repentance

"The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."

Psalm 34:18

Contrition for sin is an important facet of genuine repentance.  When we were kids, the snide tone or snarky way people said sorry were reasons to reject an apology as insincere.  We wanted people to at least act like they cared when they were apologising for doing wrong.  Conviction of having done wrong is not just a thought that passes through our minds but includes a recurring stab of regret or unsettled feeling inside of us.  The Bible says David's "heart smote him" after he cut off the corner of Saul's robe.  Though he did not kill him as was suggested by his men, his guilty conscience would not let the act pass unnoticed and without repentance.

Contrition is not beating oneself up for doing wrong, for this can be from pride as much as anything.  Webster defined "contrition" as:  "1) The act of grinding or rubbing to powder; 2) Penitence; deep sorrow for sin; grief of heart for having offended and infinitely holy and benevolent God. The word is usually understood to mean genuine penitence, accompanied with a deep sense of ingratitude in the sinner, and sincere resolution to live in obedience to the divine law."  Having a broken and contrite heart due to sin is surprisingly rare--given the amount of opportunity there is for it to be displayed with the amount of sins we are guilty of.  We can be sorry for our sin due to embarrassment, to be exposed as flawed, that we will face negative consequences.  Feeling sorry in itself does not mean we are willing to take any steps to change our ways or do what is right going forward.

I read an article the other day that provided examples of the antithesis of contrition for sin.  The article spoke of a woman who stole an item of clothing from a shop, and after being caught out by security footage admitted she did wrong to the owner of the shop and her online followers.  In her apology she called the theft a "silly mistake," and that "she was only human."  While admitting she knew she did wrong, it seems (unintentionally or not) minimised the severity of her offence by implying, "Everyone does this."  I have noticed a tendency to substitute less confronting words for the sinful reality, like calling someone a "shoplifter" rather than a "thief."  She also offered reasons she claimed contributed to her "silly" decision, that she "had a few drinks" and had a "brain injury" from repeated blows to the head.  These reasons sounded a lot like excuses--quite unlike the contrition David showed when confronted for his sin.  He simply said, "I have sinned against the LORD."  No deflection, explanation, justification or attempt for damage control.  Contrition for sin describes it in all its ugliness before God without trying to soften the blow to protect ourselves or our reputation.

It is possible to sin and feel sorry for ourselves, but godly sorrow and contrition leads to a changed life by God's grace.  After writing a sharp letter to the church in Corinth, Paul followed up with encouragement for the change it fostered in 2 Corinthians 7:9-11:  "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. ¹⁰ For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. ¹¹ For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: what diligence it produced in you, what clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be clear in this matter."  God is near to those who have a broken and contrite heart, and our LORD is pleased to save such sinners.  Selfish sorrow leads to sinners feeling like victims when it is God who has been wronged.  If our sorrow for sin does not lead to change in our lives for good, it may be we lack contrition before God whom we have sinned against.

The Sovereign Judge

In Ezekiel 15, God compared the usefulness of vine to a tree in doing work and making things.  From the wood of a tree, boards can be milled and structures can be built.  Wood from trees would have been used to make many things:  carts, tools, doors, furniture, crates, ships, musical instruments and much more!  In stark contrast, the building potential of a vine was nil.  Trying to make dowels out of the soft runners would be a pointless waste of time.  In regards for doing work, what the vine was best suited for was to be burned in the fire.  At least it could provide a bit of fuel for a short time until it was reduced to ash.

God spoke through the prophet in Ezekiel 15:6-7:  "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Like the wood of the vine among the trees of the forest, which I have given to the fire for fuel, so I will give up the inhabitants of Jerusalem; ⁷ and I will set My face against them. They will go out from one fire, but another fire shall devour them. Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I set My face against them."  The people of Israel were like a vine that bore no fruit, and the only profitable use for them was to be made fuel for the fire.  They had been unfaithful to God and sinned against Him, and Jesus made mention of this common practice in John 15:6:  "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned."  Those who by faith abide in Jesus will be made fruitful, yet those who are unfaithful and depart from him will be consumed in the fire of God's judgment.

Because vines are not suitable for building anything, no one would question the wisdom of landowners who gathered and burned the vines that littered the ground.  Wood from trees was a valuable resource that was employed for useful purposes rather than burning it all.  The ironic thing is, people who would not think twice to dispose of vines by burning can fault God for bringing fiery judgments upon anyone--even those who have cut themselves off from God through wilful sin.  The owner of a property has the right to do whatever he wants with his vines, and the sovereign Creator has every right to do as He pleases with His creation.  By His wisdom everything we see He created, and without Jesus Christ nothing was made that is made (John 1:1-3).  Doesn't God have the most basic rights to ownership we claim for ourselves, to do as He wills?

A literal example of God's fiery judgment was seen long before the season of Ezekiel's ministry in Leviticus 10:1-3:  "Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them. ² So fire went out from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. ³ And Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke, saying: 'By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.' " So Aaron held his peace."  Aaron, the high priest and father of Nadab and Abihu who were killed before the LORD for their trespass, knew his sons were to blame--for God did no wrong to judge those who do wickedly.  Peter remarked it is time for judgment to begin at the house of God, and if it begins with God's people what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel (1 Peter 4:17)?  Nadab, Abihu, and the suffering of God's people in Jerusalem in Ezekiel provide sobering clarity on the subject.

It is the sinner who does wrong, and the just and righteous God has every right to judge sinners as He sees fit.  Praise the LORD He has provided a means of atonement and forgiveness by His own gracious sacrifice.  Should God be blamed for the severity of His judgments when mankind refuses His sure remedy by repentance of sin and faith in Jesus?

Courage to Confess Fear

I grew up in an era where action movie heroes were popular that featured muscled actors like Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger who barged into trouble with guns blazing.  For 90 minutes, viewers were treated to stunts, explosions and cringeworthy puns as the body count rapidly multiplied.  Today the ladies have taken centre stage to fill the role of the tough, death-defying and emotionally impotent heroine who take the lives of human beings and aliens as casually as we take a sip of water.  It is exceedingly rare to see a modern film where action heroes betray a shred of what could be considered fear when there is only a step between them and death.  This could be seen as weakness, and we can't have that!

In Braveheart (a work of fiction loosely based on history), I found it refreshing for the courageous protagonist William Wallace, on the eve of his execution, to be shown on his knees in prayer to God and confessing he was afraid.  He prayed God would give him strength to die honourably without crying out under the pains of torture, for he felt to do so was to admit the wicked, wheezing Longshanks had won.  Previously the film portrayed Wallace many times jumping into the fray, putting himself in harm's way and risking death to secure freedom for himself and fellow Scots one battle at a time.  Though the Hollywood depiction of William Wallace puts the most bold among us to shame, it was humanising for him to be portrayed as vulnerable before the almighty God as he confessed his fear--which is common to all people.  That may be the courageous thing Wallace did in the film.

With wisdom comes grief, and increased knowledge can be accompanied by fear.  Our bodies are wired to respond to fear when we are startled or frightened to flight, fly or freeze.  There is no one who is without fear, and anyone who boldly claims to be fearless is especially suspect.  Fear has countless disguises, cover-ups and names that camouflage it because we are naturally ashamed to be viewed as fearful.  It is a hit to our pride to say we are scared, and we can express fear by laughing as easily as crying.  Fear is a part of our flesh we inhabit, but the Holy Spirit who regenerates Christians fundamentally changes us from within as Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 1:6-7:  "Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. ⁷ For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."  God has given us a Spirit of power, love and a sound mind, and His perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).

As long as we live in a body of corruptible flesh, our experiences and feelings can fall short of the spiritual reality of what Jesus has done for us.  We can be filled with the Holy Spirit and still feel afraid because we are preoccupied and distracted by what is not God.  Even as Timothy needed to be intentional to stir up and use the gifts God had given Him, so we must remind ourselves God has not given us a spirit of fear.  We are no longer slaves to sin, worry and anxiety because we now are in Christ, and we should not allow fear to be a squatter in our lives who robs us of peace.  After speaking of the Comforter He would send, Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:27:  "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."  When we realise we are afraid, we ought to take courage in Christ and confess this sin so we might be strengthened to do God's will and abide in His love.

Jesus Unites People

There is a local bridge that attracted the attention of a community Facebook group due to an odd reason.  Someone, for some reason, had climbed the supports of the bridge to fly an Australian flag.  Days passed and I was surprised an individual or local council had not had it taken down.  From a liability standpoint, it makes sense to remove the flag to deter additional people from risking their health in scaling the bridge to fly a flag.  When the flag was finally removed, people on the online forum noticed and the majority lamented it was gone.  Overnight, on each side of the bridge Australian flags were attached near the footpath.  After these were taken down, 10 Australian flags took their vacant spot--5 on each side!

The bridge was flag-free until around Australia Day when one Australian and Australian Aboriginal flag were displayed by one another on each side of the bridge.  It wasn't too long until the Australian flags were taken down, but the Aboriginal flags remained.  As I walked across the bridge one early morning, I thought it would take a brave soul to take it upon yourself to be the one to decide to remove the Aboriginal flag.  As an Australian immigrant it seemed a provocative gesture to have the Australian flag removed and the Aboriginal flag to remain because it was first flown in 1971 at a land rights rally.  Interestingly, the flag was granted official status in 1995, and the copyright for the Australian Aboriginal flag was purchased by the federal government in 2022.

I had never considered it before:  it struck me that without Australia there would be no Australian Aboriginal flag.  Borne out of great struggles, the Aboriginal flag became a symbol of Aboriginal history and identity that brought people together.  The experiences of people (indigenous and otherwise), both good and bad, can be useful in guiding us to mature into the people we are today.  We observe this many times in the Bible, how God is able to use anything--even the hatred of family members--to be redeemed for God's good purposes.  Joseph's brothers stripped him of his coat and sold him to slave traders, yet what they intended for evil God meant for good and to save many people alive when Joseph was made ruler in Egypt.  In Jesus Christ all people can experience unity that transcends the bonds of family, ethnicity or shared experiences, for we are all citizens of God's eternal kingdom.

One wonderful aspect of trusting and following Jesus is He changes our perspective completely.  Rather than focusing on the past, comparing ourselves with others or worrying about the future, we are called to look to Him today and find rest for our souls.  Whilst wrongfully imprisoned, Paul wrote in Philippians 1:12-14:  "But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, ¹³ so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; ¹⁴ and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear."  By faith in Christ, Paul realised how God was able to further the Gospel though he remained in chains.  He saw fellow believers grow bold in their witness and rejoiced rather than becoming bitter about the injustice he faced.

With identity secure in Christ, there is no need to be annoyed or provoked by what flags are flying on the bridge today.  We don't need to fall prey to victimhood by repeating all the wrongs done to us or how we feel slighted today because we have an audience with the Almighty God who loves us and gave His only begotten Son Jesus to save us.  The lyrics of a worship song "At the Cross" came to mind recently that says, "I know a place, a wonderful place where accused and condemned find mercy and grace, where the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us were nailed there with him there on the cross."  Isn't God wonderful, to provide atonement and forgiveness for the wrongs we have done and the wrongs done to us?  By the cross, Jesus has drawn all people to Himself.  If we rejoice to have God atone for our sins and wash us clean of them, will we also permit the wrongs done to us be nailed to the cross and washed away by God's love and justice forever?

Crucifying the Body of Sin

I have seen pictures of religious annual festivals where people traditionally re-enact the crucifixion with people nailed to a cross.  It is one thing to do a stage production where the crucifixion of Jesus is shown, but for me it goes too far to shed real blood in a demonstration when Jesus already shed all His blood to provide atonement once for all sinners when He laid down His life (Hebrews 10:10).  The cutting and piercing of the flesh was a pagan practice in the Old Testament and was forbidden for God's people in the Law of Moses, and the mutilation of the body does nothing to sanctify anyone or honour God by obedience.  The aspect of crucifixion not copied in the festival was the whole point of the brutal Roman method of execution:  the killing of a person.

Perhaps some view the people with hands nailed to crosses and as pious and devout to voluntarily suffer such pains out of devotion to Christ.  I am reminded of Paul's words to believers who put themselves under self-imposed rules in Colossians 2:23:  "These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh."  Submitting to having our palms pierced does nothing to prevent us from indulging our proud flesh.  Previously Paul explained how Jesus had already done everything for Christians to be purified and set apart unto God in Colossians 2:11-12:  "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."  There is no spiritual need for a man to be circumcised or to be crucified, for we have been raised with Jesus by faith in God, and His righteousness has been imputed to us by grace through faith.

To the end Christians would realise we who have been made new creations are to cease from sin, Paul wrote in Romans 6:3-7:  "Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? ⁴ Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, ⁶ knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. ⁷ For he who has died has been freed from sin."  Sin no longer has authority or power over us because we have died to it, and now we live with our risen Saviour and walk in newness of life.  Christians continue to live in a physical body that will see corruption, but we have been set free from sin and can choose to serve God instead.  In one sense we are dead and the life of Jesus is being lived out through us.

Far better than emulating the physical act of crucifixion in front of a crowd once a year would be to appropriate the spiritual implications of Christ crucified for believers daily in private.  This taking up our cross daily, following Christ and dying to self is alluded to in Galatians 5:24-25:  "And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."  Being physically nailed to a cross does not help anyone to walk in the Spirit.  We are called and divinely enabled by Jesus to bear fruit of the Holy Spirit rather than the works of the flesh as we crucify our sinful passions and desires.  God's word and the Holy Spirit who convicts us of sin helps us identify sin in our hearts, confess it, repent and forsake it.  We live in the Spirit, and thus we can walk in the Spirit and do what pleases God.

Evidence of Conviction

The choices we make are more indicative of our convictions and beliefs than what we say.  Many times we have observed people rail against evils in society or the church who are later exposed as partakers of those very things.  Perhaps being outspoken against a particular sin is an attempt to distract from their  own indulgence in it or is a vain attempt to convince themselves of something being sin they want to avoid because their flesh finds it alluring.  Since we cannot plumb the depths of the hearts of mankind, we can only guess concerning the motivation or intentions of others, and it is infinitely more profitable to honestly examine our own hearts, repent of sin and seek to do what pleases God than guesswork about others.  What is in our hearts will find its way out, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

The Bible shows how actions speak truer than words.  Yesterday I read a passage that illustrates this fact in Exodus 9:20-21 that described the responses to the warning Moses gave that in about 24 hours God was going to rain down massive hail upon Egypt:  "He who feared the word of the LORD among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. ²¹ But he who did not regard the word of the LORD left his servants and his livestock in the field."  The previous 6 times Moses said a plague from God was going to occur, it happened just as he had said.  People in Egypt had personally experienced the Nile turning to blood, a plague of frogs, gnats (or lice), flies, pestilence that killed livestock, and boils that broke out on man and beast.  One might assume people would be very switched on to listen to Moses at that stage, but there were some who did not fear the word of the LORD.  The ones who feared God's word were those who quickly brought their servants and livestock under cover, but those who did not regard God's word left their servants and cattle in the field.  Their actions showed whether they feared the word of God or not.

In Ezekiel 9, the prophet had a vision of God who was preparing to bring judgment upon His people.  God told a man in white linen with an inkhorn by his side (presumably an angel), to go and mark people in Ezekiel 9:4:  "...and the LORD said to him, "Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it."  This mark was to identify those who would be saved from the coming judgment, for they grieved over the wicked abominations that took place in Israel--disobedience to God's Law, offering incense to idols, polluting the land with innocent blood and the perversion of justice.  It wasn't sufficient in God's sight to merely not do wickedly, for God was looking for those whose hearts were moved to mourn and weep over the sins committed in Jerusalem.  God was intent on saving those who feared Him and were zealous for His honour, while those who committed wickedness or were careless towards sin would be destroyed.

These passages show those who fear the word of the LORD will be responsive to it with obedience.  It also shows those who submit to God and His word have a desire to do His will, and should we observe wickedness in God's people we should be moved to grieve.  Thankfully God knows the hearts of men (we cannot know!) and is able to change them by the power of the Gospel.  He empowers us to know and do His will, even bearing one another's burdens as Galatians 6:1 exhorts:  "Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."  If grief over sin leads us to rail angrily against others, it indicates the involvement of our flesh rather than the humility and meekness of the Holy Spirit.  Our flesh on its best day could never resist or overcome our sinful habits, but the power of the Holy Spirit is always victorious by God's grace.  Praise God He will exchange our tears for enduring joy.

Blessing of God's Word

How indescribably good is the blessing all Christians have in God's word delivered to us!  Sometimes when I read words written in a message or email it is impossible to decipher the tone or the intent of the writer.  I have read bios that give details about a person but I still do not know them at all.  There have also been many people I thought I knew who ended up being completely unlike my assessment or changed so drastically they were a stranger known in name alone.  God and His word do not change, and therefore what God has revealed about Himself can be known and relied upon.  Adopting a worldview with the lens of Scripture guides us to discern truth from error.

Recently I was told of a situation that illustrates this well.  Many times God-fearing people believe God has spoken to them, and while God is never wrong--sometimes we are.  I heard of a conversation between believers where one person believed God had said they would always be alone, and the other immediately replied that this was not God's voice.  How could the Christian be so sure?  Because of what Jesus Christ says in His word!  No Christian is ever alone since Jesus is with us.  Hebrews 13:5 says, "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."  Since God is with us wherever we go and will never leave or forsake us, in Christ we are never alone.  Jesus was right in the middle of that conversation between Christians, for where we gather in His name there He is in the midst.  By faith in God, we can know He who is truth and reject lies that masquerade as truth.

Born-again Christians can know we are filled with the Holy Spirit, not because of a particular spiritual gift, but on the same basis we can know we can be born again and saved by faith in Jesus:  by the word of God.  John 3:16 famously says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  The only way we can be born again and pass from death to life is the indwelling Holy Spirit who regenerates those who receive Jesus and believe the Gospel.  Jesus pointed out no one can see the breeze that moves the branches of the tree, and the Holy Spirit operates in a similar fashion in those who are born again.  The spiritual, inner work of the Spirit will result in physical evidence that can be seen by everyone.  Though we live in bodies of corruptible flesh, the lives of Christians are no longer ruled by the works of the flesh but begin to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

Paul wrote in Galatians 5:19-25, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."  Not only does the Bible truly and plainly tell us how things are, but it also provides guidance for how we are to live.  We can objectively know God by the revelation of His word, know we have eternal life, and know what pleases Him.

Know Your Place

Recently I watched a couple of films that bore a strong resemblance to one another.  Both had female protagonists who were independent (but had the support and friendship of an animal), were disobedient to authority, and headstrong.  Though the films had different directors, they both emphasised the repeated choices of the heroine in the tales to refuse to do as they were told, to disregard societal norms as despicable constraints, and went on to either kill or become what the masses feared.  Both these girls were visionaries, seeing what other people could not, overcame their naysaying peers, and avoided negative consequences for their rebellious ways.  Following their own hearts and going their own way worked out in the end with their desires being satisfied.

The irony in both the stories was the girls who wanted to go alone couldn't succeed alone--not that they ever came to that realisation.  The parallel plot and themes between the films demonstrated how unpopular it is to submit to authority and "know your place."  The aspirations of the girls was to leave their place behind--not to remain in it.  Both of the films depicted the general population as dragging along, their purpose and delight in life sapped from them by daily labours, beaten down by authority, lived in fear of being in trouble, and those in power saw themselves as superior.  The worst thing to be told was "Do as you are told," as if it was impossible to thrive, succeed, or find fulfillment if one did so.  It was predictable and boring that whenever these free-spirits were told what not to do, they would immediately do that one thing--and never learned any lessons or grew in character as a result of conflict.

When I grew up in the United States, part of the Pledge of Allegiance we daily recited at school reminded us where our place was:  "one nation, under God."  I was blessed to have a place in a country I could call my own with a rich heritage that acknowledged God who created the heavens, earth and all things.  I was also blessed to have a place in a family with parents I was called by God to submit to and obey as Ephesians 6:1-3:  "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ² "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: ³ "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth."  I was blessed to have younger siblings I was to care for and be a good example to.  I have also been blessed to have a place in a marriage where before God we are both called to submit to one another in the fear of God.  All Christians are blessed to have a place in the kingdom of God, and that Jesus is in heaven preparing a place for us today.  Knowing and embracing my place under God has been the source of great peace, joy and contentment in my life by God's grace.

It is a grief to my soul when I sense the satanic stench of rebellion being posed as the path to satisfaction, fulfillment and success.  When people reject God and His wisdom, they rob themselves of the rich relationship with God He extends to all as they remain enslaved to the dictates of their own sinful hearts.  It is a romantic, fictional construct to imagine people will be most happy doing what they want as they head to ruin rather than living an abundant life in glad submission to God who gives eternal life.  How privileged Christians are to be God's children and His servants who are given us responsibilities and duties to fulfil.  Jesus told a parable about when a master returned home and his servants ensured he ate and drank by their faithful service, and then they would have an opportunity to eat and drink from his bounty.  The is the proper order of things, and blessed are those who know their place and serve our gracious God and Saviour.  He is our life and satisfaction we cannot find going our own way.

God Gives Life

When I consider creation and all God has made, it is evident He thought of everything.  The more we learn and discover concerning our galaxy, planet, living things, cells and all else that is studied and marvelled over, there is an order, complex systems and invaluable interactions we observe.  It is saying something where there is ongoing research into how things work so well in nature with an aim to design and manufacture products that can begin to approach this impossibly high level of function.  Sheer chance and random processes cannot reasonably account for the stability of elements, the information packed in a living cell, and the existence of plants, creatures and people that reproduce after their own kind.

Based on these observations and many more, it is easy for me to ascribe the wisdom, power and foresight required to create our world and all that is in it to the living God revealed in the Bible.  Nothing the eternal and all-powerful God says or does is pointless or without purpose.  When things do not make sense to us or seem unreasonable, it confirms what God reveals about Himself:  His ways and thoughts are higher than ours.  As the heavens are high above the earth, so God's ways and thoughts are above ours.  It is reasonable that God's wisdom and knowledge is infinitely greater than that of wise Solomon, for the king's wisdom did not spontaneously arise:  it came from somewhere, or in his case Someone.  Everything we have and all abilities we possess came from God who is the Giver of all good gifts.

God said in Isaiah 55:10-11, "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, ¹¹ So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."  God used rain and snow to illustrate His purpose in speaking His word.  People depended on seasonal rain to water their crops that would grow and produce flowers, fruit and seeds.  God sent rain on the earth to provide seed for the sower who had the expectation of a future crop, and also bread for the eater by grinding it into flour to sustain their bodies presently.  It was not "good luck" rain happened to fall but was a seasonal blessing God supplied so the needs of plants, animals and people would be abundantly met.

God said, "So shall my word be that goes forth from My mouth."  Rain does not reverse course just before hitting the ground and rise back to heaven, and God's word He sends will accomplished what He pleases and prosper to accomplish His intended purpose.  In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus compared the word of God to good seed that fell on various locations and conditions.  Good seed planted at the right time and place will produce a crop, while seed that is eaten by birds, is scorched by the sun or choked by the weeds and is unfruitful says volumes about the unprepared condition of the hearts of people.  Our response to the word of God can say more about us than about our good God who alone has the words of life.  Praise God He has revealed Himself to us all and how all our needs are abundantly met in Him!  If you ever thought about how life is good, then it follows we ought to ascribe complete goodness to God who gave us life.

Return to Your Rest

Recently there has been an uptick in reports of young people riding illegal e-bikes on the street, and it seems the authorities are unsure what to do about it.  On Friday I saw a group of youths riding on the street as they dangerously weaved through traffic.  Youths on motorbikes in NSW have been emboldened of late because the police will not pursue them due to safety concerns.  The problem is, those who are guilty of dangerous, unlawful driving are not caught and believe they are within their rights to hoon around with impunity.  Apparently, this problem will be addressed by new legislation later this year to limit the kind of e-bikes people can buy or operate--and "crush" bikes that exceed the speed limitations--that is, if the authorities can catch them!

The problem I see of dealing with hooning by more legislation is that laws on the books are not being presently upheld.  How will more laws do anything to aid the enforcement of current laws?  Adding more laws will not change the behaviour or hearts of people who are inclined to do as they will.  King Solomon was a wise judge, and he wrote in Ecclesiastes 8:11:  "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."  Solomon understood unless there are real consequences speedily doled out to those who do wrong, the sinful hearts of men are hardened in a corrupt state.  Administering the rod of correction to your own rebellious and disobedient children will tend to straighten out crooked ways, but it is the LORD who has the power to change people.

Solomon followed up in Ecclesiastes 8:12:  "Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged, yet I surely know that it will be well with those who fear God, who fear before Him."  Solomon also realised there will be people who continue in their sin regardless of the consequences they face or evade.  Since everyone will be brought before the LORD in judgment who always does right, we do not need to worry if justice will be done.  Rather than primarily concerning himself with emboldened sinners, Solomon wisely pointed out his great confidence it will be well with those who fear God.  No one knows the day or hour our souls will be required of us, yet we can know how to obtain God's favour by faith in Jesus Christ today and always.

We have all gone astray, yet by God's grace He saves all who trust in Him.  Psalm 116:5-8 affirms, "Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yes, our God is merciful. ⁶ The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. ⁷ Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. ⁸ For You have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from falling."  The decisions of the government or bad choices of those who break the law is not nearly as important as each of us to choose to fear God and walk in His ways.  Even if we are run over by an illegal e-bike and the rider is never caught, we can have rest in the LORD who has delivered our souls from death and deals bountifully with us.

Contempt Corrupts

I recently read an article from the perspective of a marriage psychologist who said one of the most surefire evidence of a marriage in trouble was when the couple openly shows contempt for one another.  Webster defined "contempt" in the 1828 Dictionary as:  "The act of despising; the act of viewing or considering and treating as mean, vile and worthless; disdain; hatred of what is mean or deemed vile. This word is one of the strongest expressions of a mean opinion which the language affords."  Contempt is the opposite of love, for it is hardened hatred, disgust and without regard or respect for another person.  Contempt is the fruit of unresolved conflict, bitterness, and resentment, and this corrupt outlook reveals a lack of love and grace.

It has been said that "Familiarity breeds contempt," but it has also been observed a closer relationship with someone can result in greater appreciation and mutual respect.  Should our relationships be soured because of contempt for others, it says more about the hardened state of our hearts than dashed expectations or negative judgments we have made concerning others.  In the Bible God is revealed as the unchanging, holy and awesome, longsuffering, gracious and wise.  He made a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and He delivered the Hebrews from slavery Egypt.  God appeared before His people in thick darkness and fire as He spoke to them from Mt. Sinai, and the people trembled before Him.  God gave them the Law through Moses, and the people promised to walk in His ways.

One might think because the almighty God who dwelt in the midst of His people was good and glorious, they would have loved and been loyal to Him always.  This was not the case.  People brought sacrifices  to the temple and priests went into the presence of God, yet they despised God and departed from Him.  When God sent the prophet Ezekiel to speak the word of God to His people, see what God said in Ezekiel 3:5-7:  "For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, ⁶ not to many people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. ⁷ But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted."  It had reached such a low point in Israel's relationship with God they would not even listen to Him because of the hardness of their hearts.  Since they would not listen to God, they would not hear Ezekiel either.  Ironically, God said foreign people with a language barrier would be more willing to listen than His own people!

This passage of Scripture in Ezekiel shows the danger of hearing God's word without obedience can lead us to reject Him.  Like the Israelites, we Christians can become dull by much hearing; familiarity with the Bible can make ordinary in our eyes what is miraculous, transformative, and divine truth.  We rarely see ourselves as the entitled, demanding brat who treats his generous and caring parents with contempt, yet this passage shows it is possible unchecked pride in our hearts could result in contempt towards God--and even His faithful servants.  The good and awesome God never changed, but His people can for the worse.  By God's grace may we continually submit ourselves before Him gladly as He sanctifies and refines us to be more like Him:  to respond to hatred with love, to give more grace, to forgive, show mercy and walk humbly as we follow Jesus closely.  

God At Hand and Afar Off

"Am I a God near at hand," says the LORD, "and not a God afar off? ²⁴ Can anyone hide himself in secret places, so I shall not see him?" says the LORD; "Do I not fill heaven and earth?" says the LORD."

Jeremiah 23:23-24

God is omnipresent and omniscient:  before there was time on earth God was everywhere and knowing all things--even beyond our universe.  Solomon and the children of Israel knew God's presence was not contained to the Holy of Holies or a temple made with hands.  At the same time, the temple was viewed as a focal point of God's attention because His presence dwelt among His people.  Wherever Jews were in the world, they prayed in the direction of the temple in Jerusalem to acknowledge their God who rules over all.

God made it clear to Jeremiah He was not merely a God near at hand but also afar off.  There was no place where anyone could hide from His presence, for He filled heaven and earth.  Not one sparrow could fall without Him knowing, all the hairs on our head are numbered by Him, and He calls all the stars by name.  God's absolute knowledge and presence is a great comfort to believers, for we are assured nothing escapes His notice.  When the children of Israel were enslaved by the Egyptians and suffered, their cries were heard by God as it is written in Exodus 2:24-25 (LSB):  "So God heard their groaning; and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. ²⁵ And God saw the sons of Israel, and God knew them."  The groans of God's people put His promises to their fathers in His mind--not that He ever forgets.  This passage shows God's faithfulness and responsiveness to His people, regardless of their geographical proximity to a temple or city.

God heard the groaning of His people who suffered, remembered His covenant, saw the sons of Israel and God knew them.  Out of all the sounds made by nature, machinery or mankind, God was drawn to observe His people and respond to their suffering by opening a way of deliverance and salvation.  I am reminded of the word of Hanani the prophet who rebuked king Asa because he had relied on an arm of flesh rather than the LORD who made Himself known and saved him in 2 Chronicles 16:8-9:  "Were the Ethiopians and the Lubim not a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. ⁹ For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars."  God's eyes run everywhere in the world, looking to show Himself strong on behalf of those with loyal hearts to God.

The Good Shepherd Jesus said in John 10:27-30,  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. ²⁹ My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. ³⁰ I and My Father are one."  God hears the groaning of His people, sees and knows us wherever we may be, and we also can be attuned to hear the voice of Jesus as we follow Him.  We are blessed beyond measure the God of Israel is a God at hand and also a God afar off, and not one of us is far from Him in Christ Jesus.  The God who fills heaven and earth has chosen to make Christians His holy habitation by His grace.  Wherever we are, there He is in our midst.

Finishing Our Race Well

When I was in high school, for 3 years I was part of the cross country team that competed against other schools in a weekly 5K run.  Over 3 decades have passed since I raced, and this morning I decided to run the 5K fun run course our suburb hosts every week.  Let's just say, long gone are the days of running 30-40 miles a week for training that kicked off with an easy 7 or 8 minute warm up before stretching!  I was pleased simply to continue jogging nonstop for first half and averaged 10 minutes a mile throughout.  While I was jogging, puffing and walking, the LORD brought some observations to mind concerning the race of life God has prepared for all of His people to run with joy.

I was never close to being the fastest, most technically sound or best runner on my cross country team, and yet there is a massive contrast between my ability and endurance back then compared to now.  The same can be true concerning our walk with Jesus Christ, that we can go from energetic and fighting fit to becoming heavier, slower and incapable of keeping the pace we did previously.  Even as men and women are different, so our abilities and strengths change over time.  There is nothing wrong with this.  But when our perspective is shifted for our convenience and a desire to avoid painful strain, this can undermine our spiritual preparation and fitness to do what God has called us to do--to run well the race He has set before us.  Youth has its own pitfalls as our lives were often marked by arrogance, pride and looked down on others because we viewed ourselves as superior.

I am going to share some personal examples of how my approach to running as physical exercise that in many ways has changed for the worse, and may the LORD in His wisdom reveal to you, dear reader, of what correlations can be made and positive steps you can take in your life for the better.  The first change I have observed is these days I can allow the weather to dictate whether I go walking or not.  Our cross country team would run in all weather, rain or shine.  We did not substitute half an hour on a treadmill or excuse ourselves from exercise because of misty weather so we could sit and drink a cup of tea.  We weren't worried about an increased chance of falling or catching cold because running was not negotiable.  We were runners; that what we did, and we did it together and on our own time.

Another thing I have started doing that I never did before was to set my sights on a short term goal based upon how I was feeling.  I have decided when walking, "I will run to that light up ahead."  Sometimes I have not even managed to run to the light because my body was not feeling good about running.  When I ran a race in high school, I was committed and determined to keep running all the way to the end.  The goal was the finish line--not the next tree, bush or mile marker to take a break.  To set your sights on what is not the finish line and to settle for less than complete effort because of how you feel means some runners drop out and do not finish the race, and others do not bother starting it.  Better than looking forward to walking a bit and catching my breath after successfully reaching the light, I would be better served to look forward to the shower I will enjoy after the race is completed.  Rest in the presence of God in heaven is far better to consider than retirement from paid work.

A big point of emphasis for runners is that of time.  We all wore wristwatches so we would check our pace and ensure we were pushing ourselves and still have enough in the tank for the last kick.  Our final time was often compared to our "PR" or personal record, and even when others were faster than us we could be encouraged by our improvement.  A slow time felt like a failure, and when compared to others (or our previous times!) it could be embarrassingly slow.  Again, doing poorly in our minds can lead us to feel it isn't worth doing at all when others are so much faster.  I am reminded that Paul rejoiced to run the race set before him with joy, and he wasn't in competition with anyone else.  We used to take pride in how fast we could run a race, but it is irrelevant how long or how short it takes us to run our race before the LORD--long as we finish well.  Rather than priding ourselves in our training or hard work, we credit God for calling us and helping us cross the finish line.

One aspect of cross country I liked was that it was challenging to run on different surfaces, with hills, valleys and pleasant changes of scenery.  Running around a track over and over to me was like a hamster on a wheel, a lot of activity and motion but not going anywhere.  Cross country races have a clear starting and finishing point, and the course in The Ponds is a big loop that finishes where it began.  There is a lot to see, experience and enjoy of the creation God has made.  For those of us who are getting older, it is likely we have reached or gone well past the midpoint of our race:  now we are heading home and that motivates us to keep going.  We aren't to focus on the time we've lost with regret, nor are we to run to best others:  we look to Jesus who sets the pace, strengthens and guides us to finish well.  As Hebrews 12:1-2 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."

Truth Who Sets Free

Sometimes a verse spoken out of context can provide impetus to study and analyse passages of Scripture more carefully.  It seems people are pleased to quote fragments from the Bible to condemn others, justify themselves or to gain credibility--even when they think little of God or the Bible as a whole.  For instance, I read a news article that quoted from John 8:32 where Jesus said, "The truth shall set you free."  The writer went on to list things what the passage did not say.  Infinitely more important than what the Bible does not say is what God does say and the message Jesus intended to convey.

In the passage that preceded this well-known quote, Jesus proclaimed He was the light of the world.  The Pharisees opposed Jesus, and they complained He bore witness of Himself and thus His witness was not true.  Later people asked Jesus who He was really in John 8:25-32:  "Then they said to Him, "Who are You?" And Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been saying to you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have many things to say and to judge concerning you, but He who sent Me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him." ²⁷ They did not understand that He spoke to them of the Father. ²⁸ Then Jesus said to them, "When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. ²⁹ And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him." ³⁰ As He spoke these words, many believed in Him. ³¹ Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Jesus was not speaking of some arbitrary revelation of truth, but He specifically spoke of Himself as the Truth.  Jesus was sent from heaven to earth by God the Father, and the witness Jesus gave concerning Himself was true.  When Jesus was lifted up on a cross and crucified, He said it would show and confirm what He truly was:  the Lamb of God sent by God to provide atonement for the sins of the world.  Jesus would lay down His life on Calvary in obedience to His Father in heaven, and He would take up His life again by rising from the dead.  Verse 30 says many believed in Him--not just that He was being honest--but that He was the Son of God, the promised Messiah God would send to save sinners.  To those Jews who believed Him Jesus said, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  Anyone could have followed Jesus around, but His true disciples heard and obeyed His word.  These are those who would know the truth, and the truth would make them free.  The text does not allow us to substitute our truth or what poses as truth in Christ's place, for He objectively is the truth.  To unbelieving religious leaders who remained slaves to sin Jesus said in John 8:36:  "Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."

Jesus plainly identified Himself as the truth to Thomas and His disciples in John 14:6:  "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  By the power of the Gospel, Christians are set free from sin that brings death and are set at liberty from the Law of Moses that condemned us.  We are set free from the curse of sin and set free to worship, serve and have fellowship with God forever.  Paul wrote in Romans 6:17-18, "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. ¹⁸ And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."  The freedom Jesus brings is infinitely more than a feeling or a change of mind but a complete transformation of a person who by faith in Jesus goes from slavery to sin and self to be a new creation, a child of God and citizen of heaven.

If we misunderstand what "truth" means in John 8:32 means, we will arrive at very wrong conclusions of what "free" means as well.  This illustrates the importance of carefully reading and considering the context of Bible passages when we quote a phrase or verse, for our flippancy can cause people to miss Jesus Christ and the critical points He was making.  It is God's word, after all, and the wise are zealous to hear Him speak.