Jesus Changes People--For Good

The other day I passed by a digital sign that read, "Stop Domestic Violence."  It struck me as rather odd.  I wondered who the target audience was.  It could not be addressing those who suffer from domestic violence, a battered spouse or the verbally or physically abused children at the mercy of a grown bully.  It must be primarily directed at the one responsible for the violence, ironically the one who could be incapable of recognising or stopping their violent and harmful behaviour.  It is one thing to suggest beating the summer heat by the installation of a pool to swim in, but it is another thing altogether to say "Stop Summer Heat."  Good luck with that.  One might as well try to stop the earth's orbit around the sun--or domestic violence with a sign.

My fervent desire aligns with the digital sign:  for domestic violence in every form to stop.  But raising awareness of a problem does nothing to convince people it is their problem, their sin.  Looking at the scourge of domestic violence and other sins from a biblical perspective, a complete change of heart and mind is needed to begin to foster this change.  To try to fight the flesh with the flesh is a losing battle, for we cannot will to do what is right when we are wrong.  The natural man is dead in sins and incapable of changing himself, and to cease from domestic violence is no easier than ceasing from envy, lying or looking with lust.  Change at the source is needed as it is written in Ezekiel 18:30-31:  "Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways," says the Lord GOD. "Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity will not be your ruin. ³¹ Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. For why should you die, O house of Israel?"

To be saved from ourselves and hell Jesus revealed we must be born again through faith in Him, and the Holy Spirit makes transformational change possible.  He changes our perspective, helps us to avoid sin and to begin to do what pleases God instead.  One reason why domestic violence is fundamentally sinful it is the opposite of loving one another.  Bullying a spouse or a child shows a great lack of the fear of God Who will bring all our words and actions into judgment.  The world often focuses on trying to eliminate the symptoms or fruit of sin when God is able to deal with the root of the problem.  Notice the sign did not say the words of Jesus to His disciples, "Love one another as I have loved you" but to stop domestic violence.  From a worldly view stopping bad behaviour is of primary importance, yet the biblical view is to repent, be born again, and be led by the Holy Spirit in love.  Those who are walking in love will not abuse others.

If our salvation and spiritual transformation was based upon our efforts, not one person could be saved or changed.  God is the One who changes people; the almighty God is able to give us a new heart and mind.  Hebrews 10:16-17 says, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the LORD: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them," ¹⁷ then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more."  We cannot change or even help ourselves, but God can and does.  Those who repent and trusts in Jesus can be set free from the shackles of all our sins and be empowered to live lives that follow Christ's example.  Domestic violence can stop when those guilty of it have hearts changed so they no longer practice it--a transformation made possible by faith in Jesus Christ Who makes all things new.  Even better than the prospect of domestic violence stopping is for all people to love one another as Jesus loves us.

God's Not Like Batman

Batman and other crime-fighting superheros in the comics, television shows or films often tempered their aggression when they caught the bad guys.  Often the superheros resembled a fisherman who embraced a "catch-and-release" approach because they were crime fighters--not the judge, jury or executioner.  I can't remember how many times I groaned inwardly when the hero who finally captured the criminal mastermind responsible for a murderous rampage and wanton destruction said in their best announcer voice, "I'm taking you to the authorities."  It's like the campy criminals knew Batman, Superman and Spiderman had their hands tied and wouldn't kill them, and they seemed to look forward to going to prison because it delayed their deserved punishment--not to mention the high likelihood of their escape, and thus could avoid a trial and sentence of judgment.

I wonder if people think God is a bit like Batman or Superman when it comes to their sin.  They have heard God is loving, merciful and kind, so they assume He is hamstrung from punishing sinners.  If arrested by the just God they would assume the attitude of a smug super-villain, extend their wrists and coyly say, "Arrest me then.  Guilty as charged."  Anyone who would think to do so does not comprehend the gravity of their sin, the unescapable, just penalty sin requires of eternal death and how God will see the sentence carried out with His furious wrath.  Even in fictitious superhero tales the criminals change their tune when merely threatened with death.  They go from boastful tough guys to whimpering babies when dangled by their ankles from a skyscraper.  Those unmoved by warnings of God's certain judgment are as Paul said in Romans 3:18:  "There is no fear of God before their eyes."  Everyone will bow the knee in the fear of God, for it is only a matter of when (Phil. 2:9-11).

The trouble for those guilty of sin is their fear of God may come after they are out of time because their lives on earth have come to an end.  At that stage it will be too late for them to make amends--as if anyone can be made righteous with God by even our best efforts.  The life of Ebeneezer Scrooge in the Dicken's Christmas classic was redeemed (from a worldly view) by his sudden embrace of philanthropy, yet those decades of selfishness, greed, envy and miserly disdain of others from a biblical view continued to condemn him before the righteous God into hell forever.  Giving presently would not absolve him of sinful greed for eternity.  Thinking he could redeem himself by his own sacrifices would only add to his chains.  God's word makes it clear there is no good we can do to excuse or exonerate ourselves from the wrong we have done or still do.  If all our best works are as filthy rags in God's sight, then there isn't any hope for us that arises from us.

In stark contrast to the proud boaster, the beginning of Psalm 51 is an example of a contrite heart God renders righteous by faith in Him.  After he sinned, David wrote in Psalm 51:1-4:  "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. ² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. ³ For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. ⁴ Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight--that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge."  Instead of trying to justify himself, David humbly fell upon the mercy of the just, righteous God Who is merciful, loving and blameless.  This man after God's own heart showed great fear of the LORD Who is Judge over all.  Those who admit and repent of their sin by God's grace can receive forgiveness because Jesus has paid the price with His shed blood.  Only God is able to forgive sins, and Jesus was willing and able to provide atonement for the sins of the world.

I'm glad God is nothing like Batman, for the LORD God is able to forgive sin and provide eternal life for all who trust in Him--even if our thoughts and actions make comic book villains look tame.  Batman could only be at one place at one time and struggled at times to save himself in the moral cesspool of Gotham.  God sent His only begotten Son Jesus Christ to extend the gift of salvation to the whole world, and He is risen from the dead and seated in glory.  He's my hero, my Saviour, and God's will is for Jesus to be your Saviour too.

Time Marches On

A refrain in a rock song goes, "Time is on my side, yes it is."  The background of the story in the tune is the singer felt no time-pressure about his girlfriend leaving him, because it was only a matter of time before she would be back and knocking at his door.  He was confident the constant, relentless march of time would result in his relational struggles and separation being resolved.  I cannot say I share Mick Jagger's view on this, for time never feels like it is on my side.  The ticking away of every seconds is a force we must yield to, like it or not.  Things we dread edge ever closer, and favourite seasons pass us by.  The passage of time is an unescapable, unavoidable reality of life as the earth rotates around the sun according to God's design.

It is because God created the heavens and earth governed by time we must say, "All good times come to an end."  No matter how wonderful the current or future season is, we know they cannot last perpetually under the sun that rises and falls daily.  The time each of us have on earth will someday come to an end--likely before we have lost the pleasure of living out our days, weeks, months and years.  There is a good side to this reality, for feelings of loss come from profound enjoyment and love we never could have had on our own.  Lamenting what we have lost can be replaced with the appreciation and joy that comes from God who gave us time with people we love and activities we enjoy.

At a funeral today the thought came to mind how seasons shared with loved ones feel over too soon because we treasure and enjoy them so much.  It is also good to consider it could very well be our lives that reach an end before we know it.  With this in mind, as we enjoy the many blessings God grants us by His grace, we are moved to worship God the Giver rather than the gift itself.  Rather than idolising a person or the time we gladly spent with others in joyous relationship, we can praise God all our times are in His hands.  Every lament of loss and sorrowful feeling is evidence God has truly been good to us.  He hasn't stopped being good because one season has drawn to a close and another begins, for God makes everything beautiful in its time.  Faith in God allows us to accept this and draw close to Him.

A day is coming that will last forever, a day when we will rejoice perpetually in a never-ending season of light, love and liberty in God's presence free of sin, sorrow, pain and death.  God has provided us lives full of good things we would never choose to be without, yet God in His wisdom and grace has plans of a glorious future with Him and His redeemed people worth looking forward to.  We can rest knowing we will always be safe in His care and will see His goodness in the land of the living.  I guess in this sense time IS on our side, for the march of time brings our joyous entry into eternal glory closer by the second. :)

Changed For Good

Today whilst waiting to check out at Woolworths, my eyes fell upon a statement on a magazine cover I found bemusing:  "Be Bold and Evolve."  Even for those who ascribe to the concept of Darwinian evolution of the species, this is quite a wild statement.  How by thinking or an act of the will can a creature or human being fundamentally change who or what they are?  Even the most extreme body modifications people undergo are incapable of changing them from who they are on the inside:  such actions are overt, intentional actions that ring true to themselves as they are.  Changing names and identifying as gender fluid is not the evolution of a species but people embracing the unique powers as humans and the freedom of our will given by God to do what we want--however unconventional it may be.

Classic Darwinian evolution hinges on "survival of the fittest" as an explanation behind the origin of species, something the Bible's account of creation firmly contradicts.  It was never boldness behind the supposed evolution of species but natural selection was credited by small, successive adaptations and changes that provided benefits to a species survival and procreation.  But perhaps the magazine did not mean to go that far, but "Be Bold and Evolve" is simply an encouragement for people to be a better person, a happier, a more productive or healthy person.  People who desire to improve their lives or to be a "better version of themselves" is not usually a lack of desire but of ability to consistently follow through.  Self-help books have this fundamental flaw, that the formula presented for positive change must be embraced and practiced by an imperfect person who has already established they are incapable of changing themselves.

On its own, a changed mind has no power to change who we are.  Obviously our beliefs have a massive impact on our perspective of the world, ourselves and others, but we cannot change who our father and mother are.  We cannot change the location where we were born, our genetic code or that we are human beings created by God in His own image.  No one is perfect, and no one by willpower alone or life-hacks can we achieve perfection.  But God Himself provides hope and help beyond ourselves, for He is able to address the sin we have committed in the past and our sinful corruption.  His wisdom and righteousness provides a stark contrast from man's wickedness, for we are naturally undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving and unmerciful.  No amount of boldness or help from others can change us to be like God in holiness and goodness.

The gracious power of God to change people is seen in the life of king Nebuchadnezzar, a man whose life was saturated with pride and arrogance.  As a consequence of his sin, for seven years God gave Nebuchadnezzar the mind of a feral animal.  He lived outside and ate grass like an ox; his hair grew into dreadlocks and his curved fingernails resembled claws as he scurried around, unable to converse or speak.  He devolved terribly from his former glory as king in his palace he designed and built!  At the end of seven years, God caused Nebuchadnezzar's reason to return to him, and he was a changed man thereafter.  When he was restored to his kingdom instead of praising himself, he looked to God in faith, humility and reverence.  His last words recorded in the Bible are found in Daniel 4:37:  "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase."  We may not be kings or queens, yet like Nebuchadnezzar we are incapable of changing ourselves--and by faith in God He changes us for good.

Life Beyond the Pitch

It made the news this week when a star soccer player had a serious injury shortly after kickoff--in the game slated to be her last.  Megan Rapinoe quipped after the match, "I’m not a religious person or anything and if there was a god, like, this is proof that there isn’t.”  This statement gives me pause to consider what people who do not know God personally think of Him.  Based on her own logic, the fact she previously won world titles without suffering serious injury is proof there is a God.  I have observed people who do not credit God with existence often lash out at God in seasons of pain, frustration and disappointment rather than praising Him when all is well.

The view shared by Rapinoe is one familiar to atheists, skeptics and even professing Christians:  that God's existence is primarily for our benefit, to please us.  Like a divine Santa Claus that rewards good little boys and girls or a genie we pray to for health, wealth and prosperity, God (should He exist) lives to make us happy and enable us to fulfill our goals and achieve our dreams.  Those who know God in truth according to the Bible, however, realise we are created for His good purposes:  to know Him, praise, please and love Him.  It is in embracing our good God in faith we realise all the goals and dreams we have for ourselves pale in comparison to the plans He has for us, for He offers us what this perishing world cannot:  He offers Himself forever.

That may sound lame to people who do not know or value God, who place themselves at the centre of the universe as a god, who live to please themselves and to do their own will.  In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus knew His hour was drawing near--when He would be crucified on Calvary to provide atonement for sinners.  Matthew 26:39 says, "He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will."  Jesus humbled Himself and laid down His will before His Father in heaven, and surrendered His body to intense suffering and death.  He knew what we often do not realise in our pains, for Jesus knew what God would accomplish through His death and subsequent resurrection.  It was knowledge of God and faith in Him--not that Jesus judged the purpose for His death worthy--that Jesus joyfully went to the cross in obedience to the Father He loved Who loves all.

This is a sticking point for us as believers.  It is one thing for unbelievers to malign God or deny His existence in their pains:  we are called to glorify God despite pain He allows us to suffer as Jesus did.  We rejoice, not primarily because He will bring good out of evil (which He always does according to His purposes), but because He is worthy to be praised and celebrated.  By His grace He has given us life and causes the sun to rise on the just and the unjust, for He blesses the believer and unbeliever alike.  Having loved God because He first loved us, our eyes by trust in Him are opened to His love and goodness all around us.  God has made known to us His will to save, heal, redeem and restore.  God can use the end of a sporting career or a tragic incident to open our eyes to see God's goodness, our own folly and our need for Him.

A painful injury, far from proving God does not exist, supports the exact opposite view.  The fact our bodies are wonderfully designed with the capacity to feel pain, tendons, ligaments, bones and muscles that allow us to run and play a game (with the involvement of our circulatory, nervous and respiratory systems and more) with other people demonstrates we have a Creator and Designer.  A soccer ball or goal did not just "happen" to be but had a maker, and neither did we humans who can think, speak, listen and strategise arise without a Maker.  Instead of hating on God who allowed a tendon or ligament to rupture, thank God He gave them to us in the first place and there is a hope of healing and life beyond the soccer pitch--beyond this world where we can live with God Who loves us forever.  By the painful crucifixion of Jesus God demonstrated His love for all people and that God does exist, for such love is not of this world offered freely to us.

Proof of Heaven?

I am often bemused when I see articles or books about people who share near-death stories of going to heaven--as if their experience provides proof of heaven's existence.  In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul spoke of being caught up into paradise and saw things he said were "unlawful to utter" and thus remained silent on the particulars.  If there are sensual experiences we have with our spouse that are so personal and precious we will not speak of or describe those moments to another living soul, it is fair to wonder why people are willing to share personal, spiritual experiences (legitimate or not) for fame, clicks or financial gain.

It is possible people have had many spiritual experiences I would not have imagined possible, for God is unlimited in power and His ways and thoughts are beyond ours.  If Paul was caught up into paradise and saw a wondrous vision, it follows others could also have similar experiences for God's good purposes.  Yet these extra-biblical accounts are not the authority on the matter, for God's word has already spoken loud and clear of heaven's existence.  Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."  Notice "heavens" is plural and "earth" is singular.  There are heavens above the earth in atmospheric layers, and God dwells in the heaven of heavens which have always been.  Deuteronomy 10:14 reads, "Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it."

The created heavens and earth will someday pass away, and God will create new heavens and earth which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:10-13).  The Bible does not give much detail about what heaven is like, and for this reason many people are curious and intrigued to know more.  Better than seeking supposed eye-witness accounts of heaven to learn what heaven is really like, we ought to make sure we are going there by having our names written in the Lamb's book of life by faith in Jesus.  God has told us enough in His word to filter truth from error, and the lens of Scripture often reveals these dreams or visions deviate from what God has already said.  The LORD said in Jeremiah 23:28, "The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; and he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD."  God's word is fruitful, yet accounts of dreams or experiences--true or not--are like empty chaff by comparison.

Paul made an interesting observation in Philippians 1:15-18:  "Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: ¹⁶ The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; ¹⁷ but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice."  Some preached Jesus from envy and strife.  While this is far from ideal, Paul rejoiced Jesus was preached.  It may be that books and articles about heaven stir up interest and a desire to go to heaven, and this can be good when it leads people to Jesus Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.  The biblical account of Jesus dying on the cross, rising from the dead, and ascending into heaven where He is preparing a place for His people shows me heaven is real, but no vision or experience people can have rises to that absolute level of proof.

Messages We Send

We cannot help how other people interpret the things we say, but we should think carefully about the message we can be unintentionally sending by what we do say.  During seasons of political campaigning and the recent Voice Referendum in Australia, these unintended messages can negatively influence people.  For instance, when supporters of the Voice urged voters to be "decent for once" or "show kindness" or "be on the right side of history" the message is a moral judgement that those who are leaning towards voting "no" are usually unsatisfactory, unkind and entrenched in being wrong.  On the flip side, if we say the reason for voting "no" is that people "need to get a job" it is an unfounded accusation of laziness or freeloading.  Without knowing it, things we say can be offensive and provide justification for us and our point of view to be rejected.  In trying to build a bridge to bring people together, we can erect a wall to divide.

Just this morning I was given an illustration of how close this hits to home.  It was brought to my attention that I demonstrate the characteristics of being a "food snob" by my offhand comments.  Somehow my way of sharing personal preferences of food and drink make (at least one person in my household!) feel like because their preferences are different, it is a condemnation of them personally.  Now I do not want this ever to be the case.  I believe it is wrong for me to make a moral judgment of someone who prefers drinking skim milk over full cream.  I don't want to accidently send the message that I am against people who have embraced a vegetarian diet or who eat meat with every meal.  As the LORD uses others to bring our own blind spots and messages we convey through our careless words, we ought to double our efforts to speak plain truth in a loving, edifying way--and give space for differences of opinion.

If by expressing our views concerning politics or food send messages that makes others feel negatively judged or condemned, it follows we can do the same concerning our views of Jesus Christ, the Bible and the church.  It is likely many times with religious fervour we have turned people off from the Gospel or Christians because of a judgmental or personally condemning message that (unknown to us) came through our words loud and clear.  Thus we do well to carefully examine our motivation behind the words we use and how we say them, considering the message we send and how it could be received by our hearers.  It is possible people may read into what we say, make incorrect assumptions or be influenced more by their own feelings and bias than our words, but let us not be guilty of attacking, belittling, embarrassing or hating others by the unintended messages we send.

Guided By God

 "Any way the wind blows doesn’t really matter to me, to me.”

Quote from "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen

In His conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus compared the reality and operation of the Holy Spirit to that of wind:  one can feel and easily observe the effect of the wind, but the wind itself is not visible to our eyes.  When a person places their faith in Jesus Christ, we are filled with the Holy Spirit Who regenerates and guides us into all truth.  As a sailor adjusts the sails of a ship to best catch the wind, so we are propelled in ministry by the power of God as we yield to the Holy Spirit.  God's word could be compared to the rudder captained by Christ Who guides us in the correct direction of how to conduct our lives, examine our hearts, love one another and walk in obedience to God.  Unlike a rowboat that depends upon our limited strength and coordination or a motorboat where the occupants passively rely on a machine powered by petrol, we are to look to the LORD to guide us in His strength.

I was reminded of the lyrics of the popular Queen song "Bohemian Rhapsody" when I considered Ephesians 2:1-3:  "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, ² in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, ³ among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."  In this letter to believers in Ephesus, Paul described their life before coming to faith in Jesus Christ--a life by going wherever the wind blows.  Such a life is an aimless and likely nihilistic existence that, as the song suggests, ends in death without even caring.  It is no wonder Satan is called the "prince of the power of the air," a wicked, deceitful being who blows people towards ruin and eternal destruction by their lusts, flesh and minds.

Matthew Henry described the conduct of the life of Christians before they had faith in Jesus like this:  "Wicked men as slaves to Satan.  The course and tenor of their lives are according to his suggestions; they are subject to him, and are held captive by him at his will, whereupon he is called the god of this world, and the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience." (Church, Leslie F. Commentary on the Whole Bible by Matthew Henry Genesis to Revelation. Zondervan, 1974. page 1850)  Satan is a liar, thief and murderer from the beginning, and this deceiver and enemy of the souls of men easily convinces them they alone are the masters of their destiny, to live like a god before whom all others must bow.  In reality this one is enslaved mind and body to Satan, their own passions and lusts, is blind to the chains that bind them, and senseless of the wrath of God they face.  Led by everywhere the wind blows, whatever feels good, or in pursuit of fulfilling desires, the unbeliever is like a coin dropped into a donation funnel:  though the coin circles time and time again, ultimately gravity pulls it beyond our sight and it is plunged into darkness.  Unlike donation boxes that can fill up, the grave stays hungry.

Rather than resisting and grieving the Holy Spirit by disobedience, we are to submit to God as His beloved children and do what pleases Him.  The Holy Spirit always empowers and guides us righteously as we read in passages like Ephesians 4:29-32:  "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. ³⁰ And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. ³² And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you."  We are saved by faith in Jesus, and we are to live by faith in Him, looking to Jesus to guide us as the Holy Spirit moves us.  By God's grace we can know truth from error, repent of our sin, and walk righteously.

Faith Retained in Christ

Placing your faith in the wrong things can lead to devastating consequences.  All the time we hear about trusted people who were exposed as frauds, like an investor that secretly ran a Ponzi scheme and stole the money or the friendly neighbour later exposed as a molester.  It recently was huge news when a small group of people died aboard a submersible they believed would safely allow them to tour the wreck of the Titanic in the crushing depths.  Some place faith in themselves they ought to be reserved only for the almighty God.  Misplaced faith is a dangerous thing, and the disastrous evidence of this is all around.

I have witnessed this misplaced faith in people who look to a priest or minister for hope and assurance of salvation rather than Christ and His word.  People can give credence to feelings or experiences to confirm what is true and real instead of what God has plainly spoken in the scripture.  Today I read a quote from a Christian organisation that said, "...We will never stop believing in our young generation."  I cannot imagine Jesus ever saying such a thing.  Generations young or old are not worthy of our faith which ought to be placed in Jesus Christ alone because He is our Saviour and Redeemer; He is our Strength and living Hope.  It may be a common tactic to pump up a crowd or congregation by telling them how wonderful and worthy they are, yet this runs counter to the Gospel of Jesus Christ that points to Him as the only One worthy of faith and trust.

In a world full of flawed people, there is nothing easier than finding fault with others.  But it can be very difficult to honestly examine our own hearts and repent of our misplaced faith.  Considering this quote prompts me to see if I am guilty of misplaced faith or presenting a message that leads people away from faith in Jesus Christ alone.  If the Galatian church could be swayed from the Gospel to the beggarly elements of the Law and labour to put themselves under the curse Jesus redeemed them from, so can we (Gal. 4:19).  Judging ourselves righteously and responding with repentance and obedience to Jesus is something we can do before it is too late to change course.  Praise the LORD the indwelling Holy Spirit convicts of sin, teaches, guides and comforts us as we look to Jesus and trust in Him.

Having our faith built upon Jesus as revealed in scripture is a key factor in finishing our pilgrimage of faith strong.  The wisdom of the world (which is foolishness to God) is like a lion at the door waiting for an opportunity to pounce.  Worldly messages, tactics and emotional appeals can be convincing and  seem to provide results we are looking for.  A rock-solid biblical foundation and the lens of the Gospel help us establish a worldview that is resistant to the wisdom of the world and yields to the wisdom of God--and Jesus Who is our life and wisdom for us.  People place their faith in all sorts of things, but blessed are the people whose God is the LORD Jesus. 

Love and Hate

Coming to faith in Jesus Christ is the first step of many as we progress in sanctification.  After being born again by the Holy Spirit and we are exposed to the truth of God's word, we begin to see our need to change--not just in avoiding obvious sins, but in how we process and express ourselves through our thoughts, feelings and actions.  As the light of scripture illuminates our sins and need for repentance, we are also provided directives in how we ought to live.  Over time an embrace of a life by faith in God changes our perspective and we are given the capacity to see everything in a new light.

Knowing God makes all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose, our outlook dramatically changes.  Something we only saw as bad before now carries with it good redemptive purposes in the hands of our loving, gracious Saviour.  We observe the transformation in the disciples of Jesus so profound they rejoiced to suffer shame and be beaten for the sake of Christ crucified for them.  They did not enjoy the physical pain of being flogged or struck with rods, yet they prized their Saviour and the fellowship with Him afforded through suffering.

When we misquote an important line from a poem or film, important meaning is lost.  The same is true concerning the word of God--and this is far more potentially dangerous, for the scripture is a guide of holy, righteous living that pleases God.  Hackneyed, loose cliches can be adopted by Christians as a pattern of life that fail to rise to the glorious heights of biblical truth.  One I heard recently was, "If you aren't hated, you're not doing something right."  Variations of this include how attacks from Satan or opposition from people are solid evidence you are on the right track.  Such views may be common but do not stand up to scriptural scrutiny:  am I called by Jesus to look to the opinion of others as confirmation of my good standing before God, genuine spirituality or the best gauge of my effectiveness as a Christian?  Wouldn't it be better to look to Jesus for guidance and obey Him, the One who will say "Well done!" or "I never knew you?"  

Jesus said something quite different in John 15:17-18:  "These things I command you, that you love one another. ¹⁸ If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."  We are not commanded to be hated but to love one another.  Rather than rejoicing in being hated or being the target of spiritual attack, we ought to rejoice in our Saviour who suffered for our sakes and gave us the example of being a servant of all we ought to follow.  Who cares if the world hates us as long as Jesus loves us?  Blessed is the man who seeks Jesus to hear His word to obey it.  Looking to others for confirmation we are "doing something right" is looking in the wrong place when we are in Christ by faith and have His word.  If loving one another leads to us being hated, so be it.  It's far more likely we will be hated when we adopt the hateful practices of the world in hypocrisy.

Invocation of Truth

When I went to university, the questions people asked and beliefs they espoused revealed a worldview completely different than mine.  In one sense I felt unprepared for the questions because at the core they denied fundamental beliefs my outlook was based upon.  Answering the question directly--instead of answering the questioner--put me in the position to always answer incorrectly and face the wrath or ostricisation of people I hardly knew and thus would likely never stick around for me to have the opportunity to explain why.  The result was a "for" or "against" mentality where deviation from secular, humanistic values was unacceptable and thus freedom of expression was stunted.

During my time in public and tertiary education I encountered many respectable teachers and professors who were open to a vast array of liberal and conservative perspectives.  But as time went on the pursuit of objective truth (if it existed at all) lagged far behind the pursuit of self-expression and personal truth which was defined by individuals with the unwavering expectation and demand all others must pay homage to it.  Those who resisted at all were often branded as "phobic" in some way, ironically an anathema to intelligence and worthy of scorn.  While it is not pleasant to be hated or mocked for your beliefs, it is wise to consider the perspectives of others and see we do not adopt their tactics.  We are not to answer a fool according to his folly lest we be like him. Our call as followers of Jesus Christ is to love others, pray for them and bless them rather than cursing.

In a film I recently viewed, it was evident people with conservative and liberal leanings have worldviews founded on different beliefs and thus work towards different ends.  The conservative man was on a quest for truth according to reality he believed people are happiest when they submit to it, whereas the liberals sought the happiness of others by affirming whatever they said.  One of those interviewed said something insightful, that "invoking truth is rude and condescending."  The word "invoking" has a religious connection, to call upon a deity for aid.  His complaint was the conservative made truth his deity when his worldview made each person his own god beyond all criticism.  In academia and beyond, it is largely considered rude and condescending to appeal to truth to which others must submit, even if it is scientifically verifiable.  It was an ad hominem attack to avoid the uncomfortable truth of God's sovereignty that nips at the conscience God created inside every human being.

It is amazing Jesus referred to Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  If there was anyone who ever spoke with complete authority and objectivity, it is Jesus Christ.  The religious and intellectual elite absolutely hated Jesus because He spoke with authority and not like the scribes who couched their statements with precedent.  Jesus trumped even the Law of Moses by saying, "It has been written...but I say unto you..."  People observed, "No one ever spoke like this man."  Being the Truth, Jesus Christ has authority no one else on earth does.  Christians are called to speak the truth in love--in the love of God and love of other people.  As people hated Jesus for speaking the truth, when we speak the truth in humility we will be hated.  We can submit to being hated and ostricised by men knowing we are loved and accepted by God because He is gracious.  Rather than seeking to confront or argue with those who do not know or fear God, let us continue to live and speak according to the truth, led by the Holy Spirit.

As God's redeemed we are in the world but not of the world.  In His wisdom God has left us in the world so we might be for those who do not know Him like the liberals were for me in university.  Without their input I would have remained in a lazy bubble of my own thoughts, assuming everyone else should think as I did--even when I was in the wrong.  We need not fear the indoctrination of empty worldly philosophy when we are grounded in the word of God, for what is the chaff to the wheat?  Not all of us are skilled at debate or think fast on our feet, but we can carefully consider different views in light of scripture; we can examine our own hearts and see we walk in truth.  We can invoke the aid of Jesus Christ to help us and others to draw near to Him:  the God who opens blind eyes, heals the lame and raises the dead.

Regarding Life with Compassion

Over the years I have seen many short videos of animal rescues that demonstrate the care and compassion of volunteers as well as the amazing turnaround in once neglected animals.  Listless dogs with mange that had been abandoned, abused or cooped up for years slowly start wagging their tails again, enjoying human contact they once shied away from.  After building trust, aggressive snarling is replaced by a show of affection and submission, rolling over for belly rubs.  Rather than culling these domesticated animals, it is heartwarming to see people give their time, money and effort to revive and re-home them.

Pet owners can be guilty of neglect and not provide food, care and attention their animals need for good health and a happy life.  The animal is an innocent victim in this situation, for it could not help being sold,  having fleas, or being chained to a post.  A dog cannot build a shelter to be protected from the hot sun or find warmth on a cold night.  While there are a range of opinions of the care a dog should receive by its owner, all would admit there is a point where an animal wrongfully suffers neglect that is cruel.  Proverbs 12:10 points this out:  "A righteous man regards the life of his animal, but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel."  It might be easier to show compassion on an animal than an adult person since people have the capacity and responsibility to make decisions in consideration of their own health and future.  Following the example of Jesus, we ought to have compassion on all people--even when they have neglected their health, been careless with money or made irresponsible choices.

Spiritually speaking, we were all born into this world slaves to sin.  The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel, and there is nothing pleasant or endearing about Satan's treatment of fallen mankind he seeks to oppress and destroy:  there is no person more proud, cruel or murderous than he.  He is glad to bind people in heavy chains of lies, guilt and shame.  He finds pleasure to watch people suffer from addictions and ruin themselves with pornography, alcohol and pride.  He loves to isolate people and abuse them with deceit.  Jesus came into this world to cause light to shine in the darkness, to set captives free, to raise the spiritually dead to new life, to plunder those awaiting destruction in hell for their sin as His own adopted children and inheritance.  Satan does not want people to know Jesus came to save them, can do so and will for all who trust in Him.  The devil seeks to make humans so jaded and embittered against God by abuse they have suffered that they will not leave the cage of sin even when shackles are removed, the door is open and Jesus beckons with open arms and a loving smile.

Jesus showed compassion which exceeds anything we can muster, for He demonstrated His love by dying in our place on Calvary.  He paid a far greater price than it costs in dollars to save a dog or cat from being euthenised by spilling His blood to atone for our sins.  Jesus did so, not to foster us for a season, but to have a relationship with Him today and spend eternity with Him in heaven.  We are not like His pets or a new "member of the family" but are made co-heirs with Jesus Christ the KING OF KINGS.  When neglected animals receive love and medical care it changes them, and when we are born again by faith in Jesus we are transformed from within.  How grateful and thankful we ought to be Jesus has shown compassion on us, and let us have compassion on those who have yet to receive Him.  God will hold every person responsible for their actions, and He also will reward us accordingly.  Jesus gave His life because He regards ours, and may His life and compassion shine through us.

Winning by Losing

In the 1971 film Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, a boy named Charlie and four other children found golden tickets which promised them a lifetime supply of chocolate.  Shortly after their find they individually were accosted by Albert Slugworth, owner of a rival chocolate business, who offered a great sum of money to the one who gave him an "everlasting gobstopper" so he could discover the secret formula.  During the tour of Wonka's factory, the four remaining children were offered everlasting gobstoppers--on the strict condition they kept the gobstopper to themselves--to which they all enthusiastically agreed.

As the tour progressed the children where whittled down to Charlie alone as they all disobeyed the warnings of Wonka which led to bizarre problems, like falling into a chocolate river, swelling up like a blueberry, tumbling down a chute, or shrinking to the size of an action figure.  Charlie and his grandpa were the only ones that managed to make it to the end, though they too had their share of problems.  They decided to try "fizzy lifting drinks" which violated the contract Charlie signed before the tour began.  The promise of a lifetime supply of chocolate was thus forfeited, and Wonka spared no fury in rebuking them for their transgression.

Grandpa was furious with Wonka, called him a crook and promised he would get back at him somehow.  Charlie, moved by a guilty conscience, returned the everlasting gobstopper.  When the candy was placed next to Wonka, it was like time stopped.  Moved by this good deed to refuse to sell Wonka's secrets for money to Slugworth, Wonka's demeanor changed completely.  The elaborate tour had all been a test Wonka had been hoping Charlie would win.  Though Charlie failed to keep to the contract he signed, he won.  His theft of fizzy lifting drinks was forgiven and he was swept up in a friendly embrace of the chocolate maker who finally found a child with the necessary quality of character to someday take over the company.

Charlie's interaction with Willy Wonka suggests by a good deed people can redeem themselves.  While this makes for a happy finish to the film, it misses the mark entirely concerning being accepted by God.  Like Charlie and his grandpa, we have all broken the Law of God and thus are sinners doomed by a curse that brings eternal death.  We are truly lost without hope.  No amount of good deeds can undo or make up for one sin we have committed.  Yet because of Who Jesus is and all He has accomplished by providing atonement for sinners, the way of forgiveness and salvation has been provided for us as a free gift.  Jesus has overcome sin and death, and by faith in Him we are accepted in the beloved for something far better than a lifetime supply of chocolate:  adoption into the family of God, made co-heirs with Christ and  will enjoy eternal life in God's glorious presence.  The only way we win eternal life is to lose our lives for Christ's sake.

Like Willy Wonka wanted Charlie to win and rejoiced in his success, God desires for all people to live in His presence and enjoy communion with Him forever.  Had Charlie kept the everlasting gobstopper for himself, I have no doubt he would have grown tired of the flavour and even the smell of it over time.  Praise the LORD salvation is a gift we will never tire of as we enjoy fellowship with God for eternity.  Titus 3:4-7 says, "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, ⁵ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."  Having received such love, grace and acceptance by God, we are assured a glorious future with our Father we can rejoice in presently--and can offer to others through the power of the Gospel.

Subjugation of Sin

To people who value their personal freedoms, the rise of a totalitarian government that oppresses and subjugates citizens is a genuine concern.  More movies than I can count present a societal hellscape with enough connection to reality to be chilling and frightful viewing that illustrate the dangers of unchecked power.  Whether it is annihilation of humanity through time-travelling cyborgs fueled by artificial intelligence ideology, government overreach by power-hungry people employing surveillance or harsh punishments or the use of unwitting human bodies to produce energy, the common threat is the subjugation of the human will--with any concept of God being strangely absent.

In many of these these science fiction and dystopian scenarios, the citizens are a blend of personalities:  those who have been conditioned to submit, those blinded and deceived to imagine the government acts for their best interest, some who will betray their fellow citizens for personal benefits, others who comply out of fear, people who are broken and hopeless shells because of suppression and punishment, and those who suddenly have their eyes open to injustice, decide to rebel and fight against it.  Often it comes down to the brave efforts of a small group of people who join together and risk their lives against incredible odds to be free.  This is usually the major conflict of the show or film to be resolved.  What is not detailed is what happens after the oppressive regime is overthrown and what sort of leaders those freedom fighters end up being--if they lead at all.  To think the brutality required to overthrow oppression will not lead to new oppression is likely wishful thinking.

Did you know every human being born into this world is systemically oppressed?  It goes far deeper than politics, government, economy and society:  it is oppression of a spiritual and personal nature.  The Bible teaches that every person is born a slave to sin that has corrupted them to the core and blinded them to the truth of God who created all things.  Spiritually speaking, people who live and walk and talk are dead in this world under Satan's sway.  They do not realise sin is actually a yoke of oppression that drags them body and soul to hell.  The sin a person drinks like water and revels in is more soul-destroying than the most totalitarian government.  To someone deceived by sin, the embrace of sin is freeing and provides the greatest amount of pleasure and human satisfaction possible, yet in reality its grip only tightens to suffocate and destroy forever.  Trying to rebel against the lusts of the flesh, lusts of the eyes and the pride of life by the power of the flesh is always futile.

Contrary to Hollywood blockbusters, the only way to overcome the sinister, totalitarian oppression of sin over our entire being is not by man's will, savvy or power but by faith in Jesus Christ.  The Law of God reveals our sinful condition in truth and leads us by the hand to Jesus as the Light of the World, the Messiah we need to save us.  The only way of salvation and deliverance from this body of death we live in is by faith in Jesus who died on the cross, rose from the dead, and has sat down enthroned in eternal glory.  For all who have been born again by the power of the Gospel we ought to rebel against the lusts of the flesh, pride, selfishness and every wicked way.  Because Jesus has provided atonement by His death on Calvary, we can put to death the sins of the flesh:  on sin we ought to show no mercy.  At the same time we ought to extend grace to others realising even people who are willing pawns in a totalitarian government are not the enemy and never will be.  Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers and Satan whom must all bow before Jesus Christ (Eph. 6).

Churches all over the world are places these rebels against sin gather in Christ name, however we are not called to rebellion:  we are called to unity and agreement with Jesus Christ and one another in love.  Our identity is not found in the evils we war against, the cesspools of sin Jesus has delivered us from, but as humble children of God who love Him and one another.  When we sin, we repent and strive to do what is good instead.  Rather than being loyal to a cause we are committed and loyal to Christ, even as a betrothed wife remains chaste for her husband.  Many causes may beckon us, and sin can rise up within our flesh with the aim to seduce our souls to join in an elicit embrace.  We look upon these with disdain because our eyes have been opened by Jesus who loves us.  We fix our eyes on Him, laying aside sin and every weight that holds us back from obedience.  By His grace we can run with endurance the race set before us, free from sin and fear and free to serve, minister and work for our LORD in whom we trust and rest.

Jesus said in John 8:33-36:  "...Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. ³⁵ And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. ³⁶ Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."  Man's great fear is to have his autonomy taken away, yet when we are in sin we cannot be free.  It is in submitting and surrendering to Jesus in faith we are freed from slavery to sin and adopted as children of God forever.  How wonderful it is to have the bonds of sin stripped away and to be embraced in the love of God, set free by His grace.  This isn't science fiction or some doomsday conspiracy but a joyous reality every Christian can know and rejoice in today.

Hearing and Fearing

People who fear God will respect and observe the authority He has sovereignly put in place.  I read an article recently a school teacher was pepper-sprayed by a student after he confiscated her phone.  While I do not know anything about the student or what transpired beforehand, behaviour like this primarily demonstrates a departure from the fear of the LORD.  The student could profess faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and LORD, yet at face value this assault on the teacher is an affront to the God who rules over all.  Brothers and sisters, we must be circumspect not to do the same.

When Paul was brought before the council and was ordered to be struck on the face by Ananias the high priest, Acts 23:3-5 tells us what happened next:  "Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?" ⁴ And those who stood by said, "Do you revile God's high priest?" ⁵ Then Paul said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, 'You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"   The unjust, hypocritical directive by the high priest did not release Paul from his responsibility before God to keep the Law of Moses, to refrain from speaking evil of rulers.  Paul was bold to rebuke the man for breaking God's law, yet he acknowledged he spoke without realising the man's office.  Abusive speech is not fitting for the child of God--regardless whom we address.

The rules around obedience to the priests and Levites is described in Deuteronomy 17.  When there was a difficult judgment to be made that was unclear in the Law regarding degrees of guilt, punishment or controversy, the Jews were to go up to the place where God chose and the priests and Levites would provide a binding judgment.  Deuteronomy 17:11-12 reads, "According to the sentence of the law in which they instruct you, according to the judgment which they tell you, you shall do; you shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left from the sentence which they pronounce upon you. ¹² Now the man who acts presumptuously and will not heed the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall put away the evil from Israel."  This statute is likely difficult for people to accept, as the scripture illustrates human judges are fallible people who can be biased and make errors--like Ananias and Paul.  But God's people were to do according to the judgment of the priest and Levite as unto the LORD, knowing willful disobedience carried the sentence of death.

Jesus is our great High Priest, and it follows we ought to do as He says.  Amazingly, God has not placed born-again believers under the yoke of the Law that demands the blood of evildoers, for Jesus has provided atonement for our sins and delivered us from death.  In the conversation of Jesus with Peter, we see Him appeal for love to govern Peter's actions:  "Peter, do you love me?  Feed My sheep,"  Compelled by the fear and love of God, Peter and all believers are to heed the word of Jesus as if our lives depend on it because He died so we could live.  Instead of establishing His kingdom upon threats of punishment or death, Jesus laid the foundation of His eternal kingdom with love, grace, mercy, compassion and justice.  If we confess our sins God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The world is full of people who have little or no respect for authority, but as Jesus told Peter:  "What is that to you?  You follow Me."  Our responsibility before God is clear, and Jesus has provided an example we are to follow:  to love God and one another as He loves us.  Let us put away the evil from our hearts that would murmur, complain and speak evil of those God has put in authority--even if they take your phone, fairly or not.  It is in hearing and fearing God we find security and rest as we submit to His love.

A Royal Relationship

People from all around the globe tuned in the watch the historical coronation of His Majesty King Charles III in Westminster Abbey.  Over 2,000 people were invited to the momentous ceremony with royals, dignitaries and celebrities in attendance.  I suspect only a fraction of the people who witnessed the proceedings would have been permitted to have a brief chat with King Charles.  Just being there on the occasion was an incredible privilege only a handful of people on the planet could claim.

I suspect there are only a small percentage of people in the United Kingdom who have ever seen King Charles up close in person, and a vastly fewer amount who have conversed with him.  With so many subjects, royal engagements and security concerns, it makes sense interactions with the king are invite only.  A man of his prestige, wealth, fame and influence is exceedingly rare, carrying with him traditions which have been passed down for over 400 years.  It is simply not feasible or possible for an outsider to have a meaningful relationship with King Charles unless he chooses.

Seeing how inaccessible the king of Britain is to common people illustrates how wonderful and astounding Jesus Christ, the KING OF KINGS, has provided access into His throne room of grace to find mercy and help in time of need.  By being born again through faith in Jesus, by Him Christians have complete access and a relationship with the living God Who created us.  Jesus came to earth as a baby born of a virgin and laid in a manger because there was no room for Him in the inn.  Wise men worshipped him, and king Herod sought to kill Him.  When His hour finally came He did not don royal robes but was stripped bare and scourged.  Instead of wearing a gold crown adorned with jewels, a circle of thorns was pressed into His brow.  Rather than His people shouting, "God save the King!" they bellowed in one accord:  "Crucify Him!"  Jesus did not sit upon velvet cushions but was nailed to a cross to atone for lost sinners and died.

For the joy that was set before Him, Jesus endured the cross so all could receive Him by faith and find rest for their souls.  To all lost sinners Jesus personally offered forgiveness, full pardon of sin, eternal life and a real relationship by the grace of God and the power of the Gospel.  God, Who is unapproachable in glory and majesty, has risen from the dead and today sits in heavenly glory.  Yet Jesus can be known by us personally as we walk with Him on this earthly pilgrimage.  God does not need angelic attendants to remind him what our names are though His people are beyond counting, for He knows all things--the number of sand on the shore or the number of stars He knows by name.  Not only does God know us, but He actually loves us as well.

It's amazing that I have never seen the king of the United Kingdom in person and likely never will, but I speak to the KING OF KINGS Jesus every day as I frequent His throne room of grace.  Followers of Jesus Christ are afforded a greater privilege than watching the crowning of King Charles III in person, for Jesus is infinitely greater in majesty and power, for His kingdom and rule is from everlasting.  God raises up kings and deposes them, and we are given the duty of a king in serving the sovereign LORD God--not only as subject to his king--but a beloved child of our Father in heaven.  Long live the king, and praise the LORD the righteous rule of Jesus Christ will never cease.

What Agnostics Can Know

Recently I read an opinion piece that prompted consideration.  From the premise to the conclusion I disagreed with every point made.  A strong agnostic tone was maintained throughout concerning Jesus and the testimony of scripture, and thus there was nothing satisfactory for the soul.  In arrogance the pendulum swung between ignorance and irrelevance, and I don't know that a Christian or atheist who would be satisfied with the straw man arguments presented.  For me the article was of value because it showed the complete bankruptcy of an agnostic position concerning the person of Jesus Christ.

Reading the article, it seemed the fellow was pleased to through out the Baby Jesus but treasured His bathwater:  the value in Jesus being a Saviour for oppressed souls was not in His divinity but His humanity.  In the writer's mind some compelling things have been attributed to Jesus, but whether Jesus existed or not is of little consequence.  What really matters, I read, was the concept of Jesus doing miracles and providing for the needy kindles faith in humanity.  From a biblical worldview, this misses the point entirely.

Jesus only said and did compelling things because of Who He is, the Son of God born of a virgin in Bethlehem, the Christ--exactly as God promised beforehand.  The whole of Christ's life is placed under a microscope because of His claim to be the Messiah, that He came from heaven.  Jesus cannot be a good man and lie to deceive people:  either He is the Christ, or He is not.  Either the whole body of work of His life is consistent with this claim, or Jesus is a deceiver and disqualified as divinity--including being a decent bloke.  His sayings, actions and miracles were not to inspire people with faith in humanity, but for the lost sinner to receive salvation through faith in Jesus.

1 John 5:11-13 says with complete authority from God Himself concerning Jesus:  "And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."  For the one who is not sure Jesus was born or is the Son of God, you can know with certainty you are not saved.  Being agnostic towards Jesus Christ and His claims of divinity means you are guaranteed to fall short of the forgiveness and justification He provides by grace through faith in Him.  Saying "maybe" concerning the existence of Jesus Christ or His resurrection means you have no part in Him, remain in sin and are truly lost.

No matter what arguments doubters and deceivers have concerning Jesus, Christians can rest confidently in Jesus Christ our LORD who ascended to the Father in the presence of many witnesses.  We do not need to know everything to know for certain we are forgiven and have eternal life through faith in Jesus.  We who believe in Jesus are called to keep believing, for our faith is according to knowledge revealed in God's word that is true.  Praise the LORD for opening our eyes to see and giving us hearts to understand and know Jesus.  How blessed we are to be known by Him Who has sought us out!

No Christmas Without Christ

Yesterday I enjoyed the nostalgia of watching a classic Christmas movie I had not seen for a very long time:  Miracle on 34th Street.  It was a delightful and humorous film that explores rationality, imagination and faith--though not faith according to a biblical definition.  In the movie faith was described as belief when common sense ends, yet the Christian faith is one according to knowledge of God that is logical and sensible even as He is.  The Bible reveals genuine faith is according to knowledge of what is, and it is wise to place our trust in all God reveals to be true.

It occurred to me throughout the film that Kris Kringle or Santa Claus took middle stage along with a pushback against commercialism.  The one figure that was ignored entirely was Christ, and this does not surprise me in a secular society.  But the fact remains there is no Christmas without Christ.  It may be "Eatmas" or "Drinkmas" or "Partymas" for many people ("mas" being "more" in Spanish), yet for Christians Jesus Christ really is the reason of the season.  The trappings, gatherings and obligatory celebrations or gifts do not make Christmas special:  it is Jesus Christ who is special being divine, and He is the greatest gift ever given or received.

For those who claim those who recognise Christmas unwittingly give honour to pagan traditions, Paul urged believers not to judge one another in their observance of a particular day in Romans 14:5-8:  "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶ He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. ⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. ⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's."  We are able to observe Christmas and Boxing Day as unto the LORD, and God can receive the same degree of glory from our lives even when, in a desire to honour our Saviour, intentionally allow them to pass without fanfare.

What freedom God has grated His children by grace through faith in Christ who has abolished death and brought immortality and life to light through the Gospel.  If we think it reasonable to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries, it is perfectly sensible to acknowledge the coming of Jesus Christ to earth as a baby--even if it isn't on the exact date.  I don't believe Jesus is more pleased with those who "celebrate Christmas" than those who choose not to celebrate it with a tree, stockings, gifts or going to church.  We please Him by grace through faith in Him, and Christmas is a unique opportunity to proclaim there is no Christmas without Christ.  Unless the Light of the World came we would be in perpetual darkness, and we thus thank God for His indescribable gift of His only begotten Son.

Calories and the Conscience

At a cafe years ago I observed something that was akin to reverse culture shock.  I am originally from California, and while living in Australia shared coffee with a ministry team also from the Golden State.  One fellow's interest was drawn to a particular item he wondered might be too rich--especially since he had not been going to the gym as usual.  After hearing him audibly vacillate between two opinions I encouraged him to order the item as a special treat, for he would possibly never have the opportunity to order it again.  He did so only to pawn it off on everyone else--not because it did not suit his sweet tooth--but because he could not stop talking about how many calories he was putting into his body.

After every reluctant bite he would say something like, "Now I need to go on a jog!" or "That will be another 15 minutes in the gym" and "Don't tell my wife."  As one who enjoys baking and eating desserts of all kinds, this behaviour was most baffling.  If I knew he was going to complain through the whole dish I might have suggested the kale salad as that seemed more suited to his conscience.  I remember another occasion when I watched a father beg his child not to say anything to her mum about the fries he allowed her to have with her meal rather than carrot sticks or apple slices.  I have seen many such interactions over the years and it has taken me awhile to process them.  While the circumstances faced by the early church has changed, the principles about eating, drinking and choosing to walk in love towards others without putting a stumbling block in their way are relevant to this day.

Much has been said that the Bible does not condemn drinking alcohol in itself but drunkenness is forbidden.  We are to be filled with the Holy Spirit rather than being drunk with wine.  The same is true concerning calories:  eating calories is not a sin in itself, whether it is a dessert or a burger from McDonald's.  It is not a sin to eat thousands of calories in one sitting, and it is not a sin to count them and choose not to eat them.  It is a sin, however, when we stand in judgment of others because they eat "junk" or mock people who refuse all meat or fried foods.  Years ago the cliche went, "Cleanliness is next to godliness" and perhaps now "Fitness is next to godliness."  Both of these statements are incorrect.  While there are obvious health benefits to good personal hygiene, having a nourishing diet with moderation and physical fitness, eating dessert with bacon is not in itself a sin.  Lying about it to your wife, that's another story.

The freedom God gives us to eat and drink is not a justification for gluttony.  Instead of giving place to drunkenness, strife and envy Romans 13:14 says, "But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts."  Instead of disputing over the amount of calories we consume or what kind of milk we drink, the following passage can be applied in Romans 14:2-4:  "For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. ³ Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. ⁴ Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand."  It is good for those who want to "eat all things" to show restraint, considering the health of their bodies and at a potluck thinking about others who are hungry too.  If we cannot have self-control, perhaps it is wise not to buy the large tub of ice cream.  Calories are not the enemy, and no one is condemned by them.  Instead of putting pressure on others to conform to our convictions concerning diet, let us walk in love of God and one another with integrity--aware of our own propensity to gluttony and vanity.

Life, Death and Love

In 1985 Australia demonstrated bipartisan opposition for capital punishment for crime and banned it.  One reason why this policy and more strict sentences have been widely panned is they have not been proved to deter crime.  Whether or not a sentence or punishment deters future crime is of little consequence when a legal system exists to uphold existing laws, protect the innocent and hold criminals to account.

Under the Law of Moses there were many infractions that required the life of an offender.  This served the purpose of revealing how terrible and awful the offence was before the living God with Whom the children of Israel entered into a covenant with.  While the administering of the sentence may have served as a deterrent to some people, the Law was to be kept in the fear of the LORD.  It is one thing to fall into the hands of men who can kill the body, but it is another altogether to fall into the hands of the living God Who is able to cast a soul into hell forever.

It would be wonderful to be "hard on crime" while being "soft on criminals," but this does not do justice to the rigours of the law, victims, the accused or convicted.  In a country where there is no crime possible that warrants a death sentence, it may prove difficult to convey the severity of crimes committed.  The Law of Moses did a very good job of showing sin is incredibly sinful and held forth the righteous character of God.  In a secular society we can learn much from God's word about the righteous treatment of our fellow man, the requirement of restitution to the victim--double what was stolen--and submission by servitude rather than stealing.

It is amazing how Jesus the Son of God put on human flesh, not to destroy the law, but to fulfill.  He who loves God and his neighbour as himself fulfills the Law of Moses that was nailed to the cross with Jesus.  Jesus kept the Law but was murdered contrary to the Law, and through His sacrifice followers of Jesus are called to a higher standard:  to love one another as Jesus loves us.  By His grace we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey God and honour the laws of the land, not out of fear of condemnation, but out of love for God who loves us.  Love is a greater deterrent to evil law could ever be, and Jesus gives us the grace and power to walk in love towards all.