Little Beds and Blankets

This morning at Calvary Chapel Sydney we spoke of the danger of apathy and complacency in God's people.  Having the benefit of God's presence, provision, and forgiveness, we can come to a place where our hearts are hard and cease to walk in humility and repentance.  God sent the prophet Isaiah to warn God's people of coming judgment for their sins - though they were God's chosen people established in Jerusalem, had been given His Law, and His presence dwelt in their midst.  They refused to confess their sin and repent so God would chasten them without mercy so a faithful remnant would serve Him forever.

In the passage we studied, there was an apt description of the person who remains in their sin without repentance.  It was compared to day after day of bad news.  On top of that, rest and comfort diligently sought would be evasive.  The prophet said in Isaiah 28:20, "For the bed is too short to stretch out on, and the covering so narrow that one cannot wrap himself in it."  There are few things more exhausting than trying to sleep in an uncomfortable bed when you are freezing.  We can be so tired but find it impossible to drift off into restful slumber!  In this parable, both the bed and covering are inadequate for the potential sleeper.  The truth was God's people had embraced idols which were worthless and were incapable of saving anyone.  Yet God's people were loathe to give them up.  Like a person tossing and turning on a small bed with an inadequate covering, rest and comfort for their souls was only a fantasy.

We can be a lot like the man in the story.  We stubbornly cling to what isn't working.  The other night my wife and I toughed it out through a chilly night with only a sheet and a thin blanket.  I kept waking up and wrapped myself tighter with the blanket, but I was still cold.  Instead of having the sense to rise from bed and grab the doona from the closet, I tried changing my position and kept waking up.  Needless to say, I did not have a very good night's sleep.  I told Laura the next day, "I think it's time to break out the doona.  I was pretty cold last night."  We have done so and I haven't awakened cold again!  We must be brought to the place where we realise our idols and our worldly affections are inadequate.  They look satisfactory, but even when we gain our desire they never satisfy.  Only those who recognise their idols are miserable comforters and repent will receive the peace, joy, and comfort Jesus Christ brings.

Better Than War?

After church Sunday I had a great conversation I have continued to reflect upon.  I don't know about you, but often in the moment a question is posed my mind can remain "prodigiously empty" like Emmet in the Lego Movie.  For me, my best responses ebb at the beginning and begin to flow freely days later.  In talking of the current state of the world ravaged by conflict and war, it was mused:  "There must be a better way than war.  Why can't we figure something out to avoid the killing of young people and scarring them for life?"  I agree completely with the view.  War is plainly horrific, and I realise my ignorance on the subject - never having personally lived in a war zone, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, flashbacks, or lost a close friend or family member in combat.  Despite my lack of personal experience, God has provided wisdom and understanding about war, even how God is able to redeem warfare for His redemptive purposes.

I have been considering the words of King Solomon in relation to war often reserved for funerals in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8:  "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: ^{2 a} time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; ³ a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; ⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; ⁵ a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; ⁶ a time to gain, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; ⁷ a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; ⁸ a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace."  What this passage shows is there is ordained by God a purpose and time for war and peace.  Every human being is born in sin and therefore at war with God, naturally resistant and hostile to His wisdom.  It is only those who surrender to God in faith and repentance who will experience His perfect peace.

Jesus Christ has proclaimed peace to all people through the Gospel, His death on the cross and resurrection, even as God commanded His people to do for people in cities God provided.  Deuteronomy 20:10-12 says, "When you go near a city to fight against it, then proclaim an offer of peace to it. ¹¹ And it shall be that if they accept your offer of peace, and open to you, then all the people who are found in it shall be placed under tribute to you, and serve you. ¹² Now if the city will not make peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it."  Conquest was never the purpose of war for God's people but to claim and take possession of all the land within the borders God had given them as an inheritance.  Global domination was never the point.  The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, and God gave the children of Israel clearly delineated borders when He brought them into the Land of Promise.  God used His people as His instruments to judge the sinful nations who possessed the land after giving them space to repent and to respond to the offer of peace.  If they refused to submit to the offer of peace, God caused their cities to fall.

The Bible demonstrates how God uses war to remove wicked rulers, to defend the innocent, to confirm the truth of His Word, to show His might and glory, to discipline His people, and to cause them to seek Him again in truth.  Suffering and persecution purifies the church.  The book of the Revelation in many places speaks of Satan making war against Christians and will prevail against them for a season.  Revelation 17:14 tells us how Jesus will overcome and those who follow Him will partake in the victory:  "These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful."  When murderous tyrants are overthrown in battle the oppressed and those who delight in righteousness rejoice, and Satan is a thief, liar, and murderer from the beginning.  God is not bloodthirsty and does not even delight in the death of the wicked:  He calls all men everywhere to repent.  The horrors of war and death are but a small precursor to the eternal terror which awaits all those who refuse His offer of peace and forgiveness through the Gospel.  It is only through the lens of scripture and the ultimate victory of Jesus Christ the suffering of this world makes sense at all.

Daniel praised God for His might and wisdom in Daniel 2:20-22, "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. ²¹ And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. ²² He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him."  There is hope, peace, and healing in Jesus Christ.  No matter how the battle rages or the wickedness of men seems to spread, God remains in control and is a refuge for all who trust in Him.  The only way to peace in this world torn by sin and war is through Jesus.  Jesus won't force anyone to surrender to His rule, and those who refuse will only experience war and conflict - whether or not they ever step foot on a field of battle.  Jesus is our peace (Eph. 2:14)!  

Speaking of Jesus...

As a Christian, I am highly supportive of Christian musicians who include Jesus Christ in their art.  Artists like Lecrae and the metal band "For Today" are a couple of my recent discoveries of musicians who do not shy away from using the name of Jesus in their songs.  I find this very refreshing.  Many Christian artists are content with using vague allusions to Christ in their music rather than coming right out and saying His name.  When I hear a musician, actor, athlete, or person in the public sphere mention the name of Jesus, I rejoice.  I am sure God also rejoices in the boldness of His loyal followers.

Professing Christian musicians in the public eye often face harsh criticism from people in the church.  They can be criticised for their music style, dress, piercings, tattoos, the other bands they tour with, their lyrics, record label, for becoming "secular" or "sell-outs."  It is almost safer to shed a "Christian" label to not have to deal with the judgment of other professing believers who presumes to know how a person should handle stardom.  Realise it is very easy for us to sit in a throne of judgment over other Christians, smugly asserting if we were a famous musician or actor we would use the platform in a far more constructive and evangelical manner.  We wouldn't merely make shadowy allusions of Jesus in our songs, no:  we would come right out as sold-out followers of Jesus Christ!

While we are up on our high-horse in judgment of others who are at least known by the world to be professing Christians, perhaps we would be better served to issue a judgment of ourselves right now.  How often does the name "Jesus" roll off your tongue in casual conversation?  When was the last time you spoke even one complete sentence specifically about Jesus to someone you didn't know?  If praises and glory to God do not flow from us in random conversations during everyday interactions, do we really think we would speak freely of Christ on a stage in front of millions?  He who is faithful in little is faithful over much.  Instead of criticising supposed missed opportunities by others, why not redeem the opportunities God gives you every day?  God has given you personal, direct contact with more people than you realise.  Jesus didn't draw people with music or reach people with an amplified voice from a stage.  He didn't turn the world upside down by interviews over the radio, TV, and online, or with printed lyrics in a CD jewel case, but spoke of the Kingdom of God and lived righteously wherever He went, speaking to all who would listen.

Most Christians think they would better handle the big platform for the glory of God.  I say it is better for us to seize the opportunities God lays before us daily to speak freely to one person the name of Jesus and faithfully live in the way which fully pleases Him.  God may never give you the platform you crave or feel you deserve.  You may never have the opportunity to speak to hundreds, thousands, or millions, but it is the man, woman, and child who faithfully follows Jesus in truth when no one is watching who will actually have anything of value to say on the platform for the glory of God.  Whether or not someone redeems their opportunities, what is that to you?  You follow Jesus and speak of Him often!

Desire and Denial

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

Matthew 16:24-25

Jesus has extended an invitation for anyone to follow Him.  The conditions are simple enough:  desire to be with Jesus, deny self, take up his cross, and follow Jesus obediently.  It is an tragic position when a man desires to follow Jesus but is unwilling to give up his own life.  Jesus talked about many people who would call to Him "Lord!" on the day of judgment, citing their great works for His sake, but Jesus will deny any knowledge of them.  They called Him LORD with their lips, but they never met His conditions of self-denial and faith demonstrated by obedience.  Unwilling to carry their own cross, some wander from Calvary and substitute good works which cannot save.  If I am unwilling to deny and die to self, than I am not Christ's.  Of this I am certain.

Our existence on earth is really a struggle between the life of Christ and the ways which lead to death.  It is not like Jesus holds one of my hands and Satan the other, both pulling and entreating me to go their way.  One major trouble with this picture is I am not neutral in my allegiance, but naturally selfish and sinful.  Another problem with the view is it is not consistent with the character of Jesus.  He does not play tug of war with souls.  The reality is my sin nature and Satan have held me with countless bounds in prison awaiting death for my crimes and Jesus came to me in my ruined, powerless state.  When I admitted my guilt in repentance, Jesus broke every bond which held me fast.  He caused me to be born again and the door of my maximum security prison cell swung open.  If I desire life, then I must desire Jesus and abide in the Way, Truth, and Life.

Let me ask you:  what was your motive for coming to Christ at the beginning?  What is your motive for seeking Him now?  When I was at Camp Kedron, I took part in an object lesson where all the campers were given four playing cards.  The object of the game was to obtain a "perfect score," four cards which added up to 40.  Each face-card and the "10" was worth 10 points.  The rules of the game are every person was required to walk around the room, find someone with cards, place your finger on a card held in someone else's hand (like "Old Maid") and draw at the same time.  You need not play the game long before you realise it is impossible to have the perfect score.  A player may hold a card worth 10 points for a while, but it is only a matter of time before it is swapped with a low card.  Even if by chance you did obtain the perfect score, you would need to continue swapping with other players until game end.  One different aspect of this game is all who did not have a perfect hand by the end of the game would be subjected to a punishment - which in our case was a cream pie to the face.

My role in the game was to walk around and make offers to the players.  Instead of trading cards, my role was to say, "Give me your cards, follow me, and I will take your punishment."  The various responses of people was interesting.  Some were so intent on playing the game they looked blankly at me and walked away.  Others were happy to unload their cards.  The most common response I had was people handing me their cards and in a carefree manner walked away!  I said to them, "Hey, you can't just walk away:  you need to follow me."  "Oh!" they would say, and sometimes they would actually follow me.  Some would head off to hang out with their mates.  The game continued until my "followers" were confronted for not having cards, and at that time I held no less than 70 cards with only one face-card among them.  I revealed my hand which had been hidden during the game:  four Kings, a perfect score.  Even though I held a perfect hand, I needed to take the punishment for holding those horrible cards for others.  Hopefully the pie to the face I received made the impression intended:  Jesus took our punishment on the cross for our sins, and we must follow Him.

I believe many people today are like those kids who were happy to unload their damning cards which demanded a punishment but had no desire to follow me at all.  No one wants to be condemned, and the concept of someone taking our punishment for nothing has appeal.  If we have only come to Christ to unload our guilt so we could go our own way, we have not followed Christ.  According to Christ's conditions such are not born again or saved!  We must want Christ and the life found only through faith in Him - not just forgiveness of a debt we could not pay.  People in financial difficulty choose to declare bankruptcy - not because they are sorry about their spending habits or have taken intentional steps to repay all debt - but to cut their loss of possessions, to avoid creditors, jail time, or foreclosure!  There were likely many in the bunch which heard the words of Jesus that day who fit in this category in a spiritual sense, and no doubt there remains many to this day.

We are all guilty sinners before a holy God, and He alone has the ability to cleanse and redeem us.  He will do this only when we meet His conditions to repent and place our faith in Him.  If we want to go where Jesus is going and be where He is for eternity, then we must follow Him.  This means committing our past, present, and future entirely into His hands.  We must lay aside all our selfish aspirations, dreams, and plans, burning them on the altar as a freewill offering.  We are called to obedience and to submit to God so the life of Christ can be lived through ours.  Jesus has become our life, much more than a belief system or moral compass.  As a purchased possession by the blood of Jesus, we can joyfully submit to His guidance and find contentment in every situation.  There are times we am not content, but when we repent and fix our eyes upon Christ again joy and peace is restored.  Are you following Jesus today?  Our desire of Christ is evidenced through denial of self.  If you want to dwell with Him for eternity, today is the day to begin in earnest.