Our Miraculous Helper

Genuine faith in God is established in knowing Him and what He has done.  Those who are convinced of God's power displayed in creation and salvation are enabled to rely upon Him presently.  Psalm 121:2-3 says, "My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. ³ He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber."  God's miraculous power demonstrated by making the heaven and earth reveals His timeless wisdom, authority and strength.  He Who made us can help us, and He is our only Hope.

Psalm 121 clearly connects the miraculous deeds God has done to helping us today and for the future because He is eternal.  He made the earth long ago and helps us now; He will not allow our feet to be moved.  God in His wisdom established the earth on nothing, and nothing is hard for a God who can conceive, design and order such things.  Placing our faith in God as revealed in the Bible who created us and helps us is the most intelligent, wise thing a man can do.  It is faith in God that opens our eyes to see our need for Him and how He has ever been faithful to meet those needs even before we thought to ask.

Recently I read an amusing anecdote from G.K. Chesterton:

"It is assumed that the sceptic has no bias; whereas he has a very obvious bias in favour of scepticism.  I remember once arguing with an honest young atheist, who was very much shocked at my disputing some of the assumptions which were absolute sanctities to him (such as the quite unproved proposition of the independence of matter and the quite improbable proposition of its power to originate mind), and he at length fell back upon this question, which he delivered with an honourable heat of defiance and indignation:  "Well, can you tell me any man of intellect, great in science or philosophy, who accepted the miraculous?"  I said, "With pleasure.  Descartes, Dr. Johnson, Newton, Faraday, Newman, Gladstone, Pasteur, Browning, Brunetiere--as many more as you please."  To which that quite admirable and idealistic young man made this astonishing reply - "Oh, but of course they had to say that; they were Christians."  First he challenged me to find a black swan, and then he ruled out all my swans because they were black.  The fact that all these great intellects had come to the Christian view was somehow or other a proof either that they were not great intellects or that they had not really come to that view.  The argument thus stood in a charmingly convenient form:  "All men that count have come to my conclusion; for it they come to your conclusion they do not count." (Chesterton, G. K. All Things Considered. CreateSpace, 2018. page 103)

There are sceptics who prefer speculation over established facts, sceptics who are ignorant of something, and sceptics because they want to be.  There are many things in this world of which I am sceptical because I do not trust the source or that it is in my best interest according to what I already know.  When foreign students came to my front door selling "original" artwork I was very sceptical because I know quality paintings command a high price and are not sold door-to-door, and thus could not be bothered to browse their selections.  The thing we are sold on we are no longer sceptical of.  When I was given a shot of penicillin as a kid when I had strep throat, I did not explain medically or scientifically what was happening.  But all scepticism I had before the shot evaporated when within minutes my fever broke and I had a ravenous appetite after days of being sick.  I have come to find that God is greater than any medicine because He is our Maker who miraculously helps us today.  His word is ever true, He remains faithful and He rules over all things.

The man whose heart is established in God according to knowledge shall not be moved.  I can testify of biblical examples of those who hearts were strengthened in God in the midst of trials, and I have been an eyewitness of this as well.  I have seen people rejoice when they naturally would have collapsed in despair and others look to the LORD with hope when all hope seemed lost.  Faith in God has healed hearts, miraculously transformed lives and perspectives.  As one who has been born again the only reasonable explanation is it was God in the person of Jesus Christ who revealed Himself to us who lives, keeps us and is continuing to change us for good.  The supporting evidence of God's miraculous works and help is beyond reckoning, and I am convinced the chief reason people pay God no mind is because they would rather not.

If those who know God is their Creator and help actually live like this was so, it would certainly bring glory to God through the interest which would be fostered.  When everyone else is wringing their hands with anxiety, we can raise our empty hands in praise to God who helps, keeps and saves us.  Who do we have in heaven but Him?

Eyes on the Almighty

Some hold the view that if the opportunity presented itself in person, they would have some rather pointed things to say to God.  They relish the idea of giving God a piece of their mind over trials or troubles they pin on Him.  In the midst of his affliction, Job thought along these lines.  This righteous man of faith said in Job 13:20-22:  "Only two things do not do to me, then I will not hide myself from You: ²¹ withdraw Your hand far from me, and let not the dread of You make me afraid. ²² Then call, and I will answer; or let me speak, then You respond to me."  Job desired an opportunity to present his case to God and be heard, yet when God revealed Himself and began to ask Job questions instead, his views changed dramatically.

God used imagery from the world to show His supremacy over all.  Workmen measured and laid foundations of building, but where was Job when God created and established the earth?  Midwives knew the breaking of water meant the delivery of a baby had commenced, but what did they know about the waters bursting forth upon the earth?  They closed and locked gates to their cities, but could they lock the roaring waves of the sea?  They swaddled infants in clothes yet God swaddled the earth with water and clouds.  People know their way around town and God made a path for thunderbolts in heaven above.  The combative, defensive posture of Job softened under the barrage of questions he could not answer, and he (and we!) are reminded God is almighty, powerful, wise and awesome.

The God who made ears, shall He not hear?  The God who made eyes, shall He not see?  The God who gave us understanding, shall He not know?  Our capacity to hear, see and know is limited, but God's abilities are infinite.  There is no question a man can ask that stumps God, and just because we are overwhelmed and do not know what to do does not mean He is ever in such a state.  He is God, and we are not, and it is a good thing to keep this ever in our minds.  Should our problems or pains make God's power or love seem insignificant, it is we who need to be reminded of God and all He has promised.  The God who gave us mouths and the ability to communicate has spoken and speaks to us today.

When Judah was invaded by enemies, king Jehoshaphat sought the LORD and cried out to Him in 2 Chronicles 20:12-13, "O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." ¹³ Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD."  The king and all his people united to draw near to the LORD who was faithful to hear and deliver them from trouble.  Solomon said there is a time for every purpose under heaven, and the invading armies prompted Jehoshaphat and the people to seek God, bring their petitions before Him and look to Him for deliverance.  Fear led to great rejoicing and abundance, and this is what only God is able to accomplish by His grace.  Jehoshaphat cried out to God, stopped talking and received the answer from the mouth of the LORD by the prophet.  Praise God in Him we find rest for our souls.

Maintaining Good Works

"This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men."

Titus 3:8

I have heard people say, "That's my good deed for the day" as if it is a onerous chore.  It seems some are glad to move on from doing good to get on with what we would rather do.  But is there anything better than doing good, seeing it is one purpose God has created us?  Why limit our good deeds to one when, if done with the mindset of irritation or self-commendation, it may not even be classified as a "good" deed because of selfish motives behind it?

Ephesians 2:8-10 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."  Having been born again by faith in Jesus, we are created in Christ Jesus for good works God has prepared for us to do.  The Titus passage affirms constantly we should be "careful to maintain good works."  It is strongly implied even after we trust in Christ we are not vigilant as we should be to continually do good.

To keep things we have in prime condition maintenance is required.  Quality vehicles, houses, yards and our bodies need regular maintenance.  Toilets, the BBQ, carpets and floors need maintenance to remain clean.  We love the idea of things being "maintenance free" like many car batteries are these days, but that still doesn't mean they will last forever.  Good works are not maintenance free:  they need to be carefully maintained because they do not happen automatically.  The desire, ability and joy in doing them all come from God, and thus maintaining a close relationship with God is a key to maintaining good works we join with Him and others in doing.

In reflecting on maintenance, it is easy to start well and quickly taper off.  We can be forgetful to mow the lawn or decide we'd rather not power wash the deck because it isn't that bad.  We can be tired, prioritise doing something else, or plain choose to ignore the thing.  This is where self-control, diligence and perseverance God gives make a difference when we humble ourselves before the LORD.  Doing good is good and profitable to all men, and that includes us and others.  Jesus has given us an example of what doing good looks like, in Acts 10:38 Peter connected Jesus' doing good with being anointed by the Holy Spirit and power.  God was with Him, and Jesus has promised to be with us.

After you have done a good deed, don't stop there!  If we do good it is only because God is good, and instead of commending ourselves we ought to praise and thank Him.  Each day we are given on earth is a good gift from God, and we ought to be constantly careful to maintain good works.  We need not keep a tally of our good deeds, for every one is only possible because of our good God and Saviour who created us to do good works He has prepared beforehand for us to do.  Doing good is what we are to devote ourselves to because we are in Christ who has begun a good work in us.

The Honest Truth

Lately I've been reading through a compilation of articles written by G.K Chesterton.  I have found to follow his long and slow moving train of thought to the end, all my continued attention is required.  Today I was particularly impressed with his observations shared in a particular paragraph and felt like saying, "Hear, hear!" because Chesterton was spot on.  The distinction he made between not telling lies and telling the truth is an important one, whether in public school or not.

"Touching the morality of the public schools, I will take one point only, which is enough to prove the case.  People have got into their heads an extraordinary idea that English public-school boys and English youth generally are taught to tell the truth.  They are taught absolutely nothing of the kind.  At no English public school is it even suggested, except by accident, that it is a man's duty to tell the truth.  What is suggested is something entirely different:  that it is a man's duty not to tell lies.  So completely does this mistake soak through all civilisation that we hardly ever think even of the difference between the two things.  When we say to a child, "You must tell the truth," we do merely mean that he must refrain from verbal inaccuracies.  But the thing we never teach at all is the general duty of telling the truth, of giving a complete and fair picture of anything we are talking about, of not misrepresenting, not evading, not suppressing, not using plausible arguments that we know to be unfair, not selecting unscrupulously to prove an ex parte case (a proceeding conducted for the benefit of only one party), not telling all the nice stories about the Scotch, and all the nasty stories about the Irish, not pretending to be disinterested when you are really angry, not pretending to be angry when you are really only avaricious.  The one thing that is never taught by any chance in the atmosphere of public schools is exactly that--that there is a whole truth of things, and that in knowing it and speaking it we are happy." (Chesterton, G. K. All Things Considered. CreateSpace, 2018. page 78)

In secular societies like Australia and the United States, talk of duty is almost wholly rejected unless speaking of your duty to yourself to do and say as you please.  Duty is a dirty word because it strongly implies a subservient position of a person with an obligation to others.  When it comes to speaking the truth it is a duty before God who created mankind, gave us minds to think, consciences to consider, and mouths to speak.  There is an enormous difference between avoiding telling lies and honestly telling the truth.  Fear, insecurities, the desire to be accepted and pleasing can stand as insurmountable obstacles to the naked truth.  It is entirely possible to avoid lying and never come close to actually speaking truth.  Jesus claimed to be Truth personified, and thus His followers ought to love, speak and walk in the truth.

Jesus provided us an example of what speaking the truth in love looks like, for His bold statements and probing questions were with the glory of God and the good of others in mind.  Since Jesus knew the hearts and thoughts of men, He could have used this to His advantage to humiliate adversaries and seek favour by catering to man's skewed opinions.  Too many times I (and probably everyone else) have been careful to avoid telling lies rather than speaking the honest truth.  I have cared more about a potential adverse reaction someone might have to it rather than being motivated to speak honest truth because with this God is well pleased.  There is a necessary place for the considerations of the thoughts and feelings of others and tact, but this does not justify cloaking truth with convenient half-truths which could rightly be called lies.  Since we are of the Truth, we ought to walk in truth, love in truth and speak the truth rather than avoiding telling lies.