The Big Picture and Jesus

Recently I was reminded of a friend who enjoyed playing rough with his dog from the time the pup was quite young.  Over time because of their constant roughhousing antics the dog was conditioned or trained to play rough with everyone, jumping on them incessantly, gnawing and aggressively scrambling around--to the point he was the only one who could interact with the dog.  When guests were over the dog was sequestered in his own area because of his uncouth and feral behaviour.  What seemed good natured fun with a puppy at the beginning became a liability when the pet was full grown.

Whether we are training a puppy or raising children, it is good to have a big picture view of how the actions we take today--or the lack of definite action and clear consequences--can impact their and our futures.  Solomon wrote concerning the responsibility of a ruler in Ecclesiastes 8:11:  "Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil."  He realised the necessity of taking action against evildoers, not only for punitive reasons in light of past wrongs, but to guide them towards making righteous choices in the future.  The negligence of parents and kings to take corrective action conditioned people to continue in a destructive and harmful spirals that impacted individuals and the whole kingdom.  When it comes to discipline, it is wise to have the big picture in mind.

Jesus urged His hearers to expand their perspective beyond "here and now" to eternity.  He bid them to count the cost of following Him as a disciple.  Jesus said in Luke 14:28-33:  "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple."

Jesus explained the undeniable practical wisdom of making sure you can afford a building project before undertaking it.  The mere chance of being mocked by others for not finishing what you start could deter someone from starting to build.  He also employed the example how a king who knows he is outmanned and outgunned takes the initiative to offer a peace treaty to avoid destruction, retain the crown and preserve his people.  People who count the cost and realise they will fall short are wise to take appropriate action.  Jesus taught those who held onto their own lives were sure to lose them, and those who lost their lives for Jesus' sake and the Gospel would find them.  Those who count the cost with an eternal perspective realise we fall short of the glory of God due to our sin.  Our good works cannot save us, and thus we must be willing to pay the full cost of discipleship in humility before God if we will be saved.

Common sense teaches us we ought to look ahead and keep the big picture in perspective.  Our eyes consider what has been, what is and what lies before us--not only in this life on earth but for eternity.  God is gracious to open our eyes to see our need and the opportunity God has offered us by grace to be born again and to experience an abundant, satisfying life as we follow Jesus today.  More important than money in the bank, completing building projects or avoiding a losing battle, is to be at peace with God through faith in our Saviour which is profitable for all things in this life and in that life to come.

Satisfaction and Life in Jesus

This morning I heard an excellent sermon at Calvary Chapel Jericho Road by pastor Dale Dickinson who expounded upon Jeremiah 2.  In love God called His people to remember Him, for they had committed two evils in departing from Him, their fountain of living water and instead hewed for themselves broken cisterns that could hold no water.  The comparison between clean, water from a spring and a dry cistern could not be more stark.  No sensible person living in the desert would trade a pure spring for a cracked and empty well, but God's people had done the unthinkable by drifting from Him.

God described the folly of His people in Jeremiah 2:8:  "The priests did not say, 'Where is the LORD?' and those who handle the law did not know Me; the rulers also transgressed against Me; the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit."  Ignorance of God and His wisdom led to transgression by the priest and prophets.  I find God's observation fascinating, that the priests did not say, "Where is the LORD?"  The implication is they were content to continue their ministry of the temple without God's presence.  Perhaps it had become more of a job than a holy calling, the rites and routine of the daily ministrations digging a rut Tozer called a "circular grave" without the Living Water of the Holy Spirit.

If priests, rulers and prophets could drift from knowledge of God and His presence, it is possible for Christians to slowly depart from love and loyalty to Jesus.  Over time our hearts can grow dull and cold, and we can forget all Jesus has done, is doing and has promised to do with us.  Jesus warned His disciples in Matthew 24:11-12:  "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold."  It would be presumptuous to assume only unbelievers could be deceived, for believers can be led astray as well.  Due to sin those who have freely received God's agapao love can grow cold.  The main problem for Christians isn't the existence of false prophets but willing departure from God and placing our faith in what is not God.

Praise the LORD for His love toward us, that He who warns us also warms us by His grace.  The chill of sin may blanket a nation, but we can walk uprightly in the fear of God by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Broken, dry cisterns may be all around, but there is a source of Living Water by faith in Jesus Christ our LORD.  We find all our needs satisfied in Jesus, and He makes us to be a refreshing source of life through the Gospel to others.

Pet Regrets

Travelling to my hometown brings back memories, and most of them are good.  It is enjoyable to visit with family and friends, reminiscing over what has happened in the past and catching up to the present.  As I was driving yesterday I was reminded of a conversation I had with someone years ago I have repented of many times.  I regretted something I said almost immediately, and it was a good lesson of how words hastily spoken cannot be taken back.

As I considered the situation that transpired decades ago, I was struck by how this could be termed a "pet regret."  It was something I have regretted and repented of who knows how many times, yet dwelling upon it leads me back to the familiar feelings of sorrow and wishing it could be undone.  I know based upon the word of God He forgives sin as it is written in 1 John 1:9:  "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."  My transgression years ago need not hinder me from a close relationship with God today moving forward.  Regret over my sin can move me to pray for those victimised by it.  I need not beat myself up over how my transgression likely offended the person with whom I spoke, for God's grace is sufficient to turn even my folly into a blessing.

It occurred to me when it comes to pet regrets we can be more willing to wallow in regret over something that happened ages ago when there are plenty of sinful things we do and say today we ignore or may not even be aware of.  Pet regrets have a familiarity we may even like because there is nothing we can do about them.  If we feel bad over something that happened long ago and give place to condemning thoughts, it can become a well-rehearsed exercise in self-pity fueled by pride.  We are disappointed with ourselves; we cannot believe we ever did such a thing.  And thus we are blind to our own need to continue changing, to embrace our sanctification over our attitudes and outlook that remain foolish and proud as ever.

I have owned many pets over the course of my lifetime, and there came a point with all of them when I needed to say goodbye.  This is what we ought to do with our old pet regrets we have repented of and learned from.  We can lay them to rest and discover rest by the power of the Gospel.  Let us move on from perpetual guilt to thanksgiving and praise of God who has forgiven our sins and is able to make us a blessing in this world even at our worst.  For every pet regret we lament there are  doubtless other sinful habits and tendencies God would have us repent of right now and experience the rest and rejoicing made possible by God's grace.

Doing All as Unto Christ

Zechariah 7 details an interaction of men who came to the house of God to pray and to inquire of the priests if they ought to continue fasting and mourning in the fifth and seventh months as had been their annual tradition during exile.  God answered with questions of His own in Zechariah 7:5-6:  "Say to all the people of the land, and to the priests: 'When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me--for Me? ⁶ When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves?"  The people embraced months of fasting and mourning but neglected to honour and obey God when they ate and drank every day.  They lamented being driven from their homeland but did not praise the God who had never left or forsaken them.

These men came to the priests because they found the periods of fasting and mourning burdensome--even unnecessary after their return to Jerusalem.  They wondered if there was any point to afflict themselves with hunger and God revealed they hadn't been doing it for His sake at all.  It had been an exercise of the flesh that lacked spiritual merit because they had not been eating and drinking for the LORD.  The principle held forth to King Saul is fitting here:  "To obey is better than sacrifice."  All the sacrifices a person can make are useless to find favour with God coupled with refusal to obey what He has clearly commanded.  If they had hearkened to the prophets God sent to warn His people before the 70 years of captivity, they could have been spared judgment and destruction they brought upon themselves.

Hear God's response in Zechariah 7:8-10:  "Then the word of the LORD came to Zechariah, saying, ⁹ "Thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. ¹⁰ Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.'"  While debated over whether they should fast and afflict themselves for the fifth and seventh month, God desired they would cease from sin and walk in justice, mercy and compassion to one another every day.  God called for a continual fast from oppressing the widow, fatherless, stranger or poor.  He commanded them to stop scheming against their brethren.  What they did out of the fear of God and faith in Him was more important than any of the self-imposed restrictions they put on themselves.

God has made His commands clear and without a doubt like in Colossians 3:20-24:  "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord. ²¹ Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. ²² Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ."  If we say we love God, we ought to use our strength to honour and obey Him, loving others as He loves us.  We could fast for months without spiritual benefit should we refuse to heed Him.  Whether we eat, drink or fast, may it all be done unto the LORD in sincerity of heart before the LORD--not with an aim to please men or honour tradition.  May the fear of God and obedience to the LORD be our traditional practice, not because we are pious or religious, but because Jesus Christ is our glorious Master we serve with our whole hearts.