Jesus Can and Does

Things which are impossible with men are possible for God.  This is a theme repeated throughout the scriptures, and this message is served in a concentrated dose as the life of Christ is followed in the Gospels.  As I read Mark 5 this morning, I was struck with the three major interactions in the chapter:  the man possessed with demons, the woman with the flow of blood for 12 years, and the girl who died of illness.  All three of these people faced impossible situations.

Verse 3 said no man could bind the demon possessed man, even with chains.  The man was already bound with fierce demonic beings, and all hope of the man being cured was gone.  Even the attempts of the men of the city to subdue the man were futile.  Yet after a brief encounter with Jesus, the demons were cast out, the man was clothed, and sat down before Jesus in right mind.  Jesus bid him to go back to his family and tell others of the wonderful things He had done for him.  The free man boldly obeyed, and all who heard him were amazed.

Verses 25-26 speak of a woman who had a flow of blood for 12 years.  Despite spending all her money on treatments, her illness only grew worse.  When she heard Jesus was passing by she said to herself, "If I can just touch the hem of his garment, I will be made well."  She managed to reach Him in the crowd, and it was as she believed:  she felt the bleeding stop.  Jesus knew the healing had taken place and asked, "Who touched me?"  She fell down at His feet, confessed her illness, and she had been healed by touching the clothing of Christ before all the people.  He told her to go in peace, affirmed her faith had saved her, and she had been made whole.

Verse 35 tells us a man came to Jairus and reported the death of his daughter, the one he was leading Jesus to heal.  Why trouble the teacher any more? the man asked.  Her death made any hope for healing disappear.  But Jesus said, "Do not be afraid; only believe."  Even in the face of death, Jesus was filled with hope and the ability to save.  He put out the mourners who scorned Him, took the girl's hand in His own and said, "Little girl, I say to you arise."  Much to the astonishment of her parents, the girl sat up, spoke, and began to walk around.  Powerful demons, incurable illness, and even death are defeated by Jesus Christ.

A word from Jesus Christ is enough to create the world, drive out demons, and raise the dead.  The woman with the flow of blood touched Jesus and was healed, and Jesus held the hand of the dead girl and brought her back to life.  Jesus has the power to make what is impossible possible.  He brings hope to the hopeless.  He is not like a celebrity, who signs an autograph one day and shrugs off fans the next.  Jesus is the only King who had time for everyone, went with people who invited Him to their homes, cast out demons, healed the sick, and raised the dead.  He touched and was willing to be touched.  He gave of Himself wholly and His life of sacrifice was culminated on Calvary.  Will you bring your impossible situations to Jesus today?  Will you seek after Him with all your heart so you might touch only the hem of His garment in humble faith?  He invites us to come to Him with our unquenchable thirst, our hunger which cannot be satisfied, so that we might partake of Him and discover His abundant life.  Let us obey Jesus and testify of the great things He has done for us! 

The Reasonable Appetite

It is interesting how different people's standards of right and wrong can be.  While there is great diversity among personal beliefs, there are sins which are exceedingly sinful on a universal scale:  murder, sexual molestation of children, forced slavery, and theft.  My point is not about these sins in particular, but how there are certain actions the conscience of men deems wrong.  The value of having God's Law held forth in the Bible is to instruct us concerning God's standard of righteousness according to which all men will be someday judged.  Believe it or not, but this is the Bible's claim.  It is for our benefit to know our errors before the Day of Judgment so we can submit a plea bargain and receive the Gospel, having repented and trusted in Christ.

It struck me this morning like never before how God chose a most simple thing - the denial of eating from a particular tree - as the only possible sin after Adam was created,  We cannot know sin apart from the Law, and Adam was given one command:  do not eat from the tree in the midst of the Garden of Eden.  It was that simple.  There was no limitation of how much fruit he could eat from the other trees in the garden, but he was strictly forbidden from eating from a tree which would kill him!  Undeterred, Adam sought to satisfy his fleshly appetites and ate from the tree with Eve his wife.  This teaches us man from the very beginning was unable to curb his carnal desires.  Without the indwelling Holy Spirit, man had to sin.  Adam was unable to stop himself from feeding his flesh and ignored something as simple as keeping to a divine diet given by God for his good.  Adam sinned by eating what would kill him, and every sin since has only brought sorrow and death with it.

I do not believe it is a coincidence Jesus instituted the new covenant in His blood by eating bread and drinking of wine during the Passover meal.  Jesus commanded all His disciples to eat and drink together - not to fill their bellies or quench their dry mouths - but to show they found their satisfaction in Christ alone.  They were commanded not only to eat the Lord's Supper that night only but to remember Jesus, His sacrifice, and to proclaim His death until He returned through receiving Communion.  The food and drink of Jesus was to do the will of the Father and to finish His work (John 4:34).  Those who are followers of Christ are no longer to be slaves to our fleshly appetites, but to heed and obey God's Word.  Jesus taught man shall not live by bread alone but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God.  Adam made the mistake of following the dictates of self, and as Christians we can make the same mistake too.  There is no possible way we can deny ourselves and follow Jesus in relationship unless we are born again.  Adam's nature has led to separation from God and death every time, but being born again through faith in Christ makes us new creations called to be living sacrifices unto God.

People can maintain a high view of their own morality by simply not practicing what they consider to be "major" sins.  We are all like gamblers in that sense; we prefer to remember when we have won or the potential of winning and do not fix our minds on how much we have lost.  Our faults are easily forgotten.  But how about in the little things?  Have we ever eaten too much and strayed into gluttony?  Have we ever enjoyed too much drink and found ourselves under the influence of alcohol?  Have we feasted our eyes on what we know is wrong or uttered words which even we regretted later because they were sharp and vengeful?  The truth is, we cannot help ourselves in the matter of taming our flesh.  It must be crucified with Christ for us to experience the victory He has granted to all who trust in Him.  Let us not think of ourselves more highly than we ought, but to humble ourselves before God in repentance over what the world would term "little things" or "non-issues."  It is only in this place of repentance we can be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God.  Romans 12:1-2 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Gospel Inspiration

The Gospel of Jesus Christ should impact the way we live our lives.  When I face circumstances which are potentially frustrating and difficult, considering what Jesus has done for me helps me to meet issues with genuine joy.  Thinking about all Christ has freely given me transforms my perspective and aids me to show His love to others.

In our discipleship course we have been talking about seeing our lives through the lens of the Gospel, and keeping this in mind has been vital in me keeping a biblical perspective.  No matter how tired I am, inconvenienced I feel, or the depth of self-sacrifice is too great, Jesus has done infinitely greater for me.  What did Jesus do after a long day of ministry and people continued to seek Him?  He kept on ministering with grace and love.  Was it convenient for Him to leave the glory of heaven, put on human flesh, and take the form of a servant of all?  Is there any pain I have experienced like Christ endured when He was rejected, betrayed, scorned, and crucified?  Not a chance.  Jesus freely chose to be separated from the Father for my sin and it wasn't fair or fun.  It was loving, good, and merciful, but it was the most unfair thing in a human sense ever experienced on earth.  And Jesus still did it rejoicing, for He always did the will of the Father.

The next time you catch yourself feeling inconvenienced, annoyed, frustrated, or feeling resentment because people have been inconsiderate towards you, consider what Jesus has endured for your sake.  Instead of being preoccupied with what loving and serving other people is costing you, remember and praise God that Jesus freely paid a higher cost for your sake joyfully and without complaint.  When we weigh all we have freely received from God, we are able to freely give.  May our lives be a testimony of the Gospel lived out for all to see that God may be glorified for the power of His love and grace.

Jesus Christ = Mind Blown

During a lively discussion last night at the discipleship course, I was amazed afresh by the power of Jesus Christ.  Sifting through even a chapter describing the character and teachings of Christ will blow the mind of an earnest seeker of truth.  No matter how well a person combs through a passage of the living Word of God, the same objective truth comes to people in different ways.  I love how God is able to reveal Himself to all people who seek Him.  Instead of our unique personalities or viewpoints hindering us from understanding, the Holy Spirit is able to lend our individual perceptions to shed light on a passage for all to appreciate.

After Jesus arrived in Nain after the long hike from Capernaum, he saw the sad scene of a dead man being carried out of the city, the only son of a grieving widow.  A large crowd had gathered, for much of the city was there to support the woman.  Luke 7:13 says, "When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."  Jesus knew the woman and her great loss, and He had compassion on her.  On the surface it may seem inconsiderate to command a weeping widow to stop crying, but Jesus knew what He would do.  Luke 7:14 continues:  "Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."  Jesus spoke to the dead man as if he was alive and could hear him.  Was this some sort of hideous prank?  And then the unthinkable happened in Luke 7:15:  "So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother."  At the command of Jesus, the dead man miraculously rose to life before many witnesses.  Having compassion on widow and talking to a deceased man is one thing, but through this resurrection Jesus revealed power and authority no living man who witnessed it could deny.  Death separates, but Jesus unites and restores.

Later in the chapter, Jesus accepted an invitation from a Pharisee to share a meal with him.  While Jesus was eating, a woman well-known by the locals for her life of sin poured an expensive box of perfume on Jesus, washed His feet with her tears, and wiped them clean with her hair.  The Pharisee who invited Jesus was completely disgusted with this display and judged Jesus to be a religious fraud.  Luke 7:39  reads, "Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."  The Pharisee thought to himself if Jesus was indeed a holy man of God, He would not allow this woman to touch Him.  But the next verse says something amazing:  Luke 7:40 says, "And Jesus answered and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." So he said, "Teacher, say it."  The verse says, "Jesus answered..."  Jesus answered the silent thoughts of the judgmental Pharisee.  Are you kidding me?  It is one thing to know if someone is a sinner, but another thing entirely to answer the thoughts of another person and to respond with wise insight.

These sort of events were commonplace in the life of Jesus during His pilgrimage on earth.  He showed compassion on others, spoke to dead people and raised them to life, and knowingly responded to the thoughts and hearts of men.  Jesus lives today and still raises the dead to life and speaks to the hearts of all who seek Him and listen.  I believe God has something to say to me and you today if we will heed Him.  In Christ there is everlasting hope and life.  Jesus created the mind to reason, and it is nothing for Him to change a mind, heart, or life.  He stands at the door and knocks, desiring to dine with anyone who will receive Him.  That will be a dinner conversation to remember!

God and Democracy

It should be a sobering truth:  God gives people what they ask for.  Our gracious God loves and gives.  Despite this, the tendency of men is to look to other men for help, guidance, and provision in this life.  If man does not see God performing as he likes, he is glad to swap to new leadership.  At a time where many in the United States are voting for their preferred party or presidential candidates, concerns are mounting.  From what I see from afar in Australia, there seems to be no presidential candidate on offer who can span the chasm which currently separates parties and people, wealthy and poor, businesses and individuals.  A nation which in the past championed itself as "one nation under God" is as fractured, angry, disillusioned, apathetic, and without hope as I have ever seen.  When we look to men, women, a political party, or even the "power of the people" to save us, it is only a matter of time before we realise we have already lost.

After God brought His beloved people out of Egypt with a mighty hand and established them in the Promised Land, it was only a matter of time before He was deemed an unfit ruler by the masses.  The men of Israel demanded, "We want a king to rule over us like the other nations."  For a long time people had looked to Samuel the prophet and judge as God's mouthpiece, and it was clear to them his sons were not cut from the same righteous cloth.  They were wicked, accepted bribes, and perverted judgment.  Samuel was angry with the request of the people for a king, but brought their demand before God in prayer.  Some might assume God would also be angry and destroy all who opposed and criticised His rule, but He did no such thing.  1 Samuel 8:7-9 reads, "And the LORD said to Samuel, "Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them. ⁸ According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day--with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods--so they are doing to you also. ⁹ Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them."  God told Samuel not to take personally the rejection of God's rule, for it was not Samuel who had been rejected.  This followed a clear pattern of behaviour consistent with God's people from the beginning. Yet God would not give the people their desire before they had first been carefully warned about what to expect from their future king.

God provided specific details about what to expect from their new king and his governance, a stark contrast to God's divine rule.  God had given, but this king would take and take.  Ironically, Saul spoke more about what he would give - fields, vineyards, and position - than what he would take! (1 Samuel 22:7)  Consider the warning given the people in 1 Samuel 8:11-18:  "And he said, "This will be the behavior of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for his own chariots and to be his horsemen, and some will run before his chariots. ¹² He will appoint captains over his thousands and captains over his fifties, will set some to plow his ground and reap his harvest, and some to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. ¹³ He will take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. ¹⁴ And he will take the best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive groves, and give them to his servants. ¹⁵ He will take a tenth of your grain and your vintage, and give it to his officers and servants. ¹⁶ And he will take your male servants, your female servants, your finest young men, and your donkeys, and put them to his work. ¹⁷ He will take a tenth of your sheep. And you will be his servants. ¹⁸ And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day."  That last line should send a shiver through the most hearty soul.  It was their choice to have a king to rule, but they had no idea how much it would cost them.  Their foolish choice to reject God would silence their complaints to God and they would remain oppressed by the king they desired.  God is gracious and good to provide government which He has been established to punish evildoers and to reward those who do well (1 Peter 2:13-14).  Because men are to be governed by God and Christians have agreed to God as their King, we are called to submit to governors as an extension of His rule.

As much as people in a democratic process want to believe they hold the key to power, remember it is God who lifts up kings and deposes them (Daniel 2:21).  Though men and women run for public office, God maintains sovereignty over all nations.  God spoke in Jeremiah 18:7-10, "The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, to pull down, and to destroy it,⁸ if that nation against whom I have spoken turns from its evil, I will relent of the disaster that I thought to bring upon it. ⁹ And the instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it,¹⁰ if it does evil in My sight so that it does not obey My voice, then I will relent concerning the good with which I said I would benefit it."  The dearth of candidates in recent elections does not surprise me, for the people have spoken and God has listened.  If people are intent to cast off His rule, His righteous judgments, and deny His authority, we are free to appoint those we choose.  Many times God judged his people by their godless rulers, and God's ways have not changed.  Hearken unto God, the One who tells us what manner of rulers we choose for ourselves.  King Saul began in humility and the fear of the LORD, but finished his course as a madman who consulted witches for guidance.  He died in battle, but not by the hand of the enemy:  in a wounded panic he fell on his own sword.  So it will be for all who refuse to submit to God's rule and look unto men for hope and help.  Such will be pierced through with many sorrows.  Without God no nation is able to stand.  The warning of Samuel is relevant today for those who place their trust in men:  do not expect deliverance from God in heaven until there is first contrition and repentance.  God is our only hope, and in God the wise trust.

Entrenched or Established?

Years ago our family had a little dachshund named Wendel.  He slept in a kennel inside the house, but the backyard was his domain.  When I mowed the lawn I was able to easily discern where his little paws had been, paths which become well-worn over time as he patrolled the perimeter.  He had a routine of running along the fence, stopping at a point and barking, then heading back on his circuit. Wendel and people alike can be creatures of habit and routine, and even our brains resort to common tracks of thought.  A single word or feeling can place our thinking like a slot car onto a track, destined to circle the same closed loop again and again.  We can become so taken with a particular observation or personal conviction we become entrenched in our thinking and are quite unable (and even unwilling!) to consider another view as equally valid.  Some people's thoughts resemble a simple oval and others are more elaborate with multiple lanes and loops, but the result is the same.  Round and round the slot car goes, but there is no winner in this solitary race.

I don't want to be entrenched in my thinking like a slot car in the track.  When Christians are entrenched in ways of thinking it is far from good.  It is actually tragic.  Taking an informed position in doctrine or having a personal conviction is right and good, but someone who is entrenched in their views resemble a vigilant soldier in a bunker on high alert.  The world is seen through the visage of a paranoid warrior ready to shoot in the direction of a unfamiliar noise in the darkness.  Everyone outside his way of thinking is seen as a significant threat.  He has fortified his position and is prepared for the eventual assault.  He has rations and ammunition enough to outlast his enemy in his cold, concrete dwelling.  His position is primarily defensive and nothing can convince him to lower his guard.  No one can coax him it is safe to venture out to enjoy a bite to eat in the sun.  A person with an entrenched mindset does not listen or consider the truth of what is being said by others but is preoccupied to share the observations of their closed loop.  The slot car on the track may move forward, but in reality it is a dead end.

Now consider the difference between an entrenched viewpoint and one that has been established by the truth of God's Word.  David wrote about a man who delights and meditates on God's law and compared him to a well-established tree in Psalm 1:3:  "He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."  A tree is a living, growing organism that has strong roots as a foundation - quite a different picture than a musty, cold bunker with guns pointed at all who approach!  With a strong root system which draws water and nutrition from the earth, so a Christian who feeds on God's Word and obeys it will be strengthened, grow, and be fruitful.  New branches of thought, new leaves of personal revelation and application sprout from old truths which are entirely new to a person.  It is not uncommon for Christians at times to place undo emphasis on one doctrine, ignore the implications of others, or have a distorted view of God's Word.  But God in His grace, through biblical truth rightly divided, chops off these branches and new, healthy growth is promoted,  Jesus compared a man who hears His words and does them to a man who built his house upon a rock.  Because the house had been established on a sure foundation who is Christ, he did not need to fear damage from the wind, rain, or flood.

Doctrine does not change, but my understanding of it should.  I should not remain perpetually on a closed loop concerning the implications of a passage, but to let down my guard, admit my knowledge and perspective is severely limited, and there is much for me to learn.  Jesus said He had much to say to His disciples, but they were not able to receive it because the Holy Spirit had not been sent.  I am afraid to say there is much Jesus cannot say to Christians today through His Word or the Holy Spirit because instead of listening we blurt out to finish God's sentences:  we have a closed loop of thinking which is familiar and therefore comfortable.  If someone holds a different slant or perspective on an interpretation people can feel instantly threatened and defensive instead of being willing to be challenged by what the Bible says and means.  There are few things worse than entrenched orthodoxy, for it prevents growth and maturity.  It substitutes increased knowledge for spiritual growth, sacrificing life and sweet fruit in exchange for what A.W. Tozer called a "circular grave."  How good it is for our faith to be growing and fruitful, knowing we are established in Jesus by the Gospel!  Instead of being entrenched in doctrinal debates, having been established by faith in Christ, let us venture out of the bunker and extend peace to all in Christ's name:  ready to listen, and choosing to love.

Faith In Worship

I love the story of when Jesus was eating dinner in Bethany (Matt. 26:6-13) and Mary came to see Him.  She carried with her a valuable alabaster flask of perfume which some have estimated to be worth a man's wages for a year.  She broke the flask and poured it on the head of Jesus as an act of worship.  True worship must cost the worshipper something.  It will come with the cost of time, money, the sacrifice of other things, and obedience.  Worship is not the singing of songs - though we can worship through songs - but worship of God is acts of adoration by faith for God's glory. Mary's gift was accepted by Jesus, and He said her act would be spoken of wherever the Gospel is preached.

It is not necessary for Christians to burn money or pour out expensive fragrances for our prayers and praises to be accepted by God.  He is not like the idols formed by man's hands which demand much but give nothing.  God has freely provided for us all, and our worship is to be a response to His great goodness and love.  God is seeking people to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, and as we follow the promptings of the Spirit we will deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow Jesus.  God looks for people who believe His Word and will trust Him enough to praise Him in the midst of pain and trials.  It is sweet to praise and thank God when all is well, but it requires faith to praise and thank God from the heart when all seems unwell.  This sacrifice of praise is well-pleasing in the sight of God.  Genuine praise from the depths of pain is a sweet savour before our Saviour.

Our prayers can be a sacrifice of praise we must persevere in.  Jesus told a parable to the end that men ought always to pray and not to faint.  He spoke of a widow who continually pleaded her case before an unjust judge.  Sick of the woman badgering him, the corrupt judge who did not fear God decided to act in the woman's favour to spare himself her entreaties.  Jesus said in Luke 18:6-8, "Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸ I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"  God is longsuffering, and love enables us also to suffer long.  There is much singing in churches and many prayers uttered.  But does God find them prompted by faith in Him?  Even in the midst of our suffering we can demonstrate faith in worship and prayer, a commodity more rare and valuable in God's sight than the precious oil poured by Mary upon Jesus.  That is what Jesus commended in Mary:  it was not the monetary value of her sacrifice, but her heart willing to freely give all for Christ's sake.  That is the heart He is looking for.

The Everlasting Man Lives

I have completed reading The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton and was impressed by his unique insights.  One point he makes strongly in the last chapters is how Christianity is distinct from all other religions and worldviews.  As different as human beings are to plants, so is Jesus Christ and His claims unique from all others.  Jesus did not call people to religion but to life, and this life could only be found in Himself.  His resurrection from the dead is also unique, without parallel in the history of the world.  The fact Jesus did not remain dead and His followers still continue strong in this age of reason is troubling to many.  It has been attacked by atheists, strangled by legalism, debated by scholars, scorned by intellectuals, and discarded by the inoculated.  And yet Christ lives on.  Chesterton wrote, "These people are quite prepared to shed pious and reverential tears over the Sepulchre of the Son of Man; what they are not prepared for is the Son of God walking once more upon the hills of morning."  (Chesterton, G. K. The Everlasting Man. San Francisco: Ignatius, 1925 Reprint. Print. page 258)

Christians have died many deaths, but like our Saviour Jesus Christ Christianity will endure forever with truth, hope, and love.  Chesterton's observations still ring true, and every rational, thinking mind cannot lightly dismiss them.  Like many before him and since, Chesterton is a man who values and speaks truth in a world that does not particularly care for it.  If we value the truth, then we will seek and obtain it at any cost.  And once obtained, we ought to strive to live our lives in light of that singular, objective truth.  Our natural eyes are unable to see it clearly.  Pontius Pilate asked, "What is truth?" when the Way, the Truth, and the Life was standing before Him in the person of Jesus Christ, the man who "broke the backbone of history."  The whole world is flowing downstream, and Christianity alone swims upstream as a testimony of inexhaustible life.  As the song goes, "He lives, He lives.  Christ Jesus lives today!  He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way."

'Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.'  The civilisation of antiquity was the whole world:  and men no more dreamed of its ending than of the ending of daylight.  They could not imagine another order unless it were in another world.  The civilisation of the world has passed away and those words have not passed away.  In the long night of the Dark Ages feudalism was so familiar a thing that no man could imagine himself without a lord:  and religion was so woven into that network that no man would have believed they could be torn asunder.  Feudalism itself was torn to rags and rotted away in the popular life of the of the true Middle Ages; and the first and freshest power in that new freedom was the old religion.  Feudalism had passed away, and the words did not pas away.  The whole medieval order, in many ways so complete and almost cosmic a home for man, wore out gradually in its turn and here at least it was thought that the words would die.  They went forth across the radiant abyss of the Renaissance and in fifty years were using all its light and learning for new religious foundations, new apologetics, new saints.  It was supposed to have been withered up at last in the dry light of the Age of Reason; it was supposed to have disappeared ultimately in the earthquake of the Age of Revolution.  Science explained it away; and it was still there.  History disinterred it in the past; and it appeared suddenly in the future.  To-day it stands once more in our path; and even as we watch it, it grows.

If our social relations and records retain their continuity, if men really learn to apply reason to the accumulating facts of so crushing a story, it would seem that sooner or later even its enemies, will learn from their incessant and interminable disappointments not to look for anything so simple as its death.  They may continue to war with it, but it will be as they war with nature; as they war with the landscape, as they war with the skies. 'Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.'  They will watch for it to stumble, they will watch for it to err, they will no longer watch for it to end.  Insensibly, even unconsciously, they will in their own silent anticipations fulfill the relative terms of that astounding prophecy; they will forget to watch for the mere extinction of what has so often been vainly extinguished; and will learn instinctively to look first for the coming of the comet or the freezing of the star. (Chesterton, G. K. The Everlasting Man. San Francisco: Ignatius, 1925 Reprint. Print. page 260-260)

Scriptures and Power of God

In my morning Bible reading, a statement by Jesus arrested my attention.  The passage listed occasions when those who doubted and hated Jesus sought to entrap Him in His words.  The Herodians, Pharisees, and Sadducees were groups who attempted to make Jesus look ignorant with their moral dilemmas and hypothetical debates, but they could not stump Jesus.  In response to the Sadducees, who only exposed their ignorance by taking their best shot at Jesus, the KJV rendering of Matthew 22:29 reads, "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."  It is ironic how the Sadducees would have claimed extensive knowledge of the scriptures, but Jesus whom they desired to expose as ignorant expressed this of them.  Their lack of belief in things spiritual left them severely hamstrung.  Their doubts left them wanting in both knowledge of the scriptures and experience of God's power.

What struck me as I read the words of Jesus is how the knowledge of the scripture exposes a man to the power of God.  The Bible begins with the matter-of-fact explanation concerning God creating the heavens, earth, and all that is in them in mere days.  God's miraculous power was known by the Egyptians and the Israelites when He visited great plagues upon the land of Egypt.  God delivered His people through the Red Sea, destroyed their enemies, and sustained them in the wilderness.  He provided food daily, supplied water from a rock, and miraculously healed those who were bitten by venemous snakes.  He caused the ground to open up and swallow people whole, and made the walls of Jericho to fall down when the people obeyed God.  Through judges, prophets, kings, and ultimately Jesus Christ, God's power was revealed to all.  It knowing the scripture we can know God's power, and when we are born again through the Gospel the revelation of God's power becomes personally tangible as He transforms us from within and empowers us for God's service.

No matter how I turn the statement of Christ around it shines forth brilliantly like a precious gem.  It can be said of all men we do err; we do make mistakes.  The cause of much of our sin is because we have not brought scripture nor the power of God to bear on our current situation.  It is a matter of perspective.  We have all sinned, but when we are born again we do not need to sin any longer.  God has given us the scriptures to guide us and imbued us with power from on high through the Holy Spirit.  I can say without exception when I sin it is because I have disobeyed the truth of scripture and have refused the power of God.  Often we are deluded by our assumptions, imagining our situation is most peculiar and difficult.  But the righteous, God-fearing perspective obtained through knowledge of the scriptures and walking in the power of God sets us straight.  God's people perish by a lack of knowledge, but even knowledge has its limits.  It is a starting point, not the end.

Our lives are lived worthily when we keep both the scriptures and the power of God in full view.  We Christians tend to lean one way or the other.  When we lose sight of either we will err.  We make a grave mistake when we hold to scripture whilst denying the power of God, or seek after a miraculous display of God's power without the guide of scripture.  It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit we can discern the scripture, and only by the scripture can we test the spirits to see if they are of God.  I am so grateful for Jesus and for His priceless wisdom.  He always knows exactly what I need and how to perfectly communicate truth when I am willing to listen and obey.

Playing God

"Do not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work."

Proverbs 24:29

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you," the Golden Rule says.  This approach is contrary to the natural response of our flesh.  We prefer to take a stand upon our rights or a concept of fairness we agree with and hold others to that standard.  Doing unto others just as they have done to us requires us to judge not only their actions, but their motive.  When we are hurt by others we can be suspicious that was their intent all along, so we then seek how we can injure them.

Even as vengeance is the sovereign territory of God, so is the rendering to each man according to his works.  Should we do what Solomon forbids in this passage, we hastily clamber onto God's judgment seat.  It is one thing for a little child to innocently desire to sit in daddy's chair, but it is another thing altogether when we fueled by malice and revenge seek to bring down a gavel in judgment to punish others for their perceived wrongs.  David wrote in Psalm 62:11-12, "God has spoken once, twice I have heard this: that power belongs to God. ¹² Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for You render to each one according to his work."

Jesus said upon His return He will reward men according to their works (Matt. 16:27).  It is not by works of righteousness we have done, but according to His mercy He has saved us (Titus 3:5).  God has saved us unto good works, and we begin doing the good works of God by believing He whom the Father has sent:  Jesus Christ.  He will reward and judge as well.  Jesus said in Revelation 22:12, "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work."  Books will be opened, and those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will receive their wages of eternal damnation.  Can we add anything to that hell?

Let us not say we will do to others as they have done to us when they have sinned against us.  Let us do unto others as Christ has done for us with a heart of love, compassion, and mercy.  Jesus said in Matthew 5:7, "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."  The Bible says with what judgment we judge we will be judged, and if we are severe with others the Living God will be severe with us.  There is a high cost for playing God, a price only fools judge wise to pay.

Lucky or Loved?

I've heard Australia called the "Lucky Country."  People use this cliche in a in a positive sense, apparently much to the dismay of Donald Horne who penned The Lucky Country, a book about Australia in 1964 written as a "wake up call to an unimaginative nation, an indictment of a country mired in mediocrity and manacled to its past."  It sounds a bit harsh not having read the book myself, but there's nothing quite like a good dose of Australian irony.  In my opinion Australia is a blessed country in a multitude of ways.  Because I believe we live in a world governed by God who has provided our natural resources, this beautiful and fruitful land, freedoms, our necessities, and even luxuries, we ought to credit Him where it is due.

Every so often I hear the phrase, "unlucky in love."  I wonder:  if people could have their choice of luck or love, what would they choose?  My grandfather has often said in jest, "I'd rather be lucky than good."  What is the lure of luck, anyway?  Is it a revelation we secretly desire something for nothing?  Or is it because we value a faceless, powerless entity who cannot protest called "bad luck" when we fail?  In thinking this over, I have decided I would rather be loved than lucky.  It would be better to live as a person loved by God than to have what men call good luck perpetually.  Luck is an empty promise which never delivers.  I do not consider The Beatles to be experts on such matters, but had they sung "All you need is luck" it would have sounded a bit hollow.

Today in church we sang a song by Brenton Brown called "Our God is Mercy."  It contains biblical wisdom the world and even Christians might recoil from:  "You're blessed if you've been torn apart; you're blessed if you've a broken heart, for hope is waiting at the door: salvation's near."  How can pain be a blessing?  For a Christian, the pain of God's correction is proof of His love.  Christians are reminded in scripture not to despise the chastening of the LORD, for in so doing He is treating us as beloved sons - even as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.  Some might ask, how can being torn apart in any way be construed as love?  Most men must be deathly ill before they will seek the care of a physician, and men must be in a severe state before they will humble themselves in desperation before a holy God.  It is in being torn apart a man can discover healing and wholeness he never experienced before.  All the "blessings" in the world are curses if they turn our affections from God.  How good for us are hard times when they prompt us to seek the LORD!  Only then will we know salvation and the love of God, and luck hasn't saved a person yet.

Leaving All and Rising Up

"After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, "Follow Me." ²⁸ So he left all, rose up, and followed Him."

Luke 5:27-28

Careful observation of the scripture is critical for deeper understanding.  I do not profess to know secret knowledge or hidden mysteries, but even for the avid student of the Bible many plain truths lie undisturbed on the surface.  Before we figure we know the meaning of a passage, we must first examine what it says.  The order of the words unveils truth and personal application.  In reading Luke 5 this week I came upon something I had never noticed before, and it is profound.

The scene is simple enough:  Levi was sitting in his office on the clock.  He was a Jew employed by the Romans as a tax collector, and he had paid for the privilege.  The opportunity to be a "publicani" of a region was bid on for a set time and was paid in advance to the government.  Jesus walked up to the man and simply said, "Follow me."  It was a straightforward command but not one obeyed without consequences.  Verse 28 tells us, "So he left all, rose up, and followed Him."  The order of the words seems quite strange.  How could Levi leave all before he even stood up?  It would be easy to transpose  the phrases of the passage and give it little thought.  Is the order significant?  It certainly is!

When Jesus approached Levi and commanded him to follow Him, it was not an offer which could be negotiated.  An immediate decision was required, yes or no.  The order of verse 28 is significant because before Levi even stood to his feet, he had already left all behind:  his right to collect taxes, the significant financial investment and the interest on it, his position of authority, chance of future advancement, and remaining in good standing with the Roman authorities.  A problem common for those who attempt to answer the call to discipleship is they joyfully rise to follow Jesus without first deciding to leave all.  The decision to follow Christ can only be performed once we have decided to deny ourselves, our dreams, ambitions, the future of ease we long for.  Trying to put on the new man without first putting off the old man is an exercise filled with frustration and futility.  We must first purpose to leave all and then we can rise up and follow Christ as Saviour and enter into the joy of the LORD.

As long as we are in two minds about answering the call to Christ, we will never be free to do so.  So much of our Christian existence is a wrestling match between the flesh and the Spirit.  We are chained by worldly thinking and cares and therefore without the freedom to rise up to follow Christ.  The call to follow Jesus is one of self-denial, picking up our cross daily, and following Jesus.  Those who seek to save their lives will lose them, but those who lose their lives for Christ's sake will find them and be rewarded with life eternal.  You do not need to quit your job, end a relationship, move to a foreign mission field, give that money, or sell your house to follow Jesus.  But you must decide you are willing to do so joyfully at Christ's command.  Otherwise you will leave a bit of your heart behind and will never be able to truly say to your LORD and King, "I surrender all."  And if Christ cannot have all of us, we cannot have any part in Him.

Mr. Dan Wilson, My Friend

I am blessed as a Christian to be part of the body of Christ.  When God enlarges your heart with His love the circle of ones deeply loved extend far beyond the reaches of immediate family.  The connection made by Christ binds us with pure desire and mutual affection not only on this planet but for all eternity.  Moving overseas causes this circle to grow as your life begins to intertwine with others.  Distance, however, does bring hindrances.  No longer can I just drop by my parent's home, watch my nephews and nieces grow, or maintain family traditions I always enjoyed.  Life moves on at a frantic pace, and during my time in Australia life on earth for many of my dear friends has ended unexpectedly.

Yesterday I received word that one of my childhood friends, Dan Wilson, has passed away into eternity.  When I say childhood friend, you might suppose Dan was my age.  Dan was actually older than my dad, one of the very few adults I could ever call a friend of mine as a young boy.  I cannot say I have ever known a more kind and thoughtful man than Dan.  We had a point of connection he never forgot:  we shared the same birthdate, and I was told many times 29 August was the greatest day on the calendar to have a birthday.  For many years we attended the same church, and Dan always made a point to wish me a happy birthday and made me feel special even when our birthday was months away.

My favourite memory of Dan was when he and my dad were challenged by three older teenage boys to a wrestling match on the lawn in front of the church after evening service.  We kids ran around and gathered all our friends to witness the bout.  The anticipation and excitement was electric, and everyone was picking their winners.  For all the build up, the match was almost anticlimactic as the old timers demolished the competition.  My dad when in for a double-leg take-down and knocked the wind out of the oldest boy and rendered him incapacitated, and Dan in seconds had the other boy pinned on his back.  The third boy, seeing what happened to his cousins - with a hint of terror in his eyes - practically ran away when Dan with a wide grin pursued him.  Dan and my dad gained a bit of respect that night...from me, anyway. :)

When I heard of Dan's passing, I admit I selfishly wished he had not left this world so soon.  I so enjoy our chats and seeing him smile, and he has a way with that carne asada!  Dan had a huge heart, a ready smile, and gave for the good of others.  As I grieved I said, "Lord, I really would have liked to see Dan again."  And instantly I remembered that I will see him again in a place without pain, sorrow, suffering, or death, in a place in God's presence where Dan is rejoicing right now.  Praise the LORD for the consolation we have been given in Christ, that the death of the body for Christians is the gateway to eternal joy and happiness.  Our Saviour Jesus Christ said in John 11:25-26, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?"  The resurrection of Lazarus and Jesus reveals the reality for all who repent and trust in Jesus.  He hasn't just pinned death to the ground, but He has killed it.  Thank you LORD Jesus for the hope we have in you.