Cut Off Sin

"Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes! ⁸ If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. ⁹ And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire."

Matthew 18:7-9

Jesus spoke these words to show the gravity of sin's consequences.  It would be better to endure pain or lack on earth than deny yourself the ultimate joy of eternity shared with God in heaven.  Jesus was not suggesting men should mutilate their bodies, for the whole of scripture makes clear what is needed is inner transformation, not outer reformation.  Cutting off a hand or gouging out an eye does not eliminate the source of sin in a man:  his depraved heart and mind.  Only when one is born again can he be forgiven of sin, walk uprightly in the power of the Holy Spirit, and be deemed righteous before God. 

Hands and eyes are part of a human body, and those who have these functional body parts use them almost continually during waking hours.  They can represent, then, any part of the flesh which causes us to sin.  Sinful behaviour is as natural to a man as using his hands or eyes.  A baby does not need to be taught to rely upon his hands or eyes, and no person born with the fallen nature of Adam need be taught how to lie, cheat, or steal.  The sinful tendencies we rely upon to gain advantage for our flesh must be cut off as we learn and adopt God's ways.  Whatever causes us to sin must be willingly cut off, or else we cut ourselves off from fellowship and life with God.

The second important point is this:  we are called to cut off what causes us to sin.  This is something every man must do for himself.  I am not called to cut off the hands or feet of others, and no one has been granted permission to cut off my own.  All men will stand before God to give account for their lives, and I will never need to answer for another man.  No sailor who stands at attention must provide an explanation to his superior why his shipmate's shirt is wrinkled and shoes unpolished.  He must answer for himself and face the consequences.  God has taken the initiative to reveal His perfect will and ways, and we are each called to respond appropriately in obedience concerning ourselves.

Sin brings infinite woe, and only Jesus provides the atonement and reconciliation with God all men need.  When we take seriously this call to cut off ourselves from sin - not sharpening our swords to dismember others from their sins - we save ourselves from much future pain!

Christian Vanity or Reality?

In my youth when I read Martyr of the Catecombs, Jesus Freaks, or Foxe's Book of Martyrs, I at times pictured myself facing the life and death decision of those faithful saints who gave all:  would I boldly stand for Christ or would I capitulate?  I would always convince myself I would take a stand for Christ if it came down to it, but didn't Peter say the same thing in the upper room to Jesus?  It only took a few questions from servants to bring his fantasy crashing down.  Boiling down a decision to follow Jesus into one climactic moment in time is easy when it is fantasy and because it is one decision, not a continuous one.  We can deny Christ without a gun being placed to our heads through disobedience or indifference without even knowing it.  The little decisions provide evidence of how we likely would respond to great challenges of faith.

Separating fantasy from reality is a product of renewing our mind according to God's Word.  It is easy for Christians to live in a fantasy world, imagining ourselves as possessing great faith because we view it through a microscope!  We tell ourselves things like, "Seeing a miracle would really build my faith."  Maybe it would.  But more likely we would fall into the trap of needing to see a miracle to believe, which is not faith.  It is not for a lack of miracles our belief remains small, but because our flesh longs to walk by sight rather than simple faith in God and His Word.  We are masters of spin, convincing ourselves that the overtly miraculous (whatever we fancy at the time) is the precise way God will receive the most glory from a given situation.  The truth remains:  miracles don't make believers.  It is from knowing God and recognising His power, presence, and praising God despite difficulties where our faith grows best.

Consider this quote from William Law in his book A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life:

There is nothing that so powerfully governs the heart, that so strongly excites us to wise and reasonable action, as a true sense of God's presence.  But as we cannot see, or apprehend the essence of God, so nothing will so constantly keep us under a lively sense of the presence of God, as this holy resignation which attributes everything to Him, and receives everything as from Him.

Could we see a miracle from God, how would our thoughts be affected with an holy awe and veneration of His presence!  But if we consider everything as God's doing, either by order or permission, we shall then be affected with common things, as they would be who saw a miracle.

For as there is nothing to affect you in a miracle, but as it is the action of God, and bespeaks His presence; so when you consider God as acting in all things, and all events, than all things will become venerable to you, like miracles, and fill you with the same awful sentiments of the Divine presence.

Now you must not reserve the exercise of this pious temper to any particular times of occasion, or fancy how resigned you will be to God, if such or such trials should happen.  For this is amusing yourself with the notion or idea of resignation, instead of the virtue itself.

Do not therefore please yourself with thinking how piously you would act and submit to God in a plague, or famine, or persecution, but be intent upon the perfection of the present day; and be assured, that the best way of showing a true zeal is to make little things the occasions of great piety.

Begin therefore in the smallest matters, and most ordinary occasions, and accustom your mind to the daily exercise of this pious temper, in the lowest occurrences of life.  And when a contempt, an affront, a little injury, loss, or disappointment, or the smallest events of every day, continually raise your mind to God in proper acts of resignation, then you may justly hope that you shall be numbered amongst those that are resigned and thankful to God in the greatest trials and afflictions." (Law, William. A Serious Call To a Devout and Holy Life. London: J.M. Dent, 1902. pages 323-324, Print.)

As followers of Jesus, we are called to no longer entertain vain and futile thoughts which can deceive us.  According to God's Word we are to put off the old man, be renewed in the Spirit of our mind, and put on the new man.  Ephesians 4:17-24:  "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, ¹⁸ having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; ¹⁹ who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. ²⁰ But you have not so learned Christ, ²¹ if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: ²² that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, ²³ and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, ²⁴ and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness."

When we recognise the presence of God in the little things, even the smallest details shout thunderous praise unto the God we love, serve, and worship.  What rejoicing and thanksgiving we experience in His presence!  Instead of feeding on the wind of fantasy, we are to sink our teeth into the reality of our fantastic God who loves and cares for us.  In this way the mundane becomes miraculous, God receives the glory, and our faith will steadily grow.

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

God graciously gives us all things to richly enjoy.  As Christians mature in faith, we enter into new territory God granted us from the beginning we couldn't be bothered to explore for years.  In the church I grew up in, in my younger years I cannot recall any talk of being "baptised with the Holy Spirit."  There was no explanation of how children or youth as born again believers could be filled and gifted with the Holy Spirit for God's service.  In retrospect, there seemed to be a disconnect between various operations of the Holy Spirit.  The fruit of the Spirit was often spoke of, but specific gifts of the Spirit were not a point of discussion.

As my faith in Christ became increasingly my own in adulthood, my curiosity and desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit also grew.  Searching the scriptures illuminated my lack of this baptism with the Holy Spirit, a specific "coming upon" of the Spirit that can coincide with justification or be received later.  I remember my pastor saying something from the pulpit like, "If God has a gift for you, don't you desire it?  Would you turn down a gift God offered to you?"  Of course I would want God's gift for me, I thought.  God had gifted me with salvation, and only a fool would turn good gifts from God down.  Should I deny for myself gifts God selected purposefully and freely offered to me?  I became convinced through the scripture my risen Saviour Jesus is the one who baptises with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11).  I was also convinced the promise of baptism with the Holy Spirit is for as many as our LORD will call (Acts 2:38-39).  I took honest stock of my life and recognised I had never asked for and thus never received this baptism with the Holy Spirit:  I had not because I had not asked in faith (James 4:2, Galatians 3:2).  I admittedly always bristled with the suggestion there was more God had for me I had not yet received!  Finally, I recognised I fervently desired this baptism, for every gift offered by Jesus through the Spirit is for His glory and the edification of the church - something I could not do alone.

God be praised, for He was true to His Word in Luke 11:13:  "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"  I believed the promise, asked, and received.  During a time of prayer a brother laid hands and prayed with me that I might receive the baptism with the Spirit, and it is that simple.  Now unfortunately, the baptism with the Holy Spirit - possibly because many like me had quite a long journey before we willingly entered in and received this baptism - is often approached as only for the more seasoned or worthy disciples.  This is untrue.  The baptism with the Holy Spirit is a fundamental, most basic inheritance of every single follower of Jesus Christ.  When Paul went into a new area, one of the first things he inquired was concerning was whether Christians had been baptised with the Holy Spirit.  There was no catechism, classes, or six-month vetting process.  It may have been a complex process for me to be humbled before God, a long road with many pitfalls and sidetracks, but the promise of the Holy Spirit was offered to me by Christ from the first.  I just didn't realise it!  Having had such an outpouring of the Spirit, should I be content others to trudge through the wilderness for years until they attain some arbitrary amount of knowledge before I lead them to be baptised with the Spirit?  Baptism with the Spirit is the starting point towards exponential growth and spiritual maturity, not the end.

Consider the simplicity of this example in Acts 19:1-7:  "And it happened, while Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And finding some disciples ² he said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?" So they said to him, "We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit." ³ And he said to them, "Into what then were you baptized?" So they said, "Into John's baptism." ⁴ Then Paul said, "John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus." ⁵ When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. ⁷ Now the men were about twelve in all."  Paul did not bother to quiz these believers on their grasp of various doctrines but went straight to the point.  The baptism with the Spirit was not something to work up to but God's work within them.  There is no set formula for this baptism.  See for yourself by reading through the book of Acts.  The order and manner of this baptism was greatly varied, but the outcome was always the same:  supernatural gifting in various ways, empowerment was provided for serving God, people walked in boldness and wisdom, the church was built up, and God was glorified.

Isn't this a description of what you desire in your life and for all those who comprise the church purchased with Christ's blood?  May the Holy Spirit come upon all God's people with power so we can enter fully into the inheritance God has for us.  Let's not make confusing the simple promise of the Father, or withhold this knowledge because we were late bloomers.  In these last days the Holy Spirit is being poured out on all who ask believing.  If you are thirsty, come to Jesus and drink.  He is the One who baptises with the Holy Spirit and with fire, "for the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." (Acts 2:39)

God Was Pierced

For those who have eyes to see and a heart to understand, the Bible is packed with wisdom and eternal truth.  As we walk with God through our earthly journey, the Holy Spirit sharpens our discernment of God's Word.  We may read a passage a thousand times and never see spiritual reality which has always been hiding in plain sight.  Just this morning I read a familiar passage which struck me like never before concerning Christ's deity.  In blank pages in the back of my Bible I record verses which emphasise the divinity of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Though it was already noted, God's truth refreshed my soul anew.

I was reading Zechariah 12:9-10 which says, "It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. ¹⁰ "And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." (emphasis mine) God the Father is speaking through the prophet concerning the Messiah, His only beloved Son sent to be the Saviour of the world.  I was struck by the shift of pronouns in verse 10:  God said they would look upon "Me whom they pierced."  Jesus was pierced on a cross with a crown of thorns, nails through His hands and feet, and a spear in His side.  The passage immediately continued with, "Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son..."  The change of pronouns is grammatically difficult to reconcile unless God the Father and Jesus Christ share the nature of the One True God.  Those who looked upon the crucified Christ were looking at God made flesh.

Jesus said in John 4:24 concerning the Father, "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."  The Father could not be crucified, nor could His blood be shed without human form.  Yet consider what Paul wrote of God in Acts 20:28, "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."  God purchased the church by shedding His own blood.  The only way that God could shed blood is if He become flesh, and in Colossians we are told in Jesus is the fullness of the godhead bodily (Col. 2:9).  Jesus was sent by the Father, indwelt by the Spirit, crucified on Calvary, and raised in eternal glory and power.  He is a man, and He is also God.  Unless Jesus is God, He cannot be good for He told us plainly there is no one good but God (Mark 10:18).  Either Jesus is not good or He is good and God!  Only God could provide a perfect atoning sacrifice for sinners, and Christ willingly laying down His life on Calvary was a demonstration of God's love for all.

1 John 4:12-15 says, "No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. ¹³ By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. ¹⁵ Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God."  No one has seen God the Father at any time, but John beheld the glory of God through Jesus Christ.  Positionally Christ submitted to the will of the Father as a man and as an example for men, yet His nature was wholly divine.  This passage ends with a promise:  those who confess Jesus is the Son of God - God made flesh - God abides in him and he in God.  This glorious reality is afforded all who repent and trust in Jesus as LORD and Saviour.  Jesus came as Emmanuel (God with us) and through faith in Him we can experience God IN us through the Holy Spirit.  Praise God for His Word and the revelation of His divine love and power!

Doing God's Will

Among some Christians, "God's will" has a perpetually mysterious quality.  People wonder what God's will is concerning their lives and for each circumstance they face.  This approach to know God's will can resemble greatly a quest in seeking a medium, palm reader, or fortune teller believing special knowledge will provide useful aid.  It is important we recognise God has revealed His will through His Word, and He has done so for the express purpose we would walk in obedience to it.  Christianity is more than knowing the truth but living it out aligned with God's desires.  It is a shame when Christians live in state of self-imposed paralysis and confusion, not knowing what to pray or do because they are torn in recognition of their limited perspective of "God's will."  God has provided much more than facts about Him:  God has provided Himself and all that pertains to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).

Because all humans tend to worry, knowledge of the future brings an ease and comfort the flesh enjoys.  Sometimes God does reveal the future to people through various means.  But God is not interested in coddling our flesh and therefore rarely spells out His overarching plans for why He allowed our tyre to go flat or why the power shut off at 2am and the alarm clock was reset resulting in us being late.  God has revealed His will so we might know His character, like where it is written in 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."  God has also revealed His will for people as we read in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:  "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."  God's will can be known, and we through faith in Christ can accomplish it.  The Bible is absolutely packed with revelations concerning God's will.

It is easy for us to figure an eternal, all-powerful Being could simply impose His "will" however He wishes in the world He has made.  God's will in this sense shall always be ultimately accomplished in His time and sovereign way.  But our great struggle is to comprehend how God permits what He does not approve.  For instance, God is not willing any should perish yet people die every day.  People who die in their sins face eternal justice in the fires of hell.  Since God created man in His image with the freedom to choose, God imposes His will of eternal righteousness and justice upon those who refuse His remedy for salvation.  It is God's will that men would rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks to Him in everything - but that does not mean God will force a man to do so.  God enables and empowers man to accomplish this through the Holy Spirit, but He permits man to go his own way.  When you are unsure of God's will, the wise response is to seek the God who has spoken, will speak truth, and has promised to guide our every step.

Knowledge in itself is a false comfort, for only in God can we experience rest for our souls.  God tells us His will so we might do it.  Ephesians 5:15-17 shows we can know God's will:  "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is."  We know God's will only through knowing Him.  The fool does not account for God's power, promises, or purposes concerning his life, but the wise man fears God and trusts Him alone.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge and our faithful practice of walking obediently to God's will cultivates true fellowship with God.  Paul prayed for Christians to know God's will and this prayer is according to God's will.  Colossians 1:9 says, "For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding..."

Knowing is one thing, and belief and subsequent obedience is another.  God's commands in His Word reveal His will concerning your life.  One example is Jesus commanded Christians to love one another as He loves us.  We can know this is God's will, His perfect plan to govern our words, attitude, and works.  It is in discovering God through His Word we learn to walk in His will.  Knowing the will of God may be novel, but this knowledge alone does not save:  being born again by genuine faith in Christ results in obedience.  Matthew 7:21-23 says, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' ²³ And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'"  If your desire is only to know the will of God, you will likely remain in confusion.  But if you desire to know God's will fervently so you might obey it you are not far from discovering it.  If we will seek God we will find Him, if we seek Him with our whole hearts.

A Trinity Illustration

God has chosen to reveal Himself to men.  Without His light and divine assistance, we could only stumble in the dark.  That being said, the ability to know God is only through faith according to knowledge revealed in scripture.  Because God is eternal and infinite, He cannot be completely known.  His thoughts are not our thoughts, nor are His ways our ways.  An element of faith is required on every step as our understanding develops and grows.

Take being "born again," for instance.  When Jesus told Nicodemus a man must be born again to enter into God's kingdom, the learned man was confused.  Was Jesus saying a man must squeeze himself back into his mother's womb to be born a second time?  No!  Jesus immediately pointed to the wind:  the effect of the wind is clearly seen in the trees, but no one knows exactly where it comes from or where it goes.  So is the way of the Spirit of God.  When a man repents and trusts in Christ as Saviour, the Holy Spirit enters a person and creates a new man.  He is given a new living nature, is cleansed from all sin, and is made righteous before God.  We cannot explain scientifically how the Holy Spirit does this, but we can know for certain He does through clear evidence.

One sticking point for many is understanding how God is One yet manifested in the Bible in three distinct Persons:  God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  All creation speaks of the glory of God, and one of the best illustrations to explain the Triune Godhead is our sun.  The sun is a ball of gas burning in the heavens which provides light and heat to our world which promotes life, health, and fruitfulness.  When we say we are "in the sun" we do not mean we physically are walking on the sun's surface.  That would be impossible!  God the Father is the eternal spirit, unapproachable in His holiness, and a "consuming fire" (Deut. 4:24, Heb. 12:29).  The Father is represented by the sun, the heavenly body.

The sun provides light for the earth.  Light has dual properties of being both wave and particle.  Jesus is the "Light of the World" with the dual nature of God born in human flesh.  Jesus is called Emmanuel in Isaiah 9:6 which means, "God with us."  The light of the promised Messiah shone in the darkness, and men did not comprehend it.  Though the scripture affirms many times Christ's divinity, many remain in unbelief.   John 1:11-14 says, "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. ¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

John the Baptist prophesied Jesus is the One who would baptise with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  Not only does the sun provide light, but it also generates heat.  When a person has the light of the sun shining upon them they are warmed.  Before Jesus ascended to the Father in heaven, He promised to send the Holy Spirit who would guide His disciples into all truth.  The Holy Spirit is represented in the heat of the sun, the one who indwells a man and makes him "on fire" for God.  The Holy Spirit came upon the followers of Christ on the Day of Pentecost, and He has been filling and empowering believers in service for God ever since.  He helps and comforts us in His warmth, provides gifts and fruit of the Spirit, and causes us to grow and mature like a healthy tree planted by deep springs of water.

We cannot fully comprehend God's thoughts and ways, but we can know Him intimately.  All is possible for those who believe, for nothing is too hard for our God!  Though it takes faith to know God, I pray this illustration would be useful to better understand the great God who loves us and is worthy of all honour and praise.  I conclude with 2 Corinthians 13:11-14:  "Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. ¹² Greet one another with a holy kiss. ¹³ All the saints greet you. ¹⁴ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."

To Know Perfect Peace

Man’s idea of “peace” cannot compare to the real thing.  Man, having settled down in God’s judgment seat, believes he can accomplish what God says is impossible:  the experience of genuine peace apart from God.   Isaiah 48:22 says, “There is no peace, says the LORD, for the wicked.”  There it is!  Man’s concept of peace is inherently selfish, making concessions only when compromise provides a more favourable outcome than standing fast.  Peace is not made through treaties, political leverage, popular opinion, or acting in one’s best interest.  Peace is not making the choice not to kill people who were once your enemy without reconciliation, love, or joy present in your heart towards them.  No signature on a document can change the hearts of the men who sign it.

Peace is not the absence of war or political conflict, but unity of heart and spirit in love.  And God makes it perfectly clear no one can experience true peace while remaining in sin.  A man who refuses to make peace with God is without hope of any peace with men, no matter how rich or respected he is.  Consider this from another perspective:  say a person receives exactly what he desires and demands in full.  Does this bring peace to the heart of a man?  No!  His greed, distrust, and suspicion of others will not allow him to rest.  People who have all the world can offer still suffer niggling doubts, insecurity, anger over how they have been unjustly treated, or frustrated their expectations remain unmet.

A building project is a perfect example of how peace man’s way always falls short.  Say you have a set of drawings drafted to your exact specifications.  The most perfect plans in short order prove themselves lacking.  Amendments to the plans, issues with the builder, shoddy workmanship, delays of receiving hardware, cost overruns, and the time-consuming nature of building is a constant stress.  Man’s peace may look good on paper, but it can never be a reality as he imagines it.  Even if the house is built perfectly, nothing can prevent wear and tear.  More work and money will be required for maintenance and repairs.  Nothing can keep the paint from fading, vandals from targeting the façade with eggs, gates from squeaking, water damage, slippery floors, carpet from collecting dust, and the appliances wearing out.  Those who remain enemies of God because of their sin cannot dream of lasting peace, for God has spoken the truth:  “There is no peace for the wicked.”

Only in Jesus can a man find rest for his soul, a rest enjoyed apart from the circumstances of life.  The world can be a living hell, but the man who has peace with God discovers profound repose no trial or struggle can shake.  We are all born enemies of God due to sin, yet Jesus is our peace and has united us with Himself by grace through faith.  Ephesians 2:13-22 says, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ¹⁷  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. ¹⁸  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. ¹⁹  Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰  And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹  In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²²  In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

God has offered peace to all who will make peace with Him through repentance and faith.  Peace primarily is an internal reality, not external or temporary.  It is a peace which endures as long as the Prince of Peace Himself.  Because of the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can fulfil the exhortation of Philippians 4:6-7: "Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." What a joy, to know the peace which passes understanding!  Though the depth of God’s peace cannot be plumbed or the breadth measured, it can be intimately known and realised.  Do you know this peace?  Do you want to?  Only those made righteous through faith in Christ can know peace, a peace this world cannot know apart from Him.

The "Nevertheless" Men

For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed Bible trivia.  I have spent a portion of nearly every day of my life from childhood immersed in its pages, soaking in God's wisdom, and delighting in the truth God reveals.  Because of my own dullness sometimes I read without much effect, but there is nothing on this planet so powerful, inspired, and brilliant as the revelation of God through His Word.  It is like an old friend who manages to continually surprise and impress.  People of the Book such as myself recognise the scripture is simple enough for a layman to comprehend, yet has a depth of meaning and application which will not be fully appreciated for eternity.

Here is an opportunity to test your vast Bible knowledge and flex those memory muscles!  Can you tell me the significance of this list of names - and here is a hint - from the book of Numbers?  The names are:  Shammua, Shaphat, Igal, Palti, Gaddiel, Gaddi, Ammiel, Sethur, Nahbi, and Geuel.  If I had been asked the same question yesterday, I would have no idea.  And to be perfectly honest, if you told me to list these names by memory tomorrow I could not do it.  After reading through the corresponding passage last night, I have termed them "The Nevertheless Men."  Alright, here's the answer:  these 10 men are the heads of tribes who were sent to spy out the Promised Land.  Everyone knows about Joshua and Caleb, two spies and the only two people to enter into Canaan from the first generation who came out of Egypt.  If you recognised these men I congratulate you, because these aren't men often talked about.

We all like a winner, the one who does well.  Many sermons have been graced with the bold and valiant words of Joshua and Caleb, but these fearful nevertheless men are largely unknown and forgotten.  It is a sobering thought that notable, called, and chosen men of God could have such a promising beginning and a tragic end.  Numbers 13:1-2 says, "And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Send men to spy out the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of Israel; from each tribe of their fathers you shall send a man, every one a leader among them."  God promised to give His people a rich land which flowed with milk and honey.  After 40 days in the land, 10 of the men brought back figs, pomegranates, a massive cluster of grapes, and provided this report in Numbers 13:27-28:  "We went to the land where you sent us. It truly flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. ²⁸ Nevertheless the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities are fortified and very large; moreover we saw the descendants of Anak there."

They affirmed the land was exactly as God had said.  But then they uttered a word so steeped in doubt and unbelief it cast fear into the hearts of the congregation:  nevertheless.  In spite of what God promised, there were seemingly insurmountable obstacles.  Yes, God promised to give them a rich land and so it was.  Nevertheless there seemed to be strong opposition - and they were no match for the land's inhabitants.  Had they only trusted the promise of God more than trusting their eyes and looking to themselves!  They weighed the promise of God against the fortifications and the giants who inhabited the land and foolishly shrank from God's promise.  Numbers 13:30-31 says, "Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, "Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome it." ³¹ But the men who had gone up with him said, "We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we."  Caleb trusted God and His Word, yet these 10 "nevertheless" men were disarmed of their courage and strength by lack of faith in God and what He had said.

These men were punished according to their deeds, for they gave a bad report to the people.  What God did in the sight of the congregation clearly showed the consequences of the grave sin of unbelief.  Numbers 14:36-37 says, "Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, ³⁷ those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the LORD."  That was the end of those "nevertheless" men:  they doubted in spite of God's character and promise, and thus did not receive it.  Consider how these 10 out of the 12 leaders called and chosen by God fell short of entering into the promise through refusing to trust God.  They expected to fall at the hands of their enemies, so what is so different about falling by the hands of the God made your enemy by unbelief?

God has offered His people rest through faith in Jesus Christ.  "Jesus Christ is wonderful," you might say, "but the world is in a terrible state.  My personal debts, chronic pain, and family troubles coupled with global issues like stateless refugees and climate change are too much to bear,.  There is no rest for me."  Dear ones, should we fall into the same trap as the "nevertheless" men?  God has offered rest, but perhaps you believe the obstacles insurmountable.  Tell me:  if you will not willingly enter into the rest you can through faith now despite obstacles, what makes you think you can find rest in Christ for eternity?  There is a rest we can enter into now, not because of our might or ability compared to that of our enemies, but according to God's promise.  The One who brought us out of bondage can surely bring us into His rest.  We can be as Nehemiah, who when faced with opposition from sinister enemies chose to trust God and pray.  He saw the opposition, nevertheless chose the path of faith - not the other way around.  He wrote bravely in Nehemiah 4:8-9, "...All of them conspired together to come and attack Jerusalem and create confusion. ⁹ Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night."

Wavering heart, consider fully this passage and find rest for your soul in Christ.  Hebrews 4:11-16 reads, "Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. ¹⁴ Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

What sort of "nevertheless" man or woman are you?  One who sees the opposition and chooses to trust God's Word like Joshua, Caleb, or Nehemiah?  Or are you like the 10 spies, who knew the promise of God but in spite of it gave place to fear and unbelief?

The Bountiful Refuge

Few people have ever been the focus of a nation-wide manhunt, but David was such a one.  King Saul, infuriated over David's popularity with the people, his suspicion stoked with pride, sought to hunt David down and kill him.  Though David had also been anointed king of Israel, he refused to wage a smear campaign or command his men to retaliate against the LORD's anointed, King Saul.  He left the comforts of home and family and fled into the wilderness.  Many times David sought refuge in a cave, and the heading in my Bible says Psalm 142 was written during one of these occasions.

He wrote Psalm 142:1-6:  "I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. ² I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. ³ When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. ⁴ Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul. ⁵ I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. ⁶ Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I."  David sought refuge in a cave, but it only could provide temporary and feeble protection for his body.  As he held his breath in the deep, dark recesses of the cave, he knew the cave could also be his tomb.  In the musty blackness he knew a bright light would betray his presence to his perusing enemy.

But in the darkness David discovered the peace and presence of God, the One who was a refuge for his soul.  God knew exactly where David was, how unjustly and wickedly he had been treated, and the greatness of his need.  David sought refuge in a cave, but the cave was not David's refuge:  God was!  When David was overwhelmed, he cried out to God and was heard.  In God was a sure hope no damp cavity of earth can provide.  He concluded his song in Psalm 142:7:  "Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me."  Through God those who trust Him have abundant salvation and deliverance.  Have you made God your refuge in faith?  Jesus has come to set the captives free and proclaim liberty to those in bondage.  There is no substitute for the refuge provided in Christ alone.

On His Shoulders

Carts make heavy lifting lighter work.  When I used to work in the shipyard, having a motorised cart for hauling tools and materials over long distances was critical for efficiency.  Carts are also useful when moving multiple books, totes, or packages at once.  One cart greatly reduces the amount of trips necessary to move items from one location to another.  People might say the use of a cart is working smarter, not harder.  This is usually true - but not always.  God wisely directs us in what must be done and how to do it.  Sometimes the way that seems easier and more efficient isn't the right way.

After the tabernacle was built, anointed, and sanctified by Moses, the princes of the people brought an offering of six carts and 12 oxen.  Numbers 7:4-9 reads, "Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ⁵ "Accept these from them, that they may be used in doing the work of the tabernacle of meeting; and you shall give them to the Levites, to every man according to his service." ⁶ So Moses took the carts and the oxen, and gave them to the Levites. ⁷ Two carts and four oxen he gave to the sons of Gershon, according to their service; ⁸ and four carts and eight oxen he gave to the sons of Merari, according to their service, under the authority of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. ⁹ But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because theirs was the service of the holy things, which they carried on their shoulders."  Moses distributed the oxen and carts to the Levites to help them in their service unto the LORD.  Though true Levites, the sons of Kohath were not given carts.  Their role was to carry the holy things of God upon their own shoulders.

The special role of the Kohathites is explained in detail in Numbers 4:1-20.  Their privileged responsibility was to carry the most holy articles in the tabernacle when it was moved.  The high priests and his sons were to cover the ark of the Covenant, table of showbread, lampstand, altar of incense, and all the instruments used in the service of God.  The coverings of skin and cloth was for their protection.  Things they were not permitted even to look upon they could carry when properly prepared.  Once covered, the sons of Kohath were tasked to carry these items directed by the high priest as commanded in Numbers 4:15:  "And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation."  They were not to place any of the most holy things on a cart but to be carried on their shoulders.  The most holy things were not to be treated as bricks, lumber, grain, or goods for trade:  they were specially designed and made for use in the worship of God and should be treated as ordained by God.

What I find particularly special is the connection between the duties of the Kohathites and that of the high priest.  Though the high priest was granted carts to be used by his authority, he was called to bear the names of the tribes of Israel on his shoulders before the LORD.  Exodus 28:12 states, "And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD on his two shoulders as a memorial."  Even the Messiah revealed as Jesus Christ, both King and High Priest, would bear the government on His shoulders.  It was prophesied in Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  There are some burdens and responsibilities God has ordained men to carry in a particular manner, and this is even true concerning the Messiah.

A personal application for bearing burdens ordained by God is found in Galatians 6:2-5:  "Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴ But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. ⁵ For each one shall bear his own load."  In ministering unto the LORD, we find ourselves with a weight of responsibility.  We can succumb to the temptation of putting the ark of God on a cart as a common thing, to try to lighten our load in ways contrary to God's plan.  We are called as one body to bear one another's burdens, but we are also called to carry our own load.  Fatigue and burnout comes from the neglect of our responsibility before God to carry our divinely prescribed burden or trying to carry things for ourselves or others in a way God has not permitted.  We are not to look at other people using "carts" and wish we might have a reprieve from our responsibilities before God, but to examine our own work.  Ask yourself:  am I faithfully carrying the thing God has called me to do?  Am I taking shortcuts or shifting my duty onto the shoulders of others?  Am I doing the right thing in the right way?

God did not load the Kohathites with unnecessary burdens, nor give them an impossible task.  They were to submit to the guidance of the high priest and do as they were told.  It is the same with every Christian, for Jesus is our High Priest.  He has provided us wisdom and guidance through His Word and the Holy Spirit.  We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us.  Ensure every burden you carry has been first covered by Jesus and divinely distributed for you to shoulder in obedience.  We will find ourselves strangely, amazingly helped and able to endure.  Let us rejoice in the privileged duties with which God has tasked us, for even as we bear burdens on our shoulders our King and High Priest bears us upon His.

Meeting God's Conditions

"If I keep drinking, I'm going to die."  The wide eyes of the heavily tattooed man stared unflinching into mine.  "I have to get clean.  I'll do anything."  This man had walked into the church minutes before, asking to speak with a pastor.  That's one thing about serving the LORD:  you never know who He will bring across your path or what unexpected thing He might call you to do.

"If you're serious, I know of a place which can help you get clean," I told him.  "Let me warn you though:  it is a very intensive program which requires total commitment.  It is a free program, but you have to commit to a year of staying clean, working your way towards a job and renting your own place, and Bible study."  I didn't want to waste the man's time or the time of the people at Set Free, as it was called at that time.  I spent a few moments explaining my basic understanding of what was offered and requirements my visitor would be subjected to.  He was keen because in his mind it was a choice between life and death.  He had been recently locked up and didn't have transportation, so I gave him a ride over to the facility because time was of the essence.

Upon arriving, I talked with a pastor I had met before.  After my new friend briefly explained his alcohol addiction and dire situation, the pastor in a friendly manner began to explain the program.  As my friend sparked up a cigarette the pastor said with a smile, "And that's another thing.  You'll have to give up smoking."  All the sudden the demeanor of my friend changed.  He became extremely nervous, almost agitated.  "Man, quit smoking?  I can't do that.  I can't smoke in the program?  I just bought this new pack of cigarettes!"  The discussion continued, and I watched that man begin to work his way through the whole pack, still debating whether the program was for him or not.

I never knew whether my friend ended up entering into the rehabilitation program or not.  It was free to those without money, but it was not without personal cost - a cost that man initially was loathe to pay.  He saw his drinking as a life and death issue, but not his smoking.  What he did not seem to realise was refusal to give up cigarettes would disqualify him from the program which could save his life - so his smoking was just as deadly as his drinking.  Refusal to agree to quit smoking was symptomatic of a spiritual heart problem more deadly than lung cancer.  This shortsightedness is not limited to alcoholics.  We can do the same thing as Christians.  We might recognise sinful problems in our lives and deem some worse than others when they are all linked and equally deadly.  We might want to be rid of an addiction because of the negative impact we perceive in our lives, but other things can also control our hearts and equally distance us from God and fellowship with others.  It is stubborn disobedience and unwillingness to submit to God in our hearts which proves more deadly than actions which are mere symptoms of an inner sickness.

Sin brings death.  It is not alcohol or smoking in themselves which doom a man to hell, but the refusal to confess and repent of sins, choosing to deny self and obey God.  If there is anything in your life which hinders you from coming to Jesus to be forgiven and cleansed, holding onto that thing says you love it more than Life Himself.  Does God have your affections and desire?  Are you willing to do everything He asks without question?  Or is there one little thing you are not yet willing to submit to His rule?  Following Jesus is a life and death decision.  To follow Him is life, and all other ways are death.  Giving up the old life and choosing to follow God in obedience requires faith.  As it is written in Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

Ways and Deeds

In my morning reading I was quite taken with reading Zechariah 1:4, "Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts: "Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds." ' But they did not hear nor heed Me," says the LORD."  God made a distinction between the ways of the people and their doings.  God's people had turned from the Living God, and did not do the things which pleased Him.  Their motives and pattern of life had deviated from God's righteous course, and their deeds were also polluted with greed, selfishness, and pride.  They refused to hear or heed God's voice through the many prophets He sent to them, and by this God was sore displeased.

Here we see the loving and gracious nature of God, who sends His Word as a light illuminating the path to those who willfully stumble in darkness.  Unless God gave me the necessary understanding I could not have known Him or recognised wickedness in my own heart.  God first loved us, and love is not content to sit at a distance when the one He loves hastens to plunge into hell.  Instead of enacting some "mind control" to save us, God through His love appeals to our conscience and reasons with His gracious love.  He does not bombard us with facts though He knows all things, nor does He threaten and bluster to intimidate.  With His still small voice He beckons, and with outstretched arms of love He invites all to come and find rest for our souls.  Now is the time to turn; today is the day of salvation.  God has supplied us life, all that we possess, and the wisdom to live in the highest and best possible manner by which a man experiences the utmost satisfaction for God's glory..

This line of thinking, that our ways and deeds ought to glorify God as we hear and heed Him, is a theme brought forth in another book I am currently reading.  I have been blessed beyond measure by William Law's A Serious Call To A Devout and Holy Life.  Within the pages are vivid illustrations and sound logic reasonable minds cannot ignore.  He concluded chapter 11 with these wise words:

"All that we have, all that we are, all that we enjoy, are only so many talents from God:  if we use them to the ends of a pious and holy life, our five talents will become ten, and our labours will carry us into the joy of our Lord; but if we abuse them to the gratifications of our own passions, sacrificing the gifts of God to our own pride and vanity, we shall live here in vain labours and foolish anxieties, shunning religion as a melancholy thing, accusing our Lord as a hard master, and then fall into everlasting misery.  We may for a while amuse ourselves with names and sounds, and shadows of happiness; we may talk of this or that greatness and dignity; but if we desire real happiness, we have no other possible way to it but by improving our talents, by so holily and piously using the powers and faculties of men in this present state, that we may be happy and glorious in the powers and faculties of Angels in the world to come.  How ignorant, therefore, are they of the nature of religion, of the nature of man, and the nature of God, who think a life of strict piety and devotion to God to be a dull uncomfortable state; when it is so plain and certain that there is neither comfort nor joy to be found in anything else." (Law, William. A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. London: J.M. Dent &;, 1906. 132. Print.)

Pay What You Owe

"Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law."

 Romans 13:8

This verse came to mind this morning during prayer.  Typically we think of being "in debt" relating only to money, but as receivers of God's love every Christian owes God's love to everyone.  In a sense, we have the power to choose to whom we will be in debt.  If I desire a loan of money, there are many banks and lending institutions to choose from.  After securing a loan, I also am faced with the priority and timeliness of payment.  Should money be tight, I could choose to put off payment of the loan because of other expenses I deem more pressing.  Two people can be equally in debt, but the priority of paying off the loan can vary significantly.  Some will make personal sacrifices to pay what is owed quickly, and others put off payment as long as possible until there are serious consequences.  Others secure a high-interest loan to pay off the first and dig themselves a deeper hole still.  Being in debt can become more an exercise of keeping those owed at bay with token payments rather than paying off the amount in full.

As children of the Living God through faith in Christ, it is not a question of resources or ability to render to others what we owe when it concerns love.  God's love is infinite, and the Holy Spirit empowers us to love one another as Jesus has loved us.  We cannot rightly say, "I do not have the capacity or ability to love."  Paul affirmed in 1 Thessalonians 4:9, "But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another..."  Because God teaches us how to love one another, it is not a question of ability but of willingness and priority.  God's Word proclaims we owe love to brothers and sisters in Christ, we owe a debt of love to that stranger on the street.  We owe love even to our enemies!  In case you think I am making this up, here it is from the mouth of Jesus in Matthew 5:43-45:  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

What priority does paying your debt of love to all others have in your life?  If you learned today you owed the government a sum of money for taxes owed, how quickly would you seek to put it right?  We ought to place the greatest priority on the commands of our Saviour, the LORD and Judge of all.  He said in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."  Again in John 15:12, "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."  May God's Word arrest our attention like a subpoena placed in our hands by a officer of the law.  Even as we place great priority on appearing before a court of law when summoned to avoid prosecution and imprisonment, may we respond swiftly and intentionally to the command of Jesus Christ - not out of selfish fear of punishment, but out of a desire to please the God we love.  Let us recognise and affirm today the debt of love we owe to all men.  Galatians 5:13 reminds us, "For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another."  Every day may we make it our priority to pay our debt of love to God and others in full!

The Impressionable Heart

With several ministries in hiatus during the summer holidays, I have enjoyed supplementing my time by reading books by eminent Christian authors.  C.H. Spurgeons "The Sword and the Trowel" is packed with valuable gems easily gathered up by those who seek the wisdom of the ancients.  One printed tract aimed at believers was most useful and thought provoking, an exhortation to seize the opportunity to share Christ when hearts are soft and most receptive to spiritual truth.  Here is a small sampling from the "prince of preachers:"

Quick must be the hand if an impression is to be made upon the wax.  Once let the wax cool and you will press the seal in vain.  Cold and hard it will be in a few moments, therefore let the work be quickly done.  When men's hearts are melted under the preaching of the Word, or by sickness, or the loss of friends, believers should be very eager to stamp the truth upon the prepared mind.  Such opportunities are to be seized with holy eagerness.  Reader, do you know of such?  If you be a lover of the Lord Jesus hasten with the seal before the wax is cold.  Perhaps, dear reader, you are yourself unsaved; then look at the woodcut, and remember that such is your life.  It is like the flame upon the stick of wax, and your soul is like the wax which drops upon the envelope, capable of receiving an impression while you are alive, but soon hardened and made unalterable by the cold breath of death.  If the stamp of eternal life is to be set upon your soul it must be now, for when once this life is over change is impossible. (Spurgeon, C. H. C.H. Spurgeon's Works as Published in His Monthly Magazine The Sword and the Trowel. Vol. 1. Pasadena, Tex.: Pilgrim Publications, 1975. 204. Print)

How important it is to take Spurgeon's exhortation to heart for ourselves.  How often have our hearts been warmed with holy zeal but quickly cooled in the face of opposition or doubts?  How many times have we opened the scriptures and no impression was made upon us by God's Word, though written with iron pen and a tip of diamond?  Our cold hearts can be as frozen earth, impregnable by the good seed.  There is great need in all God's people to be baptised with the Holy Spirit and with fire through faith in Christ, otherwise our hearts will be hard and unyielding to Gospel truth.  When God opens our eyes to softness and receptivity in others let us seize the opportunity.  But let us not despair and withhold God's truth even from those we imagine carry in their bosoms a dead hearts of stone, for God is able to raise up children of Abraham from stones if need be.  May we long for soft hearts melted by God's grace and love, having been sealed with the Holy Spirit.

The heat of the flame melts wax only in close proximity.  A flame even inches away from the candle will have no effect upon it.  Once the wick is lit, however, the direct heat from the flame begins to melt the candle.  We may look upon Christ with awe at a distance, even delighting in the Light of the world.  Our great need is to cultivate the presence of God, communing with the Almighty God in worship through faithfully following Him, seeking Him, and obeying His counsel.  Only then will we enjoy the unbroken fellowship with God's presence He intends and have cultivated within us soft hearts which perceive His still small voice and are empowered to walk accordingly.  Let us not remain at a distance when Jesus has drawn near to each one of us.

Burden Removed, Yoke Broken

This morning I preached on Isaiah 10, a passage of warning and consolation for God's people.  I was particularly struck with God's promise to His people in Isaiah 10:27:  "It shall come to pass in that day that his burden will be taken away from your shoulder, and his yoke from your neck, and the yoke will be destroyed because of the anointing oil."  The king of Judah and his people looked to Assyria and not to God to deliver them, and in doing so dictated their own means of correction.  God would use the Assyrian nation as a rod in His hand to discipline His children, for those whom God loves He corrects.  Though chastening would involve pain and difficulty, ultimately God would redeem and deliver His people from those who oppressed them.

God had set His people free, yet they chose a life of bondage through rebellion from God.  They made for themselves a yoke of iron (Deut. 28:48), yet the Almighty God of grace promised to remove and break their yoke.  The passage explains the burden and yoke would be taken away and destroyed "because of the anointing oil."  The Law commanded the Jews to anoint the tabernacle, vessels, and the priests with oil to sanctify, to consecrate all for God's ordained purposes.  It signified cleansing, a separation from the ordinary world and unto God for His service.  Because God had sanctified the nation of Israel unto Himself, in due time He would remove and destroy their yoke.  For those who are born again and anointed with the Holy Spirit, this scripture provides great comfort for us.  He have been justified and sanctified through faith in Christ.  There is no burden too heavy to be cast upon Christ, and no yoke too great for God to remove and break forever.

Like the children of Israel, sometimes we choose burdens and yokes for ourselves through rebellion and idolatry.  It can take a season of suffering before we realise the folly of our sinful choices.  In reaping the bitter fruit of fleshly living we grow weary and long for a reprieve.  Our motive can be one more of escape than seeking refuge in God!  We can come to the point of giving our cares, addiction, depression, and worries to God - only to find they have a grip on us we cannot shake no matter what we do.  Perhaps we also carry a sense of entitlement, thinking we have done all that is necessary to remove the cursed yoke which holds us fast.  We have repented, refused to harbour any affection for the rebellion we once longed for, and frankly hate the thing.  But the powerful grip holds us fast and we wonder:  what must we still do?  The truth is, we cannot lift or break yokes.  Only Jesus Christ can do that!  Our call is to repent, trust God and His promises, and humbly rely upon God to remove and break the yoke once and for all.  It is not a call to passivity, but to recognise our desperate need to seek God, praise Him despite the pain, and trust He is working all for His good, redemptive purposes.  As Corrie Ten Boom said, "It is not try but trust; it is not do but done."

Take heart burdened soul!  As in Bunyan's Pilgrim, when we bow our knees and hearts before the cross of Christ our burden falls from our shoulders.  The knots are too tight for our fingers to loose, and the cords too strong for the knife of the efforts of the flesh to slice through.  Repentance, praise, worship, and simple trust in God turns our eyes towards Jesus as Saviour and Deliverer.  When our hearts are brought to a place of willingness to happily bear a yoke as long as God wants for His purposes, we find a freedom and joy the natural man through effort cannot know.  It is willingness to take Christ's yoke upon us which shatters all other yokes.  Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Come to Jesus and choose to find rest in Him alone.  Simple trust causes a man to receive of God's grace no amount of struggle can earn.

Why Me?

Last night the boys and I sat down to watch Marvel's "Captain America" starring Chris Evans.  In the film, Steven Rogers is a scrawny, sickly man with a courageous heart of gold.  He was chosen from a field of more physically eligible specimens by scientist Dr. Abraham Erskine to be the first subject for an experiment which could change the course of World War 2.  On the eve of the experiment, Dr. Erskine met with Steven for a drink.  Steven humbly asked one question of the doctor:  "Why me?"  He had been deemed unworthy so many times before he wondered what he possibly could have done to deserve such an opportunity, never dreaming he would become "Captain America."  His perspective throughout the film consistently placed others before himself.

"Why me?" isn't a question reserved for Hollywood productions.  It's likely a question we have felt more often then we vocalised.  When I worked in the shipyard, my work mates told me about a guy they nicknamed "Why Me?" because that was his response whenever tasked to do a job.  It seems to me this question was not motivated by humility, but self focus.  "Why Me?" always felt like he had drawn the short straw, and based upon his self-proclaimed skills and seniority surely he deserved better treatment!  There are therefore at least two ways to ask, "Why me?"  As I watched Captain America throw his shield around and beat up bad guys, my mind kept going back to the question he asked when he was scrawny Steve.  He was utterly unworthy, and he freely recognised this fact.  He was therefore able to appreciate the gift of strength and ability like few others.

Steve's question echoed that of David concerning his God.  David wrote in Psalm 8:4, "What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?"  In a sense David mused, "God you are so mighty and powerful - why us?  Why would you even care?"  Gideon also had this same perspective of God and his unworthiness.  After the LORD revealed Gideon was the one He had chosen to deliver the Hebrews from the Midianites, Gideon said in Judges 6:15, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house."  Gideon wondered, "Why me?  How could I save Israel?"  On the other side of the coin, we have Cain, the selfish, unrepentant murderer of his brother Abel.  When God confronted Cain, he denied knowledge of where his brother was!  Upon hearing of his punishment for his crimes, he said in Genesis 4:13, "My punishment is greater than I can bear!"  Another "me" centred person in scripture is Esau.  After Esau's birthright and blessing went to his younger twin Jacob, he wept with tears:  "Bless me also!"  All the while the desire to murder his brother festered in his heart.

The heart with which we ask the question to God "Why me?" says something about our spiritual condition before Him.  Those with humility place their emphasis on "WHY" and those who remain unrepentant in pride emphasise "ME!"  God is not averse to answering "why" questioned grounded in faith in Him, but He also knows those focused on "me" will not receive His answer.  He cast pearls of wisdom before those who will only trample it underfoot.  How do you ask the question?  We are all unworthy of God's love and blessings.  The answer to that question cannot be based in me or anything men have done, but solely due to God's greatness and goodness.  Every blessing is of grace, and praise Him for being so mindful of us!

Who Is The Sacrifice?

The scripture is packed with priceless gems, relevant and true to this day.  The Law gives us insightful glimpses of realities enjoyed under the New Covenant through Jesus Christ.  One instance is seen in Leviticus 6:12-13:  "And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. ¹³ A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out."  One role of the high priest and his sons was to stoke the fire of the altar so it burned perpetually, a fire sparked by the divine presence of God Himself.  In addition to the morning and evening offerings, the people brought free-will offerings, tithes, and sacrifices for atonement.

Here is the point:  God provided the fire, the priests stoked the flames with fuel, and the people brought the animals for sacrifice.  When a person repents and chooses to place their faith in Jesus Christ for atonement and eternal salvation, God sends the Holy Spirit to indwell us even as pure oil was placed within the candlesticks in the Holy Place.  Jesus is our High Priest, and we have been made kings and priests unto God (Rev. 1:6).  God supplies the fire, Jesus stokes the flames, and we are called to bring the sacrifice.  Written to Christians Romans 12:1 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."  Jesus is the Lamb of God supplied to atone for the sins of the world, and we are to present ourselves humbly to receive His life, light, and sustaining power.  This is an intentional act prompted by love and sincere desire.

No one ends up on top of a burning altar accidentally.  Isaac submitted to being bound by Abraham and laid atop an altar, and his will was laid down before his father.  He noticed there was fire and wood, but questioned where the offering would be found?  Even as Isaac's life was spared by the God who searches the hearts and minds of all men and a substitute ram supplied, Jesus was sent as the Lamb of God.  As He lived we are to follow His example of self-sacrifice.  There is no one more "on fire" for the glory of God than Jesus, and the same Spirit who empowered Him dwells within us!  No one need suffer burnout when it is God who supplies both fire and fuel.  We are burned out when we are no longer willing to climb up on that altar in faith and obedience, at every opportunity presenting ourselves as living sacrifices unto God as we ought.

Allow me to conclude with a passage I was challenged with this morning written by William Law in his book A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life:  "Here, therefore, let us judge ourselves sincerely; let us not vainly content ourselves with the common folly of our diversions, the pride of our habits, the idleness of our lives, and the wasting of our time, fancying that these are such imperfections as we fall into through the unavoidable weakness and frailty of our natures; but let us be assured, that these disorders of our common life are owing to this, that we have not so much Christianity as to intend to please God in all the actions of our life, as the best and happiest thing in the world.  So that we must not look upon ourselves in a state of common and pardonable imperfection, but in such a state as wants the first and most fundamental principle of Christianity, viz., an intention to please God in all our actions...the reason why you see no real mortification of self-denial, no eminent charity, no profound humility, no heavenly affection, no true contempt of the world, no Christian meekness, no sincere zeal, no eminent piety in the common lives of Christians, is this, because they do not so much as intend to exact and exemplary in these virtues." (Law, William. A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life. [3rd ed.] London: J.M. Dent, 1902. 18-19. Print.)

The Pure Source

James 3:11-12 puts forth rhetorical questions:  "Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh."  God is holy, pure, and righteous, yet that does not mean all those who believe in Him will always reflect His perfect attributes.  Springs of water gush pure from their subterranean sources and grow increasingly muddy and fouled as they flow.  The point James was making is a spring is either salty or fresh, not both.  A fig tree cannot bear olives because by nature it is a fig tree.

In a similar way, the outward behaviour and speech of a person indicates their inner nature.  A person whose speech is salted with cursing ought not imagine themselves to be pure in heart.  From a biblical perspective, none are pure or perfect before God because of sin.  We are all corrupted and are also corruptors.  The selfish nature and tendencies of men are as base and depraved as they have ever been.  But even as a caterpillar through metamorphosis transforms into a moth or butterfly capable of flight, so God is able to transform men - not through the outer keeping of a Law, but through an inner change by being born again through faith in Christ.  For all those who have been born again, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit for our thoughts, words, and deeds to display in greater degree the purity and goodness of God who now lives in us.

During my recent trip to Tasmania, I had many silent walks along beautiful paths and streams.  There were plenty of opportunities to consider explanations given by our guides and zoologists.  "Evolution" was often credited for the unique "adaptations" seen among many native Australian animals.  What I find very interesting is Darwinian Evolution is not held in high regard by many of the great scientific minds of today.  His musings and theories seemed bizarre to people in his day and in many cases have been disproved without question.  But in the case of evolution, people have been fine to throw out the details and keep the basic structure, the concept that slowly over time natural processes led to slight, successive changes which explains the diversity of animal life we see today - without the need for a Creator.  Darwin's theory has led to countless other theories, and new discoveries prove without a doubt it is not a foundation worthy to build upon.

That is one thing I love about God:  He does not change.  He is an everlasting, worthy foundation who is more solid than the planet underfoot.  His truth endures for all time and before Him every knee will bow.  Water can be filthy and polluted, but God is always absolutely pure and righteous.  Men have their reasons to deny the truth, yet God has revealed Himself for all who have eyes to see and ears to hear.  The unchanging I AM is my God - yes, I worship a God - THE God, the Creator of heaven and earth.  He is the pure, inexhaustible source of true wisdom.  I love Him because He first loved me.  May His love be revealed through me for His glory with increasingly purity.

Holiday in Tasmania

As my lack of recent posting may suggest, I have been away from my desk for a week.  My family and I enjoyed a holiday in Tasmania.  We were blessed with uncharacteristically warm and dry weather during our stay.  As I walked through the beautiful country, I found it impossible to fathom how a person could give glory to dead men who cut a path through a living forest, yet not glorify the God who created the forest and all the animals therein!  Hope you enjoy a sampling of photos!

The oldest bridge in Australia is still in use in Richmond.

The old church at Port Arthur

Scenic view at Donaghys lookout

Dove lake with Cradle Mountain

 

Binalong Bay

The memorial carvings at Legerwood

Montezuma Falls

St. Clair lake

 You know I had to include one of these little devils from Nature World...

Merciful and Mighty

During a night of prayer and praise we enjoyed recently at Calvary Chapel Sydney, we sang the famous hymn "Holy Holy Holy" by Heber and Dykes.  A line in the song stood out to me powerfully in a fresh way, affirming God is merciful and mighty.  These characteristics are in no way contradictory, but from a worldly perspective the two rarely coincide.  To be merciful is not viewed as mighty, and the mighty do not need to be merciful.  Yet the mercy and might of the Almighty God is praiseworthy, and I relish this constant reality of God's eternal nature.

Psalm 103:8 says, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy."  God does not only show mercy, but He is merciful.  To be merciful is to be compassionate and kind, especially when there is ample justification to be otherwise.  The Webster's 1828 edition Dictionary defines "merciful" as, "having or exercising mercy; compassionate; tender; disposed to pity offenders and to forgive their offenses; unwilling to punish for injuries; applied appropriately to the Supreme being."  Though God is absolutely just, the psalmist affirmed concerning God in Psalm 103:9-11, "He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. ¹⁰ He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. ¹¹ For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him."  God's mercy should not be incorrectly interpreted as weakness or indifference.  He is full of mercy, but He is also mighty.

Because God is Almighty He is also merciful.  There is great power demonstrated in restraint and self-control as well as by the righteous execution of justice.  Concerning their enemies, Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 7:21, "Thou shalt not be affrighted at them: for the LORD thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible." The psalmist Asaph also sang in Psalm 50:1-4: "The Mighty One, God the LORD, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down. ² Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth. ³ Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. ⁴ He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people."  To be "mighty" has the connotation of strength, power, vastness and greatness.  God is mighty and nothing He has created has the right even to question Him, even as a clay vessel cannot rightly question the potter who formed it.

God is merciful and mighty, and I love these attributes of God like the countless others revealed through scripture and His wondrous works.  One who loves God cannot accept His mercy without affirming His might.  His might magnifies His mercy towards sinful men.  He has not dealt with us according to our transgressions, though ultimately He will.  All who die in their sins without atonement will be judged according to to perfect law, and the wages of sin is death.  His might is seen both in restraint and judgment, and is to be greatly feared.  His mercy should not overshadow His might, and His might will never trample His mercy.  Holy, holy, holy is the LORD God Almighty!