I enjoy a very occasional game of golf from time to time. I would rather be playing golf than watching it on T.V. But when the PGA televises the Masters hosted at Augusta National in the spring, I always tune in if I can. There is no course more historic or well-designed in my opinion, nor a course more immaculately manicured. It seems almost every hole on the course comes with a nickname and a slice of history. For whatever reason, the hole placements and difficulty of the course brings out the best in golfers seeking the most-coveted of all major PGA championships. What is the prize these men compete for besides the purse money? A green jacket. When Phil Mickelson won his first, he admitted later he slept in the green jacket that night.
Here is a snippet from a Wikipedia post concerning the green jacket: "The green sport coat is the official attire worn by members of Augusta National while on the club grounds; each Masters winner becomes an honorary member of the club. Winners keep their jacket for the first year after their first victory, then return it to the club to wear whenever they visit...The green jacket is only allowed to be removed from Augusta National by the reigning champion, after which it must remain at the club."
This reminds me of 1 Cor. 9:24-27: "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. [25] And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. [26] Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. [27] But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified." No one just "happens" into a green jacket. Years of hard work, dedication, and expense goes into the earning of that green jacket. The Augusta National club does not just give those away. It is a highly-exclusive club, and there is no application process to become a member: it is by invitation only. One must qualify to play in the Masters, and only past winners have an automatic invitation extended to them the following year. At the end of all that hard work there awaits a green jacket, a jacket that over time will grow old, faded, and likely too small! Even if a man is buried in a green jacket, he will never get the satisfaction or status he received during life. It is a perishable crown. It is glory which fades and passes away.
If a man can discipline himself to wake up every morning and hit golf galls for the unlikely hope of a green jacket which he will only enjoy for a season, how much more should we strive for mastery of walking humbly, righteously, and godly in this present age - we who have been offered the exceedingly precious promises of God! 1 Peter 1:3-4 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you..." God has granted us this assurance through His own Son. Paul brought his body under submission, denying himself so God might have all the glory. He was not uncertain in his preparation and execution: he knew the will of God and did all in his physical power to achieve it. He lived a life fully committed to God in every aspect. We do not labor to obtain this crown, but are motivated by love of God for His wonderful gifts freely bestowed upon his children.
Only one person every year is awarded a green jacket as Master's Champion at Augusta National. God is exclusive in another way. The Gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation through His shed blood is available to all people. You do not need to be a world-class golfer to qualify. Though any can respond to this gift of salvation through faith, there is only one way to receive: Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes onto the Father but through Him. There are many cheap and expensive imitations, many options have been offered as substitutes, but there is only one way to heaven. The Way is exclusive, and that Way is Jesus. He is the Door to enter into God's heavenly sheepfold. Let us labor so hard according to God's grace that people might think we are working to earn heaven, though entrance to heaven is gained only through resting in Christ's finished work. No one should work harder at pleasing God than His own children.
10 April 2010
08 April 2010
What God Says, Speak!
For our family reading tonight after dinner, we read II Chronicles 18. King Jehoshaphat of Judah asked King Ahab of Israel to inquire of the LORD before a battle at Ramoth-Gilead. King Ahab had 400 "prophets" who were "yes" men. They always encouraged the king to do whatever he wanted. When Jehoshaphat heard these men speak he said, "Isn't there a real prophet of God we could speak to?" These men had props to illustrate their points, and were all in agreement. Could they possibly all be wrong? King Jehoshaphat was a godly king who sought the LORD and delighted to walk in His ways. He recognized they operated according to another spirit - a lying spirit who the true prophet Micaiah later revealed.
I admire men like Micaiah. He was told by King Ahab's messenger in so many words, "Alright Micaiah. All the prophets - and I mean all 400 of them - are all in agreement and speak well of the king's plans. Why can't you just agree with them? Please just go along with whatever they say." Micaiah's response is found in 2 Chron. 18:13: "As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak." This sets the bar very high. Forget "What Would Jesus Do:" how about "Say Whatever God Says!" James says that the tongue is a world of iniquity, full of deadly poison, and is set aflame by the fires of hell. He says in James 3:2, "...If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." Micaiah was not a perfect man, being born into sin. But he was a man who would speak whatever God spoke. He didn't just say what he thought needed to be said: he was a man who knew God and spoke His truth. Micaiah was not afraid of what King Ahab might think or do. He served God and sought to please Him.
The man who will speak fearlessly for God will be granted insights into God Himself. God is not seeking for the most creative, flashy, bold, or eloquent person to speak on His behalf. Listen to the testimony of Micaiah in 2 Chron. 18:18: "Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left." While Zedekiah pranced around with iron horns he had made promising great victory, Micaiah saw a vision of the heavenly realm. Who would you rather listen to? From whom would you expect the truth? After proclaiming the word of the LORD, Micaiah was arrested, placed in a prison, and fed with the food and water of affliction. I am confident that although he faced dreadful conditions, he was a man who had peace with God. God comforted Him in way that good food, a soft pillow, and a comfortable spot on the couch never could. God gave Micaiah rest for his soul. He was one of those referenced at the end of Hebrews 11 in the "Hall of Faith," a man whom through faith subdued lies, deceit, and wickedness. Of godly men such as these the world is not worthy, for they have found grace and a good report in God's sight.
As a preacher I must constantly affirm it is for God that I speak. I do not speak because I have truths hidden from the foundations of the world or I have thoughts which reach from the deepest depths to the highest heaven. I must never seek the accolades or praise of men. Instead, I must speak as God speaks, proclaiming boldly the words He has put in my mouth. I freely confess to you this is something I cannot do. I am a man: I want to be liked, I desire to be accepted. But because of the Holy Spirit who has filled, teaches, and guides me, He gives me strength to speak the truth motivated by love. It is very easy to say what everyone wants to hear. I praise God Jesus did not do that! I'm so thankful He didn't tell me that deep down I'm really a good person, and God wants to make me happy. I would be headed for hell without hope or knowledge of my certain destruction. His Word tells me there is none righteous, no not one. He also says the wages of sin is death. But if I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Jesus has ascended to heaven and is currently preparing a place for me and all who repent and trust in Him. I will never be separated from Him or His love for me.
Sometimes we have this idea that when we speak the truth we must be hard, gruff, and unfeeling. This is far from accurate. Jesus was a man who often spoke with tears in His eyes. I shouldn't wonder if Micaiah shed many tears over King Ahab and those false prophets, the blind leading the blind. A man who is close to God is profoundly affected by His love for all people, and that love is seen in every believer. Jesus has commanded we love others as He has loved us. Jesus wasn't interested in winning arguments or screaming matches. His primary focus was not on showing people how right He was and how wrong they were. He was pleading for the salvation of souls. He wept over Jerusalem in Luke 19:42 "saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." Again He lamented in Matthew 23:37: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"
If you will make Jesus your LORD and Messiah, a product of this relationship is He will grant you truth to share with the world. In His strength you will overcome! May we speak as He speaks and love as He loves. He is alive and unfailing. Let us resolve to speak righteously in the right manner.
I admire men like Micaiah. He was told by King Ahab's messenger in so many words, "Alright Micaiah. All the prophets - and I mean all 400 of them - are all in agreement and speak well of the king's plans. Why can't you just agree with them? Please just go along with whatever they say." Micaiah's response is found in 2 Chron. 18:13: "As the Lord lives, whatever my God says, that I will speak." This sets the bar very high. Forget "What Would Jesus Do:" how about "Say Whatever God Says!" James says that the tongue is a world of iniquity, full of deadly poison, and is set aflame by the fires of hell. He says in James 3:2, "...If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." Micaiah was not a perfect man, being born into sin. But he was a man who would speak whatever God spoke. He didn't just say what he thought needed to be said: he was a man who knew God and spoke His truth. Micaiah was not afraid of what King Ahab might think or do. He served God and sought to please Him.
The man who will speak fearlessly for God will be granted insights into God Himself. God is not seeking for the most creative, flashy, bold, or eloquent person to speak on His behalf. Listen to the testimony of Micaiah in 2 Chron. 18:18: "Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing on His right hand and His left." While Zedekiah pranced around with iron horns he had made promising great victory, Micaiah saw a vision of the heavenly realm. Who would you rather listen to? From whom would you expect the truth? After proclaiming the word of the LORD, Micaiah was arrested, placed in a prison, and fed with the food and water of affliction. I am confident that although he faced dreadful conditions, he was a man who had peace with God. God comforted Him in way that good food, a soft pillow, and a comfortable spot on the couch never could. God gave Micaiah rest for his soul. He was one of those referenced at the end of Hebrews 11 in the "Hall of Faith," a man whom through faith subdued lies, deceit, and wickedness. Of godly men such as these the world is not worthy, for they have found grace and a good report in God's sight.
As a preacher I must constantly affirm it is for God that I speak. I do not speak because I have truths hidden from the foundations of the world or I have thoughts which reach from the deepest depths to the highest heaven. I must never seek the accolades or praise of men. Instead, I must speak as God speaks, proclaiming boldly the words He has put in my mouth. I freely confess to you this is something I cannot do. I am a man: I want to be liked, I desire to be accepted. But because of the Holy Spirit who has filled, teaches, and guides me, He gives me strength to speak the truth motivated by love. It is very easy to say what everyone wants to hear. I praise God Jesus did not do that! I'm so thankful He didn't tell me that deep down I'm really a good person, and God wants to make me happy. I would be headed for hell without hope or knowledge of my certain destruction. His Word tells me there is none righteous, no not one. He also says the wages of sin is death. But if I confess my sins, He is faithful and just to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Jesus has ascended to heaven and is currently preparing a place for me and all who repent and trust in Him. I will never be separated from Him or His love for me.
Sometimes we have this idea that when we speak the truth we must be hard, gruff, and unfeeling. This is far from accurate. Jesus was a man who often spoke with tears in His eyes. I shouldn't wonder if Micaiah shed many tears over King Ahab and those false prophets, the blind leading the blind. A man who is close to God is profoundly affected by His love for all people, and that love is seen in every believer. Jesus has commanded we love others as He has loved us. Jesus wasn't interested in winning arguments or screaming matches. His primary focus was not on showing people how right He was and how wrong they were. He was pleading for the salvation of souls. He wept over Jerusalem in Luke 19:42 "saying, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes." Again He lamented in Matthew 23:37: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!"
If you will make Jesus your LORD and Messiah, a product of this relationship is He will grant you truth to share with the world. In His strength you will overcome! May we speak as He speaks and love as He loves. He is alive and unfailing. Let us resolve to speak righteously in the right manner.
06 April 2010
God Willing!
In exactly a week's time, God willing Laura and I will be boarding a plane in the San Diego commuter terminal for Los Angeles. After a short wait, a non-stop 14 hour flight to Sydney awaits us. When I consider the short trip Laura and I are taking, the wise words of James 4:13-15 ring in my mind: "Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; [14] whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. [15] Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." I do not know what tomorrow holds, but if the LORD wills we shall embark on trip to Australia according to the will of God.
Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." God has the ultimate say for the future of my family and me. Laura and I were convinced our ministry at Calvary Chapel El Cajon was fulfilled, so I resigned from my position last September and went on a two-month excursion to many of the major cities on the east of Australia. Upon arriving home, within a day I was offered a great job in a tough construction market. We felt led to put our house on the market and it sold within two days, only to have the buyers back out. We wholeheartedly desired God's timing and will to be performed and decided it would be good to fix a few cosmetic things and put the house back on the market. To our amazement, interest in the house was so strong that we were offered just above our asking price while being withdrawn from the market! It was as if God was saying, "No, this is the right time. I'm in control, I'm in charge, and this is all by my design." I have also been graciously offered the opportunity to preach in Calvary Chapel Sydney on two Sundays, and God-willing will redeem the time to hold forth God's Word.
In reading Isobel Kuhn's book "In the Arena," she said that an important part in the life of a missionary is to prepare for the moment when God's call comes. So often she and her husband did not know when, where, or how God would call, but they prepared best they could. The removed as many potential obstacles so when the call came, they were ready to answer with action. By His grace, God has allowed us to do just that. When escrow closes (God willing!) next Tuesday or before, the final obstacle will have been removed. Do we have permanent visas? No. Will I have a paying job or a particular ministry? Don't know. Do we know where we will be living? No. Do we know how we will obtain the support needed to survive? No. But we would be foolish to abandon the God who has purposefully, graciously, and masterfully brought us to this point in time.
All that we do not know is nothing compared to the One we DO know. If you were to corral all the doubts, unknowns, and obstacles together, they would not be a grain of sand in contrast to the omnipotent God I serve. The breadth of one finger of my God spans the universe, and His power is without limit. God seeks men to rely upon Him for an everlasting future and hope. The first part of 2 Chron. 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." If God is eternal, will not He accomplish what concerns me today? God seeks to show Himself strong - not just to me alone, but to the world. May this step of faith be a spectacle for the glory of God for all future generations to behold that God may receive all praise. May all say, "What a powerful, glorious, and wonderful God who would do such things!"
Proverbs 16:9 says, "A man's heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." God has the ultimate say for the future of my family and me. Laura and I were convinced our ministry at Calvary Chapel El Cajon was fulfilled, so I resigned from my position last September and went on a two-month excursion to many of the major cities on the east of Australia. Upon arriving home, within a day I was offered a great job in a tough construction market. We felt led to put our house on the market and it sold within two days, only to have the buyers back out. We wholeheartedly desired God's timing and will to be performed and decided it would be good to fix a few cosmetic things and put the house back on the market. To our amazement, interest in the house was so strong that we were offered just above our asking price while being withdrawn from the market! It was as if God was saying, "No, this is the right time. I'm in control, I'm in charge, and this is all by my design." I have also been graciously offered the opportunity to preach in Calvary Chapel Sydney on two Sundays, and God-willing will redeem the time to hold forth God's Word.
In reading Isobel Kuhn's book "In the Arena," she said that an important part in the life of a missionary is to prepare for the moment when God's call comes. So often she and her husband did not know when, where, or how God would call, but they prepared best they could. The removed as many potential obstacles so when the call came, they were ready to answer with action. By His grace, God has allowed us to do just that. When escrow closes (God willing!) next Tuesday or before, the final obstacle will have been removed. Do we have permanent visas? No. Will I have a paying job or a particular ministry? Don't know. Do we know where we will be living? No. Do we know how we will obtain the support needed to survive? No. But we would be foolish to abandon the God who has purposefully, graciously, and masterfully brought us to this point in time.
All that we do not know is nothing compared to the One we DO know. If you were to corral all the doubts, unknowns, and obstacles together, they would not be a grain of sand in contrast to the omnipotent God I serve. The breadth of one finger of my God spans the universe, and His power is without limit. God seeks men to rely upon Him for an everlasting future and hope. The first part of 2 Chron. 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him." If God is eternal, will not He accomplish what concerns me today? God seeks to show Himself strong - not just to me alone, but to the world. May this step of faith be a spectacle for the glory of God for all future generations to behold that God may receive all praise. May all say, "What a powerful, glorious, and wonderful God who would do such things!"
04 April 2010
What if...
While I was working through the list of repairs I agreed to perform on my house before escrow closes on April 13th, I thought about all the time, effort, and money I poured into the house since the day Laura and I bought it. Little was left undone: both bathrooms and kitchen gutted and replaced, all new flooring, lighting, doors, some windows, retaining walls, fences, cabinets, driveway, electrical service change, on and on.
The thought occurred to me: how much richer a man would I be if I had invested such time and energy pursuing relationships with people? Where would I be now if I had used those tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours blessing others in the name of Jesus? It's ironic, but the financial gain from that house will assist our family to embrace the call God has placed upon our lives to serve Him in Australia. It is hard to pour so much into a home and sell it, just like it is hard to lay down a ministry when it is fulfilled. But by God's grace we have seen the beginnings of the fruit of our labor with these eyes and rejoice in God's provision.
If we are never challenged we will likely never be changed. Only God has the power to make or change a man. How would our lives be enriched if we had a change of perspective? What if instead of waxing our car we took our aged grandparent out for a special meal? What if we chose to pray instead of watching one of the three TV shows we watch every night? What if we took the time to write letters to everyone we love rather than frittering away time chatting with people we don't even know on myspace or facebook? What if instead of snapping at our children when they interrupt us we put down the paper, book, or turn off the computer, and invest time in them doing things they enjoy? I am certain we would be richer for it.
As important as all these relationships are with family and friends, our relationship with God is most critical. He is our Creator, the one who first loved us and gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sin. We will spend eternity with Him, so let us invest now in eternity by cultivating a close relationship with Him now. When I asked a girl to prom I hardly knew, she asked for my number and said, "Since we're going to the prom, we might as well get to know each other." This seemed logical to me. The prom is a single dance on a single night where no real commitment is involved. No big deal, really: I asked a girl to a dance and she agreed. She was not committing more than a single date to me, yet she saw the value of getting to know me before the date of the dance.
When we choose to follow Jesus Christ, we are not agreeing to buy a tux and rent a limo for a single night: we are making the commitment of eternity. Shouldn't we seek to know Him better while on earth? What if we made a real commitment to pour ALL of ourselves into seeking God? God made a promise to His people, even after they were scattered and worshiped idols: Deut. 4:27-29 says, "But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." What if we seek the LORD with all our heart? The answer is here: we will find Him. We will be known by Him, and He shall be known by us. This is worth more than all the houses in the world.
The thought occurred to me: how much richer a man would I be if I had invested such time and energy pursuing relationships with people? Where would I be now if I had used those tens of thousands of dollars and countless hours blessing others in the name of Jesus? It's ironic, but the financial gain from that house will assist our family to embrace the call God has placed upon our lives to serve Him in Australia. It is hard to pour so much into a home and sell it, just like it is hard to lay down a ministry when it is fulfilled. But by God's grace we have seen the beginnings of the fruit of our labor with these eyes and rejoice in God's provision.
If we are never challenged we will likely never be changed. Only God has the power to make or change a man. How would our lives be enriched if we had a change of perspective? What if instead of waxing our car we took our aged grandparent out for a special meal? What if we chose to pray instead of watching one of the three TV shows we watch every night? What if we took the time to write letters to everyone we love rather than frittering away time chatting with people we don't even know on myspace or facebook? What if instead of snapping at our children when they interrupt us we put down the paper, book, or turn off the computer, and invest time in them doing things they enjoy? I am certain we would be richer for it.
As important as all these relationships are with family and friends, our relationship with God is most critical. He is our Creator, the one who first loved us and gave Himself as a sacrifice for our sin. We will spend eternity with Him, so let us invest now in eternity by cultivating a close relationship with Him now. When I asked a girl to prom I hardly knew, she asked for my number and said, "Since we're going to the prom, we might as well get to know each other." This seemed logical to me. The prom is a single dance on a single night where no real commitment is involved. No big deal, really: I asked a girl to a dance and she agreed. She was not committing more than a single date to me, yet she saw the value of getting to know me before the date of the dance.
When we choose to follow Jesus Christ, we are not agreeing to buy a tux and rent a limo for a single night: we are making the commitment of eternity. Shouldn't we seek to know Him better while on earth? What if we made a real commitment to pour ALL of ourselves into seeking God? God made a promise to His people, even after they were scattered and worshiped idols: Deut. 4:27-29 says, "But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul." What if we seek the LORD with all our heart? The answer is here: we will find Him. We will be known by Him, and He shall be known by us. This is worth more than all the houses in the world.
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