I have heard people say there are questions we ask of God which reveal a lack of faith. Only God knows. I have been asking a lot of questions lately. The more we struggle or suffer, the more cause we have to ask God about how all this works together in His plan. When difficulties persist, the only way to persevere is to rest upon the truth and strength of God. Those who live according to their own understanding are like King Saul, whom when the battle pressed against him he chose to fall upon his own sword and end his life. Any question humbly asked of God will not cause our rejection by Him. There is no question off-limits for the contrite seeker, for God has made all things. He is aware of our deep longings, fear, confusion, anger, or uncertainty. It would be better for us to confess everything we know is wrong with us than to quietly ignore our sins and weakness.
Is it a question spawned by lack of faith when we ask God, "Why is this happening?" If a person had no faith or belief in God, I doubt they would seek Him for advice! Did David the king of Israel have faith in God? Yes. Even when he struggled with all manner of trials, his faith in God never wavered. Did he have questions? Absolutely. Did he question the direction God was taking his life. Yes. Listen to his words in Psalm 13:1-32: "How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? [2] How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me?" I have heard people say, and perhaps in my life I also have said that asking "why" God has done or allowed something reveals a lack of faith. Perhaps I had not yet suffered enough! Let us consider Psalm 10:1: "Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble? How about Psalm 22:1? "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning?" Who can forget the words of Jesus on the cross? Jesus asked God the Father "Why have you forsaken me?" Certainly this does not reveal a lack of faith, for Christ had all faith.
Let us put away all pretenses and arrogant piety, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Let us not shy away from who we REALLY are. It is a sad reality that experience in church attending and "Christian" manners are often substituted for true spiritual maturity. There is a pious dishonesty among people who know what is frowned upon in church circles. I once went to a church men's BBQ where someone (probably a friend who was invited) brought a six-pack of beer. The soda went fast, but among twenty or so men no one, not even the man who brought the beer, drank one. Are we so naive to believe among those men there was not one who drinks beer occasionally or even more than occasionally? If you bring a drink to a gathering, I don't see why you wouldn't drink it yourself! But we pull this same nonsense with God when there is cursing and anger in our hearts and we don't confess this before God. People might buy our act, but God doesn't. Yet He is gracious and merciful, knowing our feeble and often deluded frame, and continues to teach us with His masterful, unsearchably wise ways. The Pharisees were no different than any other men, yet their sin was greater before God than the harlots and swindlers because they proclaimed their own righteousness and condemned others.
Sometimes we do things we know are sinful and ought not do, and sometimes we think and feel contrary to the example provided by Christ. Instead of confessing these sins, we try to repress them. We do our best according to the flesh to quash the source of these fleshly tendencies and thus doom ourselves to futility. The only way to overcome the sins of the flesh is to be purified by the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence and power. The sooner we admit and confess how we really are, the sooner we are willing to ask the questions which seem almost irreverent, the sooner we will see ourselves in God's truth. "I know I'm not supposed to fear or doubt, so I'll just ignore those bad thoughts." Too late! We condemn ourselves by our hypocrisy. Even if our questions reveal a lack of faith, are we too ashamed to ask them because we want to keep up appearances of having all faith before God? Doesn't He know our faith is weak? Doesn't He know we are complete failures in ourselves? Yes. It is only when we admit our lack God will supply our need. Ask Him and rejoice in His answers!
04 September 2010
02 September 2010
Infinity Personified
"He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. [5] Great is our Lord, and mighty in power His understanding is infinite."
Psalm 147:4-5
I've been thinking about the magnificence of our God, the Creator of all things. God has made amazing things on earth, but His glory and grandeur displayed in the heavens is beyond words. A song comes to mind: "My God is so big, so strong, and so mighty. There's nothing my God cannot do." The earth is a pretty big place compared to us. Flying about 7,300 miles from Sydney, Australia to Los Angeles, California takes about 12 hours. The airbus I have flown averages around 600 miles per hour. But how does that speed compare to the speed of light? The speed of light (a constant) is 186,000 miles per SECOND, or about 700 million miles per hour. Because our galaxy and space is such a gargantuan place (much too small a word!) a mile is so insignificant we would have to use hundreds of zeros! A "light year" is the distance light travels in a calendar year at 186,000 miles per second, a total of just under 10 trillion kilometers. In fact, the largest measurement used is a "Gly," or gigalight year, which equals one billion light years! A Gly is not even a measurement God would use, because He is infinite!
Our galaxy is one of billions of galaxies in the universe, and is estimated to be about 100,000 light years wide. Scientists estimate there are two to four hundred billion stars in our galaxy alone in a universe of billions of seen galaxies. The deeper we see into space, only greater is the expanse. Below is a picture taken by the Hubble telescope. Take the size of the moon while looking at it from the earth and separate it into thirty tiny parts. This is the view beyond that 1/30th of the moon's relative size as seen from earth - and look at the galaxies! If you want to see more, go to the Hubble website from which this shot was downloaded.
Stretching out farther than the eye can see in every direction, God's creation glimmers and shines. The Milky Way galaxy in which earth resides is not the biggest either - the Abell 2029 galaxy is 6 million light years across with 100 trillion stars! A seven-foot human is considered a giant: how about the God who fashioned the universe? Words cannot adequately describe our God. We are limited in our feeble longings to praise the one from whom all blessings flow. May we with the angels shout, "Glory to God in the Highest! Psalm 19:1-3 says, "The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. [2] Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. [3] There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard." Like David we can echo Psalm 8:3-4, "When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, [4] what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?"
Our God is infinite, absolutely limitless. He is wisdom, power, glory, strength, love, and righteousness without degree. There are many gods people serve, but only one worthy of worship: the Almighty God, Creator, Maker, Sustainer, and Savior of the World, Jesus Christ. Without Him was nothing made that is made. He is our All in All, and may we never forget how blessed we are to have Him as LORD.
31 August 2010
Let Our Light Shine
During a conversation today a co-worker of mine remarked, "It seems like the world is running away from what it really needs." I told him that statement is more true than we can know. The world is on a rampage of rebellion against God. Christians are not called to be highbrow "goody goodies" who stand in judgment of the world. Whoever is of the world has Satan as father, ruler, and master. Those who have been born again through faith in Jesus Christ are now alive to God. One thing that will mark a true believer in Christ is that we no longer walk according to the model of Satan's self-seeking rule. Ephesians 2:1-3 says, "And you He (Christ) made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, [2] in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, [3] among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others."
I saw a Verizon commercial about their new phones accompanied with their new catchphrase: "Rule the Air." It is an ironic phrase, seeing that Satan is called the "prince of the power of the air." I am not suggesting that Verizon is satanic or cell phones are the devil's playground in themselves - though an argument could be made that they can become an idol. With the internet connection, camera, video, texting, movies, live TV, games, calendar, contact lists, e-mail, tweeting, and countless applications, there are many things to distract us from seeking God and heeding His voice. The commercial focuses on the consumer, the Verizon customer who has the ultimate power of telecommunications, not to mention the coveted internet hot spot! It's funny that we can be duped to think that we are the center of the universe! The world trains us to focus on us, our abilities, resources, power, and status. Satan wants us to focus on ourselves so our view of God becomes fuzzy, dim, or even lost. He has the entire world system under his sway as it says in 1 John 5:19: "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one."
Christians are in the world but are not of the world, even as Christ was in the world but not of it. This does not mean that we cannot use the technology of the world. It means that whatever we do, we must do for the glory of God because He is our Master and King. It is not a cell phone that is evil: it draws to the surface the evil rebellion within a teen who texts and chats in secret after his parents tell him to stop. The camera feature is not evil, but it reveals the wickedness in the hearts of those who take lewd photos of unsuspecting women in changing rooms. Satan is all about promoting self. "Do what you will. No one is being hurt, and there's nothing wrong with a little fun." Recognize justification of disobedience as Satan's voice! We are our biggest hindrance to a loving, eternally long relationship with Jesus Christ. We must be born again and be purged from our sins filled with the Holy Spirit. God must open our eyes so we might see.
Instead of mounting frustration over the blindness of the lost and their perversions, let us remember that we were once under the same sway. Let us consider ourselves that we walk above reproach, honoring God with what we do and say. Cultivate compassion by the grace of Jesus Christ so we may become a beacon of the Light of the World that people may live. A lighthouse does not have wheels to chase ships at random. It is planted firmly in the same shore that it may provide light and guidance for the lost or direction for those seeking safe passage. Many Christians are like mobile lighthouses that shine their lights into the equivalent of the eyes of insensible drunks passed out from trying to satisfy the lusts of the flesh. In doing so we are like a man who screams into a tornado, "Shut up!" What will it profit? The tornado will not yield, my voice will be drowned out, and I will likely be swept off my feet! But if we are like Christ - stable, personable, accessible, loving, gentle, compassionate, gracious, and merciful - and carefully build upon the solid foundation of Christ, God will bring searching people naturally to our shores so we might direct them to safe harbor in the everlasting arms of Jesus. The storm may rage but our light can still shine.
No matter how far people may drift, no matter how fast or far the world may run from God, God remains near. Praise God that if we desire Him He will be found by us. If any in the world come to Christ, He will receive them for He has said in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." Instead of living after the world's model, let us follow Jesus. It is He who holds the keys of Hell and Death, and only Jesus has the Words of life.
I saw a Verizon commercial about their new phones accompanied with their new catchphrase: "Rule the Air." It is an ironic phrase, seeing that Satan is called the "prince of the power of the air." I am not suggesting that Verizon is satanic or cell phones are the devil's playground in themselves - though an argument could be made that they can become an idol. With the internet connection, camera, video, texting, movies, live TV, games, calendar, contact lists, e-mail, tweeting, and countless applications, there are many things to distract us from seeking God and heeding His voice. The commercial focuses on the consumer, the Verizon customer who has the ultimate power of telecommunications, not to mention the coveted internet hot spot! It's funny that we can be duped to think that we are the center of the universe! The world trains us to focus on us, our abilities, resources, power, and status. Satan wants us to focus on ourselves so our view of God becomes fuzzy, dim, or even lost. He has the entire world system under his sway as it says in 1 John 5:19: "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one."
Christians are in the world but are not of the world, even as Christ was in the world but not of it. This does not mean that we cannot use the technology of the world. It means that whatever we do, we must do for the glory of God because He is our Master and King. It is not a cell phone that is evil: it draws to the surface the evil rebellion within a teen who texts and chats in secret after his parents tell him to stop. The camera feature is not evil, but it reveals the wickedness in the hearts of those who take lewd photos of unsuspecting women in changing rooms. Satan is all about promoting self. "Do what you will. No one is being hurt, and there's nothing wrong with a little fun." Recognize justification of disobedience as Satan's voice! We are our biggest hindrance to a loving, eternally long relationship with Jesus Christ. We must be born again and be purged from our sins filled with the Holy Spirit. God must open our eyes so we might see.
Instead of mounting frustration over the blindness of the lost and their perversions, let us remember that we were once under the same sway. Let us consider ourselves that we walk above reproach, honoring God with what we do and say. Cultivate compassion by the grace of Jesus Christ so we may become a beacon of the Light of the World that people may live. A lighthouse does not have wheels to chase ships at random. It is planted firmly in the same shore that it may provide light and guidance for the lost or direction for those seeking safe passage. Many Christians are like mobile lighthouses that shine their lights into the equivalent of the eyes of insensible drunks passed out from trying to satisfy the lusts of the flesh. In doing so we are like a man who screams into a tornado, "Shut up!" What will it profit? The tornado will not yield, my voice will be drowned out, and I will likely be swept off my feet! But if we are like Christ - stable, personable, accessible, loving, gentle, compassionate, gracious, and merciful - and carefully build upon the solid foundation of Christ, God will bring searching people naturally to our shores so we might direct them to safe harbor in the everlasting arms of Jesus. The storm may rage but our light can still shine.
No matter how far people may drift, no matter how fast or far the world may run from God, God remains near. Praise God that if we desire Him He will be found by us. If any in the world come to Christ, He will receive them for He has said in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." Instead of living after the world's model, let us follow Jesus. It is He who holds the keys of Hell and Death, and only Jesus has the Words of life.
29 August 2010
All of You
Sometimes I hear "Christianese" which causes me to wonder if we comprehend the doctrines of scripture. A song commonly sung in evangelical circles repeats, "I want more, I want more of you Jesus" and people often pray, "Lord, we need more of you in our lives." A foundational truth of Christianity is that Jesus Christ has become a sacrifice for sin and has risen from the dead so we might be born again through the Holy Spirit's power. When we confess our sins, repent, and trust in Jesus as Savior and LORD, He sends the Holy Spirit without measure who regenerates us and dwells within us. Technically therefore, we have the same Spirit who dwelt in Jesus Christ to the full. We cannot have more of Him because He has given all to us. John 3:34 says, "For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure." We see that we have all of Christ as the song goes, "All of you is more than enough for all of me..."
That being said, there is a measure of truth to the cliche statement about needing more of Christ in our lives. The fact remains that we can limit the work of God in our hearts through disobedience, refusal to yield to the leading of Christ, and obstinately seeking after our own will. This spiritual principle is outlined in Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." If we do not give our all to God, we will not be able to operate in the fullness of the Holy Spirit's power because we hinder our own progress. If we carefully measure out our service or giving unto the LORD, His blessings and empowerment will be rationed back to us. Though God has given His all, unless we give all back to Him our spiritual maturity and growth will remain stunted, anemic, and nominal at best. Often the Luke 6:38 verse is applied in the way of financial giving but it is not limited to monetary blessings. Isn't the Holy Spirit Living Water who flows through us as an everlasting fountain? Why choose a cistern when a fountain is available?
I am convinced the Christian who complains that God doesn't speak isn't listening as he ought. It is never a problem with God's voice but with our ears and the hardness of our hearts. God is never to be blamed when we do not live a life of victory, or do not walk in the Spirit, abide in the Vine, and remain well-founded upon the Rock who is Christ. The dock is not to be blamed when the rope tethering the ship slips free and allows the ship to drift. The dock remains intact, stable, and immovable though the tides flow in and out. It is the negligence of the crew who did not properly secure the ship that would cause it to drift away. When we drift from God, and seeing our need for God's further intrusion into our daily lives cry, "I need more of you, God!" we know for certain He has not been slack in our care: we have been lax in seeking Him; we have drifted because of our negligence; we have lost the wonder through familiarity; we have stopped regarding Him as LORD and only imagined Him as a casual acquaintance. Our reading of the Bible becomes stale, our times of prayer lacks passion, vision, and closeness, and our life has been caught up in cares rather than the Creator.
Do you recognize your need for more of God in your life? This only means we need to give more of ourselves to Him. Yesterday's manna will not sustain you today, nor will yesterday's victories aid us in the battles we face today. We need Jesus, and we have the Holy Spirit without measure. Let us freely give all of us that we might receive and walk in all of Him.
That being said, there is a measure of truth to the cliche statement about needing more of Christ in our lives. The fact remains that we can limit the work of God in our hearts through disobedience, refusal to yield to the leading of Christ, and obstinately seeking after our own will. This spiritual principle is outlined in Luke 6:38: "Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." If we do not give our all to God, we will not be able to operate in the fullness of the Holy Spirit's power because we hinder our own progress. If we carefully measure out our service or giving unto the LORD, His blessings and empowerment will be rationed back to us. Though God has given His all, unless we give all back to Him our spiritual maturity and growth will remain stunted, anemic, and nominal at best. Often the Luke 6:38 verse is applied in the way of financial giving but it is not limited to monetary blessings. Isn't the Holy Spirit Living Water who flows through us as an everlasting fountain? Why choose a cistern when a fountain is available?
I am convinced the Christian who complains that God doesn't speak isn't listening as he ought. It is never a problem with God's voice but with our ears and the hardness of our hearts. God is never to be blamed when we do not live a life of victory, or do not walk in the Spirit, abide in the Vine, and remain well-founded upon the Rock who is Christ. The dock is not to be blamed when the rope tethering the ship slips free and allows the ship to drift. The dock remains intact, stable, and immovable though the tides flow in and out. It is the negligence of the crew who did not properly secure the ship that would cause it to drift away. When we drift from God, and seeing our need for God's further intrusion into our daily lives cry, "I need more of you, God!" we know for certain He has not been slack in our care: we have been lax in seeking Him; we have drifted because of our negligence; we have lost the wonder through familiarity; we have stopped regarding Him as LORD and only imagined Him as a casual acquaintance. Our reading of the Bible becomes stale, our times of prayer lacks passion, vision, and closeness, and our life has been caught up in cares rather than the Creator.
Do you recognize your need for more of God in your life? This only means we need to give more of ourselves to Him. Yesterday's manna will not sustain you today, nor will yesterday's victories aid us in the battles we face today. We need Jesus, and we have the Holy Spirit without measure. Let us freely give all of us that we might receive and walk in all of Him.
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