A couple nights ago I was startled during dinner by Laura's scream behind my back. Laura had been baking cookies in the kitchen. I didn't have to turn around because she ran to her chair at the table and sat down, her hands still covered with oven mitts. Let me preface this by saying our kitchen and house is clean, is situated on a concrete slab, and I usually spray for insects once a month. Yet despite our precautions, apparently a large cockroach had crawled into a drawer under the oven reserved for cutting-boards and Glad plastic containers and lids. "And so what do you want me to do?" I asked. But I already knew the answer. It was time to wage war on the rogue insect!
I was admittedly reluctant in emptying the drawer. The last thing I was interested in while my food cooled on the table was to be surprised by some bug dropping onto me. As I continued to remove item after item, soon the roach was spied by Abel crawling across the baseboards and squeezed behind the dishwasher. It was very large, very dark, and probably the most athletic specimen I have ever seen. The legs looked...muscular! I began to spray all around the dishwasher, scooting it from side to side and spraying as much pesticide far back as possible. Then we all waited and waited. I finished off my cold chicken and turned on the TV to see if any sport was on. Now comes the funniest part of the story.
About five minutes later I heard an all too familiar shriek from the kitchen. As my head whipped around to see, Laura ran like a world-class sprinter out of the kitchen, spiked her oven mitts to the ground, and darted into the lounge room! I walk over to see that our large muscular friend had made his grand exit from the dishwasher. It was rather anticlimactic, seeing he was nearly dead from fumes. I applied a generous amount of poison directly, just to ensure he would trouble us no more. During the cleanup phase, our family talked about how a random roach is way better than some other critters that can take up residence without permission in a home.
The hardest thing in that situation was not knowing how many roaches we were dealing with. I had the horrible thought: what if when I move the dishwasher 20, 50, 100 of those suckers start running around? Would I be able to kill them all? I didn't think there was a single roach in our house - could there possible be more than one? I remember a "playhouse" my dad had built for me and my siblings when we were kids. If my mind serves me correctly it was built on an 8 X 8 foot platform. When the day came for the house to be demolished, my dad lifted and flipped over the base. Nothing could have prepared us for what was living underneath the house! There was a literal 8 X 8 foot square of cockroaches which began to scatter in all directions! I think my mom started tromping them; I started running away from them! They slowly disappeared into the turf. That was one of the most wild insect surprises of my life.
When we think about addressing sin in our lives, it's not a pretty picture. Sometimes we don't want to deal with the consequences of our sin. We don't want to see firsthand how deep our wickedness runs. But the wondrous beauty of Jesus Christ and the forgiveness we receive through His blood is that we don't need to worry if all our sin has truly been dealt with! We don't need to live in fear that all our sins have not actually been atoned for. Christians do not need to fear that perhaps unforgivable sins remain that will keep us out of heaven. We receive assurance of our forgiveness through God's Word: 1 John 1:9 reads, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
There is the point: we need to confess our sins. If our problem with insects were to grow and we hired an exterminator, it would be to our benefit to explain where the cockroaches or ants are most often found. How silly would it be to hire a man but withhold necessary information! How ridiculous is it to have a Saviour, a Deliverer, a Forgiver in Jesus Christ, but not freely confess where we need His sanctifying touch. Even though roaches are relatively harmless, the thought them scrambling over your body is a bad feeling. How much worse is sin which causes separation from God and leads to death! Sin must be dealt with, and thank God Jesus Christ has dealt with it once and for all on the cross! He takes away our guilt, uncleanness, and our worry too. Let's thank Him by never falling prey to worry again!
03 April 2011
01 April 2011
A Life Worth Living
"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit."
Psalm 32:1-2
Happy is the man whose sins are forgiven! David goes on to describe the process in verses 3-5: Psalm 32:3-5 reads, "When I kept silent, my bones grew old Through my groaning all the day long. 4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; My vitality was turned into the drought of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah." David freely confessed his sin before the LORD and God forgave him. What a wonder, to be free from the guilt, shame, conviction, and condemnation our sin justly demands!
Psalm 103:12 states, "As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Our sins removed from us at such a distance that we need never be reminded of them again. If we trust in Jesus Christ and humbly confess our sins, God will cleanse us, remove our sin from us, and chooses not to remember them ever again as it is written in Isaiah 43:25: "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins." God does not forget our sins: He decides not to remember them. What glorious forgiveness is granted us freely through the blood of Jesus Christ!
Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness. When we believe on Jesus Christ whom God has sent to be the Saviour of the world and repent of our sins, we are not only cleansed from iniquity but the righteousness of Christ is imputed to us. This righteousness and eternal salvation is granted to us by grace through faith. Jesus has become the payment for our sins. Romans 3:21-26 reads, "But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, 26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Let us rejoice in the goodness of our God, who at His own expense has granted us life for death, and given us eternal salvation instead of eternal damnation. Christ has removed all sin far from us and remembers it no more. All this without guilt and bondage, all this without condemnation! This, my friends, is a life of freedom worth living!
31 March 2011
O Wretched Man!
I am convinced that if I never suffered for my sin I would certainly never repent. God is so wise in the ways that He chastens and leads us back to Him. Under the burden of a guilty conscience a man will consider confession of sin and repentance, but usually not before! When we fall into sin even as believers and our sins separate us from God. This is not typically enough to get our attention: God must go to great lengths to cause us to see the desperately wicked condition of our flesh.
When King Saul became proud, arrogant, rebellious, and disobedient, God sent an evil spirit to torment him. Instead of encouraging Saul to repent and offer sacrifice for atonement, though his advisers recognized that God had withdrawn His Spirit and sent an evil spirit instead, they suggested he find a man to play the harp to comfort him (1 Sam. 16:14-23). The young man they found to play was a young shepherd, David. When the unclean spirit would begin to torment Saul, David would play soothing music and Saul would feel refreshed and well. But on two occasions Saul threw a spear at David, hoping to pin him to the wall. His sin so polluted his mind and the wickedness of the demon so influenced his heart that he sought to war against and destroy the one who came only to comfort. In a fitting twist before his untimely death Saul sought the help of a medium to conjure up the dead. Spiritually and literally he fell on his own sword.
So it is with us and the Holy Spirit: God has sent the Holy Spirit to convict men of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-14). In my own life I have found that it is not so often my sin itself that causes me to seek God, but the misery the conviction the Holy Spirit brings which moves me to repent. Sin begins so subtly and secretly, so sweet with desire, that I do not recognize the sin. God must chasten us so we will notice the foothold and legal right we have given Satan in operate in our lives through our willful sin. We are called to administer the "rod of correction" to our children, for a man chastens a son whom he loves. Proverbs 3:11-12 states, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights." God does not want us to dread His rod of correction or hate the feelings of conviction, no matter what form it might take: He desires that we hate our sin and repent.
God appeared to King Solomon and blessed him richly with wisdom, peace, prosperity, and abundance. But Solomon's heart became unfaithful to God and was drawn away from walking in obedience to Him through his many foreign wives. His life was filled with idolatry and Solomon built altars to demons and worshiped them. God stirred up adversaries against Solomon, and promised to later rend the kingdom from the hand of his son. 1 Kings 11:14, 23 reads, "Now the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was a descendant of the king in Edom...23 And God raised up another adversary against him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who had fled from his lord, Hadadezer king of Zobah." Solomon saw his adversaries as a threat, but he didn't see the destructive force of his sin at all. When Solomon's servant Jeroboam was told by the prophet Ahijah he would be king over Israel, Solomon sought to slay him. Even with all his great wisdom, Solomon did not discern his sin as the root cause of his adversaries being stirred up by God against him. He saw the problem as being apart rather than within his own heart.
God would rather our bodies be destroyed by Satan leading to repentance for the salvation of our souls. If all we encountered was refreshment in in midst of our sins we would no doubt run down the broad path leading to destruction. 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 says, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one (a professing believer in gross sin) to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." We would never dream of such harsh intervention. But God knows the deceitfulness of a man's heart that works to his utter ruin. Unless the LORD builds the house they labour in vain who build it, and unless the LORD chasten a man he would freely choose to make his bed in hell.
Paul writes in Romans 7:21-25: "I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." Only Christ can deliver us from this body of death, the Lamb of God who was made sin for us. As He rose from the dead in victory over sin and death, so we have been granted the victory of Christ's blood by grace through faith. Having been risen with Christ we are to live unto Him and no longer to serve the flesh, sin, or Satan.
Do you have peace with God? You can have it now if you will invite God to search your heart, repent, and trust in Jesus Christ. Instead of seeing your adversaries or unsettled conscience as the problem, understand that the root cause is likely sin. We know that the flesh wars against the Spirit: in your life right now who is winning? If the Holy Spirit convicts you, do not grieve Him by resisting or justifying yourself: repent, believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.
When King Saul became proud, arrogant, rebellious, and disobedient, God sent an evil spirit to torment him. Instead of encouraging Saul to repent and offer sacrifice for atonement, though his advisers recognized that God had withdrawn His Spirit and sent an evil spirit instead, they suggested he find a man to play the harp to comfort him (1 Sam. 16:14-23). The young man they found to play was a young shepherd, David. When the unclean spirit would begin to torment Saul, David would play soothing music and Saul would feel refreshed and well. But on two occasions Saul threw a spear at David, hoping to pin him to the wall. His sin so polluted his mind and the wickedness of the demon so influenced his heart that he sought to war against and destroy the one who came only to comfort. In a fitting twist before his untimely death Saul sought the help of a medium to conjure up the dead. Spiritually and literally he fell on his own sword.
So it is with us and the Holy Spirit: God has sent the Holy Spirit to convict men of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:7-14). In my own life I have found that it is not so often my sin itself that causes me to seek God, but the misery the conviction the Holy Spirit brings which moves me to repent. Sin begins so subtly and secretly, so sweet with desire, that I do not recognize the sin. God must chasten us so we will notice the foothold and legal right we have given Satan in operate in our lives through our willful sin. We are called to administer the "rod of correction" to our children, for a man chastens a son whom he loves. Proverbs 3:11-12 states, "My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, nor detest His correction; 12 For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights." God does not want us to dread His rod of correction or hate the feelings of conviction, no matter what form it might take: He desires that we hate our sin and repent.
God appeared to King Solomon and blessed him richly with wisdom, peace, prosperity, and abundance. But Solomon's heart became unfaithful to God and was drawn away from walking in obedience to Him through his many foreign wives. His life was filled with idolatry and Solomon built altars to demons and worshiped them. God stirred up adversaries against Solomon, and promised to later rend the kingdom from the hand of his son. 1 Kings 11:14, 23 reads, "Now the LORD raised up an adversary against Solomon, Hadad the Edomite; he was a descendant of the king in Edom...23 And God raised up another adversary against him, Rezon the son of Eliadah, who had fled from his lord, Hadadezer king of Zobah." Solomon saw his adversaries as a threat, but he didn't see the destructive force of his sin at all. When Solomon's servant Jeroboam was told by the prophet Ahijah he would be king over Israel, Solomon sought to slay him. Even with all his great wisdom, Solomon did not discern his sin as the root cause of his adversaries being stirred up by God against him. He saw the problem as being apart rather than within his own heart.
God would rather our bodies be destroyed by Satan leading to repentance for the salvation of our souls. If all we encountered was refreshment in in midst of our sins we would no doubt run down the broad path leading to destruction. 1 Corinthians 5:4-5 says, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one (a professing believer in gross sin) to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." We would never dream of such harsh intervention. But God knows the deceitfulness of a man's heart that works to his utter ruin. Unless the LORD builds the house they labour in vain who build it, and unless the LORD chasten a man he would freely choose to make his bed in hell.
Paul writes in Romans 7:21-25: "I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin." Only Christ can deliver us from this body of death, the Lamb of God who was made sin for us. As He rose from the dead in victory over sin and death, so we have been granted the victory of Christ's blood by grace through faith. Having been risen with Christ we are to live unto Him and no longer to serve the flesh, sin, or Satan.
Do you have peace with God? You can have it now if you will invite God to search your heart, repent, and trust in Jesus Christ. Instead of seeing your adversaries or unsettled conscience as the problem, understand that the root cause is likely sin. We know that the flesh wars against the Spirit: in your life right now who is winning? If the Holy Spirit convicts you, do not grieve Him by resisting or justifying yourself: repent, believe on the LORD Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.
A Hymn to Remember
A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
by Martin Luther
A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.
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