Isolation is Unwise

"A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; he rages against all wise judgment."

Proverbs 18:1

Because of sin, a man is naturally separated from the holy and righteous God who created him.  Adam rebelled from God and chose to go his own way, the way of disobedience and death.  Even as sin has passed to all men and death through sin, God has provided the opportunity for eternal life for all through Jesus Christ.  Ephesians 2:13-18 explains, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, ¹⁵ having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. ¹⁷ And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father."

A man who isolates himself from God is not wise.  Even as gravity pulls all objects towards earth, the law of sin and death ultimately drowns every man in perdition.  Man is not able to navigate to eternal rest or overcome the hefty weight of sin through his best efforts.  Our hearts are deceitful guides, corrupted by sin.  Jeremiah 17:9 says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"  This whole world is under the sway of the enemy of our souls, Satan, the one who perverts the straight way of the LORD.  Even as nothing is completely pure on this earth, nothing originating in this world is plumb or level.  The philosophies and wisdom of the age are all skewed by the kaleidoscope of relativity, selfishness, and pride.  An isolated man has an inbred view of things which gives rise to mutated morality and foolish judgments.

Thank God He has given us a perfect standard in His Word and has caused the Light of the World, Jesus Christ, to shine in the darkness!  It is the plumb line, the spirit-level, with true weights and measures.  Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  Jesus is the "Word who became flesh" who has dwelt among us.  We have beheld His glory, the only begotten of the Father.  He died on the cross, rose from the dead, ascended to the Father before many witnesses, and holds the keys to Death and Hell.  He has prayed the Father to send the Holy Spirit to indwell and empower all who repent, believe in Him, and are born again by grace through faith in Christ.  The wall of sin which blocked our way to heaven has been broken down, and we have access by the Spirit through Christ to the Father.  Christ is for us wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30), and He is our righteous Judge.  When we love Him as He has loved us, we can receive and share from His stores of divine wisdom.

It is not only the unbeliever who can be isolated.  Many Christians - including people who serve in church ministry - can become increasingly isolated because of hurts, struggles, or perceived betrayal.  Because of pain they have experienced through negative experiences, some grow determined to prevent such a thing from ever happening again.  Perhaps someone betrayed their trust, expectations were unmet, and a root of bitterness begins to grow.  Insulation brings isolation and separation.  The desire is never to be hurt again, and so a man isolates himself.  It is a vicious deception:  in becoming isolated from fellowship and accountability, a man becomes spiritually dull and blunted.  God made us for fellowship.  Proverbs 27:17 reads, "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."  A sheep isolated from the flock is a helpless target for all manner of temptation and snares.  Fellowship with the Good Shepherd and the flock of God is critical for a healthy, growing relationship to maturity in faith.

You have a problem with church?  Your problem is with Christ, for He is the Head of it.  Should you look for faults in your fellow men, they are easily found.  Hypocrites are best at pointing out their own kind.  But God's basis for adopting us as His children is because of what Christ has done and our faith in Him - despite all our faults.  He has washed us clean, having purchased us with His own blood.  Can you imagine how foolish it would be to adopt a child only if he could be proved completely perfect?  Yet this is the standard we hold professing believers to and forget the grace and love God has freely lavished on us.  Let us be ones who are casting our cares upon the LORD, for He cares for us.  Let us trust Him enough to fellowship with other people who have serious flaws - just like you and me!  Don't embrace solitary confinement when God has made you free to fulfill His desires, not your own. 

Little Things Are Big!

There's a saying that goes, "Don't sweat the small stuff."  It is important that as we journey through this life we align our perspective with God's.  What the world sees as insignificant God views with utmost importance.  The opposite is also true:  the things the world cites as paramount are not crucial in God's eyes.  While the world is focused on outer appearances, God looks upon the heart.  Many people make riches, earthly security, and physical gratification their aim.  Instead Jesus says to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" and He will meet all our needs.

Discipline in seemingly small matters speak volumes concerning our true condition.  I am convinced that when it comes to matters of the heart, even seemingly small things have enormous implications.  If we do not show ourselves faithful in little things, why should God commit greater responsibility to us?  Jesus says in Luke 16:10-12:  "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. ¹¹ Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?¹² And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?"  If we have exposed ourselves as slipshod stewards of earthly things - the use of our time, oversight of our finances, being responsible at the workplace, maintenance of our homes, vehicles, and bodies - what makes us think God would be so foolish to commit greater spiritual responsibility to us?  God is happy to give us the true riches of the kingdom.  But most of us disqualify ourselves by not being faithful in the little things.

Those who are faithful in little will be faithful in much.  Many would disagree with this.  "If God gave me that new role or calling, then I would rise to the challenge."  Man, you deceive yourself!  If God cannot count on you to open your mouth at His prompting at work, why should He commit greater things to you?  If I struggle in the most menial disciplines of Bible reading and daily prayer, should I wonder why God has not entrusted ministries to me?  If I refuse to biblically discipline and train my children, should I be amazed that I am confounded by struggles on every side?  1 Timothy 3:5 states that a man in authority in the church ought to already rule his house righteously:  "for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?"  A man who cannot contend with footmen will be overwhelmed by horses.  Man is a curious creature indeed, desiring the kingdom when he has not even shown himself faithful concerning daily dental hygiene!

The little things are truly big.  Should you have great aspirations for yourself, I exhort you not to despise the days of small things.  It is in the small things that you are being trained for a larger stage.  But the size of stage you desire is simply a reflection of the pride festering in your heart!  Do not long for a larger stage for yourself, but for the glory, honour, and magnification of Jesus Christ.  All that we do, may we do it unto Jesus for His eternal glory.  We should not live to please man but to glorify God through obedience, good works, and love.  Instead of shrugging off our lack of discipline in small things, let us ask God for strength and wisdom to bring our lives and thoughts unto the obedience in Christ.  Those who humble themselves God will exalt in His time.

Making Waves

This past week I had the opportunity to spend some time fishing at Lake Jindabyne and Lake Lyell.  A friend and I drove about six hours southwest from Sydney to Jindabyne.  The weather was brisk and mostly very good.  One thing that struck me is how fast a clear day can change to overcast, or how a choppy surface can quickly become like glass.  I took this photo from the bank of Lake Jindabyne, and I assure you it does not do the breathtaking beauty of the scene justice.

 After several days we packed up and drove six hours north to Lake Lyell, about two hours west of my home.  As we walked around the lake looking for a good spot we came across a couple full grown kangaroos.  I was almost right on top of one before it moved.  The beauty of this place was equally striking.

Since it is still early spring, the water was quite cold.  I expect when the water warms up the fishing will too.  Not too many fisherman were out on the lakes.  Better fishing will bring out more anglers to try their hand at catching some of those waiting trout.  Even though it is early in the spring season, on both lakes there were a handful of boats trolling.  At the end of the day boats would roar back to the dock.  This created waves which slowly traveled from their position and a minute later lapped the shoreline.  Even a man deftly paddling a canoe broke the stillness of the water and the ripples reached my feet.  I thought to myself (especially with the speeding boats), I wonder if they know that the wake of their boats reaches all this way to the shore?  Do they even care?  Sometimes the boats were so far away it was quite some time before the waves reached us.  But they did every time.

I started thinking about how the actions and decisions of people have a broader and more profound effect than the person making them could ever know.  Sometimes a single act can resound for centuries - or even longer.  When Jesus in obedience to the Father laid down His life on Calvary, He did something that impacted eternity for every person walking the earth.  He made a way to heaven, eternal life, and fellowship with God for all who repent and will trust in Him.  In the wake of His sacrifice all can be washed clean and reconciled unto God.

I am convinced that the way we choose to live today makes a difference in our families, in our workplaces, cities, countries, and across the globe.  We may never see the effects of deciding to honour God with our lives.  But we can know that the effect can be enduring as Christ's crucifixion and resurrection because it is He who now lives through us.  My decisions can effect my family for generations for good and God's glory.  Or I can live shortsightedly for myself and negatively impact all those around me - and even people I've never even met.  A life lived for God is the ultimate good a man can do for his wife, children, boss, country, and King.

I don't know about you, but I want to live a life that matters.  I want to live in such a way that my family, friends, and people I've never met will be positively influenced for the glory of God for generations to come.  Your life makes a difference.  Otherwise why would Jesus die so we could live?

The Valley of Decision

As I read the Bible before bed last night, I came across Joel 3:14:  "Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision."  How true it is, I mused to myself, that the valley is the place of decision.  The place of decision is not the mountain peak or the plain:  it is in the valley.  When we are at a low point every man must decide what he will do:  dig a grave and lie down in it, or decide to follow Jesus to a higher plane.  He stands at the right hand of the Father and bids us join Him.  Every man is in the valley of decision, and the day of the LORD is near.

When everything is going smoothly in our lives we are happy to just keep plugging away.  But when disaster strikes, the fiery trial brings us low, or the depression begins to take hold, we are in that all-too-familiar valley of decision:  should we remain in the valley or climb out of it in God's strength?  There is only one way to successfully navigate out of that valley.  We need the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the unalterable truth of God's Word, and strength through Jesus Christ to emerge victorious.  Sometimes we are led by the Good Shepherd through the valley of death - but it was never intended that we build a house there to dwell in.  We must continue on, faithfully following.  Jesus has offered us eternal life through repentance and faith in Him and is obtainable only by grace.

Mountain-top experiences are wonderful things in the life of a Christian.  When God reveals Himself in love, power, and grace, our eyes are opened to the richness He has freely granted us.  We stand on that mountain, drinking in the beauty.  But being presently shackled to this earth and housed in these crude bodies, our minds often forget the heavenly vision.  Our spiritual sense becomes dull and our resolve fades.  We forget.  We forget we have already decided to follow Jesus and it's a decision we need to make moment by moment.  In the valley of decision we must resolve to trust in the LORD with all our hearts and to lean not on our own understanding.  When we acknowledge God in all our ways He shall direct our paths.

The valley is a good place.  It provides another opportunity for us to choose Christ.  Are you in the valley of decision today?  What is your decision?  No decision is a "no" decision.