Once our eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit, we cannot read the Bible without marveling at the revelation of Jesus Christ. The articles and vestments of the Temple, the Law and prophets, the Old Testament appearances of the "Angel of the Lord, and even miracles reveal the power and person of Jesus. Even as a quality film director uses foreshadowing, God has set the standard with all the foreshadowing of Christ and details of His life in the Old Testament. God brought one of these instances to mind this morning during a time of prayer.
The Bible speaks of a time when prophet Elisha went to Gilgal to meet with the sons of the prophets. At that time there was a famine in the land. Elisha commanded his servant to set a pot to boil stew for the men who gathered together. They rustled up whatever they could. One man found a vine with gourds on it that were chopped up and put into the stew to boil. What they did not know, however, is the gourds were poisonous. 2 Kings 4:40-41 reads, "Then they served it to the men to eat. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, "Man of God, there is death in the pot!" And they could not eat it.
41
So he said, "Then bring some flour." And he put it into the pot, and said, "Serve it to the people, that they may eat." And there was nothing harmful in the pot." Through the power of God, Elisha did a miracle that day. Flour has no purifying qualities, nor does it neutralise poison. Yet flour was used to reverse the poisonous effects of the gourds on the stew. Flour (KJV calls it "meal") is made from ground up grain, the main ingredient in bread.
In those days there was not only a famine of food, but in hearing the good Word of God. Paganism and heathen practices had been adopted by God's people. These sinful acts and deeds brought destruction and death to the people, even as the gourds were poison in the stew. The people remained outwardly religious, yet they had forsaken the pure worship of the One True God. We can apply this truth even to the church. There are some who have embraced heretical doctrines and teachings and have turned from faith in God. In the early church the misuse of the Lord's Supper led to sickness and death (1 Cor. 11:30). Jesus once compared Himself to a grain of wheat falling to the earth and that His death would result in a bountiful harvest of much grain. Jesus also compared Himself to Living Bread. The children of Israel ate manna in the wilderness provided by God and ended up eventually dying: those who partake of Jesus Christ in faith will live forever! The way we should not take this passage is to simply "add" a bit of Jesus to heathen practices and all will be well. The world is a pot of death. All of us have death working in our members. It is only a matter of time until we go the "way of the earth" and perish. But God has offered all eternal life through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Life is not found in food alone, but in the Word who became flesh.
The picture of Christ is further amplified by the immediate passage that follows. 2 Kings 4:42-44 says, "Then a man came from Baal Shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley bread, and newly ripened grain in his knapsack. And he said, "Give it to the people, that they may eat."
43
But his servant said, "What? Shall I set this before one hundred men?" He said again, "Give it to the people, that they may eat; for thus says the LORD: 'They shall eat and have some left over.' "
44
So he set it before them; and they ate and had some left over, according to the word of the LORD." A man brought a knapsack of food to Elisha: 20 small loaves of barley bread, and some ripened grain. Elisha told the man to distribute the food among the men. The man was incredulous at such an idea. "What? It's not nearly enough to feed 100 men!" Elisha told the man to distribute it anyway "...For thus says the LORD: 'They shall eat and have some left over.'" As the LORD spoke through Elisha, so it was. Although the food did not seem enough to feed the men, they were all satisfied and still had some left over! What a picture of Jesus, who on one occasion fed 5,000 men with five small loaves and 2 fish! After everyone ate and was full, there were 12 baskets of food left over.
Even as Jesus took the bread, blessed, broke, and distributed it to His disciples to pass around, so the Father has taken the Son Jesus Christ - the Living Bread from heaven - blessed Him, broke Him, and given Him to all who have been born again through faith in Him. God has committed to us the words of life, for Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Jesus is the Living Bread that has been sent from heaven, and we catch glimpses of Him throughout all the Old Testament. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! There was death in the pot, but those who believe have been healed and made whole!
22 April 2013
21 April 2013
Veneer Maintenance
A veneer is a decorative coating to cover something inferior from sight. My two front teeth, for instance, are covered with veneer crowns. Due to a skateboard mishap in my youth, my teeth were badly chipped. Not only was it a bad look, but the sensitive roots were exposed and very painful! After my temporary caps became yellowed with age, my folks and I pooled the necessary funds to replace them with veneers. Another common use of veneer is wood veneer which gives glued particle board the appearance of quality hardwood. A discerning eye can usually pick out wood veneer in seconds, but it is a cheaper alternative to solid wood.
Our furniture or teeth is not the extent of our use of veneer, of course. People do not need to be on stage to wear masks or costumes which hide true feelings. There can be cultures developed in school, the workplace, families, or even in church that make us feel pressure to keep up the appearance of perpetually being happy and doing well. I think all who have been courageous enough to share struggles and hurts have been criticised or eyed with suspicion by some for having honestly opened their hearts. As I still decompress from my experience at camp this last week, I am convinced that it is never wrong to be real. We ought to be mindful of proper decorum and tact, but too often in Christian circles we can pass off a veneer for the real thing. If we believe Christians are without troubles or struggles, we are naive and foolish. Just because someone hasn't bared their soul to you, doesn't mean they are without pain or are doing fine.
An example of this is seen in Israel's history. Samaria was under siege by the Syrians, and the people were dying of starvation. Things became so bad that parents were eating their babies to survive. When King Jehoram heard this news firsthand, he was beside himself with grief and anger. 2 Kings 6:30 reads, "Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes; and as he passed by on the wall, the people looked, and there underneath he had sackcloth on his body." Jehoram's royal robes hid the truth: he was secretly in mourning for their desperate situation. The king put on a front for his people and wore his robes over the sackcloth. Some agree with this approach. "He's the king! He has to be strong for the people! If he was seen mourning, the people would despair!" Not so fast. King Hezekiah was not afraid to cover himself with sackcloth and even went into the house of the LORD (2 Kings 19:1)! God looked favorably upon the repentant king and people of Nineveh and relented from the disaster he would bring upon them. Kings, parents, and Christians all face struggles and difficulties. Do we do ourselves or others a favour by concealing our true feelings behind a veneer we carefully maintain to save face?
When Jesus was facing the cross and in agony of spirit, He shared those moments with a chosen few. He did not sweat great drops of blood before the masses. Yet He did not take pains to hide His tears from people. He wept openly over the grave of Lazarus. People recognised the genuine love of Christ in that moment: "See how He loved him!" Jesus was a conqueror and overcomer, but was not above feeling pain and heartache. The joy of the LORD was His strength, yet the prospect of being separated by God for the sins of the world placed upon Him brought Him low. Being a Christian does not mean we don veneer smiles and conceal our grief from others. Let us speak the truth in love, not to seek sympathy or hide our struggles under a proud facade. When we lower our defenses in faith and become transparent for the glory of God, hidden hurts will be brought to light and healed. James 5:16 says, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
A true friend is someone to whom you can say anything and it will not destroy the relationship. If you must maintain a veneer to keep your friends friendly, these may not be friends at all. Genuine friendships are made even stronger with conflict. Jesus has called His followers friends. We are to be casting our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. If in this life you have true friends, you are most blessed. Be such a friend to others, even as Christ is to you!
Our furniture or teeth is not the extent of our use of veneer, of course. People do not need to be on stage to wear masks or costumes which hide true feelings. There can be cultures developed in school, the workplace, families, or even in church that make us feel pressure to keep up the appearance of perpetually being happy and doing well. I think all who have been courageous enough to share struggles and hurts have been criticised or eyed with suspicion by some for having honestly opened their hearts. As I still decompress from my experience at camp this last week, I am convinced that it is never wrong to be real. We ought to be mindful of proper decorum and tact, but too often in Christian circles we can pass off a veneer for the real thing. If we believe Christians are without troubles or struggles, we are naive and foolish. Just because someone hasn't bared their soul to you, doesn't mean they are without pain or are doing fine.
An example of this is seen in Israel's history. Samaria was under siege by the Syrians, and the people were dying of starvation. Things became so bad that parents were eating their babies to survive. When King Jehoram heard this news firsthand, he was beside himself with grief and anger. 2 Kings 6:30 reads, "Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes; and as he passed by on the wall, the people looked, and there underneath he had sackcloth on his body." Jehoram's royal robes hid the truth: he was secretly in mourning for their desperate situation. The king put on a front for his people and wore his robes over the sackcloth. Some agree with this approach. "He's the king! He has to be strong for the people! If he was seen mourning, the people would despair!" Not so fast. King Hezekiah was not afraid to cover himself with sackcloth and even went into the house of the LORD (2 Kings 19:1)! God looked favorably upon the repentant king and people of Nineveh and relented from the disaster he would bring upon them. Kings, parents, and Christians all face struggles and difficulties. Do we do ourselves or others a favour by concealing our true feelings behind a veneer we carefully maintain to save face?
When Jesus was facing the cross and in agony of spirit, He shared those moments with a chosen few. He did not sweat great drops of blood before the masses. Yet He did not take pains to hide His tears from people. He wept openly over the grave of Lazarus. People recognised the genuine love of Christ in that moment: "See how He loved him!" Jesus was a conqueror and overcomer, but was not above feeling pain and heartache. The joy of the LORD was His strength, yet the prospect of being separated by God for the sins of the world placed upon Him brought Him low. Being a Christian does not mean we don veneer smiles and conceal our grief from others. Let us speak the truth in love, not to seek sympathy or hide our struggles under a proud facade. When we lower our defenses in faith and become transparent for the glory of God, hidden hurts will be brought to light and healed. James 5:16 says, "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much."
A true friend is someone to whom you can say anything and it will not destroy the relationship. If you must maintain a veneer to keep your friends friendly, these may not be friends at all. Genuine friendships are made even stronger with conflict. Jesus has called His followers friends. We are to be casting our cares upon Him, for He cares for us. If in this life you have true friends, you are most blessed. Be such a friend to others, even as Christ is to you!
20 April 2013
Back from Kedron
Our family returned from a busy and profitable week at Camp Kedron last night. It was an amazing week as God did incredible things among the leaders and the campers. Laura and I were "camp parents" and Laura also tackled the role of being camp nurse - a huge job and responsibility. She was phenomenal and I am very proud of her servant's heart and flexibility. There were a few times she had to wake up in the middle of the night to tend to sick campers and she did it with a joyful attitude. After the camp Laura was migraine free too, so that is a wonderful added blessing!
My role was expanded to teaching and leading workshops with the leadership team, and all of them stepped up in a huge way in their discussion groups. Many of the kids were completely transformed by the end of camp, having repented and trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour and LORD. I believe we were all challenged, encouraged, and changed by God's grace. This camp was a tangible testimony of the power of God's love through Jesus and the Body of Christ. So thanks to all of you who have been praying. Your prayers were certainly heard and answered, and may the fruit remain for eternity!
The verses God gave me at the beginning of camp were fulfilled in our midst. For many of us, this was not our first camp and there is always a danger we might look to our experience instead of the leading of the Holy Spirit. Any expectations we might have had were overcome by His miraculous power, grace, and love. Isaiah 43:18-21 reads, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20 The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. 21 This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." Amen!
My role was expanded to teaching and leading workshops with the leadership team, and all of them stepped up in a huge way in their discussion groups. Many of the kids were completely transformed by the end of camp, having repented and trusted Jesus Christ as Saviour and LORD. I believe we were all challenged, encouraged, and changed by God's grace. This camp was a tangible testimony of the power of God's love through Jesus and the Body of Christ. So thanks to all of you who have been praying. Your prayers were certainly heard and answered, and may the fruit remain for eternity!
The verses God gave me at the beginning of camp were fulfilled in our midst. For many of us, this was not our first camp and there is always a danger we might look to our experience instead of the leading of the Holy Spirit. Any expectations we might have had were overcome by His miraculous power, grace, and love. Isaiah 43:18-21 reads, "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. 19 Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20 The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. 21 This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise." Amen!
11 April 2013
"Push the Button, Max!"
One movie we enjoy watching as a family is "The Great Race" (with the exception of my wife who finds it "Extremely irritating!") starring Jack Lemmon, Tony Curtis, Natalie Wood, and Peter Falk. It is a fantastic and ridiculous showdown between "The Great Leslie" and "Professor Fate" as they race from New York to Paris. Memorable scenes include the epic western brawl in Boracho and the pie fight in Potsdorf. One of the recurring lines in the film is when Professor Fate cackles evilly and barks out the command: "Push the button, Max!" Whenever the hapless henchman pushes the button, only bad things seem to happen!
The line rushed through my mind this morning as we waited to cross the street to catch the bus. When we arrived at the crossing, a woman already stood on the corner, awkwardly close to the button. No matter, I though to myself. She's already pressed the button, and it would be a bit rude to ask her to move aside to push it. It became clear is she had not pressed the button because the green light never signaled for us to cross. Engrossed in conversation, the only reason why I noticed was a single man from the group of ten people that had assembled by then struck out by himself to cross the street. That's the last time I assume someone has pressed the button, I thought to myself. Even if I have to ask someone politely to step aside, I am going to make sure the button is pressed by me or someone else.
There is very little risk in assuming that someone has neglected to press the crosswalk button. The consequence is having to wait for the lights to cycle through again and lose a couple of minutes. Yet there are some assumptions we can make in this life that lead to far greater loss - even loss of life for eternity. Many people pass through this life assuming they are going to heaven. They think that if there is an afterlife for those who are good, they certainly will make the grade. There could be others that assume because they attend a church, own a Bible, and pray over meals, going to heaven for them and their family is a certainty. Perhaps there are some who think because their parents were "good Christians" or because they were baptised or christened as a child, their heavenly booking is approved. But going to heaven is not like waiting to cross a street, where one person pushes the button and everyone else can tag along. Before our bodies die, we must each make a decision to repent and trust in Christ alone for salvation. He is the Way, the only path that leads to heaven and eternal life in the presence of God. If we die before the divine transaction of justification through faith takes place, hell is our only destination.
Jesus has paid the price, but the only way for His divine payment to apply to our lives is through genuine faith in Him. How terrible would it be for a person to assume they are going to heaven when the exact opposite is true! One of the consequences of the day in which we live - one of medical advancement and widespread treatment options - is we are not accustomed in westernised societies to facing death. Television and computer screens are filled with renditions of death, and we become detached to the reality of our mortality. It used to be common to have parents and multiple siblings die young. I was 12 years old before I experienced a death in the family, that of my Grandma Cecil. She lived a full life, and was in her 80's before she went the way of the earth. The finality of death hit me hard. Now about 25 years older, I have seen many people pass away. To some degree, death always seems to catch people off guard in the timing, the means, and our emotional response or lack thereof.
Romans 10:8-10 reads, "But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." No one can push the button of belief and faith for you. Have you confessed publicly that Jesus Christ is your LORD and Saviour? Have you based your assurance of salvation upon meeting the conditions set forth in the Bible? When we truly believe something, it will govern the way we live. If we love Jesus, we will do what He says. Our faith is to be demonstrated through our works.
Don't take for granted you are going to heaven. Assume nothing. No one can push the button for you. Should we procrastinate when eternal life or death hangs in the balance? Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
The line rushed through my mind this morning as we waited to cross the street to catch the bus. When we arrived at the crossing, a woman already stood on the corner, awkwardly close to the button. No matter, I though to myself. She's already pressed the button, and it would be a bit rude to ask her to move aside to push it. It became clear is she had not pressed the button because the green light never signaled for us to cross. Engrossed in conversation, the only reason why I noticed was a single man from the group of ten people that had assembled by then struck out by himself to cross the street. That's the last time I assume someone has pressed the button, I thought to myself. Even if I have to ask someone politely to step aside, I am going to make sure the button is pressed by me or someone else.
There is very little risk in assuming that someone has neglected to press the crosswalk button. The consequence is having to wait for the lights to cycle through again and lose a couple of minutes. Yet there are some assumptions we can make in this life that lead to far greater loss - even loss of life for eternity. Many people pass through this life assuming they are going to heaven. They think that if there is an afterlife for those who are good, they certainly will make the grade. There could be others that assume because they attend a church, own a Bible, and pray over meals, going to heaven for them and their family is a certainty. Perhaps there are some who think because their parents were "good Christians" or because they were baptised or christened as a child, their heavenly booking is approved. But going to heaven is not like waiting to cross a street, where one person pushes the button and everyone else can tag along. Before our bodies die, we must each make a decision to repent and trust in Christ alone for salvation. He is the Way, the only path that leads to heaven and eternal life in the presence of God. If we die before the divine transaction of justification through faith takes place, hell is our only destination.
Jesus has paid the price, but the only way for His divine payment to apply to our lives is through genuine faith in Him. How terrible would it be for a person to assume they are going to heaven when the exact opposite is true! One of the consequences of the day in which we live - one of medical advancement and widespread treatment options - is we are not accustomed in westernised societies to facing death. Television and computer screens are filled with renditions of death, and we become detached to the reality of our mortality. It used to be common to have parents and multiple siblings die young. I was 12 years old before I experienced a death in the family, that of my Grandma Cecil. She lived a full life, and was in her 80's before she went the way of the earth. The finality of death hit me hard. Now about 25 years older, I have seen many people pass away. To some degree, death always seems to catch people off guard in the timing, the means, and our emotional response or lack thereof.
Romans 10:8-10 reads, "But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." No one can push the button of belief and faith for you. Have you confessed publicly that Jesus Christ is your LORD and Saviour? Have you based your assurance of salvation upon meeting the conditions set forth in the Bible? When we truly believe something, it will govern the way we live. If we love Jesus, we will do what He says. Our faith is to be demonstrated through our works.
Don't take for granted you are going to heaven. Assume nothing. No one can push the button for you. Should we procrastinate when eternal life or death hangs in the balance? Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
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