The Man at the Inn

I've been thinking lately about the parable Jesus told about the "Good Samaritan."  When tested by a man who sought to justify himself by asking, "Who is my neighbor?" Jesus told a story about a man traveling the road to Jericho who fell among thieves.  He was beaten, robbed, stripped, and left for dead.  A priest who walked by ignored his plight, as well as a Levite who passed by on the other side.  It was the Samaritan, a man hailing from a group of people despised by the Jews, who showed compassion on the man when he stopped, lifted him from the ground, anointed his wounds, and took him to an inn so he might recover - all at his own expense.

Perhaps it is more ironic still that Christ alludes to Himself through the care of the foreign Samaritan who helped the wounded man.  Jesus has done for us far more than the Samaritan in the story did for the wounded man.  Jesus was despised and rejected by His own.  He revealed love and compassion for all people through coming to earth as God-made-flesh, and paid for our healing and salvation with His own blood on the cross.  He has not merely left us with money as we recover, but He has given us the Comforter -the Holy Spirit - who dwells within us.  Jesus will someday return to settle all accounts, and His reward is with Him.

From this perspective then, the picture of the man who was beaten, stripped, and robbed represents all people who have inherited the sin nature of Adam.  Man was stripped of his standing before God because of his sin, robbed of his innocence, and if left in his sinful condition faced certain death and eternal punishment in hell.  Those who respond to the Gospel by grace through faith are born again and receive new life through Christ.  We have been raised from the grave and restored to fellowship with God again.  Having been washed in His blood, He has placed upon each Christian a robe of righteousness.  He has provided a place of lodging for us in this world and a role in His Body, the church.  Jesus has promised to someday return for us and will set all things right.

The aspect of this parable which has captivated me is the attitude and thoughts of the man during his recovery at the inn.  I'm sure the healing man was thankful for the sacrifice of the Samaritan who helped him.  Yet is there a potential that the man had bitterness toward the Samaritan for not coming sooner and driving off the bandits?  Maybe he nursed a grudge against those who passed by and refused to help him.  Or perhaps he was annoyed with the fact he had to share a room with someone he didn't know or the toilet was too far away.  Maybe the healing process took longer than he would have liked and it was a growing source of frustration.  There are potentially thousands of complaints the man may have had even though his life had been saved!  How would we view someone who had nothing but complaints after being saved from certain death?  We might call him forgetful, self-centered, ungrateful, and foolish.  Before we judge him too harshly, let's remember that when we look at him we are looking at ourselves.

This is how we can be as Christians, even after all Jesus has done for us.  We can be frustrated with our circumstances, pain, or limitations.  The church is a place God has provided for healing and fellowship.  But we can be filled with criticism or complaints rather than grace and thankfulness.  Colossians 3:12-17 describes well the attitude we ought to have as we go through the healing process of our near-death experience while Christ tarries:  "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."  Hasn't God been good to us?  Let us remember how Christ has saved, restored, and reconciled us to God by His grace.  Let us demonstrate our thanks and gratefulness to God through loving one another.  In light of all God has done for us, our complaints ring hollow.  Instead of a critical spirit, let us praise God with thanksgiving.

The Pitfall of Slackness

"Then Joshua said to the children of Israel: "How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers has given you?"

Joshua 18:3

God had brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and into the Land of Promise.  He also provided victory as the people drove out the inhabitants of the land.  The tabernacle had been set up in Shiloh, and the land was subdued before the people.  But a point came when 7 of the 12 tribes had not yet entered the land God intended His people to dwell in as their inheritance.  Joshua rebuked the people for their slackness.  The words of Joshua in verse 3 in the KJV read, "How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?"  The word "slack" in the Hebrew means, "abate, cease, fail, wax feeble, forsake, idle, let alone."  Once the people became established in the land, they seemed to lose the motivation to expand the borders God ordained for them and were slack to drive out the enemies which remained.  Free from enemy assault and able to dwell peacefully, they became idle.

Isn't this a potential pitfall which Christians face today?  When we are free from overt resistance or satanic assault, we can fall prey to a more subversive, more sinister attack.  We can be content with our justification by faith but cease to press on in sanctification and growth.  In not labouring to progress we lose ground as the strength of the enemy builds.  We would never be so foolish to suggest "We have arrived!" but are we heading anywhere?  Are we doing anything?  In God we have potential for perpetual growth and fruitfulness, but we can be content with last season's harvest.  The enemies we co-habitate with are not too bad or threatening at the moment, meaning they do not make our lives too inconvenient or uncomfortable.  We can lose sight of the fact that those enemies, those hindrances to our spiritual growth and fruitfulness, are occupying the very ground God intendeds us to take, having claimed it as our inheritance.

When a threat of certain attacked is understood, the men within the city would feverishly prepare.  Weapons would be sharpened and protective armour prepared.  The fortifications of the city would be strengthened, and watchmen would remain vigilant in their duties.  But when the people of the land are established and enjoy a season of rest and peace, slackness creeps in.  The same can be true in our lives as Christians.  Godliness with contentment is great gain, but contentment without godliness is a sin which the flesh prefers.  May we not be slack to enter into all that God has ordained for us.  He is our Inheritance, and there is much land yet to possess!

Refugee to Resident

Long before I became a resident of Australia, there has been an ongoing debate concerning how to handle the boats of refugees and "asylum seekers."  There are differences between these groups, though the terms are often used interchangeably.  Similar to where I lived previously in Southern California where drug trafficking and people smuggling are ongoing issues, the position of Australia provides unique challenges.  Having little practical knowledge of the conditions which have evolved over the decades to bring us to this point, I have no unique insight or authority to even suggest a solution.  It seems unlikely that a single action or policy will make the "problem" of people smuggling go away.  Even this term is a misnomer, because these profiteering smugglers are the ones who are bringing desperate refugees or asylum seekers.  Those who feel they have no where else to flee will do anything to save themselves, their family, and seek a future in Australia.

Are there clear guidelines and policies in place so people can be processed as refugees whilst remaining in their country?  Do people have access to facilities that do not rely upon the internet or electronic banking?  Is there a way for genuine refugees to be accepted into Australia even if they lack the funds to take their case before the court?  The boats of people may be more of a symptom than the cause.  But from what I hear on the news - whether it is true or not I cannot be certain - many people pay money for the boat trip to Australia because they are convinced it will expedite or even ensure their processing into Australia.  People sadly pay money and find themselves aboard leaky vessels, some perish at sea, and others are intercepted and processed at offshore facilities.  They believed the words of a smuggler but were deceived.  Whilst some are found to be true refugees and brought to Australia in time, others are sent back home to start the process over again.

Having just finalised the process for permanent residency for my family and me, it is clear there is a legal way to immigrate to Australia.  While some have no choice but to flee, others make a decision to take the risk to climb aboard a boat with the hope of becoming a resident and possibly a citizen of Australia.  It must be beyond sobering for people who spend all their money for a trip they are told will result in them being processed and accepted into Australia and never make it.  I think we can all sympathise with their plight, having been deceived by people who stand to profit from them.

I wonder if this is the way some people think about heaven.  They are told that as long as they are a "good person" they will be accepted.  They like to think that on the Day of Judgment God will be sympathetic towards their plight, their ignorance of His policies, and throw themselves upon His mercy.  But God has been very clear that there are not many paths to salvation.  There may be many routes one can take to acquiring residency status in Australia, but there is only one way to heaven:  through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ as Saviour and LORD.  Many will say to Jesus on that day, "Lord, Lord!" but He will say to them, "I never knew you.  Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness."  I am sad at the thought of people being deceived to think they can be good enough or that they will be able to sweet-talk their way into heaven.  God is a Just Judge, and He has made a way for all people to be saved.  They must first meet His exacting conditions.  Jesus says in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

If we want to do the works of God, we must believe on the One He has sent, the God-Man Jesus Christ.  It is one thing to lose your life savings because you were duped to believe a boat trip would end in residency; it is far worse still to lose your soul because you were deceived to think your "good" works could save you.  Salvation is in Christ and no other.  Only those who seek refuge in Christ will become residents of heaven!

The Power of Politics

The tendency in all people is to look to the wrong things for salvation.  Even people of faith in God can be duped at times into placing too much trust in things and people other than God.  The illustration in the life of Peter on the Sea of Galilee when he took his eyes off Christ, overwhelmed by the storm's wind and waves, is a fitting one.  Whether I read the news from my home State of California, or watch debates and news concerning the approaching election in Australia, the focus is on the same sort of things:  economics, health care, and social justice issues.  The expectation on the government to "fix things" is misplaced, seeing the government has had much influence to bring us to where we are.  You might as well shout at a lost man with a megaphone and demand he find his way without a map or have 100 million people sign a petition if you want - but that will not bring his wandering to an end.

C.S. Lewis wrote, "If tribulation is a necessary element in redemption, we must anticipate that it will never cease till God sees the world to be either redeemed or no further redeemable.  A Christian cannot, therefore, believe any of the those who promise that if only some reform in our economic, political, or hygienic system were made, a heaven on earth would follow." (The Problem of Pain, pg. 102)  Those in politics are not so rash to predict a "heaven on earth," but they no doubt place faith in their policies to bring about improvement.  The difference between many of these politicians, businessmen, leaders, and citizens and the perspective of C.S. Lewis is that Lewis believed wholly that there is a God, and He is in complete control.  Much of the activism we see today is a response to a symptom rather than the root cause.  Sin is the cause of all suffering in this world.  It is the source of the curse which ensures all will wax worse and worse - not "better and better."  Ultimately this world will only be "better" after Jesus Christ sets up His throne on earth and reigns in righteousness.  The world is sick, and this healing will only come through Christ.

I am grateful that even in a world growing darker with every passing day, the light of Jesus Christ will shine ever brighter through the steadfast testimony of His people and scriptures.  We can make a difference as we labour in prayer, obedience, and faith, following Jesus and making disciples.  When the President of the United States visited Australia last year, one of the newscasts attached a moniker to his name:  "The most powerful man in the world."  This perception suggests that Jesus Christ is not still alive.  I only state this title because apparently it is a perception some have.  I agree that the office of the President is both respected and has great authority.  But in relation to God, how powerful is a man?  So you vote your preferred politician into office:  what then?  Can they save you?  Are they capable of providing life for all?  Here is a haiku I wrote as I mused upon the subject.  Let me preface this by saying this poem is not an indictment against any particular person, party, or policy.

Mister President:

The "World's Most Powerful Man."

He sits there, farting.

I'm sure the irony is not lost on you!  We are foolish to deify men who are at the mercy of the health and digestion of their own bodies, just like you and me.  Compared to God, what power does man possess?  Man only has power God has granted to him.  Christians have the most power to do good in this world because the Spirit of the Living God lives within us.  He is the One who empowers us for service, enables us to stand strong in the face of adversity, and to intercede on behalf of the poor.  God has ordained good works He has called us to enter for His glory.  Prayer is more than talking, and obedience to God's Word greater than any policy a man can enact.  If God is for us, who can be against us?  In these times of uncertainty, when the only certainty is things growing worse and worse, place your faith in Jesus Christ.  He is our source of life and will complete the good work He has begun.  Stand, O Christian!  Stand and praise the LORD!  He will fight for us, for the battle is the LORD's.