The Life Worth Living

As I drove home from the discipleship course at CC Sydney last night, for some reason the idea popped into my head of the heroin addict who decided he was finally going to quit for good - he just wanted to get loaded one more time.  No sense in letting those drugs already purchased go to waste!  But it would turn out to be the last time shooting up, because it caused an overdose which led to death.  In light of the ultimate result we might see that decision to use drugs "just once more" as pathetic and foolish.  The fact is, that is the picture of the natural condition of every person in the world when it comes to sin.  We are all born sinners, and completely addicted to it.  We are born into this world like drug babies, hooked on sin.  We are rebellious degenerates who simply can't say no.  For us it's always, "Just once more."  Even when we say, "Never again!" it's not long before we are back at it like we never quit.

When our eyes are opened to our helpless condition and we come to Christ in repentance and faith, He is the one who sets us captives free.  We can go beyond just saying "no" because we don't have to be enslaved to bondage to sin any more.  Every person in the world knows the relentless power of addiction.  We know how impossible it is not to worry, and how controlling our temper is beyond our power.  Standing in judgment of others is as thoughtless for us as drawing breath, and wicked motives and intentions seep from our minds with every pump of our deceitful hearts.  It is a view of a holy God according to the scripture which sheds light on our condition:  lost, depraved, and damned.  Thanks be to God, for He is a sure hope of salvation, forgiveness, help, comfort, and everlasting for all who trust in Him.  He alone gives us a life worth living, and it's a life we can enjoy forever because He is in us, and we in Him.

This morning I heard shocking news of the death of comic Robin Williams, and from initial reports suicide was suspected.  It is always surprising when we hear of celebrated musicians, actors, athletes, a pastor, or a friend intentionally ending their own lives.  The public is often presented the glamorous side of celebrities, them posing for pictures on a red carpet wearing gowns and stylish suits.  We read of their large salaries and because they are famous we assume they must be among the world's happiest people.  The characters they portray on the screen or skills they possess on the field colour our view of them as people.  "Oh, I loved him in that movie" some say - expressing a conditional love that can feel good at times but also bites like a tiger.  Since celebrities have a public level of fame and success few people will ever experience, we figure there must be a level of satisfaction and rest in their private lives.  But this is not always the case.  It is folly to think more money, fame, or an arbitrary level of success brings peace in your world.  It speaks to me of sheer desperation when death seems a better option than living.  Live long enough on this world and the day may come when you think you are better off dead.  For me I can truly say a relationship with Jesus Christ makes this life worth living, regardless of the amount of outward success or notoriety (or lack thereof!).

The preacher says in Ecclesiastes 5:10:  "He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity."  The Bible reveals this is the human condition apart from Christ.  Even those who have a relationship with God can be staggered by depression, grief, and personal loss.  There is always a potential that we will seek ways to numb feelings with drugs, alcohol, through work, escapism, games, sport, sex, body image, even comedy.  We must embrace more activity - even Christian service - to lose ourselves so we can cope with our pain, disappointment, worries, or insecurities.  Jesus said in Matthew 16:25, "For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."  It is easy to lose ourselves in so many things:  work, addictions, entertainment, chemicals, activities, and the list goes on.  We human beings have been fashioned in God's image and therefore have a need of dependance upon Him, even as an human embryo naturally must grow in the womb of the mother.  It is only through being born again through the Gospel that we experience the life God intended for us on earth and into eternity, a life filled with love, joy, and peace.

When I hear of someone dying, I am confronted with not only my limited life span on earth, but the mortality of everyone on this world who does not know Jesus Christ.  There are also many people who know Jesus and struggle with depression, anxieties, and sins.  As long as we are in this body of flesh, there will be struggles.  But take heart, for Jesus is a Deliverer and Redeemer of all who come to Him in faith.  We are sinners, but He is a Saviour.  He heals broken hearts and lives.  If we are hungry we can partake of Him, and if we are thirsty He will provide Living Water.  It is natural for us to grab all the world can possibly offer to gratify the flesh, but we are insatiable.  There is a part of a man that remains troubled apart from Christ, no matter what he does or what he has.  The Godfather made offers no one could refuse, but Jesus Christ has offered Himself - with the freedom of refusal.  Will you refuse the one who loves you and died for your sins?  Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-29, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."

The Faith of the Son of God

I love it when God illuminates a scripture in a fresh way.  Yesterday I was reading the Bible waiting for my number to be called in the Medicare office and read Galatians 2:20 in the King James Version:  "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."  There is a subtle difference from the New King James I found most illuminating.  I point this out not for the purpose of pitting one translation over another, but it shed light on another facet of God's truth I had not yet considered.  The New King James Versions reads, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."  I do not believe one of these is "right" and therefore the other is "wrong," but they both hold forth important God-breathed truth.

Do you see the difference?  The NKJV renders Paul's statement "...the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God."  Christians realise our life is intended to be one marked by active reliance in Christ, delighting to do His will.  We place our trust in Christ, and as we walk in obedience the life of Christ is lived out through us.  Now compare this with the wording of the KJV:  "...the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God."  I found this remarkable.  Not only do we live by faith in Christ, but we live by the faith of the Son of God.  The faith we possess is a gift from God.  We cannot muster or manufacture such a response to God in our flesh.  God has dealt to each person a measure of faith, and our faith can be increased as we step out in obedience and see God's faithfulness.

The genuine faith we possess, therefore, is of the exact kind Jesus demonstrated when He went to the cross for the sins of the world in obedience to the Father.  The very fabric of our faith is cut from Christ's faith.  Our spiritual DNA is the same, having been filled with the same Spirit and same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead.  1 Peter 1:19-23 tells us we were not purchased with corruptible things "...but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ²⁰ He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ²¹ who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. ²² Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, ²³ having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever."  Our faith and hope is to be in God, and now the life that we live is to be a demonstration of the faith of the Son of God, even as we love one another as He has loved us.

This is just another example of how the living Word of God is powerful, packed with truth, and applicable to our lives.  God's Word will never pass away, and the wisdom and power of it will not be exhausted for eternity.  Of making books there is not end, yet there will never be another book like the Bible that searches hearts, convicts of sin, is a lamp to our path, and will remain relevant and fresh for all time.  You who are hungry dig into God's Word, for a feast awaits!

Reaffirm Your Love

"Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. ⁹ For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. ¹⁰ Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices."

2 Corinthians 2:8-11

In his prior letter to the church in Corinth, Paul had exhorted the church to take seriously their responsibility to discipline a member of their fellowship who was living in sin.  The purpose of church discipline is not to punish or humiliate people, but for their ultimate restoration to a close relationship with God and his people.  The man repented of his sinful lifestyle and was truly penitent.  Paul exhorted them to forgive and comfort the man.  He urged them to "reaffirm your love to him."  This is a lovely benefit of being a part of the Body of Christ, the Church.  People will know we are Christians by our love for one another, even after mistakes have been made.

Paul concluded this section with an interesting observation, that Satan is able to take advantage of those who do not forgive.  Love keeps no record of wrongs, but unforgiveness and bitterness continue to claim wrongs and judge others as perpetually guilty.  Unforgiveness, disobedience, and all manner of sin cultivated in our hearts become tools of the devil, his effective devices to influence and deceive individuals who comprise the Church.  Satan cannot destroy the church, but he can sow discord and divide.  We are not ignorant of Satan's devices because we have all employed his tactics freely and liberally before we became Christians.  Perhaps Satan hoped to use the sinning man or Paul's strong rebuke to drive a wedge between relationships, to splinter and divide the church.  Thankfully his schemes were thwarted:  the church responded obediently, the man repented and was restored, and Paul encouraged them to reaffirm their love to him.

I am convinced confirmation of love is good evidence we have actually forgiven someone.  Sometimes we confuse forgiveness with "renewed agreement of civil toleration."  The words, "I forgive you" may have tumbled out of our mouths, but sometimes our affections towards the offending party cool.  Perhaps we do not feel they have suffered enough or have been let off easily.  We remember their cutting words and evil deeds and the pain remains fresh.  We are Christians, so we will agree to tolerate their presence.  We know if we do not forgive others, God will not forgive us.  So we shake their hand and smile, perhaps even sharing light conversation.  If we would be honest, we do not prefer to be around them.  For all we care, they can disappear and take their baggage along with them!  But we cannot blame them for our disobedience in refusing to forgive.  Forgiveness is an act of faith enabled by the power of the Holy Spirit.  It is a decision to transfer their sin toward us upon Christ, even as our trespasses have been laid upon Him!  We need to walk in the Spirit to love as well.  Then the joy of the LORD will be our strength, and the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.  We will rejoice to affirm our love in practical ways, and begin to live in the liberty Christ has granted us by grace.

Isn't it great that God forgives our sin, reaffirms His love for us, and speaks comfort to our hearts?  How many practical ways God has demonstrated and confirmed His love for me again and again.  Instead of allowing Satan to take advantage of us through unforgiveness, let us forgive and affirm our love for one another.  The demonstration of God's love compels us to love one another, a tangible testimony to the church and the world of God's love that never fails.

The Intentional Walk

Walking is an activity.  To do it requires intentional movement:  standing up to our feet in an upright position and putting one foot in front of the other.  Walking is a fundamental development of human beings, and most of us learned to walk before speaking!  One of the key contributors to illness later in life is an increasingly sedentary lifestyle.  Through neglect and increasing obesity, even walking can become an unbearable chore.  There is a spiritual parallel for Christians to consider:  walking with Jesus is not a passive choice, but an intentional activity.  It is very possible after a passage of time our walk has been reduced to lounging and reclining upon plush sofas of familiar theology.  Unless we are intentional about walking with Jesus daily, every one of us can become spiritually flabby, senseless, and unhealthy - despite the breadth and depth of our knowledge.

One of the potential dangers for every Christian is we can become dull from much hearing.  When we hear the Word and do not respond in obedience, should we ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we will become increasingly dull to God's voice.  We will pray but will not hear God speak.  We will read the Word without receiving any spiritual nutrition.  We will understand the words and concepts but receive no personal application from the text.  Church attendance will become increasingly burdensome.  We can sing Christian songs without a hint of actual adoration or worship of God, our dry eyes never moistened by the moving wonder of God's love.  Service to God will not provide us joy or satisfaction.  And all the while we are self-deceived, convinced we are actually walking with Christ when our hearts have wandered from Him long ago.  Other lesser, worldly loves will continue crowd out space for God in our life.  We will become increasingly distracted, burdened, and disappointed.  All the while we are feverishly working like Martha, wondering why Mary doesn't give us a hand, when it has been ages since we have taken time to sit and the feet of our Saviour Jesus Christ.

There is a hymn I enjoy that goes, "Just a closer walk with Thee, grant it, Jesus, is my plea, daily walking close to Thee, let it be, dear Lord, let it be."  There is within all genuine believers a fervent desire to draw closer to God because of God's indwelling Spirit.  Do you know it is God's will for every person to have a closer walk with Him?  He will not refuse this request, seeing it is Jesus who has sought us out.  If we plead for a closer walk with Jesus and do not take intentional action - to daily walk closer to Jesus - do not expect this prayer to be answered.  Scripture teaches us Jesus will not refuse or cast aside anyone who comes to Him in faith.  It is we who refuse Him.  Let this sink into your soul.  Instead of including God in our activities, thoughts, and service, it is we who exclude Him.  He has brought us into His own forever family, but we are the wanderers, the forgettors, the ones mired in the love of worldly things.  Let us not pine away for what God has already given because we refuse to take baby steps of faith to walk in obedience.

Do you want a closer walk with Jesus?  It is yours if you are willing to walk with Him.  Take intentional steps to seek God and invite Him into your day.  If we truly value time with God, then we will seek Him as a treasure hunter seeks precious gold.  We would continue to pursue Him even as His love pursues us.  Let us not be as married couples who forget the importance of the loving pursuit of their spouse.  Should we put on weight and grow soft because the thrill of the chase is over?  We cannot be content with our current knowledge of God when there are many things He wants to say to us today!  God, keep me from worldly loves and affection which rob us of time together!  Cause me to take intentional steps to follow you daily - no matter the cost - for you are worthy of all honour, glory, and praise.  Thank you for providing strength through the Holy Spirit to accomplish your will, that I and all those in the Body of Christ would daily walk closer with you!