Righteous By Faith in Christ

I read a news story I found most illuminating.  Fox News reported a woman in New Hampshire received more than she expected when she visited Burger King.  After driving through to pick up the food she ordered, she realised she had mistakenly been given money intended for a bank deposit.  The article read, "...the couple briefly considered keeping the money, which they certainly could have used. But he says he and his wife are Jehovah's Witnesses, and that "Jehovah sees everything."  I found this mildly amusing and tragic at the same time.

It is true "Jehovah sees everything," but it appears the fear of retribution or punishment for stealing was more a deterrent than loving to do what is righteous and pleases God.  It is sad many people who "fear" God in a worldly sense know nothing of His love, grace, and forgiveness.  God saw this couple briefly considered keeping the money, and the fact they even needed to have a discussion over the dishonest temptation to steal the money condemns of the condition of their hearts.  You see, God cares not only about our external behaviour, but the thoughts and motives of our hearts.  If it is only the fear of being caught and punished which keeps me from criminal activity, the monstrous power and influence of sin remains on the loose-  though concealed before men in my heart.  God sees the heart, and only by spiritual regeneration, forgiveness, and salvation through faith in Christ can sin within us be put to death.

We cannot earn God's favour through external adherence to the law.  The Law of God only condemns, but has provided life and salvation through Jesus Christ, God-made-flesh.  It is only through faith in Jesus we can be reconciled to the Father, adopted as children of God, and made righteous even as Christ is.  Paul wrote in Philippians 3:7-11, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; ¹⁰ that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, ¹¹ if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."

God's Goals and Ours

Some people love the journey, and others are focused more on the destination.  I'm more a destination guy.  The knowledge I will ultimately arrive at my intended destination makes even a long journey tolerable.  As I was cycling for exercise today up and down hills, it occurred to me my goal was not a particular destination on the map, but for the purpose of attaining goals of personal fitness.  I was able to enjoy the journey, knowing I was working towards my goals whether I ever arrive there or not.

We make goals and plans, and often they are desires of our hearts given us by God.  We can be so focused on the destination - like setting foot in a mission field - that we face discouragement when the lack of financial support seems to hold us back.  Some people have in their hearts to plant a church, but for some their goal is never realised.  But such efforts are never wasted.  What the Christian must understand is God is faithful to redeem that time to accomplish His purposes.  Our goals are not God's goals.  We look at the surface, but God looks at the heart.  He uses apparent obstructions, setbacks, and delays to prepare and strengthen us so we will be ready for the next chapter in our lives and ministry.

Considering my own life, I remember clearly when God led me and my family to seek His will for us in Australia.  It was confirmed again and again God was leading us to Australia to serve Him.  My realisation of God's will for our future did not mean it happened instantly.  Years passed, and our goal seemed no closer to culmination.  In those formative years our faith was stretched and our resolve strengthened as we sought the LORD.  God was working in my heart, in the hearts of my wife, children, relatives, and even in hearts of the people where God would establish us.  My goal was to serve God in Australia, but I needed preparation I never thought I did.  God is wise to lengthen our journey and leave our goals unrealised until we have brought to a place of surrender and trust we could never have otherwise.

Isaiah 55:6-9 says, "Seek the LORD while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. ⁷ Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. ⁸ "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. ⁹ "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."  God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, and so are His plans for us.  He has plans far more important than our goals to accomplish in us through His sanctifying works along the way.  Without the journey, we could never be prepared to arrive, thrive, and endure at our destination.  Trust the LORD, and praise Him for His goodness and mercy towards us!

Not Cast Away

Last night I watched an interesting foreign film called "Castaway on the Moon," a Korean twist on the movie "Castaway" starring Tom Hanks.  The basic plot is after a failed suicide attempt, a floundering businessman ends up on a island in the middle of a metropolitan area.  Unable to swim or successfully call for help, he begins to embrace his simple lifestyle of foraging for food and supplies.  No longer wanting off the island, he wrote "Hello" on a sandy beach.  Unknown to him, his message caught the eye of a solitary woman who lived in the city.  After watching and photographing the "alien" man for a while, the woman decided to contact this man with a simple message in a bottle:  "Hello."  Over the next months they would trade messages back and forth, writing on the beach or sending messages in a bottle.

The discovery of someone who cared enough to write personal messages in a bottle for him to find caused the man to grow increasingly curious.  He wrote on the beach, "Who are you?"  This is a natural response.  When I see the order of the universe and the beauty of this world, when I consider the message of the Bible as a letter introducing all people to the living God who created all and loves us, I am brought to the same point as the solitary man on the beach:  "Who are you?"  God wants to be known, and He has revealed Himself to man in the person of Jesus Christ.  God the Father is an eternal, holy, and unapproachable Spirit who consumes all sin as fire does dry chaff.  By His grace He revealed Himself in the fashion of a man so we might see His love practically demonstrated and love Him back.

Knowing God is a prime purpose in our lives as human beings.  It is only through knowing God we can begin a new life of discovery, comfort, joy, and wisdom.  David knew this.  More critical than serving God is knowing Him.  It is only through knowing God we discover how to please God.  His words are recorded in 1 Chronicles 28:9:  "As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever."  Did you see the first phrase?  "Know the God of your father."  We can know God because He has made Himself known by His grace.  Once we know God intimately through receiving the Gospel by faith, we can serve Him with a loyal heart and a willing mind.  All who seek Him will be found by Him, when we seek Him with our whole hearts.  Forsake Him and there will be severe consequences.

God has not left us marooned on some rock without any means to communicate with Him.  God has made a way through faith in Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit who teaches, comforts, and helps us.  There is no great distance for us to span, for the Holy Spirit dwells inside each person who has confessed their sins, repented, and trusted in Jesus as LORD and Saviour.  Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us so where He is we can be also forever.  Jesus will not reject any who seek Him, for He said in John 6:37, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out."  How wondrous this is, that we can know God!  Do you want to know Him?  How far will you go to know Him just a little more today?

The Lamb for the Offering

"But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father!" And he said, "Here I am, my son." Then he said, "Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?"

Genesis 22:7

The offering itself is an intrinsic part of sacrifice and worship of God.  Isaac knew from experience an altar, fire, and wood was missing the most important part:  the offering.  God is seeking people of faith like Abraham and Isaac, men who worship Him in spirit and in truth.  Hebrews 13:15 says, "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name."  God is the one who supplies the fire within our hearts to offer a sacrifice of praise which is acceptable in His sight.

Churches all over the world supply the fire and wood in times of corporate worship.  The songs are prayerfully selected and practised so all can with one voice praise God in unity.  The music and words sung are not worship in itself, just like fire and wood is not a sacrifice without an offering.  So what is the offering we are called to give?  Ourselves.  God is to be the central focus of our lives, as we lay aside all idols and weights which clamour for our attention.  An acceptable sacrifice before God needed to be the animal prescribed for the particular offering in the law.  Though the animal might be different, they all shared one thing in common:  they had to be without blemish.

This is why holiness is a key component in worship.  Should we approach God in the filthy garments of self-righteousness or our flesh spotted with the leprosy of sin, our sacrifice of praise will not be acceptable.  We must humble ourselves before God in repentance and be born again.  We then have boldness through the cleaning blood of Christ we have been washed, and through the Gospel have received the imputed righteousness of Christ through faith.  "Nothing in my hands I bring," Spurgeon used to say, and this is the truth.  We have nothing to offer the Creator of the Universe, nor is He in need of anything from us.  But He delights in the sacrifice of praise of people who are overwhelmed with His love and goodness, and offer themselves completely without reservation.

When is the last time you allowed yourself to be overwhelmed with the glorious love and grace of Jesus Christ?  What do you know of holy affections which bring tears to the eyes and singing becomes impossible?  It is not only in the good times we can freely offer ourselves:  it is in the tough times, when we are hurting and depressed and bound in sins.  In a day when Israel was being judged by God for their sins it was spoken through the prophet in Jeremiah 33:10-11:  "Thus says the LORD: 'Again there shall be heard in this place--of which you say, "It is desolate, without man and without beast"--in the cities of Judah, in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast, ¹¹ the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: "Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His mercy endures forever"-- and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,' says the LORD."  It is in times of desolation buoyed by faith we can look to the certain future and hope we have through faith in Jesus Christ.  Singing of God's goodness when life isn't good becomes an act of faith in which God is pleased.

As you gather this week at your church fellowship, there no doubt will be wood and fire supplied:  but where is the lamb for the offering?