As Little Children

When the disciples of Jesus asked Him honest questions, He provided wise answers.  Jesus often appealed to simple visual illustrations to provide deep spiritual truth.  We read of such an interaction when the disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 18, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Jesus answered their question in a profound way.  Matthew 18:2-4 reads, "Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

To answer their question, Jesus simply called a little child to himself.  We do not know who this child was or what he was doing.  It could have been a son or daughter of Christ's disciples, or it could have been a street urchin working his way through the crowd.  Who it was was not as important as what the child did:  at the call of Christ the child heard His voice, stopped what he or she was doing, and obediently came to Jesus.  The child likely was not highly educated, and certainly had no seminary training.  All the things the disciples measured themselves against one another melted away into insignificance.  "If you want to be great in the kingdom of God, you must be as this little child."  Huh.  This was likely not the answer the disciples were expecting or looking for!

Jesus said to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must be converted and become a little children.  The word "converted" in the Greek means, "to twist, i.e. turn quite around or reverse." (Strong's Concordance)  The child had been heading one direction, and upon hearing the call of Jesus turned around and obeyed Him instead.  There was implicit faith in the actions of the child to do so.  A humbling of self was involved, to put aside his own plans and heed the call of the Saviour.  The call of Christ is one of repentance, obedience, and to trust in Him.  There are no adults of heaven, only children of God.  The greatest in God's kingdom are those who come to Him as children, choosing to embrace humility and even suffering for His name's sake.

Are you willing to humble yourself before your Maker?  God does not value the things we tend to value:  knowledge, experience, the ability to speak eloquently, position in a church, or social status:  He is looking and calling for people to hear His voice and come to Him in humility, yielding themselves to His will in absolute surrender and trust.  We are living in the last days, and no man knows how short his remaining time of earth is.  Allow me to remind you of the words of Jesus in John 7:37-38, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  Jesus calls to all who thirst today.  Are you thirsty?  Repent and respond to the call of Jesus right now.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Only those who humble themselves as children before Him will enter into the kingdom of God!

Receive Instruction

Friday nights at Calvary Chapel Sydney we have been slowly working our way through the book of Proverbs.  Eternity will not provide enough time to plumb the depths of God's wisdom, but it has been fun diving in.  One passage which was especially useful for me this week was Proverbs 24:30-34:  "I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; ³¹ and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. ³² When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: ³³ a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; ³⁴ so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man."

Solomon looked upon the fruit of laziness with a keen eye.  He did not do as many of us would do, sneering or shaking our head at the state of the lazy man's neglected property.  The state of the vineyard spoke volumes.  Solomon did not waste time or energy judging the man at all.  He did not offer suggestions on what he would do to rectify the situation.  When Solomon saw the overgrown vineyard and broken down stone wall, he received instruction for himself.  This is profound.  He looked at the field and thought, "Poverty sneaks up on people unawares and overpowers them.  I too could be overwhelmed and unfruitful should I embrace a lazy approach to my responsibilities."  Instead of judging others or jumping to supply solutions for the apparent problems of others, it is wise to apply the truth to your own life.  It is one thing to know what to do, but another step entirely to put it into faithful practice.

Giving advice is easy:  receiving instruction is difficult.  It is only through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we can understand, receive, and walk in the wisdom of God.  Praise the LORD He supplies both the will and power to do according to God's good pleasure!

"You're Going to Hell!"

There are few tings more devastating to a Christian's witness than condemnation from the judgmental hypocrite.  I sadly confess as I young child I once told a neighbour he was going to hell for some petty issue.  When the accusing words flew out of my mouth, it was a fleshly response to conflict without a hint of compassion or love.  My mother was wise to quickly discipline me for such folly in my youth, for I learned early the error of such hurtful and divisive censure.
 
"But people are going to hell," some might protest.  "Isn't it the loving thing to do to tell them where they will spend eternity if they remain in sin?"  Ah, but there is a loving way to communicate biblical truth.  Jesus met many people heading to eternal destruction in hell, but He never raised His voice to utter the phrase, "You're going to hell!"  If Jesus, who intimately and perfectly knew the hearts of men never spoke to sinners in that fashion, we are foolish to think we know better than Christ.  Jesus talked about hell - a lot.  Again and again He spoke of the terrors of hell and everlasting torment which awaited those who died in their sins (Mark 9:43-48).  But there was no hint of accusation in His tone, no overweening self-righteousness present which so often accompanies the aforementioned phrase.

Because we are not God, we cannot know perfectly the hearts of men.  It would be presumptuous for us - on our authority or according to our limited understanding - to condemn souls of men to eternity in hellfire and outer darkness.  What we can do is meekly bring the Law to bear upon one who sins against God and places himself under His wrath.  We can say with Christ's authority what is proclaimed in Romans 6:23:  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Without fear we can hold forth the truth of God's Word in Revelation 21:7-8:  "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."  Even as light reveals dust, so the light of God's Law reveals sin.  The same scriptures also bluntly hold forth the penalty for sin:  the soul that sins will surely die, and the second death is forever.

All people are born on earth are heading to hell because of our own sin, but God made a way for justice to be satisfied through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  Lay the heavy weight of the Law upon proud, self-righteous sinners so they might see their need for salvation and repent.  Give grace to the humble, showing the way of salvation through faith in Jesus.  But for your own sake and your listeners (who may not listen long and be further hardened against the message because of your harshness), take care you do not do great harm with hateful speech and condescending tones.  If we are severe in judging others, we will be severely judged on the Day of Judgment (Matthew 7:1-5).  Instead of threatening, take time to lead little lambs to the Saviour who loves them and does not desire their destruction (2 Peter 3:9).  Be compassionate towards those who are perishing, and trust God will grant them repentance leading to salvation.

See Jesus Only

"Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? ² For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."

Isaiah 66:1-2

God has revealed His eyes go to and fro throughout the whole earth, seeking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chron. 16:9).  Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave a snapshot of such a person:  one who is humble of heart, with a contrite spirit, who trembles at His Word.  Does God's Word have such an effect on you?  In the New Testament, there is a lovely fulfillment of this passage when Jesus was transfigured before His disciples.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray.  The disciples, bless their hearts, were overcome with sleep.  They awoke in a shock to see Jesus tranfigured in radiance, speaking with Elijah and Moses appeared with Him.  They spoke of His decease and future glory.  Peter, not knowing what to say in such a rare moment, suggested they build tabernacles for Jesus, Elijah, and Moses.  Suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and Matthew 17:5-8:  "While he [Peter] was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" ⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." ⁸ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only."

When the Father spoke from heaven, the disciples heard His words and fell on their faces in great fear.  Jesus came near His disciples, touched them, and spoke words of comfort to them:  "Arise, and do not be afraid."  When they mustered the courage to look up, hearing Christ's command, they saw no one but Jesus only.  I love this!  No longer was their gaze upon bright lights and shining clouds. They were not busy thinking and talking about potential future building projects!  They were not in awe of seeing men of faith they respected:  they only saw Jesus.  May we who have been humbled before God and tremble at His Word turn our eyes upon Jesus only, for God has looked upon our low, powerless, and fruitless condition.  We have been sleeping when we could have been praying, but God looks upon the heart.  He has many things to tell us if we will listen.  When we are weary and frightened Jesus will come to us, touch, and speak comfort.

Bow before your Maker, man!  Tremble before His Word!  Humble yourself before your LORD and Saviour, and He will lift you up.