God Does Not Threaten

The ideas people have of God's character or nature are commonly not based on the revelation of scripture but their own faulty assumptions or reasoning.  People imagine God to be a certain way based upon short quotes (without context) or observation of others who claim to know him.  Do you think you could possibly "know" a musician by learning the lyrics to their songs?  Can you become intimately acquainted with a politician based upon a short television interview, sound bites or an advertisement?  The truth is, a lot of people who enshrine misconceptions of God actually "know" musicians and politicians (they do not know!) far better than they know God.

God is not whoever man imagines him to be.  Many have constructed a "god" in their own minds which is not God, an imaginary being of whom they approve, blame or hate based upon blind ignorance.  Being God, He is not subject to our judgments or self-centred bias.  God has revealed Himself through the Bible, God's word, and God became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ.  All of nature reveals and proclaims the undimmed glory of God, while man often worships creation over the creator.  Man in his folly sets up idols for himself which "will not totter" (Is. 40:20) and are well pleased to slide a little cardboard under the leg to prop up their misplaced affections--rather than repent, trust and obey the living God.

One thing consistent in God's character revealed in scripture is He does not threaten:  He tells man how it is.  Man often views a warning as a threat, but they could not be more different.  Let's say you are teaching someone to drive a car.  You warn him if he follows cars too closely, he runs the risk of rear-ending other vehicles and causing an accident.  Imagine if the student's head whipped around, and with narrowed eyes asked, "Is that a threat?"  How ridiculous!  It is not a threat to explain what is the eventual certainty of taking the risk of following another car too close.  What if you saw a young child (not your own) playing dangerously near a fire while camping and felt you should say something?  "Careful now," you call out as you see the flames reaching out to lick the clothing of the clueless lad.  "If you play near that fire, you could be burned!"  This is not a threat but a loving response in the face of danger.  Not being your child, the young one might cry or run away because they did not understand your motive.  Such is often the case when unbelievers hear God's Word, for they interpret warnings as threats.

The scriptures say with absolute authority:  "The soul that sins will surely die" (Eze. 18:20).  God never threatens a man with death for his disobedience.  The fact is, all human beings are sinners who will die because of our sin.  We are already doomed to destruction because of our disobedience, and our souls are headed to hell!  As certain as the law of gravity has an impact on life on earth, so the law of sin and death means we are already facing judgment and eternal damnation.  Punishment in hell is not a threat to manipulate those God wants to control:  God warns us because it is already a reality.  He is not willing that any should perish but that all would repent and receive eternal life by faith in Him, for the death of the wicked provides God no pleasure.  The reality of death and eternal separation from God is true concerning all people and even nations.  This morning I read in Jeremiah 12:17, "But if they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation," says the LORD."  This is not a threat but the effect of sin on a people that walk in disobedience and disregard of God.  It has been proved true again and again with all nations, including Israel. Still God shows compassion to those once disobedient, and graciously restores all who place their trust in Him.

Consider the example of Jesus Christ, supremely consistent with the character of the Father in 1 Peter 2:20-25:  "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."  Jesus had all power and authority in heaven and earth granted to Him, yet did not threaten (verse 23).  He did not threaten those who skewered Him with punishment nor threaten to withhold forgiveness or the Gospel.  Jesus committed Himself and all His pain and suffering to the Father in heaven who judges righteously.  Eventually all those who hate Jesus will receive their wages, and the wages of sin is death.

Do you feel threatened by the warnings of God?  Ezekiel 33:11 conveys the heart of the God who seeks to save the lost:  "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'"

Called to Serve

When I arrived home this afternoon, I turned the kettle on for a hot drink.  Over the sound of the electric kettle I heard an odd mechanical noise outside.  A quick glance out the window revealed evidence which confirmed my suspicion:  the pool pump!  With all the leaves falling of late, the pool filter basket fills quickly.  The large amount of leaves floating on the surface suggested strongly the basket was packed full and the pump was straining to draw water through.  I quickly went outside, turned off the pump, and discarded the leaves which had collected.

As I used the net to skim off the remaining leaves, my initial thought was:  "How is it no one else seems to notice the basket needed to be emptied?"  But then I caught myself.  What if one of my contributions to a smooth running household is my awareness of the pool's condition and doing something about it?  If I was called to be the pool cleaner, why should I be frustrated or annoyed at other people who aren't doing what I am supposed to do?  I am thankful to have a pool, and grateful for the tools and ability to clean it.

Then it struck me:  how many times in church ministry have I seen people bothered the "church" isn't doing what they think it should be doing?  Could it be those people who are acutely aware of a need are actually the ones who could do something about it?  How sad it would be for me to berate my wife and children for not doing the thing I am called to do myself!  Teaching, training, and delegation all have their place and value in life and ministry.  But too often we notice our "pool" is not clean, it bothers us those choking leaves seem to bother us more than others, and this leads to judgmental, grumbling, and sour believers.  It would seem a bit strange for me to pray God would call someone to clean up these leaves - when I am holding the skim net in my hands.  Huh.  It looks like God already has!

How good it is to know God is in control, and He gives us the ability to rejoice in any situation.  If God has called you to be a pool cleaner, rejoice!  If He has called you to do the washing, clean dishes, or mop floors for the glory of His name, so be it!  In all things may we be thankful, happy to be of service in the simple ways He graciously provides.  Instead of frustration the pool wasn't clean, I can rejoice God led me to notice the condition and clean it myself.  Ah, the bliss of doing what God calls us to do!

Delighted in God

I've enjoyed reading through a George Muller biography written by Roger Steer titled Delighted in God.  Both encouraging and challenging, it is refreshing to read of a man who was absolutely convinced of God's power and ability to provide for all his needs.  Not only were the needs of George abundantly supplied by the LORD through prayer, but also the needs of staff, thousands of orphans, building projects, supplies, and upkeep.  Here is a memorable snippet from the mouth of William Ready, a young man who spent time in Muller's orphanage:

'How vividly comes back to my mind that last meeting with the father of the fatherless before leaving his care.  He received me kindly when I went into his prayer room at No. 3 orphanage.  Ah!  What wonderful prayers had been offered there on behalf of the orphans and what remarkable answers he had there received!'

Muller put half a crown into his left hand and a Bible in his right. 'You can hold tighter with your right hand than with your left, can you not?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Well, my lad,' said Muller, 'hold to the teaching of that book and you will always have something for your left hand to hold.'

Muller then asked William to kneel, and putting his hand on his head, he committed him to God's keeping.  Helping him then to his feet Muller said, 'Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily shalt thou be fed.  Goodbye, my lad, goodbye!'  (Delighted in God, Steer, 1981, pg. 178)

What George Muller believed and lived I have also found to be true.  Those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.  What is written in Joshua 21:45 remains true today for God's people:  "Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass."  If God so clothes the grass of the field which is green today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will God feed and clothe us?

Jesus Comes Unexpectedly

One of the things I have been doing for exercise lately is playing golf.  Walking over uneven ground pushing a buggy has helped me with balance and endurance.  Though it is cold and often foggy early at 6:30am, I brave the chill during a weekday to squeeze in a round as early as possible.  It is a blessed time of quiet with the LORD as I take in the beautiful scenery.  Since I typically golf alone, I am often able to be completely finished by 9am and head off to work.

Because the course I typically play had a competition going this week, I played at another course in the area.  I called in a couple days in advance and was assured I could tee off by 7am.  As is my custom I arrived twenty minutes early, just in case I would be able to tee off earlier.  As I waited by the locked pro shop an elderly member pushed his buggy near mine.  "Still isn't here," the old man said.  "Usually he turns up early, but since the boss is out of town he's taking advantage of it."  We continued chatting for a few minutes.  Ten minutes after 7 he arrived and I headed out into the fog.

The man's words had me thinking.  How typical it is of human nature to take advantage of someone's absence to be slack concerning our responsibilities!  Jesus told several parables which warned against the folly of this approach to life.  Luke 12:42-46 states, "And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. ⁴⁵ But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers."  By his wicked deeds the "servant" was proved no servant of Christ at all, but lived to please himself.  Thus exposed as a false believer, such a one faces eternity separate from God in Hell.  This is a warning all people who profess Christ do well to consider.

Many times in scripture we are told no man knows the day or the hour of Christ's return, but only the Father in heaven knows.  But in another sense, we can know for certain exactly when Jesus will come:  He will come for those unfaithful servants in the hour when they least expect it!  If I was the owner of the golf course and I wanted to see how things truly run in my absence, perhaps I would cut a holiday short and show up unannounced early in the morning when it would be least expected.  The employees who are faithful would be prepared for my arrival, but those who took the opportunity to sleep in and arrive late would face stern consequences.  Jesus is coming back, and His reward is with Him.  All Christians must give account of their stewardship to the One who has committed all things unto them.  Our faithfulness to Christ's call to obedience, our gifts, talents, and resources will all be judged by Jesus to see if we have measured up to His standard of faithfulness.

Let's keep looking to Jesus, knowing the time is short.  Blessed is that wise and faithful servant whom our Master discovers has been obedient to His will.  Jesus is coming at a time we do not expect!