Only Jesus can Transform

"Though you grind a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his foolishness will not depart from him."

Proverbs 27:22 

When I heard shocking and sad news from Israel recently, this verse came to mind.  It was reported that during a Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem a man armed with a knife stabbed several participants.  What made the news more terrible was this same man had been convicted of doing the exact same thing over a decade ago when he stabbed three people during a Gay Pride event.  The man had paid the price the law demanded with 10 years imprisonment, yet all that time in prison was incapable of transforming his heart.  This is an extreme case to be sure, but it affirms the Word of God:  the severest punishments are incapable of separating a fool from his folly.  That is something only God can do.  Imprison a coward who stabbed unarmed people in the back for 30 years if you like, but it won't change his heart.

I knew a co-worker years ago who also spent a fair amount of time in prison.  In his words, it was not guilt over his illegal activities which straightened him out, but the loss of freedom and separation from his family which motivated him.  The perceived positives of his lifestyle began to be drowned out by negative ones.  Basically, his life of sin became increasingly inconvenient.  His heart was the same, but he worked at changing his behaviour.  Incarceration had not rehabilitated the man, though his behaviour might contribute to a statistic which would support the effectiveness of the justice system to reform criminals.  The folly was still there, and the experience of being locked up made him a bit more savvy with chances he was willing to take.  It takes much more than time or a little elbow grease to separate a fool from folly.  All animals act consistently according to their nature with predictable instincts and behaviours, and people are much the same.  Try to teach a dog to be a human being all you like, but he will retain the distinct nature of dog.  Dress him up in clothes, send him to kindergarten, force him to walk on his hind legs, but his nature will remain unchanged.  In the same way, men born of the flesh live for the flesh, and only those born again by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ have new hearts capable of comprehending and walking in God's wisdom.

Foolishness will never willingly depart from a fool.  The biblical definition of a "fool" is one who denies the existence of God or lives without regard to Him or His judgments.  It is written in Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none who does good."  Conversely, those who are wise in God's eyes are those who hear the words of Jesus Christ and obey them (Matthew 7:24).  Only Jesus Christ has the power to make people new creations through the Gospel.  We who were once foolish, separated from God because of sin, by nature children of wrath, have been brought near to God through the shed blood of Christ applied to our hearts by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:1-10).  Even after we come to Jesus Christ and are given a new nature, the foolishness of our flesh will not willingly depart.  We must be willing and determine with God's ever-present help to put it off and depart from it. 

Galatians 5:19-26 says, "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, ²¹ envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. ²⁴ And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another."  God does not even attempt to reform men.  He knows the only way to gain the victory over the flesh is to kill it, to reckon ourselves dead to sin and alive to God.  Walking in the Spirit keeps us from fulfilling the lusts of our natural flesh.  When we crucify the flesh in humble contrition and repentance, trusting in Christ, we are benefactors of His life risen in glory.

What evidence does your life present:  the works of the flesh, or the fruit of the Spirit?  Praise God for the power, deliverance, redemption, and the transforming work He does for all those who trust and cooperate with Him.  Sin and foolishness cannot be separated from our original nature, but Jesus is the One who makes all things new.

Seek Jesus Where He Is

Imagine thinking Jesus was with you and being mistaken!  To say it would be disconcerting would be an understatement.  This is exactly what happened to Joseph and Mary after celebrating the Passover with Jesus in Jerusalem.  Luke 2:43-44 says, "When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; ⁴⁴ but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances."  Joseph and His mother journeyed for an entire day, supposing Jesus was with them, but the distance between them grew with every step they took.

We understand how people can be physically separated from others, but we must consider the reality that even those who believe in Jesus can also be separated from Him.  Thousands in Israel did not know Jesus, and they did not miss Him.  Even his parents did not miss Him for a day.  Is this not a sobering fact?  His own parents assumed Jesus was with them, and we can think in our efforts to please God Jesus must be with us when we have walked away from Him.  Believing in Jesus does not mean He tags along with us.  He is the Good Shepherd, and we are the sheep.  We are called to abide with Him.  Reversing this order is a great danger indeed!

When Joseph and Mary discovered Jesus was not with them, they immediately sought Him.  Luke 2:45 reads, "So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him."  What a good example this is for Christians, followers of Jesus Christ!  Should we realise Jesus isn't with us, we need to stop, lay aside our plans, and drop everything to seek Him.  We can toil in a ministry, thinking by virtue of our effort Jesus must be with us.  But sometimes we have moved away from where Jesus is, following family, a schedule, or the crowds.  If we ever make the mistake of wandering from the presence of Jesus, let's retrace our steps to find Jesus again without giving up.

God said in Jeremiah 29:13, "And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart."  Those who humble themselves, trusting in Jesus, will find Him.  Jesus revealed Himself as the Son of God so He might be believed and save sinners, people who have been separated from God by sin.  Praise the LORD that He may be found!  Isaiah 55:6-7 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."

Feeling Unappreciated?

Do you sometimes feel unappreciated?  When we feel unappreciated, the tendency towards bitterness, resentment, and ultimately inaction is a natural slide.  We can fall into the trap of measuring the usefulness of our deeds based upon the response we receive from others.  Did Jesus embrace the cross because He knew some might appreciate it?  No!  The lack of "appreciation" expressed by others didn't enter into His decision.  He shed His blood knowing most people wouldn't appreciate or appropriate it!  God had prepared a good work to enter into through sacrifice, and Jesus was obedient and faithful to see it through regardless of how much others appreciated it.

I don't always feel appreciated.  Just yesterday I was feeling like my efforts to help others were not appreciated or being recognised at all.  But as I examined my feelings according to scripture, I realised I was looking to the response of others to encourage me to serve when my eyes ought to be fixed on Jesus.  "I don't feel appreciated, God." I said to Him.  At that moment I felt as if God smiled upon me and said, "I still love you."  That little word made all the difference.  Even if I wasn't appreciated at all by others, I was still loved by God.  When God's love for me is my motive in serving Him and others, what profound joy we can experience!  Too often we substitute the appreciation of others for the love of God, and it is we who rob ourselves of the joy and strength we need to endure times of difficulty.

So instead of looking for signs of appreciation or affirmation from others in doing good, recognise and respond to the love of God demonstrated for you.  Even if no one notices or seems to care about the sacrifices you make, God still loves you.  And if this doesn't warm your heart and bring a smile to your face, may God open your eyes and heart to receive His love.  Improperly received or over-valued appreciation by others is a thief that robs God of glory.  When we don't feel appreciated by others, it provides deeper channels for us to draw upon the love of God.  How good it is therefore to feel unappreciated and remain obedient!  Man's praise quickly fades, but the joy of the LORD endures forever.

Answer Christ's Questions BEFORE Asking

People ask God a lot of questions.  Jesus demonstrated He is under no obligation to answer any question - especially the dishonest questions of men - though He is glad and willing to answer all sincere questions.  In an interaction with the Pharisees, before Jesus agreed to answer their question they were required to answer His.  This is the correct order of things, for God has all authority over men.  If we demand an honest answer from God, we must first be honest with Him.  When we refuse to answer Christ's questions, do not be surprised when you do not receive answers.

Matthew 21:23-27 tells the story:  "Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?" ²⁴ But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things: ²⁵ The baptism of John--where was it from? From heaven or from men?" And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ²⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet." ²⁷ So they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know." And He said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."  Jesus only did what pleased the Father, but His actions did not please the chief priests and elders.  They openly questioned His authority.  Knowing the hypocrisy of their hearts, Jesus agreed to answer them on the condition they first answered His question.

Christ's question prompted a private discussion.  Answering the question Jesus asked would expose them as hypocrites or prompt indignation and outcry from the people - two things they had planned to do to Jesus by asking Him such questions publicly.  So the most learned men in Israel lied and played dumb:  "We do not know."  Jesus replied, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."  Jesus had been given all authority from His Father.  Since these rulers did not trust or believe Him, they wouldn't believe the truth even if He told them.  They would only accuse Him of dishonesty when it was they who were dishonest themselves.  This is a good lesson for Christians.  We are never under any obligation to answer the dishonest questions of the unbelievers.  Does God need me to defend Him?  Well did our Saviour warn not to cast pearls before swine, lest after trampling those precious truths underfoot they turn and tear us apart (Matt. 7:6).

Do you have questions you want to ask of God?  How about answering some of the questions Jesus asked first?  Your answer or unwillingness to answer likely reveals why heaven seems silent.  In the following passages, the bold emphasis is mine:

• "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. ²⁶ And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 
• "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" Matthew 16:26 
• "Then the Pharisees went and plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk. ¹⁶ And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men. ¹⁷ Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" ¹⁸ But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. ²⁰ And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" ²¹ They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." Matthew 22:15-21
•  "When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" ²⁸ And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to Him, "Yes, Lord." ²⁹ Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you." ³⁰ And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "See that no one knows it." Matthew 9:27-30
•  "And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." ²⁹ So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" ³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" ³² And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³ Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God." Matthew 14:28-33

Do you believe Jesus is who He claims to be, the Christ?  What does it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul?  Why do you test Him in hypocrisy?  Do you believe Jesus is able to do what you ask of Him?  Why did you doubt?  Why do we doubt?  Oh, that we would answer Christ's questions in humility and faith proved in reality!  Then He will speak, we will hear, and receive Him as the answer we have be searching for!