Comfort Beyond Words

Paul and Silas had a rough day.  Though innocent, they had been falsely accused, arrested, beaten, humiliated, thrown into prison, and their feet secured in stocks.  Acts 17 tells us they were praying and singing praises to God at midnight when suddenly there was an earthquake, the chains fell off the prisoners, and the doors swung open.  The jailer woke up and panicked at the sight of the open cell doors.  He was about to kill himself when Paul called out he should do himself no harm.  No one had escaped, and the man's life would not be required at the hand of his superiors.

Deeply moved the jailer asked, "What must I do to be saved?"  Paul answered, "Believe on the LORD Jesus Christ and you shall be saved, you and your whole house."  The man believed, rejoiced, and was baptised.  He washed the stripes of Paul and Silas, having been whipped terribly.  When Paul and Silas were released the following day, their miraculous, amazing story was not nearly over.  They went to visit a new born-again Christian Lydia who had offered them hospitality previously.  Acts 16:40 reads, "So they went out of the prison and entered the house of Lydia; and when they had seen the brethren, they encouraged them and departed."  Who encouraged who?  One would have thought Paul and Silas could have used some encouragement because of their terrible experience the previous night.  Yet it was Paul and Silas who encouraged the brethren.  Lydia and the others were no doubt distressed over the harsh, unfair treatment endured by Paul and Silas.  They had been beaten down, but not destroyed.  They came out of the prison battered yet were an encouragement to others through the power of the Holy Spirit who dwelt within them.

As A.W. Tozer said, Christianity is not designed for the classroom but for use in real life.  A life following Christ is to be lived out on the street, in a prison, during times of pain and tragedy, in spite of unfair treatment, and to encourage others.  Paul wrote the exhortation of Philippians 4:4 during house arrest:  "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!"  Paul and Silas did not rejoice in physical pain or incarceration, but in the midst of those things they devoted themselves to rejoice in the LORD.  He is always worthy of praise, despite our sufferings.  He will never leave us or forsake us, knows what we are going through, and provides comfort and peace which passes understanding.  It is a peace which cannot be logically explained but only experienced through a life of faith in God.

As I considered how I would conclude this post, this morning I read a Facebook status of a Christian woman.  She posted the immortal words of 2 Corinthians 1:3-4:  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God."  This verse was not shared by a person who had just received a promotion at work, received a permanent resident visa, or won the lottery:  it was shared by a woman who just heard her father suddenly and tragically passed away.  Who was encouraging who?  I was the one who was encouraged as I in awe considered the strength God grants to all who stand on the solid bedrock of faith in Jesus Christ and His Word.  Our God is a God of all comfort who comforts us in all our tribulation so we may be able to comfort others facing trouble.

Do you experience this comfort which defies description?  God offers it freely to all who trust in Him.  He graciously grants this divine strength not only so you can receive comfort and be strengthened, but so you can comfort others with the comfort you have received from God.  Praise God nothing can separate us from the love and comfort of our glorious Saviour Jesus Christ.

The Door To Glory

Jesus knew His coming to this world would involve much suffering, yet His suffering or pain was not His focus.  Even as Paul recognised the sufferings of this world could not be compared to the glory which would be revealed in him, so Jesus for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross and despised the shame.  Jesus was never selfish or self-focused.  He did not balk at obedience to the Father because it would mean temptation, physical pain or spiritual separation.  John 12:23-24 says, "But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. ²⁴ Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."  Jesus didn't spend the bulk of His time speaking about His future pain, but how His death would be the path to eternal glory and fruit.

When Jesus spoke of His future crucifixion, He spoke of it with the ultimate end in mind.  He maintained an eternal perspective.  Women who desire to have a baby rejoice and celebrate their pregnancy with friends and family, even if it means migraines and morning sickness.  There are happy parties planned with friends, gifts are given, great care is taken to prepare a nursery, and a future mother ensures cute outfits and supplies are ready for the miraculous addition.  Prospective mothers experience a wide range of physical and emotional ups and downs to be sure, but the nine-month period of pregnancy is not set aside for weeping and mourning because a day of intense, excruciating pain is coming.  Future pain isn't the focus:  those nine months are filled with joy at the happy expectation a child will be born into a loving, growing family.

Jesus did not sugar-coat what awaited Him in Matthew 20:17-19:  "Now Jesus, going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples aside on the road and said to them, ¹⁸ "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, ¹⁹ and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again."  What part of His message does your heart seize upon:  betrayal, condemnation, mockery, scourging, death, or resurrection?  The resurrection of the dead swallows up all those previous troubles as mere inconveniences easily shrugged off in the light of eternity.  We Christians can allow these passing pains to rob us of love, joy, and peace God has provided us through Christ's victory.  Our response to trials reveals to us the condition of our faith, whether we truly trust God or not, or if we will focus on ourselves or turn our eyes to Jesus.

Last night while I waited for my son to be dropped off outside a church, I saw through illuminated windows a wooden figure of Jesus fixed to a crucifix.  Though the carving was three-dimensional, it reduced Christ to one dimension.  There an image hung of God-made-flesh perpetually suffering, always dying, but never dead, risen, or glorified.  How blasphemous that wood appeared to me!  The invisible God who appeared on Mt. Sinai told His people in Deut. 4:15-16 they should never corrupt themselves by making a male or female image.  We ought not wash the blood from the cross, a picture of God's demonstration of love and sacrifice for undeserving sinners.  But by all means remove the pathetic impersonation of my God, the risen LORD who lives today, who will return to earth with eyes flaming with fire to judge His enemies.  Jesus once for all died for the sins of the world, and to affix Christ permanently to the cross only robs us of consolation and Him of glory.

Suffering is not our enemy, but our flesh can oppose the work God intends to do through it.  Our limited vision is often incapable of seeing how God is able to redeem the struggles and pains we endure.  But even as Jesus had to die so many could live, so we know that all things work for the good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  Jesus called His disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and follow Him.  Let us not falter at the prospect of betrayal, mocking, persecution, suffering, pain, or even death, for the day of our glorification draws nigh.  May the LORD enable us not to look at future pain or rejection with fear, but to look beyond into the face of our glorious Saviour gazing at us through His Word who will never leave or forsake us.

Is Seeing Believing?

"Seeing is believing," some say.  This statement can be safely tucked away with many other sayings which are not always true.  Thomas believed when he saw Jesus physically standing before Him, but some have believed who never laid eyes on Christ once.  The people who personally saw Jesus perform many miracles and even saw Lazarus whom Christ raised from the dead did not believe, as it is written in John 12:37-40:  "But although He had done so many signs before them, they did not believe in Him, ³⁸ that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: "Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?"³⁹ Therefore they could not believe, because Isaiah said again: ⁴⁰ "He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them."

The Jews in Christ's day could not cite "lack of concrete evidence" for their unbelief, and neither can people today.  Quoting from the Bible Knowledge Commentary it says, "Then John again quoted from Isaiah 6:10 to explain that the nation as a whole was unable to believe. Because they constantly rejected God’s revelation, He had punished them with judicial blindness and deadened...hearts. People in Jesus’ day, like those in Isaiah’s day, refused to believe. They “would not believe;" therefore they could not believe."  No man can charge God with blame for his own unbelief, for God has clearly revealed Himself through creation, the order of the heavenly bodies, the complexity of the human body, the existence of a conscience in people, and through the Law, prophets, and Jesus Christ.  He fulfilled prophesies, did many signs and miracles which cannot be historically disputed, died on a Roman cross, and rose from the dead.  He was seen by over 500 people at one time (1 Cor. 15:6), many of whom faced death for their profession of faith in Christ as the Resurrection and the Life.

Jesus said, "Except you see signs and wonders, you will not believe" (John 4:48).  John 12:37 says even some who see divine signs will refuse to believe.  The most sound logic and undeniable proofs can be explained away and rejected by those unwilling to believe.  It is not that man cannot believe:  it is better said he will not.  God will not trample on man's will, having freely provided every man the choice to follow his own will or surrender himself to God's will.  There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end of it is death.  The soul that sins shall surely die, but those who repent and trust in Christ as LORD will receive life eternal.  Believe the Word of God or don't.  But I beg all men to cease labouring under the foolish notion God must do some arbitrary act before you will believe in Him.  Your existence and consciousness alone should awaken within you the realisation there must be a consciousness who has gone before to create this world and all within for His purposes.

God has spoken.  God has revealed Himself, and those willing to believe will perceive the truth.  Do you want to see?  Look into the life and person of Jesus Christ yourself.  Jesus said in Luke 4:18-19, "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; ¹⁹ to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."  After Jesus read these words from the scroll of Isaiah that day, some believed and some didn't.  Some were enraged and tried to kill Him, but others followed Him.  Are you willing to believe or would you kill God if you could?

Insidious Idolatry

Over the past couple months I first noticed my vision was blurred, especially over distance.  I have always been blessed with good vision, and I decided it was time to have my eyes checked professionally.  I was diagnosed with mild astigmatism and sent to a specialist because it appeared my optic nerves were swollen and performed poorly on a peripheral vision test.  After a few additional tests were done, it was discovered I have a fairly rare condition called "optic disc drusen" which is when deposits of calcium and protein collect in the optic nerve.  Typically it is considered a benign condition, but it can lead to increasing peripheral vision loss and even blindness.

One site I read called it an "insidious" condition, which sounds more menacing than it is.  Most often (like in my case) optic disc drusen is discovered when ruling out more dangerous conditions.  The second definition of word "insidious" in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, "having a gradual and cumulative effect:  subtle; developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent."  In the case of optic disc drusen, there is no known cure or recognised treatment.  My life and my eyes are in God's hands, and I am comforted and at rest placing my soul and sight under His care.

Eye conditions are not the only conditions which are insidious.  Sin is most insidious.  The first definition offered in the Merriam-Webster dictionary is, "awaiting a chance to entrap:  treacherous; harmful but enticing:  seductive."  Idolatry is one of those sins which easily pass unnoticed.  Often we must have our idols stripped from us before we realise the grip they have on our lives.  In Judges 17-18, a man named Micah is an example of such a one.  In a day when everyone did what was right in their own eyes, Micah crafted an ephod, household idols, and even hired a Levite as a priest.  He believed himself devout, and believed God would do him good for his efforts - despite the self-serving and idolatrous nature of his worship (Judges 17:13).

Such riches did not go unnoticed, and five spies from the tribe of Dan discovered the expensive treasures within Micah's house.  The discussed with the Levite a promotion and a better deal, and when he agreed with the backing of 600 armed men they took Micah's idols.  When Micah discovered the theft, he and some neighbours pursued the men of Dan.  They questioned his motive for following them, and Micah said in Judges 18:24, "You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, 'What ails you?"  Micah's heart and money were invested in idols made with his hands.  When they were taken away from him by force, he felt the full weight of their loss.  He felt bereaved of what was most important, though they were idols, mere nothings.

It occurred to me we do not often recognise our idols until they are ripped away from us.  Our flesh resents being separated from what we have idolised.  But idolatry is an insidious deception.  Sin prowls around the door of our heart, waiting for an opportunity to strike.  Micah's idols had become his life, but they prevented him from experiencing the life of faith God desired.  Micah's idols became a snare for him and his family, and later became a snare for the entire tribe of Dan as their power grew.  Micah reveals we may recognise our idols best in hindsight.  One way we can discern what was actually an idol for us is how we would feel when it is taken from us.  Idolatry starts small and in the heart, but it will not stay small for long.  Like an advanced case of optic disc drusen, the field of vision slowly narrows until blindness is the result.

May the LORD wrench from our grip all idols which have a hold on us so we might serve and glorify Him alone!  It is Jesus who gives sight to the blind, and He will reveal even this to those willing to heed Him.