Rest for Troubled Souls

I recently received word that my cousin Mike Anderson passed recently after a long battle with illness.  I am resigned to the fact God has me in Australia, though most of my family lives in the United States.  In times of tragedy I do wish I could support my cousin Mike and those grieving by fondly remembering his memory, going to the memorial service, and spending time with his friends and family.  It is in these trying times our perspective narrows to the things that matter most and draws us near to those we love.  Death has a way of centering us again, showing us how much we take for granted.

The last deathbed of a family member I had the privilege to attend was Mike's mother, Aunt Lynn.  I couldn't be there for Mike in his last days and hours, but I remember leaving work early to spend time with her and the family.  She knew her life was drawing to an end, and she requested that she be sent home to heaven with a happy gathering, singing songs to Jesus as the family had for her mum.  It was an experience I will never forget.

Aunt Lynn was lying on a hospital bed in the living room.  Many family members came to spend time with her, and I kissed her and held her hand.  We had a sweet talk.  I remember someone had thoughtfully put an Elvis DVD on TV, one of her favourites.  A priest came to administer her last rites when she was beginning to drift off into unconsciousness.  As her life slowly ebbed away with laboured breaths, it occurred to me:  there was no life in Elvis, no power in last rites.  The only hope and power Lynn had for eternal life was found through faith in Jesus Christ, the One who could take that tired, failing body and glorify it forever in His presence.

In his final months Mike wrote to me in an email the only reason why he was still around was because of Jesus, and Jesus is the only One who has the power to keep him from tasting death even after his body passed into eternity.  Jesus spoke of a man dead four days in John 11:23-26:  "Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again." ²⁴ Martha said to Him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day." ²⁵ 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?"  Our bodies die because we are sinners, but those who believe in Jesus shall never die.  Bury our bodies six feet deep, but our souls will be clothed with immortality and be given a new body without sickness, pain, or sorrow.  This is the hope Jesus provides for everyone, purchased at the cost of His precious blood.

There's a lot of people today who say they hate themselves.  They live like gods, doing everything they feel like doing but still hate their life.  Well, God doesn't hate you.  He demonstrated His love for you by dying on a cross and proved His power to save you by Jesus rising from the dead.  Some people may think Mike was given a short straw by a harsh God because he faced debilitating pain and suffering for a great deal of his life which was over too soon.  I don't see it that way at all.  If that horrendous pain was the means necessary to open Mike's eyes to see his eternal need and soften his heart to receive the Gospel for eternal salvation, it was a healing balm for his soul and a path to everlasting peace.  Revelation 21:3-5 describes the scene for all who receive Christ as LORD and Saviour:  "And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." ⁵ Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

We only can "Rest in Peace" in this life and for eternity if during our earthly pilgrimage we decidedly take refuge in the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ.  Only in Jesus can a man find eternal rest for His soul (Matthew 11:19).

The Great God

Throughout the testimony of scripture and all history, the God of the Jews has proved His power to be infinitely greater than all others.  God created the heavens and earth and all that is within them, yet men chose to worship as god the works of their own hands.  God gave up people to their own delusions and lusts, yet at times graciously, powerfully, and miraculously revealed Himself so all the world might take note and believe.

After the Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt for centuries, God delivered His people with a mighty hand, through plagues and wonders which showed His superiority over all the idols they worshiped.  Even 40 years later when the nation crossed the Jordan on dry ground and the spies were harboured in the home of Rehab, she proclaimed how they remembered well the miraculous power God did in delivering His people from Egypt.  Another event was when God's people were in two minds, worshiping both God and the Ba'als under the leadership of Ahab and Jezebel.  Elijah suggested they once and for all had a contest to see who was the true God, and God answering with fire from heaven and consuming the sacrifice proved His reality and worthiness of worship.

One of my favourite instances occurs in Daniel 3, when King Nebuchadnezzar built a massive golden image and commanded all the rulers in the realm to attend the grand dedication.  There were musicians present and also a burning furnace - and it wasn't for the comfort of the attendees.  All of the governors and rulers were commanded to bow before the image when the music played or they would be thrown into the furnace.  All but three Jewish men grovelled before the image, and told the king to his face they would not bow down before the image under any circumstance:  the God who they served could deliver them from a fiery furnace, but even if He didn't they would not bow.  Talk about courage!

Infuriated by their candid refusal, Nebuchadnezzar commanded the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual and tasked his mightiest men to bind and throw those stubborn men into the furnace.  What an opportunity to show his power before all the rulers, to put unspeakable terror in the hearts of his servants!  Well, the real God turned the tables on this king of the Babylonian empire.  His mighty men were killed by the violence of the flames, and Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego fell down into the midst of the fire but started walking around loose!  The flames had cut their bonds and there was a fourth man walking with them who was likened to the Son of God!  On this grand stage, God had proved His power through salvation and deliverance, not torture or death.  After the awestruck king commanded the men to come of the furnace Daniel 3:27 says, "And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king's counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them."  Nebuchadnezzar had gathered together all the rulers of his kingdom so his image would be worshiped, but provided front-row seats to display the power of God to deliver.  God alone is worthy of worship.

Satan thought he won a great victory when he used Judas Iscariot as a tool to betray, condemn, and crucify Jesus Christ.  Had Satan realised Jesus was going to defeat death and rise from the grave in glory, providing through His sacrifice salvation and forgiveness for all who repent and receive the Gospel, the devil never would have done it!  As it is written in 1 Corinthians 2:6-8, "However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory."  Isn't God amazing?  He does not threaten man with hell to make us bow before Him, but Jesus humbled Himself as a perfect sacrifice to demonstrate God's love by dying in the place of sinners.  Through His resurrection we see the power of God revealed, and assures us the eternal life He promises to whosoever will come to Him by faith He can deliver.

Nebuchadnezzar didn't love those rulers, but God loved him and them.  Many times God graciously proved His power, and finally even the mighty Nebuchadnezzar was brought low.  Daniel 4:34-35 reads, "And at the end of the time I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me; and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom is from generation to generation. ³⁵ All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain His hand or say to Him, "What have You done?"  God is the greatest without question.  Let us praise and worship Him now and forever, for wisdom, might, life, and love are His!

When Spears Are Thrown

In our discipleship course at Calvary Chapel Sydney last night, we discussed our natural tendencies when "spears" are thrown at us.  These spears often do not take the form of an actual missile hurtling through the air, but are cutting words, harsh censure, or insensitive personal attacks even from people we love or trust.  The conversation arose from our reading of Gene Edwards' Tale of Three Kings, a book which poetically focuses on the life of David:  how he responded to authority God ordained in his life, and also how he lived when he was in a position of authority.

One of the natural ways we respond to spear throwing is to wrench it out of the wall and return it pointy-end first at great speed.  My natural tendency is to pull the spear out of the wall, keep it, polish it up, and put it in a trophy case to garner sympathy from others.  Sometimes my eyes will carefully examine them one by one by myself.  They are my reminders, my "black and whites" as Corrie Ten Boom called them, proof that I have been wronged and this assortment of painful trophies justifies future suspicion and wariness.  These are sins of which I have repented.  The LORD has shown me storing up spears is just as bad as firing them back in anger.  Holding onto wrongs causes a root of bitterness and is a clear refusal to abide in God's love which keeps no record of wrongs.  We cannot forget everything which has hurt us in the past, but we are called and empowered through faith in God and the Holy Spirit to forgive.  This is a definite choice to release others from guilt and refusing to hold a grudge.

When Jesus hung on the cross, unjustly crucified and the sins of the world placed upon Him, He did not shout at His enemies, "When I come into my kingdom, I will remember this.  Oh, just you wait!  Judgment is coming!  You'll be sorry!"  Like a lamb before his shearers is silent, He opened not His mouth to defend Himself or threaten.  He said, "Father, forgive them.  They know not what they do."  Jesus oozed forgiveness, desiring freedom from sin and offence for the people who nailed Him to the cross and hurled insults at Him in unbelief.  Jesus was the KING of Kings, but He was also meek.  The world saw this as being weak and passive, but it was far from the case.  Jesus purposely, powerfully, committed Himself and His tormentors into the hands of His Heavenly Father, trusting Him completely.  He did not boast or threaten, and for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Edwards' writes that one can easily see when someone has been hit by a spear because he turns a "deep shade of bitter." (Edwards, Gene. A Tale of Three Kings: A Study in Brokenness. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1992. 19. Print.)  Bitterness is a subtle, insidious sin which has done more damage in the body of Christ and to individual believers than all the razor-tipped spears in the world.  What is even more troubling is how Christians can be bitter towards God and not even recognise it.  We say we love God, but how bitter and angry we can be at other believers we are called to love!  If we say we love God and hate (love less) our brothers we have seen, how can we say we truly love God whom we have not seen?  Hebrews 12:14-15 exhorts, "Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: ¹⁵ looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled..."

Remaining bitter in our hearts, justifying our refusal to forgive others, or remaining angry over pain God has sovereignly allowed in our lives is not the path to peace:  Jesus Christ is our peace.  He offered peace which the world cannot know which passes understanding and endures forever.  Yet He suffered much, being a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  He understands your pains and all you have suffered.  He is the only one who can heal your heart, restore lasting joy, and provide rest for your soul.  Are you willing to confess your sin of bitterness and commit your past, present, and future into God's care?  Are you willing to clear out your spear cabinet and remove them as far from you as the east is from the west, even as God has chosen to remember your sin no more?  Instead of looking back on your own pain or how you were unjustly treated, turn your eyes to Jesus and how He suffered for your sake and rose in victorious glory.  With all the pain we experience, God provides more abundant consolation still.

But what about the one who threw the spears?  That is the burning question asked by wounded people who doubt the Good Shepherd's ability to manage His own flock.  To those who insist on an answer, what about them?  Don't you know we will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and those in authority will receive stricter judgment (James 3:1)?  God is the only One who knows perfectly the imperfect hearts of men, and all will someday be brought to light - including our bitterness towards God and others.  We are called to follow Jesus and His example, loving others as Jesus loves us.  Jesus gave all this command concerning those who delight to use us as target practice in Matthew 5:43-45:  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."  In doing good and praying for those who have persecuted us, we show we are we are the children of the Most High.  He is able to protect and preserve His own.

Encroachment!

Outside of gridiron (American football) the word "encroachment" is seldom used.  It is a common penalty against the defense for moving across the line of scrimmage before the ball is snapped.  And if that made absolutely no sense to you at all, take it from a seasoned armchair quarterback it is a foul regular viewers can easily spot.  While some penalties are judgment calls which could go either way, encroachment is a fairly obvious one.

The house next to ours is vacant and the front yard is neglected.  The yard is completely packed with burr-producing clover called Medicado polymorpha which had begun to subtly encroach upon and choke out the turf in my yard.  Because the green turf and burr medic are both green, I hardly noticed how many clover plants had taken root!  I was thankful the ground was soft enough to pull them out.  As I began to mow, I found additional plants which had escaped my notice and pulled those too.  Sinister things! 

It occurred to me sin has the same insidious, encroaching nature on the heart, mind, and life of Christians living in a world steeped with sin.  It rarely declares its deadly intentions up front or barges in noticeably like a massive linebacker, but it is secret, seductive, and far stronger.  A linebacker can put a fit man in hospital, but sin throws the eternal souls of men into hell.  We cannot rightly blame our upbringing, present circumstances, or the world for the sin which lurks in our flesh.  A little water caused multitudes of those weeds to spout in my yard, and had they remained unchecked they would have spread further.  Even as we cannot neglect our yards without undesirable weeds spreading their seed everywhere, so we must be vigilant to take our thoughts captive to the obedience to Christ, avoid sowing to the flesh, and walk in purity according to God's Word.

Christians have been justified and made righteous through faith in Christ, but we still face spiritual attack from outside and within.  After warning Timothy of the perils of covetousness and the love of money, Paul exhorted him and all who would heed in 1 Timothy 6:11-12, "But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses."  It is necessary for us to examine our minds and lives and see if worldly affections or desires have crept in, if there is a root of bitterness in our hearts.  We have eternal life provided through Christ's righteousness, and therefore we ought to live righteously and in a godly manner.

If something has encroached into your life where it ought not be, throw the flag!  Blow the whistle!  Let's take all necessary steps to banish all sinful practices and attitudes from our lives so we might be spiritually healthy and fruitful for God's glory.