Condemning Yourself

Are there things other people do which you find troubling?  I am not speaking about something annoying or illegal, but actions, attitudes, tone, or behaviour you judge as wrong?  There are things we see easily in others they do not seem to notice.  All people have a tendency to size up others according to our own personal convictions or opinions.  There are few things easier than finding fault with others, seeing as there is no one who is faultless!

God is an amazing redeemer of lost sinners.  Repenting and trusting in Christ does not mean we are suddenly perfect in thought, word, or deed.  The trouble is, having our eyes opened to the truth of God's Word suddenly shines light into all areas of darkness in our lives.  This can lead to people saved by grace through faith condemning others for their faults, real or imagined.  It is good for Christians to remember we will each answer for ourselves before God.  We will have to account for verses like Romans 2:1:  "Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things."

This explains a wondrous principle which can aid us greatly in walking uprightly ourselves.  When our hackles are raised over the behaviour or attitudes of someone else, Paul revealed in condemning the other person we condemn ourselves.  The fact we are sensitised to their sin shows that I practice the exact same things myself.  If I become angry because of a "tone" taken with me, isn't it true I take that "tone" with others?  Paul was once a Pharisee of Pharisees, a self-righteous hypocrite whose life was bound up in obedience to the Law and following traditions of men.  It is no surprise then that Paul was highly sensitised to legalism and bondage from the Law.  That was his natural bent, but God had transformed him through the Gospel.

When I am irritated by someone else, it is a signal I need to change.  My perspective needs to be re-calibrated upon God and the grace He has given. me.  There is a place to judge righteously according to scripture, but that is God's judgment - not mine.  We have a duty and responsibility to hold others accountable to living righteously, but we also must be accountable to others in humility.  I love how God is able to redeem even the hypocrisy of our flesh to open our eyes to faults we did not recognise in ourselves.  Instead of condemning others, let us judge ourselves and live right before God.  Leverage negative impressions of others to search your own heart, not holding any grudge against others.  There is no condemnation for those who walk after the Spirit (Romans 8:1).

Lessons in Contentment

Contentment in all circumstances is possible through faith in Christ (Philippians 4:11).  To be content is to enjoy a state of peaceful happiness and satisfaction.  We are given the capacity for contentment through being born again and filled with the Holy Spirit.  Paul learned in all situations to be content, and therefore we too can and should embrace this learning as well.  Being content begins with knowledge of God's perfect character and confidence in His goodness towards us as His children.  We are to lay aside all fleshly ambition and any worldly sense of entitlement, and refuse to compare ourselves with others.  Recognising all we have is a gracious gift from God and thanking Him for all things is also key.

There are many instructive examples from the scriptures which provide insights into the pitfalls which keep us from contentment, and here are a few concerning the Israelites and their water supply - and for our purpose can represent the necessities of life.  The first which came to mind is from a text in Isaiah I preached from on Sunday at Calvary Chapel Sydney.  Isaiah 8:5-7 reads, "The LORD also spoke to me again, saying: ⁶ "Inasmuch as these people refused the waters of Shiloah that flow softly, and rejoice in Rezin and in Remaliah's son; ⁷ now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up over them the waters of the River, strong and mighty-- the king of Assyria and all his glory; he will go up over all his channels and go over all his banks."  God had promised to protect His people, yet they wanted something more tangible.  Seeking aid, King Ahaz made a treaty with the Assyrians, a nation mighty and strong.  God used the water source of Jerusalem as symbolism by Isaiah.  God provided His people the gentle waters of Shiloah which filled a reservoir, sufficient for all their needs.  Nevertheless, they refused the gentle waters and sought to increase their might by harnessing the Euphrates.  They refused the God's provision and sought to enrich and protect themselves without faith in God, and this lead to devastating destruction - like when villages were inundated with floodwaters from the Euphrates when it overflowed their banks.

Another water illustration is seen in Jeremiah 2:12-13:  "Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid; be very desolate," says the LORD. ¹³ "For My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns--broken cisterns that can hold no water."  God was the source of life for His people.  He protected, provided for, and sustained His people, even as a natural spring supplies clean water for a village in a desert.  Though God did everything for His people, they wickedly forsook God and dug for themselves cisterns in the rock.  This was a significant downgrade.  Instead of drinking from the pure water supply God provided, they chipped away wells in the rock which had cracks.  All the muddy water which flowed into them would slowly drain dry and the people would be left empty.  Their spiritual dry season, having forsaken God, moved them to seek to slake their thirst through efforts of the flesh.

Exodus 15:22-24 tells of a highly significant event.  After God delivered the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt with a mighty hand the passage reads, "So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. ²³ Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. ²⁴ And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?"  For three days the children of Israel were unable to find water.  When they did find water, they were devastated to find it bitter and undrinkable.  There was water enough, but none could drink it!  They despaired of their circumstances and complained against Moses.  Isn't it true when we find ourselves in bitter, difficult situations we naturally complain?  But God had a plan all along, to test His people and make sure promises to them.  He wanted the people to learn to trust His ability to redeem even seemingly hopeless situations into life-sustaining good.

Exodus 15:25-27 says, "So he cried out to the LORD, and the LORD showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them. And there He tested them, ²⁶ and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you." ²⁷ Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters."  God took bitter, undrinkable water and supernaturally made it sweet so His people, their wives and little ones, flocks and herds could drink and be satisfied.  Even as He healed the waters, He desired to heal His people.  Their pain, griefs, and sorrows He would wash away as their pure source of life.  Marah led to Elim, and there the people found shade, comfort, and rest for their weary feet and souls.

We find contentment when we choose the gentle streams of Shiloah God graciously provides. Seeking larger income streams or help apart from faith in God leads to grave trouble.  Contentment is not found in efforts of the flesh, digging out cisterns from the rock when God has already provided living streams of water.  Even the most bitter disappointments of life can be made sweet and refreshing when we cry out to God and obey Him, choosing to trust and heed God's commands.  When Jesus was confronted by a man who demanded His help to secure part of an inheritance, Jesus refused.  Luke 12:15 reads, "And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."  If we covet or compare our lives with others it is impossible for us to be content.  But those who trust God will supply all our needs and even make bitter circumstances sweet in the end, the same discover lasting contentment through Him.

Jesus With Us Always

Christians recognise eternity is of paramount significance, seeing it is forever.  We also recognise our call by Jesus Christ to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, teaching people to observe all Jesus has commanded us.  Jesus finished Matthew 28:20 by saying, "And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  The big picture of eternal salvation is very important, but the scope of Christ's sacrifice was greater than providing life after the death of our physical body:  Jesus desires to be with us always, and we should want this for everyone today.  Jesus has a new life for us to enter into daily by faith as we heed and obey Him.

A choice to repent and trust in Christ should not be decided upon simply to avoid hell and secure a place in heaven - at least that alone should not be our motivation.  Hopefully our eyes have been opened to how great God is, how He has demonstrated His love for us, and that He graciously invites us to commune with Him.  When we share the Gospel with others, I trust it is with the aim others would come to faith in Jesus - not just for eternal life - but so they can enjoy unbroken fellowship with Jesus Christ their Saviour from now on through eternity.

People need Jesus today, not just after they die.  Jesus has promised to be with us always if we will follow Him, for He will never leave or forsake us.  Why should we be content a person in pain, grief, sorrow, fears, or trouble is "saved" when it is evident they have a desperate need for the forgiveness, peace, and victory today?  That struggling person, believer or unbeliever, needs Jesus right now.  Christianity is much more than eternal security, though we have it in Christ.  It is a life lived with Jesus for Jesus today.  It is a life reconciled to God.  It is a life led by the Holy Spirit, marked by holiness, and a desire for all others to know Jesus so they too can be born again and start living with Him in relationship right now.

It is a fine thing to desire that others would experience eternal life with Jesus forever, but how about today?  How might a relationship with a risen and glorious Saviour change everything?

Jesus Is the Only Way

Today I was reminded of an object lesson given to primary school children.  Two long strips of masking tape were placed about seven feet apart from one another, and all the children were made to stand on one side of the tape.  I was asked by the teacher to help with the lesson.  My role was to keep anyone from successfully jumping over the seven foot gap, and to gently pull people close to the edge inside.  After the players in the "game" were ready, he addressed the group.

The object of the game was to cross from one side of the tape to the other side without touching the ground in between.  If any part of your clothes or body touched the floor in the middle, you were out of the game.  He explained that people could use whatever means they wanted to cross, and he offered to lay down so people could walk across his body to reach the other side safely.  Right away some of the athletic boys began to back up, preparing to attempt a jump to the other side.  Others seemed bored with the whole idea, but others were cautions and inquisitive.  How could the expanse be crossed?

Even though our speaker laid down on the ground as a living bridge, very few people crossed successfully because few people were willing to try that route.  Half of the people (mostly energetic boys!) tried to jump over and failed, other bored people walked intentionally into the void and were out, and I gently gripped the hands of children who stood by the edge and drew them into the gap, effectively ending the game for them.  Everyone who trusted the speaker and submitted to slowly walking over his body made it safely to the other side, and everyone who tried to do it on their own or didn't seem to care failed to cross.  Jesus spoke in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."  Jesus is that exclusive, open gate for sinners to access salvation (John 10:7-9).

Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."  Jesus laid His life down so we might cross from death to life through Him.  What was an object lesson to the children about Christ was revealing to me about people.  Many people in this life think they are good enough to make it to heaven by their own efforts.  Others couldn't be bothered to think about the claims of Christ or eternity, and slip into hell as surely as people who believe they will be saved by their own virtue.  But there is a small minority who scramble away from the lure of Satan and this world and submit to faith in Jesus Christ.  Only those who confess their sins and repent, trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation, will make it to heaven on account of His sacrifice and righteousness.  Salvation and eternal life cannot be earned, but is a gift freely received through repentance and faith in Jesus.

So which of the three groups are you?  Do you think your efforts are good enough to gain you access into heaven?  Don't be deceived!  Unbelief and boredom with the truth of the Bible and the person of Jesus Christ does not free you from guilt or make you righteous before the Judge before whom every man must appear.  Hebrews 9:27-28 says, "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation."  No man can leap to the moon through effort, and no amount of good works can free us from the penalty of sin.  Even as the human body cannot endure the deadly conditions of space without special equipment, so no sinner can appear in the presence of a holy God without being consumed as tinder by flame.  It is only by faith in Christ we can be forgiven and clothed with His righteousness and be acceptable in God's sight.