Strategic Patches

The local council removed a large tree from the parkway in front of my house and left a large patch of bare dirt.  Being winter the turf was dormant and did not fill in the damaged patches of lawn topped up with sand.  Though we did not have rain for months, apparently the clover did not get the memo.  When healthy Sir Walter turf spreads thick and is quite impenetrable, but the patchy condition made it susceptible to invasive weeds.  As I pulled weeds this afternoon, looking over at my neighbour's lawn which was completely green and weed free, it was obvious a healthy lawn is the best defense against unwanted weeds.

Bare spots in the lawn practically invite weeds to spring up uncontested.  This shows the folly of trying only to resist sin rather than to flee from it and do what is right.  Some vice will surely fill the bare spots in our character unless good things are sown there.  Turf must be watered and fed regularly, and properly winterising it would have prevented a lot of the weeds I pulled from growing at all.  I was reading and came across a great quote from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity today:

"Good and evil both increase at compound interest.  That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance.  The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of.  An apparently trivial indulgence in lust or anger today is the loss of a ridge or railway line or bridgehead from which the enemy may launch an attack otherwise impossible." (Lewis, C. S. Mere Christianity & the Screwtape Letters: Complete in One Volume. HarperSanFrancisco, 2003.)

It is good to see the purpose in one seemingly small act can have massive, long-reaching implications.  C.S. Lewis wrote at a time when World War 2 loomed large in the minds of people, where the deeds of one heroic man or coward might change the course of war.  Realising we are in a battle with our flesh and that our allegiance is to Christ about self is something we must often be reminded.  I want to progress in maturity and faith, not backslide.  Sometimes we will make mistakes and need to drop to our knees to clear away the weeds of sin in repentance, but let us stand in faith and press on doing good for God's glory.  That denial of the flesh and choosing to do good is like a patch of green turf which will spread in time.

The Unchanging God Who Changes Us

Self-help books have been popular as long as I can remember.  What I find ironic is despite the great volume of books written with terrific insights, new self-help books retain timeless appeal.  This is likely for two main reasons:  books cannot fundamentally change us, and despite our new knowledge still see our need for positive change.  The change we desire continues to remain elusive.

The confidence of a follower of Jesus Christ is not in our ability to change, but that God does not change and has the power to change us.  See what the prophet wrote in Malachi 3:1-6:  "Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple, even the Messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight. Behold, He is coming," says the LORD of hosts. ² "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderer's soap. ³ He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. ⁴ "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old, as in former years. ⁵ And I will come near you for judgment; I will be a swift witness against sorcerers, against adulterers, against perjurers, against those who exploit wage earners and widows and orphans, and against those who turn away an alien--because they do not fear Me," says the LORD of hosts. ⁶ "For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob."

Jesus Christ has come, and He will someday return from heaven with His saints to judge the world in righteousness.  The Day of Judgment should strike fear into all, especially those who do not regard God or expect Him.  Those whose lives are marked with sin shall be purged, and offerings will again be pleasing and acceptable to God in righteousness.  God did not provide false hope to the people, that if they really tried hard they could maintain His righteous standard and earn His favour.  Their only hope was in the mercy and grace of God who had made an everlasting covenant with them who does not change.  When the Law was given by Moses the people committed themselves to do all God had said, but they went back on their word.  God, in total contrast, would not deviate from fulfilling the New Covenant in His own blood He would make through Jesus Christ.

Paul said to believers in Acts 20:28:  "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood."  Jesus Christ the Son of God was sent by the heavenly Father to seek and save the lost, and He stayed the course--which included crucifixion on Calvary--and culminated with His death and resurrection.  Jesus paid the price of atonement required for divine justice to be satisfied, and through faith in Him we are justified and saved.  We are not justified, sanctified, or glorified because we have changed but because of the grace of God who does not change.  In God we find a Rock of Salvation, an enduring hope, and righteousness by grace through faith.  His Word remains true, a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.  The everlasting Light of the World reveals who we are, those who have feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace.  God also directs us by the Bible and the Holy Spirit how we should walk and where to go.

A relationship with God who does not change will utterly transform us from the inside out.  And there awaits a final change for all who are born again spoken of in 1 Corinthians 15:51-58:  "Behold, I tell you a mystery: we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." ⁵⁵ "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."  Life on earth is often chaotic, but through faith in Jesus we can be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD.  The God who does not change provides the basis for our endurance, strength, and fruitfulness.  How wondrous this is, the immutability and goodness of our God and Saviour!

Cologne and Praise

I was reading through a news article concerning a Los Angeles Charger player Austin Ekeler who had a standout week.  The advice given Ekeler after a quality performance echoed the wisdom found in Proverbs and other places of scripture.  Here's an excerpt from the article:

Running back Austin Ekeler has understandably garnered national media attention after recording 95 receiving yards, 58 rushing yards, and three touchdowns last Sunday against the Colts. However, Ekeler isn’t concerned with the increase in attention -- he wants to remain focused on his game. “I was talking with ‘Fredo (running backs coach Alfredo Roberts) and he was telling me, ‘You have that cologne on for a little bit, but it's going to fade. Don’t drink it. You can wear it, that’s fine, but it’s poison. It might kill you.’ I’m just keeping my [blinders] on and focusing on my game with the Chargers."

It is good to know the proper use of cologne:  it may smell nice when applied to the body in moderation, but it is poisonous to drink.  When we are praised and recognised for something positive we have said or done it can be encouraging.  At the same time we should not allow it to go to our heads because it will lift us up with pride.  Fame and notoriety have pitfalls we do good to avoid, and we do this when praise is offered us by men and we immediately pass it on as an offering of praise with thanksgiving to God.  If we say or do anything good it is His doing, for in our flesh dwells no good thing.  We are born again by His grace and our fruitfulness comes from Him alone.

 The smell of cologne fades, and it is easy to become addicted to the attention and praise of other people.  We naturally want to impress, do well, to make our mark and be remembered.  But this desire to be acknowledged and recognised by men comes from our selfish flesh which insatiably seeks attention and approval.  Knowing we are accepted and approved of God by grace keeps us from falling into the trap of preoccupation with self:  "What do others think of me?  Have they forgotten about me?  Shouldn't I be receiving attention?  Don't I matter?  What about me?"  Comparing ourselves with others is not wise.

After being born again through the Holy Spirit we can shake free the fetters of self and lust for recognition and begin to praise God with our whole hearts.  The praise of men should not be like cologne we wear in moderation to top up our self-esteem, but should be treated like the bottle of precious perfume Mary broke on Jesus and poured all upon Him--saving nothing for herself.  Let all praise, honour, and glory be given God who is good, loves us, has saved us, and rejoices over us.  Receiving praise of men for self poisons us with pride, but God is worthy of all praise.  Pride kills, but praise exalts God and refreshes our souls.

Prevailing With God

I find Jacob's wrestling bout with the Angel of the LORD compelling.  The background of the life-changing encounter was Jacob was terrified upon hearing his brother Esau approached to meet him with 400 men.  Jacob separated his family into two groups and sent droves of animals by the hands of his servants before him, hoping to placate a potentially violent and aggressive enemy.  After night fell Jacob was alone, and the next we read he was grappling with an unknown Man who possessed divine authority and identity.

Genesis 32:24-28 says, "Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. ²⁵ Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. ²⁶ And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" ²⁷ So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." ²⁸ And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed."

Let us not for a moment think this match was even or that Jacob forced the Man with whom he wrestled to submit.  Jacob's opponent merely touched the socket of Jacob's hip and put it out of joint, and this was painful and crippling.  All Jacob could do was hold on and beg for a blessing--and it was not possible for Jacob to even hold his grip against the Angel of the LORD (a rare of appearance of God in human form before Jesus Christ) unless He wanted to be held.  And this is a beautiful thing:  God wants to be known and held close by us.  This wrestling match was a culmination of Jacob's life which always was a struggle to be first, to acquire and win at any cost.  But he could not scheme his way out of the Angel's grasp, nor could he overpower him.  The only way Jacob could prevail over the Angel of the LORD was ultimately by complete surrender.

Hosea 12:3-5 provides insight about Jacob Moses did not mention in the Genesis account:  "He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God. ⁴ Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept, and sought favor from Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us-- ⁵  that is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD is His memorable name."  The God of Abraham and Isaac revealed Himself to Jacob in Bethel, and He was the one who grappled with Jacob in the darkness.  The weight of his circumstances, the fear of facing his brother, the physical pain he experienced, and his inability to win brought Jacob to tears.  Jacob struggled with God all his life until the moment when, like a horse calmed by a gentle expert equestrian, God touched him.  Jacob's realisation of his need for God came as day broke.  By the help of God Jacob surrendered and in doing so prevailed with God:  instead of relying upon himself to fight his battles, Jacob's name was changed to Israel:  "God contends."

Jacob is not the only one who has wrestled with God all their lives, but he is one of the few who finally prevailed through surrender.  The Genesis passage says a Man wrestled with Jacob, and the order is significant.  The Man who suddenly appeared in the text was the initiator of this physical wrestling match which was the culmination of a lifelong spiritual conflict of Jacob fighting for himself.  No matter what Jacob tried, he couldn't escape and he couldn't force his Opponent to submit.  It was he who needed to submit, and having done so he held on to the One who made a promise to him all those years ago Jacob struggled to believe.  If we desire the transformation, blessing, and to prevail with God, with God's help we are called to surrender to Him.  We cannot escape His grip, and He is glad to be held close by us, to bless us, and to keep His Word.