In Everything Give Thanks

Have you ever been in a room or an area so dark your eyes strained to find any source of light in vain?  I think that well describes the condition of many today in the world without Jesus.  Scour the news reports, check that superannuation again, tune into the predictions of professors, and we are left in an unsettling darkness of doom.  For those who are in Christ we have a source of light which comes not by improved circumstances, positive thinking, or forecasts of better days ahead, but in Himself expressed by love, grace, provision, and compassion.

For my mates in Australia, it was just in December I remember the bleak reports concerning the drought situation.  Stage 2 water restrictions had just been implemented in NSW and the immediate reports from news stations and the water minister was Stage 3 restrictions were right around the corner.  When rain was forecast caution was urged:  "Don't expect this rainfall to make any impact in our dams or reduce restrictions," it was said.  And what happened?  God sent an abundance of rain our riverbeds and storm systems could not contain!  Major dams were filled to capacity and the water restrictions have been relaxed to Stage 1 again.

Part of the human condition is one of forgetfulness.  We can quickly forget about the annoying and impractical restriction to lug our water around in buckets--and how God answered our prayers for significant rain.  Now we are under Stage 2 restrictions concerning gatherings which has resulted in shutting down shops, cafes, businesses, and gyms to avoid the spread of a virus with the outlook of a total lockdown imminent.  Panic-buying and social distancing are suddenly a thing, and these bleak circumstances are taking a toll on the economy and mental health of people.  Similar to how lifesavers are positioned on the beach to prevent swimmers being drawn into rips (and rescue them if they are), and the Word of God has been marvelously provided to keep believers from being caught up in the worried frenzy of the world.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 says, "Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies. ²¹ Test all things; hold fast what is good."  Even when it seems impossible to put a good spin on a bad situation, in everything we can give thanks because we have a good God who loves us, who is with us, and will never leave or forsake us.  The virus, the limit or lack of basic staples, loss of paid work or paying customers, or even all the growing restrictions we face is not our main problem:  it is unbelief!  A virus can infect, weaken, and ruin our bodies, but unbelief causes a person to be cut off from the love, comfort, and peace of God and ultimately to the eternal damnation of souls in hell,.  Let us have compassion on those who are being swept off their feet in the current struggle, and being set firmly on the Rock of Salvation let us pull them to safety.  Bless the LORD, for His perfect love casts out all fear.

Honour the King

"Now when the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the descendants of the captivity were building the temple of the LORD God of Israel, ² they came to Zerubbabel and the heads of the fathers' houses, and said to them, "Let us build with you, for we seek your God as you do; and we have sacrificed to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here."

Ezra 4:1-2

It is strange that enemies of Israel would seek to help them in building, yet here a tactic the enemy of our souls employs.  The enemies of Israel could not overturn the command of King Cyrus but could be a thorn in their side by close proximity.  If permitted to work alongside God's people they would labour to undermine the project rather than to advance it.  They happily pointed out their allegiance to God and conveniently made no mention of other gods they also worshiped.  Thankfully God's people were in a high point of zeal for the glory of God and the honour of His Law and viewed all as defiled who could not prove they were indeed of the Israelite congregation by lineage.

After their offer to help was denied the adversarial nature of these posers was revealed.  Ezra 4:4-5 says, "Then the people of the land tried to discourage the people of Judah. They troubled them in building, ⁵ and hired counselors against them to frustrate their purpose all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia."  Isn't it ironic the people who claimed to "seek your God as you do" were the ones who tried to discourage, trouble, and frustrate their purpose continually?  A mixed multitude had come up with the children of Israel out of Egypt, but Zerubbabel and the elders were wise not to join themselves to their adversaries swayed by the empty promise of help.  The children of Israel needed help and were wise to seek the LORD since He was their help, refuge, wisdom, and strength.

When Ahasuerus became king, these adversaries sent a letter to warn him against the ongoing work in Jerusalem.  They ignored the fact Cyrus had commanded and funded the rebuilding efforts and slandered the Jewish nation as rebellious, contentious, and claimed they would refuse to pay taxes.  Their warning had the desired effect when king Ahasuerus issued an order to cease building, having only been appraised of the facts which supported the negative allegations.  The enemies of Israel went with haste to enforce the King's edict as Ezra 4:23-24 states:  "Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum, Shimshai the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem against the Jews, and by force of arms made them cease. ²⁴ Thus the work of the house of God which is at Jerusalem ceased, and it was discontinued until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia."  With the forced shut-down of churches in New South Wales yesterday reading this on the day was providential.

Zerubbabel had been commanded by king Cyrus of Persia to return to Israel and rebuild the temple, but king Ahasuerus gave them a cease and desist order they were to honour.  It required force of arms, yet they obediently complied.  They knew it was God's will for them to work to rebuild, but at the same time they obeyed the command of the king:  in due time the work would resume and at the king's direction their enemies would help pay the bill!  In a time when church gatherings have been banned for the safety of citizens and the prevention of further damage by the global pandemic, there is the temptation to disregard government directives claiming we appeal to a higher authority.  But let us not forget the example of those in Ezra's day or what Peter said in 1 Peter 2:13-17:  "Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, ¹⁴ or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. ¹⁵ For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men-- ¹⁶ as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. ¹⁷ Honour all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."

The order for the closing of churches is not religious persecution but a calculated response to reduce the spread of COVID-19.  To knowingly violate or undermine the order which also applies to many small businesses, cafes, shops, and venues is unjustified on biblical grounds--especially when there are countless ways we can continue to freely seek the LORD, read His Word, and share it among family members and online.  Bible studies and sermons can be hosted over a variety of apps and time set aside to pray with one another.  My father-in-law told me a story about when he was learning to drive and wondered why it was necessary to turn on his lights when he could see the road clearly.  He was told, "It's not just about you seeing but helps other drivers see you."  This changed his perspective and mine.  Whether or not you are personally concerned about contracting the virus is one thing, but we ought to take every precaution for those who are more vulnerable.  It is a matter of love for one another and not legality.  It is the will of God we would submit ourselves to the ordinances of men for the glory of God and not use our liberty as a cloak for stubbornness and rebellion.

We are in a war, but it may not be the kind of war you might expect.  It is a war which raged in the darkness of our hearts and minds long before this viral pandemic or WW2:  it is a war within followers of Jesus to submit ourselves before God in humility, to walk in love and not legalism.  Even if Satan personally has a hand in the current crisis God is able to make all things work for the good to those who love God, who are the called according to His purpose.  Let us not take out frustrations upon unseen foes, a government, prime minister or president, or on a virus but be casting our cares upon the LORD because He cares for us.  The crucifixion of Jesus shows us the worst things can become the instrument of salvation in the hands of God who speaks light into darkness and raises the dead to eternal life.

A Clean Filter

Jesus used parables to teach spiritual truth, and God uses all manner of things to instruct us today in His ways.  During preparation for last Sunday's message I was blessed to gain insight concerning what Jesus said in the Sermon on the Plain:  "Of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45)  "Garbage in, garbage out," some people say, but the point Jesus made was that it is the rubbish already in the heart of people which expresses itself in our words:  what is hidden in our hearts and heads will be manifested in our thoughts, words, and decisions.

I maintain a pool at our house we rent that is surrounded by several palm trees.  Almost simultaneously they all put out pods of flowers and small berries which drop into the pool.  Leaves from an overhanging tree also fall into the pool and the circulating water pulls the debris floating on the surface into a filter.  There is a primary and secondary filter to prevent debris from damaging the pump.  If it was up to me I never would have planted palms by the pool or would have cut them down long ago, but I am the steward of property I do not own.  What I have learned to do is as soon as I see those pods begin to emerge, within a day or two I don a long-sleeved shirt and remove them with a pruning saw.  This prevents the majority of filter-blocking episodes.  A blocked filter places additional stress on the pump, reduces the efficiency of filtration, and more junk sinks to the bottom of the pool.

It dawned on me all people develop an internal "filter" of sorts which depends on our personalities, how we were raised, who we are around, and to whom we speak.  We learn at an early age polite words and good manners are rewarded while lying or swearing are frowned upon.  I remember an occasion hearing a child say loudly while pointing, "Why is that person so fat?"  The child's mum quickly pulled him aside and explained how the things we say can hurt the feelings of others and thus not to always say out loud what we think.  As we mature as people and especially as Christians, it is love which is to filter our words.  We may decide not to say something because of the audience or the situation which is inappropriate.  Our filter is not a basket made of plastic but almost a reflex developed according to our character whether for good or ill.

As people living in a body of flesh which will ultimately be corrupted and perish due to sin, we are stewards of the body, mind, and new heart Jesus has given us.  Just like bees or leaves drop into a pool blown by the wind, depending on the situation there may be all kinds of immoral or sinful thoughts or words which are caught by our filter:  we think them, but we do not say them.  This goes for our feelings as well.  We may feel angry or offended but at the time make an effort not to let on we have been affected by what was said.  Many times this is when our pride has been wounded or the flesh feels slighted.  Jesus said in Luke 6:45, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks."  Our filters cannot catch everything, but what our filters do catch ought to be of concern to us because they reveal the true condition of our heart.  This is a key aspect of what Jesus is saying:  we can be more concerned about what escapes the filter than what the filter catches.

Since we are given a new heart and renewed mind through faith in Jesus, as we walk according to the leading of the Holy Spirit and value what is good our filters can stay clean.  Sinful thoughts and desires ought to be confessed and repented of as we remove major sources of temptation from our eyes and ears.  Love is to filter what we say, how we say it, and why we say it for the glory of God and the benefit of others.  Our hearts are naturally deceitful and wicked, yet after being born again through the Gospel we can value what is good and it will be brought forth.  Praise the LORD for His cleaning work, that He is good, and how He reveals His goodness, wisdom, and grace to us in ordinary things.

Rank With Fear

We have been reading through the book of Ezra as a family and I was struck by the remarkable scenes of the children of Israel returning to Jerusalem at the command of King Cyrus to rebuild the temple.  People were not commanded to go up by heritage alone or lot but according to their willingness.  The LORD stirred the hearts of people to leave the land of their captivity and return to the ruins of Jerusalem to re-establish the worship of God who was their Inheritance.  They were greatly blessed and provided for by God.  It was God and faith in Him which enabled them to overcome their fears.

See what Ezra 3:1-3 says:  "And when the seventh month had come, and the children of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem. ² Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brethren, arose and built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God. ³ Though fear had come upon them because of the people of those countries, they set the altar on its bases; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening burnt offerings."  The first order of business was to build an altar unto the LORD according to the Law of Moses, even before the foundations of the new house were laid.  Take note the people were in fear "because of the people of those countries" but they did it anyway.  Their attitude was not careless or cavalier but boldly united in the faith of God.

I appreciated the transparent insight into the feelings of the people and how faith in God enabled them to overcome and prevail.  The scene from the Lord of the Rings movie Return of the King with Gothmog comes to mind as they approached Minas Tirith.  It was a city ruled by a cowering steward unfit to reign and the warriors and people trembled alike at the sight of the evil horde which came to besiege them.  Gothmog sniffed and exclaimed:  "Fear!  The city is rank with it!"  Jesus told His followers to not fear or worry but to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things--all our needs for this life and for eternity--will be added to us.  We know we shouldn't be afraid, but fear is subtle and insidious.  Before long it becomes a plague which infests our motives, decisions, and actions.  The fear of man is a snare, yet the fear of God frees us from all sinful worries and cares.

With a global pandemic, a sharp economic downturn, and with a bleak outlook of swift recovery as drastic steps are taken by government and individuals for damage control and self-preservation, it is easy for us to give fear a place to bed down.  The future has always been uncertain and our lives perilous--and humans have always been susceptible to fear.  There is no possible way to alleviate our fears by giving into them or vainly attempting they exist.  It is a change of heart and mind we require to take our eyes off the howling storm and look beyond it to our loving Saviour.  God forbid our hearts should be rank with fear of anything when Jesus is our KING, for the love of God drives out all fear.  Though the people were afraid of the nations around them who opposed what they were doing, they arose and offered sacrifices to God.  May we praise the name of God in all seasons of life!  There is a purity in worship where faith in the God we know (Who knows and loves us) trumps fear of all unknowns.