Cleaning Up

Every few months I receive a letter or email that announces an upcoming inspection from the real estate company which manages the property we are renting.  Because of the current quarantine restrictions in NSW they will be conducting them remotely and requested pictures of the exterior and each room.  Usually we have weeks to prepare for an inspection and finish tidying up on the day, but the photos were requested as soon as possible.  We have always found the silver lining in these regular inspections which aid our family to take regular stock in the cleanliness of the place, promotes being tidy and organised, and encourages effort in upkeep of the yard.

Today I learned the difference between tidying up for a physical walkthrough or with photos.  As real estate agents and photographers know, pictures are able to capture and present the most flattering views.  A stack of papers, various dishes or containers, and loose clothing can be moved out of sight rather than being put away.  As I walked through each room and took a picture two things struck me:  I was pleased with the overall appearance and condition of our home, and how different the preparation was for pictures rather than a walkthrough.  During a walkthrough I had no idea where the associate would go or focus on so all needed to be cleaned well.  For pictures, however, I was at the controls and present each room from the best angle.

My mother taught me at a young age the appearance of clean does not mean something has actually been cleaned.  Picking up clothes off the floor and stuffing them into a chest of drawers did not constitute "cleaning" up the room to her satisfaction.  Clothes were to be folded, surfaces wiped, windows cleaned, and dishes washed, dried, and put away.  We naturally put a great deal of emphasis on appearances because that is what we and others can see.  Some people put effort into their physical appearance, and others spend time immaculately landscaping their yards or waxing their cars.  Even the prophet Samuel was impressed by the kingly bearing of men who God refused because He does not see as man sees, for God looks upon the heart (1 Samuel 16:7).

How important is it to address what God sees--the issues of our hearts--rather than working to present ourselves as faultless.  Tidying up our appearance by shuffling selfishness into a drawer or hiding our bitterness or lusts from sight of others behind a closet door does nothing to purify our hearts before God.  The light of God's Word and the piercing sharpness of it goes straight to the source of the problem within us.  The Holy Spirit is able to reveal what our flesh hopes to conceal, and God does so because He loves us and can change us.  It is not at a set time but in real time the Spirit of God knows what lies hidden from others in our hearts and minds.  His intent is not for us to try in the flesh to "clean up our act" but to stop acting altogether and begin to live as new creations according to His grace, walking by faith, repenting of sin, holy and governed by His love.

A Father--not Formulas

Human beings are incorrigibly preoccupied with self:  selfish, self-confident, self-conscious, self-righteous, and the list goes on.  The reason why self-help books continue to be perpetually popular is because we recognise we are the weak link, we are not completely content, and if there are benefits or life-hacks out there to improve our lives sign us up!  We are naturally bent to seek out formulas which promise to guarantee beneficial results in things like weight loss, how increase our net worth, superior cleaning products, and also in spiritual matters.  Passages from the Bible can be used like a maths equation, imagining if we plug the right good works or words into a formula God will bow to our will and provide the end result we desire.

Consider this passage in 2 Chronicles 1:7-12:  "On that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, "Ask! What shall I give you?" ⁸ And Solomon said to God: "You have shown great mercy to David my father, and have made me king in his place. ⁹ Now, O LORD God, let Your promise to David my father be established, for You have made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude. ¹⁰ Now give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people; for who can judge this great people of Yours?" ¹¹ And God said to Solomon: "Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked riches or wealth or honour or the life of your enemies, nor have you asked long life--but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself, that you may judge My people over whom I have made you king--¹² wisdom and knowledge are granted to you; and I will give you riches and wealth and honour, such as none of the kings have had who were before you, nor shall any after you have the like."

God appeared to King Solomon and bid him ask for anything.  By the way, if God offered you anything what would you ask for?  Solomon wisely framed his response in light of who God was, God's promises, and in acknowledgement of his inability to rise to the great task God had called him to as king.  Solomon's request for wisdom was not so much for himself but for God and the good of His people Israel.  God was pleased by Solomon's unselfish request and graciously chose to bestow all the things upon him people naturally desire:  riches, wealth, honour, victory over his foes, and long life.  I remember at one point of my life reading this passage and foolishly making a formula out of it, imagining wisdom was the thing to ask for as the means to receive all those other things I valued more than wisdom to walk in God's ways.  There is nothing wrong with asking for wealth or for a long life in themselves, but if these are our primary desire this can be an indication we do not value the true riches God has already provided by the Gospel.

When it comes to gifts our tendency is to desire and ask for things we can use.  Since we are the LORD's, having been purchased with the blood of Jesus, it is wise for us to follow Solomon's lead to ask for what God's will is for us.  Without wisdom Solomon would never do what was right in God's sight, and therefore Solomon's request was in submission to God.  See, verse 11 shows God knew the motives of Solomon's heart:  he was not asking for His own personal benefit but for God's sake.  Having been loved and chosen by God as His anointed, King Solomon sought to be made divinely fit for the task and God graciously rewarded this humble posture with much Solomon did not ask for.  I am reminded of what Jesus said in Mark 10:29-30:  "So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, ³⁰ who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life."  To call God Father like Jesus and be loved by Him!  To have the presence of God now and the promise of eternal life with Him puts the greatest comforts the world can offer in proper perspective.

Vitality of the Vine

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

John 15:4-5

When my dad taught me to ride a bike my parents gave me for my birthday, a point came when his hand was removed from bike and I was on my own.  It was up to me to keep my balance, steer, and apply the brakes as needed.  This is not the model Jesus gave to His disciples, nor the pattern for any of God's people in scripture.  The people of God have always needed to be dependent upon God for the ability to do all He has said.  The picture Jesus supplied of our relationship with God is the connection between the vine and branches.  The vitality of the vine extends into the branches and that is the only way the branches can be fruitful, and it is our connection with Jesus which gives us life, wisdom, and power to do good.

God told Joshua on the border of the promised land, "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage."  God met with Gideon in Judges 6:14 which states, "Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?"  Gideon didn't understand:  he protested he was of a poor family and the least in his father's house.  The might of Gideon was not based upon his tribe, monetary wealth, or political pull but was in God who was with Him!  David was not proud to imagine he could fight with lion, bear, or Philistine but his God had given him the victory.  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego stood calmly before furious King Nebuchadnezzar and said as the furnace was heated seven times hotter, "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us."  This courage, boldness, and power to overcome comes from God alone in the Old and New Testament.

The Great Commission was often put to me in my youth as something all followers of Jesus needed to do in Matthew 28:19-20:  "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen."  Since verse 19 begins with therefore, why and how shall we go?  Matthew 28:18 makes all the difference:  "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."  Because Jesus has all authority and is with us we are enabled to do what He says.  The connection between Jesus and doing His work is also seen as Paul wrote in Philippians 2:12-13:  "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."  See, we aren't alone!  Even when we are separated from other people, we are able to do good works because God is already at work in us.

Our ability to do what God directs us is not then based on our ability but connectivity with God, that we are walking in humble reliance upon Him.  This is more than availability, for the branch grows out of the vine as an extension of itself.  Even so the resurrected life of Jesus Christ is lived out through us when we die to self, take up our cross daily, and follow our risen LORD.  Paul wrote in Philippians 4:11-13:  "Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  As Paul pointed out, the ability to be content and walk in the Spirit is a learning process.  Our spiritual regeneration is not some sort of magic which compels us to lay down our will and experience perfect peace in all situations.  We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, and continual communion with Him is key.

Wonder of the Gospel

While preparing a sermon this week, I was struck by the wonder of the Gospel.  The Law written on tablets of stone could only condemn and revealed beyond doubt men are sinners deserving of God's judgment.  One shortcoming of the Law was the people who needed to keep it wouldn't, nor could they, as it held forth the standard of God's righteousness.  So according to God's grand design, He used the Law to lead sinners by the hand to Jesus Christ the Saviour who provided atonement with His shed blood.  After three days He rose from the dead like He promised, proving He is able to grant forgiveness and eternal life for all who trust in Him.

The Law was unable to keep thieves from stealing and liars from lying, but Jesus came to change the hearts of people and make new creations through faith in Him.  Even as Jesus was raised from the dead glorified, so tax collectors, harlots, and liars are raised changed to new life through faith in Jesus.  Paul wrote to people who had been duped to thinking it was righteous to attempt to relate to God through Law after being born again in Galatians 6:14-16, "But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ¹⁵ For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. ¹⁶ And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God."  Isn't it good news for sinners that Jesus cleanses and makes us new creations?

When He walked the earth, Jesus was surrounded by sinners--people who the religious people wrote off as wicked and beyond redemption.  Yet Jesus called Levi (a tax collector) to be one of His apostles, and He also invited Himself over to the home of Zacchaeus for a meal.  It was unthinkable to the religious rulers Jesus could be viewed as a righteous man for keeping such company!  If He was righteous, surely He would not mix with people known for their greed, theft, and abuse of power.  But Jesus came to this world as a doctor tending to the most ill patients so they might be saved.  On a field of battle the idea is to tend to victims who can be saved, yet Jesus can save all who trust in Him.  Jesus alone can justify us by faith and save sinners the Law could only condemn.

The transforming power of the Gospel is seen in greedy people changing into generous givers, thieves admitting they have stolen and restoring four-fold.  Those who were demon possessed were suddenly in their right mind, people born blind had their sight miraculously restored, and harlots became chaste and devout in their devotion to God.  The power of God through the Gospel is able to fundamentally change a person from within, the very thing the Law or all the willpower a person can muster could never do.  Having been born again God begins to grow in us new desires for what pleases God and conviction of our sin we never noticed before.  This is evidence of what God promised by grace, to write His laws on our regenerated hearts that go beyond what is written in stone.