God's Pop-Quiz Moments

I don't know about you, but in school I never preferred a pop-quiz.  I always appreciated the opportunity to review and brush up on information to perform at my best.  Being unexpectedly put on the spot with the possibility of failure was never a enjoyable feeling.  The one major upside of a pop-quiz is all the students were in the same position, and if all did poorly it indicated ignorance of the students and the need of additional lessons.

Life is full of pop-quiz moments God allows for His good purposes, and when we realise we have failed it compels us to labour to be better prepared in the future.  Though God knows everything He also tests us so the condition of our hearts will be revealed to all.  These tests are not undertaken in a classroom with pencil and paper at a desk but in our responses to God in words, deeds, and attitudes.  Moses told the children of Israel in Deuteronomy 8:2, "And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not."  There is the test of having little and trusting Him with obedience, and another unexpected test of having abundance and humbling ourselves before God and others too.  This is the test God gave King Hezekiah after his life was miraculously prolonged, and it was a test he failed.

King Hezekiah is numbered among the good kings of Judah, a man who feared the LORD and laboured to please Him.  When strong enemies besieged the city, lobbing threats and mockery over the walls, Hezekiah's faith did not falter.  He looked to God and relied upon Him alone, and God did great wonders to save His people and Jerusalem.  Hezekiah also cried out to God during a grave illness, and God saw his tears, heard his cries, and extended his life for 15 more years. 2 Chronicles 32:25-26 reads, "But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. ²⁶ Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah."  Hezekiah failed the pop-quiz of having great abundance he showed off to the ambassadors of Babylon, but repentance for his pride reveals the test fulfilled the divine purpose because a valuable lesson was taken to heart.

When we think of being tested or tried it is likely we picture a painful betrayal, an illness, a tragic loss, or conflict.  But the test God provided Hezekiah came when the stores were well-stocked, the treasury was enriched, and his health was fine:  the pop-quiz came with the smiling, friendly ambassadors who brought gifts to celebrate his recovery from sickness.  In this entirely prosperous season of life this incident is contrasted in 2 Chronicles 32:31:  "However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart."  This is heavy, that God who had been leading and helping kind Hezekiah all the time "withdrew from him" so the real Hezekiah would show himself, Hezekiah who needed God to walk wisely and humbly.  The inevitable result?  Hezekiah failed the test being lifted up with pride, but he passed the test of humbling himself in repentance because God helped him.

Whether you find yourself in a trying season or things couldn't be better, know the only way we can pass the test is when we humble ourselves before God and are led by the Holy Spirit.  In poverty we can despair and lose hope, and when all is prosperous we are easily lifted up with pride and forget to rely upon God.  We never know what form the pop-quiz from God will take or when it will come, and the only way we can be prepared to pass is when we humble ourselves before God in faith and obedience.  And when we fail, for there is no man who does not sin, may David's words in Psalm 51:10-13 be on our lips:  "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. ¹¹ Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. ¹² Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. ¹³ Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, and sinners shall be converted to You."

Christ our Hope

Every time we speak, text, or write, God's people have the opportunity to edify one another in the faith of Jesus Christ who is our Hope.  I started reading 1 Timothy this morning and was reminded of Paul's exhortations to Timothy to faithfully teach the doctrines of Jesus Christ our LORD, "...nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith." (1 Timothy 1:4)  As long as people have been around there has never been a shortage of political intrigue, controversies, and conspiracies which cause disputes, often preying upon fear and ignorance.  Fueled by doubt and speculation, the fear and praise of God can be overshadowed with endless disputes which profit nothing.

The praise, worship, and glory of God however is timeless in beauty, truth, and relevance.  The youngest son of Jesse named David who God brought from the sheepfold to be a ruler over all the tribes of Israel had plenty to occupy his mind:  the death of his best friend Jonathan, enemies without, intrigue within, rape and murderous plots within his own family, the aggressive and violent sons of Zeruiah, and constant adversity.  Prone to being downcast and overwhelmed, David remembered the LORD and looked to Him with songs of praise.  He acknowledged the greatness of God and considered His mighty works and thus was brought through dark seasons with steadfast joy and peace.  Because God was his hope--not his rights, ability to win a debate, or political clout--he was enabled to rest with the Good Shepherd in pastures of green beside still waters as a rule rather than an exception.

What does it profit to protest against government when we know and are known by the KING OF KINGS?  How are believers edified by promoting controversies which cause disputes instead of directing our perspective towards the Most High in worship and praise?  I exhort all God's people to fix their eyes no matter what happens today in faith in God and His Word.  Life is not hopeless when Christ is our Hope.  Consider the song of David recorded in Psalm 145, a glorious proclamation of our great God and Saviour!

Psalm 145

1 I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. 

2 Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. 

3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. 

4 One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. 

5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. 

6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. 

7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness. 

8 The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. 

9 The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works. 

10 All Your works shall praise You, O LORD, and Your saints shall bless You. 

11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power, 

12 To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom. 

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures throughout all generations. 

14 The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. 

15 The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. 

16 You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 

17 The LORD is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. 

18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. 

19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them. 

20 The LORD preserves all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. 

21 My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, and all flesh shall bless His holy name forever and ever.

When Condemnation Knocks

When my wife and I bought our first house, apparently the previous tenant owed money to creditors.  Our neighbour divulged it was not uncommon for her to have a "new car every week" only to have it towed away from the driveway.  Then something unsettling happened:  a creditor showed up on two occasions when I wasn't home with the intent to repossess the furniture the previous tenant had bought on credit.  My wife explained how the house had been sold and we had no contact with the previous tenant, but he was undeterred.  He did not believe she was telling the truth and wanted to enter the house to find the lounge and bedroom set he imagined was hidden inside.  Having refused his demand to come in, my wife told him if he wanted access to the premises he would need to contact the police.

In preparing for this week's sermon I was reminded of this incident from the past and realised for a lot of Christians who have been born again and forgiven through faith in Jesus Christ it is a present reality.  Jesus Christ has provided atonement to pay for our sins, yet the accusing voices of self, Satan, and others can ring in our ears over past sins.  That creditor had no business entering the house to have a look inside:  we were not guilty of missing a single payment because we didn't owe him anything!  Now it is true we are all guilty of sin before God, but we do not owe Satan anything.  We do not need to entertain his sweet talk, threats, insinuations, or condemning tone for one second as children of God.  We can say on the authority of Jesus, "Talk to my Father" and let Him handle it.  Because of what Jesus accomplished on Calvary we are freely forgiven, rendered righteous, and can affirm what Paul wrote in Romans 8:1:  "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."  For all who are in Christ Jesus by grace through faith, there is no condemnation of us from God.

The word "condemnation" in the Strong's Concordance means simply, "an adverse sentence."  After trusting in Jesus Christ our life is hid with Christ in God.  We are crucified with Christ and the life we now live in the flesh is by the faith in Jesus Christ who is our Saviour and King.  We are released from the guilt of the past which attempts to mock us as we are reminded of our grave sins and errors.  Like Ishmael and Hagar were sent packing by Abraham, so we can do with the reminders of our sinful past which seem to plague our memory.  Every thought contrary to Jesus Christ can be taken captive to the obedience of Christ because the Law of Moses was nailed to the cross with Jesus, putting an end to its power over us (2 Corinthians 10:1-6, Colossians 2:13-15).  Having repented of our sin and received forgiveness through faith in Jesus, we are free indeed.

We are free from the guilt of sin and free to do the good works God has prepared for us to do.  Let us not confuse condemnation with conviction, as responding to conviction of sin with repentance is one of those good works.  The Holy Spirit has been sent to convict all the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, the same world God loved and sent His only begotten Son as a sacrifice to save.  Not one of us is perfect since we live is a failing, ageing physical body which will see corruption, yet let us not forget the sure promise of being raised incorruptible with Jesus Christ!  Believer, when Condemnation comes knocking at the door of your heart do not give an inch, for he is at the wrong address.  Bid him be on his way!  You do not owe Condemnation a thing, for even he must answer to Jesus.

An Unexpected Idol

Humans have the propensity to turn good things God gives us into idols.  The common examples used as illustrations to me when I was a kid were things like money, cars, music, and self.  I believe it is possible the current isolation restrictions preventing churches from gathering in person might expose one I never could have believed possible:  church attendance.  Gathering at a local church with believers to worship God, study the Bible, and serve one another is a very good thing and the scripture exhorts us not to forsake assembling.  Nearly all the "one another" commands put forth in the New Testament require a degree of personal involvement together.  Going to church is a vital part of growing in faith and edifying one another in obedience to Jesus.

At the same time there might not be a greater metric relied upon for "how we are doing spiritually" than church attendance.  Yet like the shopkeeper who bows before a shrine and image for good fortune, or a person who drives their car with a saintly image for protection, church attendance and serving at church may be a similar practice for Christians.  Going to church ticks a lot of boxes for people which is not always the glory of God.  I remember my surprise when a visitor informed me they came to church for the air conditioning.  Maybe some people come to church for coffee and a doughnut or to please their spouse.  Anyhow, as Corrie Ten Boom was fond of saying, a mouse nesting in a biscuit tin does not make it a biscuit:  attending services every night, singing worship songs, and reading through the Bible does not mean you know or are walking with Jesus.

Here's a question for you:  since you stopped regularly attending church in person, stopped teaching that Bible study or Sunday School, have you been praying or in the Word more or less?  Again, the spiritual disciplines of praying and reading the Bible are only some of the measurable aspects of the Christian walk and can be useful indicators of where our the affections and desires of our hearts lie.  Racing through a chapter or reading for hours will have little effect without faith and obedience.  I have no desire to lay a guilt trip for anyone, but it is always profitable to take stock of our hearts and honestly assess our pursuit of God without the weekly or daily prop of church attendance.  I am so grateful for the technology which allows us to follow God's will in gathering electronically and that prayer and communion with God does not require WiFi and apps!

I love going to church and I miss meeting up with my brothers and sisters in Christ.  When we gather together again I pray there will not be any spiritually gaunt or haggard among us, wasting away from lack of spiritual vitality when we have a God who loves us, speaks to us, and provides for us refreshing streams of water and green pastures of rest in His presence.  Enter in, believer, for a closed church building does not hinder God from drawing near to us or us to Him.  And when those doors open again I exhort you to be there often and early, praising and thanking God with gratitude for His faithfulness with joy.