Off The Rails

An attraction that never interested me at Disneyland was "Autotopia," a miniature car connected to a rail that guided the car along the course.  There was a steering wheel in the car but it did not allow the driver to make meaningful decisions.  Go-carts were a much more exciting prospect for me because of increased speed and the opportunity to be in control, take turns as fast as possible, and the fun challenge of passing other riders.  For other people, even go-carts are a yawn when you could go off-road.  Why be confined to a small oval track when there is a world to explore?

When the cliche is used "off the rails" it can mean a person, business, or group is like a train that has jumped the track that is no longer safe or able to reach the desired destination.  A train needs a track for the conductor to guide it to the next station.  The ironic thing is when it comes to life there are no rails that force us on the right path.  Very rarely are our choices of attitude or thoughts between changing our current track for one other option:  a whole world of input, feelings, experiences, and beliefs impact our decisions, and sometimes even we realise we have made or are making the wrong choices.  Personal change isn't as easy as pulling a lever.

Another term of phrase used to reference a lapse of sobriety is "falling off the wagon."  Like the train that relies upon the guidance of rails to reach a station, the implication is the wagon--the program, support, and principles--are constructed to guide a person to continued sobriety and to kick addiction.  As good as structure, routine, and boundaries are, they have their limits because of the free agency God has given people to choose for themselves.  Sometimes our ability to reason is hijacked by lies we believe, doubts in God and His Word, and because we are naturally stubborn and rebellious.  We can jump off the wagon because it doesn't seem to be working as fast as we hoped.  One who falls off the wagon can choose to remain on the ground as the wagon plods towards the destination with one less rider.

The example Jesus gives of Him being the Good Shepherd and His hearers being like sheep is a far more accurate representation of the Christian walk than wagons or trains.  Jesus did not herd sheep into wagons to carry them to grassy fields and still waters but we must voluntarily choose to follow the call of Christ step after step.  The church is not intended to be heavy machinery engineered to carry passengers along a rail to heaven but is a living organism, a Body of believers where Jesus Christ is the Head.  I believe people like the idea of a train that has tracks leading them to heaven or a wagon carrying them to sobriety and victory.  The only decision that must be made is to climb aboard and then it will carry us home without us needing to pay a personal cost to repent of sin or exercise faith in Jesus whatsoever.

When used as modes of transportation wagons and trains were modified for comfort with springs, padded cushions, ventilation, and windows.  In addition to these features these vehicles were attractive because they could bring occupants to their desired destinations much faster than walking on foot.  Yet there is a comfort sheep that walked great distances in the sun a businessman in an air-conditioned coach may not have:  the presence of a Good Shepherd who loved them and gave His life for His sheep.  Jesus indeed is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He does not promise a luxurious, first-class experience of comfort in this life, yet He provides the Comforter who fills us with the presence of God.  It is vain to trust the machinery of church ministry or the wagon of programs to keep us on the "straight and narrow" when Jesus Christ is faithful and loving to lead us every step of the way.

As we follow Christ in faith and obedience life becomes less about what we do or don't do but who Jesus is and all He has done for us.  When "the Way" becomes our Way in daily experience we are more secure, better directed and comforted than any train or wagon could boast.  Where the train and wagon picture works well is we are not alone in the journey, for Jesus connects us with other believers who are on the same journey by grace through faith.  He has given us a command to love one another as He loves us so when another falls we are there to lift them up.  Circumstances may prompt us to desire an express train to heaven, yet we are wise to enjoy the journey God has planned for us.  Like runners who are intentional to compete according to the rules to prevent disqualification, may we each press on for the finish line as we follow Christ's example of love and sacrifice.

The LORD God

"Then Moses said to God, "Indeed, when I come to the children of Israel and say to them, 'The God of your fathers has sent me to you,' and they say to me, 'What is His name?' what shall I say to them?" ¹⁴ And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.' "

Exodus 3:13-14

I have read this passage many times in the past, but when I read this recently it impacted me like never before.  When God identified Himself to Moses by name, it reveals He is sovereign, supreme, and eternal.  A man is identified by a personal first name, family surname, and place of birth to distinguish him from others.  A picture, date of birth, fingerprints, dental x-rays, and unique tattoos or birthmarks help to uncover the true identity of a person.

God is the eternal Creator of the world and cannot be tied down to a geographic area on earth.  Nothing in the universe existed before Him, and all has been made by Him.  He will endure beyond everything He has created so creation alone is insufficient to describe His power or wisdom.  No human being can look upon the all-powerful God who is spirit and live thus an attempt at a physical description would be pointless.  There is absolutely nothing in heaven or earth God could rightly use as a frame of reference to identify Himself so the unique, self-existent One wisely appealed to who He was, is, and ever will be:  "I AM WHO I AM."  Isn't He awesome?

When God met with Moses on Sinai He revealed additional truth about His righteous, unchanging nature.  Exodus 34:5-8 says, "Now the LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. ⁶ And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, ⁷ keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." ⁸ So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped."  Moses bowed reverently before the LORD God who is merciful, gracious, and forgiving.  His love, truth, and goodness is not according to the shifting standards of man but are perfect in purity and infinite in power.  The God who forgives sin is the Judge of all the earth before Whom all men must give account.

How great is the LORD and worthy to be praised for His power, holiness, and divine condescension.  Psalm 113:4-6 says, "The LORD is high above all nations, His glory above the heavens. ⁵ Who is like the LORD our God, Who dwells on high, ⁶ Who humbles Himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth?"  Our God is so glorious it shows humility for Him to stoop to look into heaven, to earth, and to reveal Himself to sinners.  The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Moses went even further, sending His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, to put on human flesh and walk on the earth, to go to the cross, that "I AM WHO I AM" would become our God and Father through faith in Jesus.  Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness, for He is altogether wonderful, eternal, and good.

God's Favour is Life

"Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name. ⁵ For His anger is but for a moment, His favour is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

Psalm 30:4-5

God is worthy of all praise and thanksgiving.  How marvelous is God's grace to make redeemed sinners His singers, servants, and saints!  The remembrance of His holy name ought to prompt celebration and awe in His power, wisdom, and goodness.  Words fail to adequately describe His immutable goodness and righteousness.  The living creatures around God's throne do not rest day or night as they repeat continually, "Holy, holy, holy, LORD God almighty, who was, and is, and is to come!" (Revelation 4:8)  God is the sovereign LORD of all, and one day all will acknowledge this.

In my Bible the description of the psalm says, "A song at the dedication of the house of David."  David praised the LORD who had established him as king over Judah and all Israel, gave him victory to take the stronghold of Jerusalem, and favour with King Hiram who supplied cedar for his palace.  David endured many hardships, sleepless nights, and painful trials before and after he became king, but God remained the same.  His anger, though fierce, was not without a just cause or without a swift end.  God who created man in His own image is gracious and His favour is for life that endures beyond our time on earth.  Jesus came to earth in human form (as the Life) to give His life as a ransom to make sinners God's saints.

Praise, thanksgiving, and rejoicing are the hallmarks of God's saints.  Our guilt and need for repentance brings sorrow, being chastened for our iniquities is painful, but joy comes in the morning.  The darkness of the night flees away at the rising of the sun.  The joy of the LORD is more predictable and enduring than the light of the sun which can be obscured by clouds.  The sun that shines today will not shine forever, but the light of God's favour will eternally shine upon our souls.  After affirming by the power of God He was faithful to keep His people, Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:6-9:  "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls."

In the storm Jesus cared about His disciples, and in our trials God has not forgotten about us.  Even in the midst of persecution and grievous circumstances believers are exhorted to greatly rejoice because God employs such things to prove the genuineness of our faith.  Peter said, "if need be" meaning there is a divine purpose behind our pains.  If gold could feel pain it would seek to avoid the fiery crucible, yet the melting of the precious metal is needed to bring greater purity and value.  David endured a long seasons of trials which only seemed a night in comparison to the greatness of the joy he experienced through His gracious Saviour and Deliverer.  So great is our fullness of joy through faith in Jesus Christ we are enabled to praise, honour, and glorify God night and day.  Even as the grace and goodness of God is beyond description, so our joy is inexpressible and full of glory knowing our God whose favour is life.

God Knows Why

It is easy to feel discouraged when we step out in faith and the result is unexpected.  God appeared to Moses and directed him to go to Egypt because God heard the cries of His oppressed people and would deliver them.  After Moses and Aaron confronted Pharaoh he made life harder for the Hebrew slaves.  He accused them of being idle, refused to provide straw for bricks, and kept their quota the same.  When the Hebrews were unable to meet the daily demands they were beaten.  This was not what Moses was expecting, though God told him beforehand Pharaoh would not let his people go.

The rulers of the people came to Moses with their complaints for the trouble he caused them.  "The LORD judge between you and us," they said.  It is evident they already formed their judgments of the involvement of Moses in their affairs and it was not a positive assessment.  Instead of arguing with them, Moses questioned what God was doing in Exodus 5:22-23:  "So Moses returned to the LORD and said, "Lord, why have You brought trouble on this people? Why is it You have sent me? ²³ For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done evil to this people; neither have You delivered Your people at all."  I appreciate the honesty and candor in Moses before the almighty God who knows the hearts of all men.  He wondered why God would allow trouble and why God sent him.  At the time Moses felt like God had not done what he promised and told Him so.

This interaction gives me pause.  How often have you felt like Moses?  I certainly have.  You have done what you believed God instructed you to do but only hardship and difficulties arose.  The problems people have are overwhelming and out of your control.  Knowing God knows about our troubles doesn't explain why He allows them.  It is a good thing Moses had faith in God and did not lose heart despite the troubling circumstances and reactions of his fellow Hebrews.  This is why it is so important for believers to keep trusting God whatever befalls us, knowing nothing happens to us beyond God's control and He will ever be faithful.  God would deliver His people in a miraculous way which no man could have predicted or known.  Isn't that what a miracle is, God working in a way that transcends human ability and expectation?  When things looked like they couldn't become worse (and still did!), and Moses already was dealing with feelings of insecurity and ineptitude, God remained faithful.

Take heart, believer!  Don't allow trying times or unanswerable questions keep you from seeking the LORD and trusting in Him.  The next chapter begins, "Then the LORD said unto Moses..."  God knew what He was doing and His people were safe in His hands through oppressed, overworked, beaten, and confused.  Our hopes often rise and fall based upon what we can see or feel at the time, yet the one who looks to God will be established on solid ground like a house built on the rock.  Our expectation and desire is for God to deliver sooner than later, yet every day of our lives are known by God.  He knows what He doing despite our pains that will result in deliverance, freedom, salvation, and rest.  When we wonder why God knows the answer, and more important than why is who God is and our relationship with Him.