Glory in God

When the children of Israel returned from captivity in Babylon, they rebuilt the temple.  They did not possess the wealth of King Solomon who lavishly adorned the first structure built roughly 450 years before.  The new temple was modest by comparison and was hardly an impressive edifice even to those who laboured to construct it.  Rebuilding the temple in the city God placed His name was a most worthy effort, yet the new building failed to capture the former glory of that which Nebuchadnezzar destroyed.

Haggai 2:1-3 reads, "In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the LORD came by Haggai the prophet, saying: ² "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: ³ 'Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?"  There were elderly people among the captives who returned to Jerusalem who had seen the previous temple and thought the new temple didn't measure up.  God confronted the rulers of Israel, the high priest and remaining people about how they were critical of the current work.  Building the temple was God's work, but it wasn't as awesome as before.  This reminds me how reports of revivals in times past seem to outshine the work God is doing in the midst of His people today.

God continued in Haggai 2:4-5:  "Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the LORD; 'and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,' says the LORD, 'and work; for I am with you,' says the LORD of hosts. ⁵ 'According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!'"  God's word worked to shift the critical perspective of the building and the results of their efforts to God who was with them.  God said, "Be strong and work for I am with you."  Though Jerusalem lacked walls, protection and an army at the ready, the Spirit of God remained among His people.  They were exhorted to be without fear because God kept His word and covenant with them, though over the years they had been unfaithful to Him.

Haggai 2:6-9 concludes, "For thus says the LORD of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; ⁷ and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the LORD of hosts. ⁸ 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the LORD of hosts. ⁹ The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the LORD of hosts."  The temple which seemed a shadow of its former glory would be filled with the glory of the LORD, and God promised the glory of this latter temple would be greater than the former.  The children of Israel could not have seen or predicted what God would do in the future and how peace would come to a shaken world through Him.

May all the servants of the LORD take heart in this, even when our service does not seem to be as glorious or magnificent of those who have gone before:  we ought to be strong and work because God is with us.  It is not great buildings, gold, silver or fame among men which we ought to prize but our glorious God who is the Desire of All Nations, the One who provides perfect peace for all who trust in Him.  Jesus Christ is our great High Priest and KING OF KINGS, the one whose glory fills heaven and earth forever.  A day is coming when He will return and establish His kingdom in Jerusalem, and eyes of faith see Him drawing near according to His promise.  Praise our glorious God, you His people, for the glory that awaits us is greater than the former.

Complete In Christ

Even in western society that places small value on images as object of worship, idolatry is a real danger in the lives of Christians.  During our pilgrimage on earth, similar to the children of Israel whether in the wilderness or in Canaan, we will face temptations to look to people or things rather than God.  Our idolatry is not as obvious as a shrine with candles and incense because it is fundamentally a matter of the heart.

A pastor recently told me an interesting observation during marriage counselling over the years.  He noted the tendency of people to make demands of marriage to be something God never intended, to provide for their needs how only God can.  A single person who seeks fulfillment, satisfaction and belonging from life through a romantic relationship alone will ultimately be disappointed.  There is a persistent myth that we are incomplete without a spouse or sex.  It is ironic the very thing we seek and obtain can be the source of great consternation and frustration after it is revealed to be incapable of meeting our expectations.

See what Paul wrote to believers in Colossians 2:8-12 (bold emphasis mine):  "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. ⁹ For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; ¹⁰ and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. ¹¹ In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead."  In Jesus alone we are complete regardless of marital status, having been joined to Him in faith.  Through the Gospel Jesus Christ has done a work within us and therefore we work by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This connection with the Body of Christ is not without pitfalls, for as people can look expectantly to a spouse to meet needs only God can, we can look to a church or ministry leader in a similar fashion.  People can feel disenfranchised in a church because of legitimate flaws and because they suppose programs or people within the church ought to provide and meet needs God alone can.  Those who serve in church ministry can also labour for self-serving purposes:  to feel accepted, needed, for praise and to belong.  Church ministry can become a demanding mistress which ironically works to turn the minister's heart away from dependence and reliance on God.  The child of God who realises he is complete in God alone will not be worried about pleasing men or dwindling numbers, for he is already full and lacks nothing that pertains to life and godliness forever.

I'm learning the more I feel I look for positive affirmation by people or quantifiable "fruit" from my efforts I can see, it is a dead-giveaway I have forgotten I am already complete in Jesus.  And I am easily forgetful.  My perspective at times can be like the person who goes to the gym and puts out consistent effort and becomes disappointed when the pounds are not melting away and painful injuries are setbacks that overwhelm any gains.  Life is no easier for the bloke with bigger biceps or the woman with washboard abdominals, and it would be foolish to think the Body of Christ cannot be fruitful or useful unless we measure up to some arbitrary, unwritten ideal.  How refreshing and joyous a revelation it is to be complete in Jesus Christ!  Instead of us grasping with futility for the wind we are held close by the love of God and made useful for every good work.

Rejoice in Our Saviour

Hebrews 11:1 describes faith like this:  "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  Everyone, to some degree, daily demonstrates a measure of faith.  After buying a new car we trust the sensor on the fuel tank is reasonably accurate.  We trust motivated workers to finish the task they were assigned without feeling the need to check on them.  When we place our faith in God as revealed in scripture we are also are convinced and sure of unseen realities.  The Bible gives us insight to the character and power of God to save, forgive, help and save.  Without ever seeing Jesus Christ many people trust and love Him, not because they are weak-minded or mentally unstable, but because of the historical account of His life, death and resurrection.

One of my favourite passages that explores the victorious, sustaining faith in a child of God is seen in Habakkuk 3:17-19:  "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labour of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls--¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. ¹⁹  The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills."  The prophet Habakkuk had no hope of a harvest of figs because the fig tree did not blossom.  It seemed there would be no wine because there was no fruit on the vines.  Food was scarce because the fields yielded no produce and there were no flocks or herds.  In the midst of a hopeless situation, Habakkuk was able to rejoice in the LORD because God was his Saviour.  We are excited at the prospects of a fruitful harvest and seeing our resources multiply, yet we are called to walk by faith and not by sight.  All hope is not lost when all seems lost because our rejoicing is in our God.

These verses in Habakkuk show me the folly of substituting good prospects for God.  In the midst of the trial we see "the light at the end of the tunnel" and find solace our troubles will be soon resolved.  This may be little more than a mirage which plunges us deeper into despair when our hopes are deferred again.  We soothe ourselves with the chance of small gains rather than in God who has already given us all things.  The LORD God is our strength, wisdom, redemption, righteousness and nothing can separate us from His love.  Jesus said He is preparing a place for His followers and will come again and receive us.  Shouldn't Jesus be who lifts our heads because our Salvation draws nigh?  Our LORD and Saviour is able to sustain His people with water from the rock, Living Bread from heaven and the comfort of His presence.  Our Good Shepherd is able to lead us safely through fire and flood, drought and storm day and night.

See the victory provided by faith in Jesus for those who are grieved when all other hopes are exhausted 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, honor, 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."  When Job was critically ill by the hand of Satan he uttered these inspired and immortal words in Job 19:25-27:  "For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; ²⁶ and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, ²⁷ whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"

Hope in God, you His people!  Rejoice in your Saviour, all who look to Jesus in faith!  The LORD is our strength and will enable us to stand now and forever in His glorious presence.

Life Worth Investigating

Children are impressionable and parents have a great privilege and responsibility to raise them to know and honour God.  Christian parents can sabotage their efforts to teach their children about God when they reduce the relationship to rules.  There is a smug satisfaction that feeds our pride that we know and do what is right compared to a sinning, heathen world outside.  Believing sound doctrine is good, yet if pride in ourselves for a righteous stand (however costly) and still despise others without repentance we are no different than the self-righteous Pharisees who did not recognise the Saviour Jesus Christ who walked among them.  It is not doing one thing rather than another that makes us acceptable in the eyes of God but faith in Christ who regenerates us and empowers us by the Holy Spirit to walk in love.

After the exodus of the Hebrews from Egypt, God commanded His people to continually teach their children about Him, His word and all He had done for them.  They were to follow God's commandments in accordance to the covenant He made with them.  Deuteronomy 6:20-24 reads, "When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What is the meaning of the testimonies, the statutes, and the judgments which the LORD our God has commanded you?' ²¹ then you shall say to your son: 'We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand; ²² and the LORD showed signs and wonders before our eyes, great and severe, against Egypt, Pharaoh, and all his household. ²³ Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers. ²⁴ And the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day."  This directive is so insightful on how to instruct our children to follow God and exposes common pitfalls in raising godly children who continue on to maturity in faith.

Notice the transfer of knowledge does not begin with the parent telling the child what is right or wrong but the child, seeing the God-honouring conduct of his or her parents, is curious to know the meaning of God's word and why they follow God at all.  We fail in our witness to our kids and others when our "faith" in God is little more than words, esteeming agreement with certain doctrines and being heavy on what we reject.  These "anti" views are established as ideology within impressionable minds that might actually lack a relationship with the living God.  Zealous as devout Pharisees, these little ones at a young age are keen to reject dressing up for Halloween or promoting Santa Claus; they will hold signs protesting abortion and help feed the homeless.  They will for a time follow their parent's example to avoid distasteful movies or music.  However, a day will come when a child begins to question the ideology of their parents as they think for themselves.  Like the second generation of Hebrews in Canaan who did not know the LORD, a vast majority of these "churched" kids will know Bible trivia and stories but never know God personally.

Contrast this lamentable situation with the passage in Deuteronomy 6:  children were moved to ask their parents the meaning of God's testimonies, statues and judgments He commanded them.  The explanation of the parents is different than the explanation we might give because it starts with a personal testimony of who God is and all He had done for them.  The parents recalled the time when they were slaves in Egypt and how God brought them out with a mighty hand, with signs and wonders they witnessed with their eyes.  God brought them out of Egypt to bring them into a land He promised to give them.  Since God saved them and was their Sovereign, they observed His commands and feared the LORD their God because their lives depended on Him.  The God who was faithful to deliver them in the past would protect and provide for all their needs, now and forever.  Their answer was not an ideology, philosophy or tradition that included God, but their lives provided evidence of God's personal connection with them.

It is one thing to have a testimony of God's goodness, faithfulness and love from scripture, but do you have a life which is lived by faith in obedience to Christ's commands?  A verbal testimony is only of value when our lives are first lived unto the LORD.  The teaching of Jesus was confirmed by the miraculous works He did:  the two went together like faith and works.  James wrote that faith without works is dead, and we can conclude if faith is dead it has not regenerated a soul to eternal life.  James 2:17-18 states, "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ¹⁸ But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."  Words and works by themselves are nothing, yet if our faith in God is genuine our lives will be marked by words and works which honour Him, by love for one another as Jesus loves us.  It is important we and our children believe the word of truth, yet how can we claim to believe what we do not adhere to ourselves?

A little girl of 4 years old impacted me by something she said about a movie.  "I don't like that movie because it has bird-killing," she said.  "Why should birds be killed when they should be free?"  It dawned on me if she had raised on a farm and viewed chickens and ducks as a primary food source for survival her views likely would have been different.  She had been fed an ideology by her parents, and we can do the same thing with Jesus Christ that can pass as faith for awhile.  Over time her views may lead her to be a vegetarian, or perhaps in her adulthood she would look back upon it as a silly phase of life--and this happens concerning Jesus and the Gospel as well.  If we will train our children in the way we should go, we must first live lives worthy of investigation because we have a relationship with the almighty God and our lives are aligned with the fear of God and the glory of His name.  We are not called to act differently from the world:  having been born again by faith in Jesus Christ our LORD and Saviour we will be different because we have been transformed by God.  Ideology or belief in itself never saved a soul.  A relationship with the living God which impacts daily life is what all saved souls share in common.