Preparation for Eternity

Since moving to Australia, my daily life has changed in many ways.  My family and I have adapted well to living in New South Wales despite not being born and raised here.  There is one thing, however, I am particularly hopeless at:  remembering to carry an umbrella in the car when rain is in the forecast.  Growing up in southern California, I never needed to plan for rain.  As an adult I have never owned an umbrella!  Perhaps this is one reasonable explanation why I do not think to bring a household umbrella with me, and when I do I am apt to leave it behind and lose it.  Living in Australia I still do not plan for rain--and thus am usually unprepared when the rain falls.

Jesus called out the hypocrisy of people who were observant of the weather and took appropriate action yet were negligent of present spiritual preparation for the future.  They were like people who never were caught in a downpour without an umbrella, waterproof jacket and shoes.  Though they could predict weather patterns with the accuracy of Doppler radar and plan accordingly, they did not recognise the signs of the times.  The scriptures had spoken clearly concerning the signs of the promised Messiah and Jesus fulfilled prophecies like being conceived by a virgin, being born in Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah, called out of Egypt and raised in Nazareth.  Wise men came from the east seeking to worship the King of the Jews because His star was seen in the heavens, and the Jews affirmed Bethlehem was the place confirmed in scripture--and ironically did not care to go themselves.  People who thought to bring a covering on a cold day were hypocrites to ignore their need of spiritual preparation when they would someday be judged by the righteous Messiah Who personally addressed them.

Jesus said in Luke 12:57-59, "Yes, and why, even of yourselves, do you not judge what is right? ⁵⁸ When you go with your adversary to the magistrate, make every effort along the way to settle with him, lest he drag you to the judge, the judge deliver you to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison. ⁵⁹ I tell you, you shall not depart from there till you have paid the very last mite."  If a person knows they are guilty of offending an adversary, it makes sense to do everything possible to settle out of court before a date is set.  On the way to the magistrate it would be wise to plead for mercy and make things right rather than having to appear before a judge in court who has power and authority to impose serious punishment.  An adversary will show no mercy, and a righteous judge will throw the book at someone so careless.  If we care about temporal things like fines, felonies and jail time we want to avoid, it follows we ought to be more careful about being in good standing with God because this has eternal consequences.

A point Jesus previously made in this chapter is a wise servant will be faithful even when his master has been away for a long time, because he knows his master will return and require a reckoning.  Knowing the master could return at any time prompts the servant to be responsible and be on the lookout for him.  In the same way, servants of Jesus Christ ought to be ready in these last days for His return.  Having been born again by faith in Jesus, our hearts, minds and lives are to be exercised in godliness.  1 John 3:2-3 says, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. ³ And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."  Knowing God is pure and has washed us in the blood of the New Covenant, we are purified and sanctify ourselves in preparation for the revelation of Jesus Christ.  Because Jesus has forgiven us, we forgive others; since He has been gracious and merciful to us, we freely extend these to others as well.  Since heaven is our eternal home in the presence of the righteous God and Judge, we are to do righteously today.

Divine Order

"You give your mouth to evil, and your tongue frames deceit. ²⁰ You sit and speak against your brother; you slander your own mother's son. ²¹ These things you have done, and I kept silent; you thought that I was altogether like you; but I will rebuke you, and set them in order before your eyes."

Psalm 50:19-21

God was faithful to address the sin of His people of sinning with their lips.  One aspect of their sin was their presumptuous belief God was altogether like them.  Their words spoken against their brethren were marked with deceit and slander, and God remained silent, observant and composed.  They sat in judgment and spoke with the authority of man, but God would rebuke them with unmatched power, wisdom and majesty.  The tendency for man to liken God to himself is an error repeated throughout scripture, and it was evident as people interacted with Jesus Christ--God in the flesh.  True to His word, Jesus gently rebuked those who were anxious or worried when their expectations of Him were unmet.

The first time Jesus went up to Jerusalem to observe the Passover with Joseph and Mary, He lingered behind.  Joseph and Mary assumed Jesus accompanied people in their group as they trekked home to Nazareth and were worried when they could not find Him.  They hastily returned to Jerusalem and found Him in the Temple discussing matters of the Law of Moses, listening and asking questions.  Luke 2:48-50 says, "So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." ⁴⁹  And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" ⁵⁰ But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them."  Mary blamed Jesus for her and Joseph's anxiety.  Jesus showed He was in the right place and their assumptions were in the wrong.  Jesus understood the most complex matters of Law, yet Joseph and Mary did not understand His simple question.

While crossing the Sea of Galilee with His disciples, a fierce storm whipped up and the ship was in danger of sinking.  The disciples, many of them seasoned sailors, feared for their lives.  Mark 4:38-41 reads, "But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, "Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?" ³⁹ Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?" ⁴¹ And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, "Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!"  Because Jesus slept during the storm they viewed His actions as careless, perhaps even clueless.  Jesus amazed the disciples by speaking to the storm (that instantly obeyed Him) and bringing a great calm.  Jesus rebuked His disciples for their fear and questioned their total lack of faith.

Finally, there was a domestic conflict when Jesus went to the home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary in Bethany.  Mary sat at Jesus feet as He spoke the word of God, but Martha was distracted by feelings of being ignored and abandoned by her sister when there was much to do--and blamed Jesus for her troubles.  Luke 10:40-42 states, "But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." ⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."  Instead of pulling Mary aside and dealing with her offence, Martha confronted Jesus as if He did not care for her feelings.  Martha demanded Jesus tell Mary to do what she wanted Mary to do, but Jesus did no such thing.  He rebuked Martha for her anxiety and worries, and He commended Mary and others who do well to listen to Him.

These three occasions show when we give place to anxiety and worry, in one sense we have relinquished the authority and power of Jesus in our lives to our own fleshly thoughts and desires.  It shows at least for a moment we have forgotten Who Jesus is, His wisdom to always be doing His Father's will, His ability to bring peace to our situation and to do all that is necessary to provide for our physical and spiritual well-being.  It is shocking how often we have viewed God through our own human frailty, limitations and folly.  As a result we have looked for hope in all the wrong places, been overwhelmed with fear and anxiety, and felt like God does not even care about us.  We have thought God was altogether like us, but thank the LORD He is gentle and gracious to rebuke us so we might be instructed and learn to cast our cares upon Him.  Because God resists the proud and self-assured and gives grace to the humble, 1 Peter 5:6-7 exhorts us: "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷ casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you."

God is not like us, and this realisation prompts us to humble ourselves to be more like Him.  A judge says, "Order in the court!" and God is the One who brings order to our hearts, minds and lives by His divine presence and power.

Divine Wardrobe Change

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, ¹² to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."

Psalm 30:11-12

David cried out to the LORD who heard, healed and helped him.  What happened in the past could not be undone, yet God turned his mourning into dancing.  By God's grace David's sorrow was turned by God into celebration and gladness.  It is important to recognise God's role in David's shift of perspective and feelings, for God brought his season of mourning and wearing sackcloth to an end.

When it comes to grief and sorrow, it is a deeply personal experience.  There may be social norms concerning periods of mourning and appropriate clothing to wear, yet it is ultimately the choice of the individual.  Feelings of grief can extend beyond a funeral or memorial service, and what person has the right to tell the mourner to cease?  This passage shows us God was the one for David, and it is fitting because all comfort and consolation is found in Him.

We aren't told why David donned sackcloth in the first place, but God took it off to clothe him with gladness.  Sometimes when my wife and I are going to a special occasion, we will coordinate our clothing to compliment one another.  Speaking of the Son of God Jesus Christ Hebrews 1:9 says, "You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness more than Your companions."  Should God's people mourn perpetually when Jesus is anointed with the oil of gladness?  Even when our sorrow is justifiably great, the joy of the LORD remains a constant and in time He changes our wardrobe to match His.  God put off David's sackcloth and clothed David with gladness, and thus he was filled with praise and thanksgiving to God.

God turned David's mourning into dancing and put off his sackcloth to clothe him with gladness--to the end he would praise God with enthusiasm.  If God put off David's sackcloth, should he put it on again?  There are no shortage of things in this world that work to depress and overwhelm us, but looking to Jesus Christ has the ability to change us and our perspective.  It is in seeing the LORD that we are caught up in His goodness, mercy and grace that frees us from perpetual grief and mourning.  Our gladness springs from God's greatness, and He is always worthy of our praise and thanks.

Blessed, Not Cursed

The interaction between Balak king of Moab and Balaam the prophet is insightful, for it demonstrates the ones God has blessed cannot be cursed.  Balak bribed Balaam to curse Israel, but to Balak's dismay he blessed them again and again!  Balaam said in Numbers 23:19-20, "God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? ²⁰ Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it."  God previously made a covenant with Abraham, that through him and his descendants all the earth would be blessed.  Efforts to curse whom God had blessed would amount to nothing.

Balaam continued in Numbers 23:23:  "For there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel. It now must be said of Jacob and of Israel, 'Oh, what God has done!'"  God brought the children of Israel out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and He would bring them into the land of promise.  It was God's doing and is marvelous to this day.  Balaam's prophecy reminds me of what Isaiah would proclaim in Isaiah 54:16-17:  "Behold, I have created the blacksmith who blows the coals in the fire, who brings forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the spoiler to destroy. ¹⁷ No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is from Me," says the LORD."  God's people could rest comfortably by faith in God who would protect them spiritually and physically from destruction.

This heritage of the servants of the LORD extends beyond the nation of Israel, for Jesus Christ is righteousness for all who trust in Him.  Through the Gospel, salvation has been provided through a new covenant in the blood of Jesus.  Paul spelled this out in Galatians 3:8-9:  "And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." ⁹ So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham."  Jesus Who became a curse for us has redeemed us from the curse of the Law.  This is massive!  There are Christians who fear they are hopelessly subject to curses (generational or otherwise) in the Law when Christ has redeemed us from them.  The Law has been crucified to the cross and thus wields no power to curse those Christ has purchased.  We are not vulnerable to Satan, demons, witchcraft, spells or curses uttered by spirit or man, for no weapon formed against us shall prosper.  Rather than being puffed up with pride, we ought to be humbled and grateful by what Jesus has done for us.

God has created the spoiler to destroy, and there are times He allows Satan space and opportunity to afflict the people of God.  He allowed Satan to buffet Job to the end he, his friends and all who read the book of Job would know God is full of compassion and merciful (James 5:11).  God chose for Paul to suffer the effects of a "messenger of Satan" so he would not be proud by the spiritual revelations he received from God.  Instead of delivering Paul from this unholy messenger God spoke this message:  "My grace is sufficient for you.  My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:7-12).  In his weakness from spiritual assault, Paul discovered God's strength.  The best example is of Jesus Christ who was betrayed by Judas after Satan entered Jesus' disciple.  Satan intended to destroy Jesus by crucifying Him, but God flipped the script and spoiled the spoiler:  by Jesus death on the cross He provided atonement, forgiveness and eternal salvation for all who trust Him.  Through Christ's shed blood we have been purchased as His beloved inheritance, and our righteousness is from Him.

You are blessed, believer in Jesus Christ.  You may not feel blessed today, perhaps even cursed!  By faith in God and His word, choose what Jesus has accomplished to determine what is reality in your life more than by how you feel or what you see.  Jesus has destroyed the curse of the Law, and no one can reverse it.  No weapon fashioned against us shall prosper to accomplish evil intent,even if deadly blows are landed on us, for Jesus our Saviour is risen from the dead and reigns on high forever.  How blessed we are to look to Jesus today and always!