11 October 2023

The Promise of Life

During my time in Australia, I have been amazed by the incredible amount of native trees growing on rocky hillsides, cliffs and in fields.  The Blue Mountains are covered by a sea of gum trees that extend beyond the visible horizon.  I recently went to Camp Kedron as speaker and looked out upon the innumerable trees with leaves in the morning sunlight that flickered in the breeze like golden flame.  It was a glorious moment to behold the greatness of God in His creation, for even as the sun rose high above trees and mountains God rules and reigns over all that is and will ever be.

Trees and all living things in creation provide evidence there is a Creator, a first Cause starting the cycle of trees that produce seeds from which new trees grow.  Bushfires are a common way the the bush is cleared and rejuvenated over time, and God has designed plants, animals and people to reproduce after their own kind.  In Isaiah 55, God used the example of rain that falls to the earth for the purpose to water plants and cause them to grow, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so His word will not return to Him without accomplishing His intended purposes.  Hard ground does not prevent the rain from falling, and by God's grace hearts of stone can be splintered by His word He also likens to a hammer.

The LORD God continued to speak through the prophet in Isaiah 55:12-13:  "For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."  Even if people do not regard or heed God's word, those who fear the LORD can be joyful and glad in our God whose word never fails.  As I looked out upon shimmering leaves beyond count, I was blessed to consider the Light of the World Jesus Christ Who provides light in the darkness and raises the dead in sins to eternal life by the Gospel.  What joy is ours because of Jesus our LORD!

The ground brought forth thorns as a result of sin, yet by God's grace His people were given a prosperous, eternal future they could rejoice in.  The cypress and myrtle (gum trees too!) are all evergreen, unlike thorns and briers that flourish for a short season and then die and grow brittle.  God promised His people would go out with joy, be led by peace, and creation would rejoice before those He has transformed and made spiritually fruitful.  What was once a wilderness would be made paradise by God's saving grace, and may our lives also provide a fitting testimony of our great God Who has given us eternal life.  A tree cannot move itself, yet may the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives prompt us to voluntarily and freely praise and worship the God Who speaks.

09 October 2023

A Good Testimony

I was encouraged this morning by 3 John, a letter written by the apostle John to Gaius.  In the body of the letter John addressed Diotrephes, a man who loved to have the pre-eminence in the church--perhaps the same church body Gaius was part of.  Diotrephes was described as one who was inhospitable and unwelcome to fellow believers, including the apostles.  He was given to slander and gossip about brothers in Christ and excommunicated those who were friendly towards them.  Diotrephes was a man in a leadership role in a church whose heart and actions revealed fundamental ignorance of God.

John assured Gaius he would personally address the situation upon his arrival.  In light of Diotrephes, John's exhortation is a comfort to all people who discover problems with church people in 3 John 1:11:  "Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God."  Gaius was reminded he was beloved of the LORD and of John.  He and the brethren were not without help or consolation in the conflict concerning Diotrephes.  John nor Gaius needed to be moved by fear of man or worry over what to do.  There was no need for retaliation or immediate intervention.  Gaius was told not to imitate evil, but to keep doing what is good.  Doing good was something, by the grace of God, Gaius and we can do.

John did not saddle Gaius with the responsibility of attempting to enforce church discipline upon Diotrephes, to gather together men intent on dethroning him, or to flee from fellowship.  Gaius was to avoid following Diotrephes' sinful ways and follow Jesus Christ in obedience, humility and submission.  Even if Gaius was the next person to be thrown out of the church, he was not to resort to the ways of Diotrephes in an attempt to set things right.  It is not uncommon for conflict or difficulties to arise between people in the church.  A bigger potential problem than the original offence is when troubled believers do not respond with grace and humility in dealing with their own sin, justifying ungodly means to expose flawed leaders with fleshly tactics like Diotrephes did.

Whether a person is in a leadership role in the church or not, the command of John is one we all ought to take to heart.  We are not to imitate evil examples but to do what is good.  Those who are of God will walk in the steps of our LORD Jesus Christ in humility, meekness, and obedience to the Father.  The church Diotrephes was a part of were blessed and benefitted greatly from having brothers like Gaius and Demetrius around as John said in 3 John 1:12, men unspoiled by the wicked influence of Diotrephes:  "Demetrius has a good testimony from all, and from the truth itself. And we also bear witness, and you know that our testimony is true."  In refusing to imitate evil and doing what is good, may our lives be a good testimony to all that we know God and walk in truth.

08 October 2023

Choose Your Judgment

"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. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death."
Romans 8:1-2

There is safety in keeping the laws of the land, for such are protected as upright and responsible citizens.  The Bible says when born-again Christians confess their sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us all our sins (1 John 1:9).  It is on the basis of Christ satisfying the righteous requirements of the Law of Moses and His atoning sacrifice we are forgiven, receive a full pardon and are rendered righteous by faith in Jesus.  The law of the Spirit of life in Christ has freed us from the law of sin of death, and this is reason for rejoicing by living righteously.

Because of the Gospel freely offered to everyone, all people have the responsibility and opportunity to choose what side of God's judgment they will be on:  condemnation that leads to eternal death or pardon that leads to eternal life.  In a court of law the accuser and accused present their case before the judge.  As it stands all people are naturally guilty as sin before God and have no hope of exoneration.  Those who deny their guilt will be exposed as evildoers, and those who humble themselves with contrite hearts, admitting their wickedness and appealing to Jesus Christ the Saviour of the world, will be redeemed and saved.

I have observed a variety of reactions of people in relation to court judgments.  I have seen the prosecution celebrate the guilty verdict, and some who have been condemned have been incredulous and continued to assert their innocence and desire to appeal.  On the other hand, I have seen the decision of "Not Guilty" celebrated by the accused and their supporters, exonerated from all accusations.  In that situation the accused are the ones who feel the verdict was a miscarriage of justice and lament the court's decision.  What is amazing is God's judgment of believers is not that we are "Not Guilty" (because we are indeed guilty of all manner of sin) but righteous based upon the payment Jesus made for our sin with His own blood.

Having been made free from the condemnation of God's Law and sin's curse that brings death, we are spared the eternal judgment and wrath of God.  Instead we have the promise of the abundant life that now is found in Jesus and eternal life that is to come.  God has given everyone the choice of which side of God's justice we will experience:  His eternal pardon or condemnation.  There are no appeals possible for the one who dies in their sins.  The wise willingly humble themselves and say, "God be merciful to me, a sinner!"  The one who trusts in Christ who is righteousness for us is the one who will go home to heaven justified.

07 October 2023

Transformation by Grace

As I prepared for this week's sermon, an illustration came to mind of how God seeks and saves the lost.  People could be compared to an abandoned, neglected car that is rusting away in a pile of debris.  Most people would look at a wreck and see it as junk and a worthless liability:  a heap of perished rubber, broken glass, and rat-infested interior.  But to the savvy car enthusiast, it is a dream to find a rare and valuable car which can be purchased to restore to peak condition.  Imagine if the one who designed a one-of-a-kind car found his own priceless design rusting away in a garage and was willing to give everything for it.  That's similar to what Jesus has done for us sinners.

When God looks at lost sinners created in the image of God, He knows what He created us to be.  In our natural condition we are dead in sins, like a car that cannot be started or driven because it lacks a battery, tyres or steering wheel.  Jesus came to seek and save the lost and died on Calvary to provide atonement for our sins.  In receiving Christ by faith, we are born again and God begins a process to restore us and make us more like Jesus.  This is a work God delights to do--not as a hobby for hours on evenings or weekends, but by fellowship continually with Him every day.

God is not interested to purchase us with His own blood for resale value or as a trophy for a showroom, but so when He steps on the accelerator we will roar to life; when He touches the brakes we will respond automatically to the leading of the Holy Spirit and conviction from His word.  He wants us to yield to His guiding hand as He directs every moment.  Our redeemed, restored lives are not stored in a garage or only utilised for road trips, but we have been adopted as children of God and fit for our Father's use and good purposes today.  He designed us, created our personality, gave us precise specifications according to His wisdom, and knows exactly what we need to fulfill our purpose to glorify Him.

How blessed we are to be called and purchased with the precious blood of Jesus!  Our lives are a testimony of God's redemption and love, for while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.  God's plans for us are better than we could have ever dreamed for ourselves.  Even in our suffering God's grace is evident towards us as it is written in 1 Peter 5:10-11:  "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."  God does more than maintain us but transforms us from glory to glory.  When God allows suffering we are better for it, and what a glorious journey we are on by His grace.