Dead Lions and Living Dogs

The book of Ecclesiastes has great wisdom for people living life under the sun today.  One of the statements which struck me recently was, "A living dog is better than a dead lion."  The preacher (whom many identify as king Solomon) explained in Ecclesiastes 9:5-6:  "For the living know that they will die; but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. ⁶ Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; nevermore will they have a share in anything done under the sun."  Those who are living today have hope and knowledge those in the grave no longer share, and their memory will fade in time.

Lions have long been revered as an apex predator, and thus lions have been given the acclaimed moniker of the "King of Beasts."  The bark of a large dog can travel a couple of kilometres, but the roar of a lion can be heard some 8 kilometres away!  A lion is larger, more powerful and a more fearsome hunter than a stray dog, yet a living dog is better than a dead lion.  The dog and lion comparison was an illustration to demonstrate the value of people who live today.  There are many famous and powerful people who have gone to the grave, and while their monuments and memories remain there is nothing more they can do.  It is the living who possess the opportunity to live in light of their mortality and make the most of life today.

In the Bible and our lives there are many people we respect and admire, heroes of the faith through whom God did marvellous things.  We would like to have their mantle upon us; we would desire a double portion of their spirit and effectiveness in ministry!  There have been leaders and prophets like Moses whose shoes were impossible to fill, yet that is not what God called Joshua or any of us to do.  Joshua was not to pattern his life after Moses, but to lead the children of Israel by faith in God and obedience to Him.  Moses the servant of God who lead the Hebrews out of Egypt was dead, and Joshua was called by God to lead them into the land of promise.  Joshua could do what Moses could not do because he was alive and still had a share in life under the sun.

The same is true for believers in Jesus Christ today.  We might see ourselves as a timid toy poodle in comparison to lions of the faith in Scripture or people used mightily by God who have preceded us into eternity, but a living dog is better than a dead lion.  Because of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Jesus Christ, we have been born again and filled with the Holy Spirit Who empowers us to by Christ's witnesses and do God's will.  The world does not need another Paul or Barnabas but for us to yield to Christ and be the person He created us to be.  By God's grace, our lives can supply a personal testimony for Jesus Christ that has more influence on those around us than all the biographies, documentaries and quotes of the fathers of faith who have finished their race on this earth.  Let us make the most of this brief season of influence we have upon the earth for God's glory because of the living hope we have in Jesus Christ.

The Folly of Presumption

People can be funny sometimes, and not always "ha-ha" funny.  Of all the creatures God has designed, only man was made in His own image with the capacity for reason, understanding and with a conscience that guides our moral choices.  Despite our intelligence and our natural gifts that exceed single-celled organisms, plants and animals, at times we can be as dense as a wet post to the truth God has revealed and make foolish decisions when we know better.  God's people are no exception to this, and every Christian can testify of this ironic reality from personal experience.  The Bible also has no shortage of examples of mankind's foolish tendency to go our own way rather than trusting and obeying God.

God promised to give the children of Israel land flowing with milk and honey in Canaan, land God gave to Abraham before them.  Miraculously God brought them out of slavery in Egypt with many signs and wonders, fed them with manna from heaven and satisfied with water from a rock, yet they continued to look back with fondness upon centuries of oppression and slavery after God set them free.  After He led them to the border of the promised land and 10 of the 12 spies from each tribe brought back a evil report of the land, the people mourned and wept over their supposed predicament.  They shuddered in fear at the thought of strongholds and giants who dwelt in the land, and had they looked a bit higher they would have seen the almighty God who remains faithful and powerful to keep His promises.

Influenced by the bad report rather than the word of God and His faithful servants, the people sought to choose a new leader to take them back to Egypt rather than enter Canaan.  This decision proved disastrous.  God said the generation who would not believe Him would perish over 40 years in the wilderness, one year for every day the 12 spies had spent in the land.  From the generation 20 years old and above, only Caleb and Joshua would set foot in the promised land.  Suddenly the Hebrews changed their tune.  In light of their death sentence in the wilderness, they impulsively decided they were going to enter the land of Canaan anyway--despite the protests of Moses who warned God would not be with them in their foolish venture.

Numbers 14:44-45 tells us what happened:  "But they presumed to go up to the mountaintop; nevertheless, neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses departed from the camp. ⁴⁵ Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who dwelt in that mountain came down and attacked them, and drove them back as far as Hormah."  The people presumed to go up to the mountain without the leading of God's presence or by Moses (which was the way God had led them since the exodus from Egypt), and what resulted was a terrible but predictable outcome.  Rejecting God's way and presumptuously going their own way led to disaster and death.  This incident provides an example we in the church today do well to consider and heed so we do not act presumptuously as the Hebrews did.  We ought to pray God would lead us individually and corporately and wait for His guidance before we do what we think needs doing our way.  The promises of God are true, but let us not imagine we can begin to do His work without His guidance, wisdom and help.

Unbelief prevented the children of Israel from entering into the land of promise, and unbelief was also the cause of their presumptuous foray into Canaan that rendered them helpless prey.  God is for us as born again followers of Jesus, yet let us be sure we are on His side in humility, patience and obedience.  Unbelief and presumption did not die out with those who fell in Canaan all the way to Hormah, and the just shall live by faith in God.

Holy Spirit Without Measure

God directed Moses after the exodus from Egypt to gather 70 elders, and He promised to take a portion of the Spirit that was upon Moses to equip them to do the work He called them to.  Numbers 11:24-25 relates, "So Moses went out and told the people the words of the LORD, and he gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tabernacle. ²⁵ Then the LORD came down in the cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and placed the same upon the seventy elders; and it happened, when the Spirit rested upon them, that they prophesied, although they never did so again."  Even a portion of the Holy Spirit spread between 70 elders enabled them to exercise  the miraculous, spiritual gift of prophecy.  In the case of these elders, this was a one-off occurrence which demonstrated their calling and gifting to perform their God-given roles as rulers in Israel.

Elijah was another prophet upon whom God placed the Holy Spirit and enabled him to be God's faithful servant and mouthpiece.  By the power of the Spirit this regular man prayed to God, was heard and given ability to raise a dead child to life, to cause a drought for years and later bring the rain, and at his word God consumed an offering by fire from heaven.  Before he was taken up into heaven Elijah rolled up his mantle, struck the waters of the Jordan, and the waters parted so he and his protégé Elisha could pass over on dry ground.  2 Kings 2:9-10 says, "And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?" Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." ¹⁰ So he said, You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."  God gave Elisha the desire of his heart, and the prophets affirmed the Spirit of Elijah rested upon Elisha after the departure of the prophet into heaven, for Elisha parted the Jordan as Elijah previously.

The revelation of Jesus Christ ushered in a new condition John the Baptist observed in John 3:33-35:  "He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true. ³⁴ For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand."  Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit beyond measure, and to all who believe on Him Jesus will give Living Water of the Holy Spirit that springs up in us to eternal life.  Born-again Christians do not receive a portion of the Spirit Who was upon Jesus or a double-portion:  we receive the Holy Spirit Who gives power from on high without measure.  Rather than puffing us up with pride, we ought to be humbled the almighty God would fill us with His glory to accomplish His will, be spiritually fruitful, exercise spiritual gifts and be His witnesses wherever He sends us.

Because the Holy Spirit's presence and power is immeasurable, it is certain we have yet to discover the full reaches of His love and power towards us and through us Who believe.  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Walking in the Spirit by obedience to God's word and Christ's example, we are equipped to use spiritual gifts God gives according to His will to benefit the body of Christ and glorify God.  Even as the 70 elders needed the Holy Spirit to fulfil their function in the congregation of Israel, so believers must be guided by God's love in the operation of all spiritual gifts.  Whether we are able to operate in a spiritual gift "on demand" for the purpose of other people recognising our office or gifting is far less important than drawing near to the LORD Jesus today humbly in faith Who gives the Holy Spirit without measure.  Praise God He chooses to place His infinite glory in those redeemed by His grace so all may glorify Him.

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.