More Glorious Than Gold

Yesterday while at the baggage carousel, I saw a fellow traveller who wore an assortment of chains from which dangled charms and crystals.  She even had a silver charm glued to her forehead!  I observed her begin at the lowest crystal and align them with her fingers in ascending order towards her chin.  In some spiritual circles, it is believed wearing crystals promote healing and provide protection from negative energy.  My observation is many people put their trust in crystals, amulets and charms that only the almighty God is worthy and able to receive.  Since God is powerful and mighty to protect, save and heal, all who fear God and trust Him can rest assured He will shepherd us without fail now and forever.

When David expressed willingness to fight Goliath, king Saul insisted David wear the king's armour--even though it did not fit him at all.  It was God who preserved David and gave him skill to fight, and thus David faced the giant armed with a sling and stone with no armour at all.  Filled with the Holy Spirit, David was bold to face the champion of the Philistines and prevailed like he had against lion and bear.  He wrote in Psalm 20:7-8, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. ⁸ They have bowed down and fallen; but we have risen and stand upright."  It was not the harnessing of metaphysical properties of stones created by God or armour fashioned by man but a relationship with the living God that caused no weapon fashioned against David to prosper (Is. 54:17).

As born again children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, our confidence is not to be placed in charms or crystals because the Strength of Israel indwells each of His people.  2 Corinthians 4:6-7 says, "For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us."  Because the knowledge of the glory of God has illuminated our hearts and minds by the power of the Holy Spirit, we need not fear or be dismayed in times of trouble.  The Light of the World Jesus guides our steps in real time by His grace, and He also supplies energy and strength that benefits us, even as plants and solar powered devices utilise the rays of the sun.

The Scripture teaches Christians are now the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, and this divine presence is to powerfully influence us inside and out.  All other spiritual powers and authorities in heaven and earth--seen and unseen--all bow trembling in complete subjection to God.  The design of the Ark of the Covenant provides a wonderful illustration of how God's presence within us ought to be consistent inside and out.  Exodus 37:2 says of the Ark constructed by Bezaleel, "He overlaid it with pure gold inside and outside, and made a molding of gold all around it."  The wooden box was not just to be overlaid with pure gold where it could be seen by people but on the inside that was always hidden.  We are not to be as Pharisees who projected an clean image when they were polluted within but to have integrity inside and out by the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells, guides and strengthens us.  Builders are not as careful with concealed work as finish work that everyone can see, but Jesus spared no expense to fill us with knowledge of His glory within.

We are compared in our flesh to earthen vessels God has imbued with the glorious treasure of His presence.  God's intended result of this spiritual inner strength is expressed outwardly as it is written in 2 Corinthians 4:8-11:  "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed--¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. ¹¹ For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."  Thus God's glory that He has given us on the inside is intended to be seen on the outside as we trust the LORD because His design for us to to manifest the life of Jesus to others through us.  How glorious, that God's strength revealed in our weakness!  How much more glorious is our God than gold!

It's OK to NOT Be OK

As born-again believers in Jesus Christ, the goodness and glory of God has been revealed to us personally through Him.  We learn to look at life through the lens of God's greatness and power, and we can attest to wonderful things He has done in our lives.  When troubles and difficulties arise, our response can be to gloss over our struggles in conversations with others--as if experiencing a painful trial is an indictment of our lack of faith.  Should someone ask us how we are doing, we might be tempted to ignore the question and respond with a cliche like "God is good."  Or we might take a Pollyanna approach to paint everything in the best light because we do not want to burden anyone else with the burdens we carry.  Friends, it's OK to NOT be OK.

This is a common way, without even thinking about it, Christians can be prone to lying.  We know our good, awesome God loves us, and it is good to keep Him in the forefront of our minds.  But this does not mean we are always doing well, nor does it follow we are carefree without struggles and burdens because we are not God.  We can put on a smile and pretend we aren't grieving, we aren't offended, that everything is on the up when we are cast down and grieving.  It is true people can be uncomfortable in a social setting when we are honest with them and admit we are struggling, a medical prognosis is bad, or we don't have good news to report.  Sharing we are in the midst of an overwhelming trial is not an indication of our lack of faith, for it is by faith in God we are honest and transparent with people who might judge us negatively.

In a chat this morning with my mum, she told me the story behind her wearing glasses.  It was not until she went to school it was discovered by her teacher she needed glasses to see anything clearly.  At the time if you asked her, she would have claimed to be able to see--but the words all the other students could read to her looked like a blank sheet of paper.  After being fitted with glasses, she was gobsmacked at the new world that opened up before her gaze:  she saw clouds for the first time, trees actually had individual leaves, and roses were not a blob of colour but had lovely petals.  The glasses helped her to see clearly what had been a blur or completely unseen before.  The LORD does this for us spiritually and much more, enabling us to know God by faith in Christ.  It is after knowing Him we begin to see more clearly just how immense our need for Him was and continues to be.

Jesus promises to fill the thirsty who come to Him, and it is the hungry He satisfies by His grace.  It is the lost whom He finds, He opens the eyes of the blind and lifts up the depressed soul.  If we carefully put a positive spin to conceal our struggles before others and act like all is well, should we be surprised when our turmoil continues?  Should God cater to our hypocrisy, deceit and pride when we pretend to be OK, when we pretend to be sufficient in ourselves when the LORD alone is our strength?  Australia has a "R U OK?" day, and the catchphrase is "A conversation can change a life."  If we are unwilling to be honest in conversation with people who love the LORD and care about us, it is unlikely we will receive the full benefits God has for us who works in and through His people.  When we are not OK, we are blessed to know God remains good.  Humility before God and others is a path God uses to let our needs be made known, to pray with one another, to seek the LORD, and to bring us to a place of rest even in ongoing struggles.  If we imagine we are OK ourselves, when will we ever seek God out of need?

Humble to Heed

Having a relationship with the living God is an awesome, wonderful privilege available to everyone.  The word "privilege" these days has become a loaded term to emphasise the possession of benefits or rights others are denied and cannot obtain, when the privilege of Christians to know God is freely given of God's goodness and grace and extended to all people.  Born-again followers of Jesus Christ are privileged to have a relationship with God, and we desire everyone would receive Christ by faith so they too can experience new life in Jesus as well.  The Christian's privilege is available to everyone:  God's love, favour and mercy received by undeserving souls.

One thing that struck me today is a relationship with God provides personal access to communion and communication with God.  This relationship (shockingly, I might add!) is not God addressing us like a commanding officer his troops, a boss to his employees, or an domineering husband over his spouse, but like speaking to a close friend we love.  God has every right and power to do whatever He wants, yet He delights to hear our voices speaking to Him and expressing our desires, requests and praise of Him.  He is the source of all knowledge, understanding and wisdom, yet He is silent and listens more than He speaks.  God invites us sinners to draw near to Him in faith and reason as it is written in Isaiah 1:18-19:  "Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."  He places no obstacle before us, for God says:  "Come now."  It is often our unbelief and folly that makes communication with God a last resort rather than our immediate impulse.

Many times in scripture God was pleased to heed the prayers of people and was swayed by their requests, though He was justified to do as He pleased.  After the children of Israel transgressed through idolatry while Moses was on Mt. Sinai, Moses begged God to change His mind about justly destroying them.  Exodus 32:14 says, "So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people."  Blessed are the people whose God hears their cries, for even one person who trusts God has sway with Him!  Amazingly, God's will is for none to perish (despite our sinfulness) and He leads us to pray according to His will.  It was not the goodness of Moses but the Holy Spirit who led Moses to plead for the sake of the people, and God relented from the harm He intended to do.  Scripture is filled with instances of God prompting people to pray in faith, Him listening to them, and God answering their prayers with miraculous power--and in the case of Moses, with divine restraint.

These instances in scripture not only teach us to pray to God but also to be reasonable in listening to others, to take into account things people say, and to be humble to heed them.  Since God invites us to reason with Him and responds to our prayers, we ought to be good listeners to bring our thoughts and situations before the LORD who is wisdom for us.  When we are in two minds or completely overwhelmed about the correct course of action we should take, God always knows best.  Nehemiah is a great example of this, for when asked pointed questions by his king he immediately paused and sought the LORD God for guidance.  God does not need our counsel, but we desperately need His.  God forbid we refuse to relent at His word or the words of those who try to reason with us, for in doing so we become like Nabal--scoundrels no one can sensibly reason with.  If our words give God pause, we ought to be humble, patient and reasonable with all.

Loving God's Enemies

"If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; ²² for so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you."

Proverbs 25:21-22

This proverb was repeated by Paul in Romans in the context of not avenging oneself and followed by Romans 12:21:  "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  Jesus commanded His disciples to love their enemies, to do good to those who hated them, and to pray for those who spitefully used them.  We can show love by meeting the needs of others in practical ways, by providing food and drink when needed.  Doing so would bring burning shame upon adversaries for being enemies of those who are kind and compassionate, and God promises to reward those who show love even for enemies.  God is faithful to provide for our needs, guide our steps and will reward us by His grace.

Recently I was encouraged to consider this passage from a spiritual perspective.  There are people in the world who are enemies of God (who may not even realise it), who deny His existence and goodness, and oppose and scorn the truth of His word.  In their condition they are spiritually starving from a lack of Jesus who is the Bread of Life and the Living Water of the Holy Spirit.  What a blessing it is for God to supply wisdom from His word to speak the truth concerning Jesus on the authority of the word of God, for man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4).  Man, in his natural state, drinks sin like water and has a spiritual thirst no amount of pleasure, fame or riches can satisfy.  Christians have the privilege to offer the Living Water of the Holy Spirit so people can drink through receiving the Gospel and live forever.

The spiritual implications of Proverbs 25:21-22 are held in tension with the teaching of Jesus in Matthew 7:6:  "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces."  There are times when enemies of God will hear and receive His word, and others will disregard the treasures of God's wisdom and attack us like enraged feral boars.  Jesus said of Pharisees He deemed blind leaders of the blind, "Let them alone.  When the blind lead the blind they will both fall into the ditch." (Matt. 15:14)  We need discernment provided by the Holy Spirit to love our enemies by speaking the truth and also to express our faith in God by remaining silent until He bids us speak.  We are called to give an answer for the hope that is in us to those who ask and contend for the faith, but we are not called to be contentious (1 Peter 3:15).

Another important point Solomon made is in Proverbs 26:4-5:  "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him. ⁵ Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes."  These verse compliment one another:  we are not to engage in foolish disputes and stoop to the low level of personal attacks and insults, but at the same time we are to speak the wisdom of God's word to reveal the folly of falsehoods and contradictions of worldly wisdom--which is foolishness with God.  When we speak, let us do so lovingly with the wisdom of the Bible, not haughtily spouting our own opinions or condemning others as if we are without fault.  May we speak the truth of Jesus as we follow the example of our Saviour who was humble, gentle, patient and kind.  Let us feed on God's word and drink deeply of the fullness of the Spirit so God's glory and grace will shine through us.