He Is All Fair

 "You are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you."

Song of Songs 4:7

In the love story Solomon penned, the Beloved and the Shulamite had a romantic relationship that resulted in an unlikely but happy marriage.  Both husband and wife were enraptured in the love of one another, and in their eyes their spouse was perfect in every way.  This is how people can be in the throes of romantic love, so smitten with happy emotions they overlook faults which become plain to them over time.  Though we admit theoretically no one is perfect, when someone exceeds our ideals we imagine we have found a person who is an exception to the rule.  Modern rates of infidelity and divorce suggest the discovery of flaws in one once chosen to be their lifelong partner.

I have found the greater my familiarity is with something or someone, their flaws become more apparent.  Take the purchase of a house, for example.  No matter how carefully I have observed the structure, appliances, roofing, flooring and landscaping, it is not until I have lived in the house for weeks and months I suddenly become aware of imperfections and faults that escaped my notice previously.  Some issues could not be seen on the surface, like a loose wiring connection to an aerial or a faulty globe in a garage door opener.  My focus in testing the door was making sure the door opened--not that the light was working.  Other things were in plain view the whole time, yet were easily overlooked because I had not shined light directly upon them or run my hand across the uneven surface.

It was not until months after moving into our current house I noticed a crack in the wall where a previous repair had come loose.  I tackled the project, imagining I was fixing the only gyprock damage in the house.  In the midst of the repair I began scouring the house, making sure there was no other significant damage.  I found a few more dents and holes I patched and primed--only to find more faults--which included affixing the whole ceiling of one room that was sagging from the ceiling joists.  There have now been three occasions I believed I was done with screws, fiberglass tape, mud, sanding, primer and paint only to start right back at the beginning because I discovered more problems.  The faults were always there, and it took close examination to notice them.  It would be utter folly to suggest the walls and ceilings are in pristine condition, for even my repairs are imperfect.

What is wonderful about Jesus Christ is the exact opposite is true:  the closer we examine Him and the more familiar with Him, His righteousness, goodness and holiness exceeds our wildest imaginations.  He who loves us is all fair, and there is no spot in Him.  The longer I have followed Jesus, the more impressed with Him I am.  The Queen of Sheba was overwhelmed when she came to visit Solomon in person, for the stories she had heard did not do him justice.  I have found this to be even more the case with Jesus, for He routinely impresses me and blows my mind.  He is continually faithful, true, gracious, keeps His promises and never disappoints.  He does not forget or forsake us.  The more I grow to know Him, the more His perfection appears.  I am convinced there is nothing or no one remotely like the almighty God who is perfect in all His ways.  I will joyfully stake my life on the reality of the perfection of my God and Saviour Jesus, and I urge you to do the same.

Insidious Idolatry

One insidious aspect of idolatry is the human capacity to make idols of things or activities that are not bad in themselves.  The problem of idolatry goes far beyond graven images, money or stuff.  We can turn a memorial of God's victory into a shrine we venerate as holy ground.  The children of Israel preserved and later worshipped the bronze serpent Moses had made, naming it "Nehushtan" and burned incense to it (2 Kings 18:4).  Gideon destroyed his father's altar and image before facing the Midianites, yet after God delivered them into his hand he used plunder to fashion an ephod which became a snare to all Israel and His house.  In Jerusalem. I have witnessed people moved to tears as they caressed and kissed stones Jesus might have touched, pouring out affection upon relics that are not God.

It isn't just objects that we can worship and put in God's place, but we can idolise things that can be good and even God-glorifying.  After king Solomon and the children of Israel built the temple in Jerusalem in obedience to the LORD, they venerated the temple because it was God's dwelling place--rather than reserving their affections for God alone.  There are some who, having benefitted from miraculous physical healing, make healing an idol they seek more than the LORD who heals.  It struck me today since a building consecrated for worship and physical healing can be idols, prayer itself can become an idol when we make the primary focus our activity and efforts rather than God who answers prayer according to His will.  The problem of idolatry is not in a place, object or spiritual exercise, but it is the natural inclination of our hearts to put ourselves, others or anything in God's rightful place.

Thus Christian ministry can be an idol; our abilities and exercise of spiritual gifts can be idolised.  One spiritual gift can be lifted up above the rest in emphasis because it gives us credibility among Christians.  Godly men and women who have been used by God and have been a blessing in our lives can be lifted up in our hearts, that we tend to look and listen to them and follow their lead instead of seeking the LORD first.  Easier than anything is to idolise ourselves:  our reputation, honour, role, convictions and methods.  What we have done, our successes and accomplishments, can be glorified in our eyes to the point we pursue them relentlessly to our own ruin--like a drug addict does a high.  Jesus taught His disciples in Luke 12:34, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  God is to have our complete loyalty, desire and affection, for He is the Creator and LORD over all.

Through Jesus Christ, born again Christians have fellowship and a relationship with the living God.  Everything we can see, hear, hold, think and feel has the potential to morph into idols because of the weakness and folly of our flesh.  Our knee-jerk reaction is to rid ourselves of stuff, to avoid doing or having anything lest we be ensnared by idolatry--and completely miss our need for a transformed and renewed heart.  Like the Colossian believers, we tend to embrace a "touch not, taste not, handle not" approach (Colossians 2:21) and idolise legalism rather than putting Colossians 3:1-4 into practice:  "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory."

By putting off the works of the flesh and putting on the new man who is renewed in the knowledge of Christ, we are divinely enabled to glorify God and be His conduits of forgiveness, peace and love to all.  Let us thank and praise God for delivering us from the sin of idolatry in its countless forms, that He would have all honour and praise.

Guided by the Light

 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Psalm 119:105

Due to the orientation of our house and dining area, direct beams of sunlight shine through the sliding doors.  Light reveals what a lack of light conceals.  Glass that previously appeared, both on the sliding doors and on the hutch, were exposed as streaky with water spots and in need of cleaning.  Without the sunlight directly hitting the glass, I never would have noticed or known.

It is one thing to realise glass is streaky, but another thing altogether to do something to clean it!  Streaky glass isn't the end of the world, but it certainly is more pleasing to look through clean glass.  Was this knowledge pleasing enough to drop what I was doing when streaks came to my attention and immediately clean the glass?  No.  I believe this provides a good illustration of how the LORD can make us aware of blemishes in our lives and character we do not bother taking intentional action to clean up.  Our procrastination and inaction suggests we imagine realising we are sinners is more important than stopping what we are doing, repenting of sin and doing what pleases God instead.

The psalmist said God's word was "a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  The use of personal pronouns shows God's word is to be taken personally ourselves--not to be used like a torch to ascertain the way others walk, to note obstacles or the direction others chose to walk.  God's word is to guide our steps because we need illumination and course-correction only the Bible can supply.  If our hearts echo Samuel who said, "Speak LORD, for your servant hears," then we must subject ourselves to God's guidance, encouragement, rebuke, correction and instruction through His written word.

Even as the orientation of our house provides opportunity for the sunlight to stream in the window during the day, there are houses sheltered by shady trees or taller structures that do not allow direct sunlight in.  Thankfully people are not like houses which cannot be moved but can turn our eyes to Jesus and open His word with the intention to hear and obey.  Neglect of opening God's word and reading it keeps us in the dark about our own sinfulness, hardness of heart and foolishness.  Reading the Scripture without practicing it tends to foster pride and self-righteousness through hypocrisy.

Reading the Bible is vital, yet obeying what God reveals is just as important.  A little sunlight shining through the window can prompt an impromptu spring cleaning session, and opening God's word and allowing it to shine upon our own paths brings personal revival when we take action to heed Him.  Being the Light of the World, Jesus does not leave anyone in the dark.  He revealed the condemnation is people prefer the darkness over the light because their deeds are evil.  May God's people walk in the light of the LORD as it is written in 1 John 1:7:  "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

God Hears and Leads

Before mobile phones, once my friend and I went to his house and surprisingly, no one was home.  This posed a problem because he forgot to bring the key to the front door with him.  The prospect of sitting outside the house waiting for someone to come home potentially for hours did not appeal, so we looked around the house for an alternate means of entry.  I understood how to remove flyscreens without damage, and it turned out an open window accessed from the back yard was an easy way in.  This enabled us to open the front door from within.  Two lessons were learned that day:  always bring your house key when you leave the house, and for better security keep those back windows locked--that is, unless you choose to ignore the first lesson.

David sang in Psalm 61:1-3, "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. ² From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. ³ For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy."  In times of trouble and feeling overwhelmed David called out to God, as he knew God would hear and answer him speedily.  One might think a rock higher than him or a strong tower would be easily visible from below, but unlike structures built on earth God dwells in heaven where no one can approach without His guidance and leading.  Unless God graciously revealed Himself to us, no one ever could have known Him or shared a relationship with Him.  David had a relationship with the living God, for he said God had been a shelter and refuge for him.

Unlike my friend's house that could be accessed from one unlocked window, strongholds and refuges were not meant to be accessed by anyone outside them.  There was no unlocking city gates in ancient times:  gates and walls needed to be scaled, broken down or tunnelled under to enter.  Once secure, someone inside the refuge was needed to open the gates to enter.  The lowering of the drawbridge before castle gates needed to be done by someone who was already across the moat and in the safety of the castle.  Thus it makes perfect sense David would ask for God to lead him to the rock of salvation and the strong tower of refuge from the enemy.  Would the LORD open to Him?  Based on the character of God revealed in Jesus Christ, He is indeed open to those who humbly seek Him, those redeemed by the Gospel.  John 10:7-9 read, "Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹ I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture."

Like a door which is always open and accessible, God is a shelter and refuge for His people always by His grace.  Like chicks that seek refuge under the wings of a mother hen, so God's people flee and flock to Him when we are overwhelmed, and we learn to abide there continually.  The LORD guides and leads us like a shepherd does his sheep, and Jesus is our Good Shepherd.  Though we cannot see Him with our shortsighted vision in a world full of darkness, where confusion obscures our sight and even light dazzles us, our God is never far from us because He hears our cries and answers.  As a caring shepherd is drawn to the faint bleating of a lamb dying from exposure, the LORD draws near to us to help and save us when we cry out to Him.  Blessed is the one whose God is the LORD, for He is the open door to salvation, comfort, safety and eternal life now and forever.