Changed by God's Presence

Years ago during a trip to Israel, we sat on the southern steps of the temple mount and had a brief Bible study.  Our guide pointed out how the steps were constructed intentionally with different tread heights and depths so people would walk carefully, being reminded they were approaching the presence of God.  The idea was never to go up to the house of the LORD casually or without consideration of the enormity of the privilege and responsibilities God bestowed upon His people.

We were also told about Ezekiel 46:9 that guided people on how to depart the temple mount after presenting yourself with the appropriate offerings:  "But when the people of the land come before the LORD on the appointed feast days, whoever enters by way of the north gate to worship shall go out by way of the south gate; and whoever enters by way of the south gate shall go out by way of the north gate. He shall not return by way of the gate through which he came, but shall go out through the opposite gate."  Our guide said one reason for this command was to illustrate that people who went up to present themselves to God should not leave the same way:  even as their point of entry differed from their exit, so they were to be changed by going up the house of the LORD.

Recently another thought came to mind, that God desired the lives of people to intersect with Him.  Without this command, Jews who came from the south could bring their offering to the outer court and turn around without venturing past the temple where the Spirit of God dwelt in the most holy place.  In commanding people to continue from the south to north (and vice versa), it meant the lives of God's worshippers would also intersect with one another in fellowship.  This is a beautiful picture of the desire of God to dwell in the midst of His people who unite in the fear and worship of God, and one day we will all be gathered in New Jerusalem to worship and serve Jesus, the KING OF KINGS.

As churches gather to worship God, hear His word and enjoy fellowship in Christ's name, it is a foretaste of heaven because Jesus offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice for sin.  Those who ascended the temple mount with a sacrifice would have bathed in a mikveh, and Jesus has spiritually cleansed His followers with His own blood and imputed righteousness to us by faith in Him.  Though we have been washed clean, would ought to search our hearts and seek the LORD intentionally with our whole being as it says in Lamentations 3:40-41:  "Let us search out and examine our ways, and turn back to the LORD; ⁴¹ let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven."  It is wonderful we can draw near and lift our hearts to God in the presence of fellow believers or right where we are, knowing God will continue to sanctify us by His grace.

As a direct result of speaking with God, the face of Moses shone.  His appearance was altered by communing with God as a man speaks with his friend, and seeking Jesus Christ will spiritually impact our lives and perspective as well.  We come to Christ as we are but He does not leave us as we are, for He makes us new creations He is faithful to sanctify and make spiritual fruitful.  How awesome it is Christians are now the temple of the Holy Spirit who dwells within us!  We do not need to go up to the temple in Jerusalem to seek the LORD, yet let us not imagine His indwelling Spirit is for our convenience:  it is for our comfort, guidance, and closeness of relationship.  May we be those who seek the LORD, yield to His guidance and rest in His presence.

Open Only For Jesus

When I left my house the other day, I noticed something out of the ordinary at a house on our street.  Despite the early hour, the front door adorned with a Hindu banner stood wide open with no one in sight.  A small wooden table was arranged on the porch with two ornamental brass and silver vessels sitting on top.  I am not sure what the significance of the decorations and the open door were, but it seemed to signal an home that was open and welcoming to spirits and good luck.  It certainly requires faith to believe a banner (Toran) can act as a spirit filter like a flyscreen--allowing sunlight and the cool breeze to pass through but prevents flies and mosquitos from coming in as well.

I suspect those who go to great lengths to obtain good luck and prosperity are often in a quandary when troubles arise and lack sure spiritual footing:  did a malevolent spirit come into their home?  Is their bed or mirror arranged in the wrong way?  Have they angered spirits because they could not find their preferred flowers for an offering?  In the midst of a long season of idolatry in Israel, the Jews found themselves in a similar predicament.  Though the God of Israel established them in the land of Canaan, provided seasonal rain, prosperity, and protection from their enemies, they departed from Him and served the "queen of heaven."  The people of Judah fled from their land to Egypt, and they doubled-down on their need to sacrifice to the queen of heaven in Jeremiah 44:18:  "But since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been consumed by the sword and by famine."

God's people foolishly gave credit to the queen of heaven for all God had graciously provided them.  God revealed it was their sin of idolatry that withheld good things like seasonal rain and bountiful harvests from them in Jeremiah 5:25:  "Your iniquities have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you."  The hearts of God's people were cluttered with useless, hopeless idols that were powerless to save, and their troubles were a direct result of departing from God.  The queen of heaven could not help, deliver them from trouble or restore them to their land, but they insisted on serving her anyway.  What a sad situation this was, for spiritually impoverished people who had a rich spiritual heritage of faith in God to wear themselves out seeking the favour of idols that could not see, hear, speak or save.

The door standing open aligns with the new age approach of opening up yourself to deceitful spirits that are not of God.  Jesus Christ showed His power over all unclean spirits by delivering people possessed by them.  He explained what can happen when an unclean spirit leaves a person in Matthew 12:44-45:  "Then he says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation."  It is good to regularly clean our houses and to put them in order because they quickly become dusty, grimy and disorganised.  Unless the LORD Himself takes up residence in our hearts by faith in Jesus, our hearts and minds resemble an empty house with an open door that allows any unclean spirit in.  Any spirit that would dare enter us--beside the Holy Spirit who is part of the triune God--is a wicked, malevolent spirit.

Jesus pointed out the last state of a man influenced by unclean spirits was worse than the first, and so it also would be with this wicked generation--a blasphemous, unbelieving and corrupt generation.  We observe history repeating itself with the idolatrous men of Judah in the book of Jeremiah, with the self-righteous and proud religious rulers who argued with Jesus, and unbelief in God and His word continues in our day.  There is only one remedy and means of being purged of sin, reconciled to God and true prosperity:  by faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God, by opening up the door of our hearts to Him only.  He alone is able to wash us from sin and grant eternal and abundant life.  In this case the cure is also a preventative measure, for Jesus does not leave us empty but fills believers with the Holy Spirit.  One great tragedy in the world is when people are willing to open themselves to every restless spirit but intentionally close the door when Jesus stands, knocks and calls out for us to open to Him.

Declare God's Greatness

As people saved by faith in Jesus Christ, we above all ought to bless the LORD and speak of His great works.  The Law of Moses commanded for parents to diligently teach their children God's words as they sat in the house, walk outside, lie down or rise up.  They were to bind God's word as a sign upon their hand and foreheads and write them on the gates and doorposts of their homes (Deut. 6:4-9).  They were to make God's existence, power, goodness and statues were known so the next generation would continue to know God and walk in ways.

Many of us today live in a secular society that does not acknowledge our Creator, thank, or praise Him for anything.  It is good for people to go far and wide to spread the knowledge and love of God to the unreached as missionaries, and it is good to realise people who live in our cities also have never heard the truth about the God of Israel.  How will children born today be introduced to Jesus Christ unless someone speaks about who He is and all the great things He has done?  There remains unreached people in our own backyards, so to speak, because we never thought to tell them of God's awesome works.

What is amazing is everyone who lives today--despite our diverse backgrounds, educations, passions and experiences--shares something in common:  God has been faithful to supply our needs.  Even people who do not know, believe in, or acknowledge God have Him to thank for creating them and sustaining them thus far.  The fact we can be greedy, grumpy and unthankful does not lessen God's goodness to us.  We Christians learn to look to the LORD to supply our needs, and unbelievers unwittingly look to God as well and by grace receive from His hand.  It is a great blessing to be able to share that God has given us life, provides escapes from death, supplies all our needs, and is the One personally responsible for every good thing we have ever enjoyed.

Psalm 145:15-16 reads, "The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. ¹⁶ You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing."  Since God is the Creator of all, He is able to employ anything and anyone He wants to provide us food in season.  When I'm hungry I look forward to eating, and it is God who provides the food, sets the table and dines with us.  We might express gratitude to the one who planted and harvested the crops. the shop that offered fresh produce and meat, and those who took the time to prepare the meal, yet we ought to give God thanks for everything.  The fact we have eaten food and drank water today is evidence of God's loving provision for us by satisfying our bodies with good things.  How great is the LORD and worthy to be praised for His goodness towards all!

Contend For the Faith

"Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints."

Jude 1:3

In the book of Jude, he wrote to Christian believers to exhort them to earnestly contend for the faith.  The faith to which Jude refers is in Jesus who preached the Gospel and made a way for all sinners to be saved through repentance and faith in the Son of God who died and rose again.  In verse 4 that followed Jude explained why this was necessary:  "For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ."  Even in the early days of the church, ungodly people had crept into the church, turned the grace of God into lewdness (an opportunity to indulge in lusts) and denied God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son.  Like the serpent in the garden of Eden, they questioned, challenged and opposed what God plainly said and led people into sin.

One thing that struck me about Jude's exhortation was the purpose he wrote was to exhort Christians to contend for the faith--not to take up the fight against heretics or falsehoods.  In boldly standing up to promote the Gospel and hold fast to God's word on the foundation of faith in Jesus Christ, they would be effective and fruitful in ministry.  Jude went on to provide examples of the kinds of ungodly characteristics of people in Israel's history so they could better identify sinful motives in their own lives and the church, the body of Christ.  Peter urged this steadfast resistance in 1 Peter 5:8-9:  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. ⁹ Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world."  Those who engage in lion hunts in distant places potentially leave their own houses and families vulnerable to attack, and our call is to know the truth so we can recognise error and resist it in faith right at home.

Having been informed of the truth of the Gospel by God's word, we are called to contend earnestly for the faith in Christ granted to us by God's grace.  We did not discover it on our own; it was given freely to us by God.  We were once those ungodly people marked for condemnation who have received the Gospel we are to learn to continually walk in:  as we have been freely forgiven, we forgive others.  We have freely received the love of God, and therefore we love one another--even our enemies we pray for.  The battlefield of earnest contention for the faith is not merely outwardly but in our own hearts and minds.  There will be temptation to keep records of wrongs, to sow discord due to personal offence, and to be careless with our words.  Let us heed God's word to be sober and vigilant to remain steadfast in faith and contend earnestly for it so Jesus will be glorified, sinners will be saved, and the church will be edified.