Salvation By Shipwreck

Faith in God is demonstrated through trust and obedience.  Even when the circumstances of life seem to dictate more sensible courses of action than faith in God, trusting and obeying God no matter what are keys to comfort, rest, and salvation.  God never works in the way we might predict, for the ways of God are infinitely higher than those of men.  We might have an idea of what God is doing or what we might want Him to do, but God's judgments are not based on our shortsighted, often selfish perspectives.  For God's people all situations are worked out for our good.

The Bible is filled with demonstrations of faith by God's people.  God allows us to experience troubles, trials, and temptations so our faith and character might be refined as gold.  The book of Acts describes a situation when trust in the word of God contradicted men's best ideas or efforts for self preservation.  Paul had been arrested and was being transported by ship along with two hundred and seventy-five other men which was comprised of fellow prisoners, guards, and crew.  It was a risky time for sailing, but the helmsmen convinced the centurion they could reach a harbour in Crete.  Shortly after their departure, they were caught in a great tempest.  The crew and men did everything possible to survive.

Acts 27:16-20 reads, "And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff with difficulty. ¹⁷ When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail and so were driven. ¹⁸ And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. ¹⁹ On the third day we threw the ship's tackle overboard with our own hands. ²⁰ Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up."  The men did everything possible to save themselves.  They secured the skiff, undergirded the ship, struck sail to avoid running aground, lightened the ship, and finally threw all the tackle overboard.  All hope of being saved was finally given up.  Yet when there appeared no physical hope or help, God spoke to Paul who in turn proclaimed it to the men on board.

During his address Paul said in Acts 27:22-27, "And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. ²³ For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, ²⁴ saying, 'Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.' ²⁵ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. ²⁶ However, we must run aground on a certain island."  Paul urged the men to take heart because God had spoken to him, and promised there would be no loss of life - but only the ship.  When there was no hope an angel spoke to Paul and said, "Do not be afraid."  Without a shred of physical evidence beyond the word of God Paul took heart, believing that all would be exactly as God said:  the ship would be destroyed, but all would be saved.

Not everyone was keen to take God at His word.  They wanted to avoid running aground so they continued to take soundings to gauge depth.  As the depth gradually reduced and their fear of running aground seemed likely, some of the crew secretly decided to take matters into their own hands.  Their own efforts had been useless to that point, but were unwilling to remain on the ship despite God's promise.  Can't we do the exact same thing?  While pretending to let down the anchors, they lowed the skiff from the side.  Acts 27:31 says, "Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."  For God's word to be confirmed, all those on board needed to meet God's conditions:  stay on the ship until it runs aground, and then all will be saved.  Should some leave in disobedience, they would jeopardise their own lives and even the centurion who remained on board.

The passage concludes the next day in Acts 27:40-44:  "And they let go the anchors and left them in the sea, meanwhile loosing the rudder ropes; and they hoisted the mainsail to the wind and made for shore. ⁴¹ But striking a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the prow stuck fast and remained immovable, but the stern was being broken up by the violence of the waves. ⁴² And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape. ⁴³ But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land, ⁴⁴ and the rest, some on boards and some on parts of the ship. And so it was that they all escaped safely to land."  What the passengers feared most God allowed to happen to them, yet trust in God's Word brought salvation:  all escaped safely to land.  God did not withhold violent waves from tearing the ship into pieces, nor did He preserve the ship.  When all hope was lost, God provided hope through shipwreck.

The disciples were shattered and afraid when Jesus Christ died on the cross.  All hope seemed lost.  Yet Satan's apparent victory was no defeat for God, for Jesus Christ rose from the grave immortal and glorified as He said.  It was in His death and resurrection all can have salvation and life.  It is in our dying to self - in losing our lives for the sake of Jesus - that we find everlasting life, love, salvation, and indescribable joy.  Do not fear the shipwrecks or trials by fire God allows in your life, for it is in the tempest or the furnace of affliction God will meet with you, speak comfort to you, and provide hope for you and others.  When all hope is lost, do not lose heart.  Those who trust God and His Word will never be put to shame.

Our Hope for Healing

"For thus says the LORD: 'Your affliction is incurable, your wound is severe. ¹³ There is no one to plead your cause, that you may be bound up; you have no healing medicines.'"

Jeremiah 30:12-13

There is no cure in this world for the ills which plague men.  The "self-help" section of shops and libraries has not diminished because of the success of previous editions.  New books are written to build upon the faulty foundation that man is able through effort to better himself.  The detestable nature of our hearts and afflictions of mind and body cannot be addressed by human means.  We have all sinned, and sin ultimately brings death.  Surgery does not cure, nor does therapy heal.  Our lives are one of physical decline, and all society with us.  Our affliction is incurable, and our wound is severe.

Those who believe lasting positive change in the world can by implemented through government programs, laws, taxes, religion, or tradition chase a mirage.  Only the LORD who accurately diagnoses the condition of men is able to do anything to cure it.  If a doctor treats a man for a common cold who has AIDS, his treatment will be ineffective and pointless without addressing the source.  The problem is not a runny nose or sore throat, but a systemic problem which weakens the body's defenses.  Treating symptoms without dealing with the cause only temporarily masks the problem.

If we were to ask "the man on the street" what is the biggest problem in the world today, he would no doubt supply an answer.  There are a plethora of potential responses.  The follow-up question is the more difficult one:  "What would you do or how could you fix the problem?"  Our affliction is incurable, our wound severe.  There is no one to help plead our cause, no one to bind our wounds we have suffered, and no balm to promote healing.  There is only one hope for this world:  Jesus Christ.  He is the One who raises the dead to life, gives those who trust in Him new hearts, supplies the Holy Spirit who comforts, convicts, helps, and instructs, and makes us new.  Naaman was cured from his leprosy by dipping seven times in the Jordan River at the word of Elisha the prophet, and all are washed clean from sin through the application of Christ's shed blood by faith. A relationship with Jesus Christ transforms our perspective and provides unshakable hope in a hopeless world.

Luke 4:17-21 speaks of when Jesus went into a synogogue in Nazareth:  "And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ¹⁸ "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; ¹⁹ to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." ²⁰ Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. ²¹ And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."  For all who hear and trust in Jesus, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.  There is no earthy cure for what ails you, no medicine to heal your broken heart.  But if Jesus is able to cause the blind to see, the lame to walk, and the dead to live again, He can restore you to wholeness!  With a word He cast out demons from a distance, and by His Word the world was created.  He rose from the dead, proving His power over sin and death.  Because Jesus lives, He can be your life.

The Joy of Heaven

The life we live on earth is more than a springboard to eternity.  The abundant life provided through faith in Christ is to be lived in light of eternity.  Though eternity is forever, our lives during this temporary season on earth are important.  Our motives for living for God today and seeking the salvation of others matters.

Ask yourself:  why do I want to go to heaven?  Is it primarily for hell-avoidance, your own comfort, or so God will receive glory eternally from your life?  Why is it important for you to know loved ones or even total strangers go to heaven?  Would it be a relief for you to know they will be in God's presence forever because they will be safe, or is it because God deserves their praise and worship for eternity?  Is our view of heaven obscured by motives less pure than the everlasting glory of God?  It is ironic heaven is only heaven because God is there, and yet our picture of heaven can be clouded by who else will or won't be there, what activities we will enjoy, or how we will live.  Whether the thoughts of men are in the gutter or the clouds, the central figure considered by the natural man is universally self.

God loves and cares for all people, and therefore it is fitting we do too.  But since we as Christians will share eternity in the presence of the God who is holy, is our peace, and loves us without fail, we ought to care about serving, worshiping, and praising Him right now.  I ought to lament - not the fact someone might not spend eternity with Jesus Christ - but that they are robbing Him of praise and honour on earth today.  I ought to mourn over my own faithlessness, forgetfulness, and be determined not to allow an hour to pass when I have not been grateful to commune with my heavenly Father, humbly submitting myself before Him.  Basking in the grace and love of God, what a joy it is to meditate on His goodness towards all people!

Since God should be the central figure of our lives today, He also ought to be our focus concerning the eternal state.  His glory, praise-worthiness, and magnificence ought to consume my life.  His love and gracious gifts compel me to spend and be spent for His glory, and the transition to eternity will only increase my capacity for communion and worship.  God is hosting an eternal celebration for the ages, and to focus on any other aspect of heaven aside from Him misses the point.  Praise the LORD, for He is good.  Let us do all we can to glorify God in reaching people with the Gospel, so the Lamb of God will receive the reward of His suffering - not primarily for us or them, but for Him!

Knowing Better Than God

From the very beginning of creation, God set before man a way of life and death.  Man was free to chose to obey God or go his own way.  Before each person to this day, God has freely given the choice of choosing to trust God or rebel against Him.  Those whose eyes are opened to see God in truth, the most reasonable choice is to trust and obey Him - not that we are not often foolish and stray from the path of righteousness.  To the world and even to some in the church today, the Laws of God appear arbitrary and odd.  Others try to explain why God's ways actually make practical sense, for instance concerning the dietary restrictions in the Law of Moses.  The truth is, even if I can explain rationale behind some of God's commands, their good and righteous qualities do not hinge on my understanding why they exist or agreeing with them.  My explanations cannot do them justice, for God's ways are higher than mine.  In trusting God is good and righteous I must also accept His Laws and commands as altogether good, even though I might not understand them.

Consider the command of God through the prophet in Jeremiah 21:8-9, when the inhabitants of Jerusalem faced severe food shortages as the Babylonians waited at the gates:  "Now you shall say to this people, 'Thus says the LORD: "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. ⁹ He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be as a prize to him."  By virtue of being God's chosen people, King Zedekiah and the Jews expected God to protect them and defeat their enemies.  But God said He would turn back the weapons of the Jews upon themselves, and the city would surely fall.  God set before His people the way of life and the way of death.  Those who hoped for refuge within the stronghold certainly die, but any who laid down their weapons and surrendered to the Gentile army who laid siege to their city would live.  That is not what the King nor his people wanted to hear.  Surrender to the Chaldeans?  Don't we serve a God who is mighty to save?  Isn't the temple King Solomon built where God placed His name still standing within our walls?  Surely God would never have us surrender!  The people chose to trust in their own wisdom than trust in God's Word.  What would you do:  trust in the walls of the citadel, defensive strategies, or weapons, or forsake it all in falling upon the mercy of God and your despised enemies?

The commands of God seem counter intuitive to us and therefore require faith.  Adam was told he was free to eat from any tree in the garden of Eden save one:  the fruit of the tree in the midst of the garden he was commanded not to eat.  Was it forbidden because the fruit possessed some poisonous neurotoxin which wouldn't agree with him?  Nope.  The fruit looked delicious, no doubt smelled appetising, and tasted divine!  Why else would Eve (after eating herself) give of the fruit to Adam?  There is no evidence there was anything physically damaging in the fruit.  But God had commanded them not to eat of that fruit, even warning them the result would be death.  After eating Adam's body continued to live for hundreds of years, seemingly unaffected by the fruit.  His body would eventually die, but the day sin and rebellion was conceived in his heart his soul surely died.  Only God could save Adam, through faith in God accounted as righteousness.  Adam and all his seed after him was cursed - not because of the pulp he chewed and swallowed, but because of disobedience and rebellion before a holy God.  Sin is attractive and the taste is sweet to our flesh.  Something that feels or tastes so good can't be wrong!  But just like the Jews during the Babylonian siege and many people today, Adam chose his own way.  It is the way of death.

Men, governments, and nations again and again demonstrate they believe they know better than God.  They scoff at His commands and persist in following the dictates of their own wicked hearts.  Even professing Christians mock the Laws of God in the Old Testament.  "Shaving off the corners of my beard is a sin?  Eating yeast on a certain day is wrong?  Gathering sticks on the Sabbath is punishable by death?  You mean I can't eat bacon?"  It is true born again Christians are completely free from keeping the letter of the Law, but it does not limit the reach of the Law.  Christ has ordained a better covenant based upon better promises (Hebrews 8:6), and has given us the Holy Spirit who governs us from within.  But the Law remains good and righteous.  The world and unregenerate sinners are as condemned under God's Law as ever.  It is a mirror which shows us how sinful we are in God's sight, how far we are from keeping the Laws of God, and that we have done countless things deserving of punishment and death willfully and out of ignorance.  Not one person save Christ has perfectly performed with a pure heart all the Law demands and not once did what was forbidden.

Jesus did not come to destroy the Law or prophets but to fulfill (Matthew 5:17).  He came to finish and complete the Law.  The Law remains perfect and good, even if we can't understand why certain laws exist, when reading the Law makes us shake our heads, scoff, or laugh out loud.  These foolish responses reveal how shortsighted, wicked, and desperately sinful we actually are.  In our natural state we are enemies and opposed to God, and we think we know better.  God is not stupid, and His Laws are all forged in righteousness.  He has never uttered a foolish word, and He always means what He says.  God is the one who places before each one of us a narrow way which leads to life, and a broad way which leads to destruction:  the choice is ours.  Eternal salvation, forgiveness from sin, and a relationship with the Living God is found only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.  Laugh all you want, but it is the truth.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).  No one comes to the Father except through Him.  Because of our own sin, every one of us is going to die.  Trusting in Christ is the only way to be saved.  Which road are you on?  Salvation is more than just securing an eternal destination, but a relationship with God and a new life to be experienced with Jesus today.

Do you think you know better than God?  Can a man stop time or keep himself from dying?  Who is the man powerful enough to challenge, oppose, and rebel against his Maker and live eternally to boast about it in paradise?  Naked we are born, and naked we die.  If we die in our sins, we go to hell.  Only those clothed in Christ's robes of righteousness will gain entry to heaven and find peace in the presence of God.  Revelation 21:5-8 records the words of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God slain from the foundations of the world for sinners:  "Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." ⁶ And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. ⁷ He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."  Sin brings death, but the gift of God is life through Jesus Christ.  Eating the fruit in the garden brought death, but partaking of the Son of God through faith brings eternal life!

Praise God!

This morning I woke up with the essence of Psalm 106:1 in my heart:  "Praise the LORD! Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever."  God is so praiseworthy!  Consider the favour He has bestowed upon the lowly, and hears all who cry unto Him.  All He does is good, and there has not failed one word of His promises.  He is beautiful in holiness, glorious in power, mighty to save, and actively loves all people.  He graciously opens His arms to the unwilling and speaks tenderly to outcasts.  God rebukes the foolish and corrects those whom He loves.  He gives wisdom to the wise, knowledge to the understanding, reveals deep and hidden things, knows what lies in darkness, and light dwells within Him.  He is altogether lovely, just, righteous, and does not change. Psalm 28:7 says, "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him."  Praise the glorious, unchanging One, all ye redeemed!  Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

Sharpening Iron

"As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend."

Proverbs 27:17

Honing metal to a fine edge is a skill which these days requires special equipment.  I do not own a single iron blade, but have many stainless and carbon-steel blades.  The use of grinders, files, and stones are all useful to sharpen tools for maximum effectiveness.  A sharp blade requires less strength and is often therefore safer and more efficient.  In the day when King Solomon penned this proverb, quality tools and weapons were fashioned of iron.  Rubbing iron blades against each other sharpened each at the same time.  In the same way, friends have a way of positively "rubbing off" on one another.  Insightful discussion, sharing thoughts, and working together sharpens the intellect and improves understanding.

This verse is applied easily to the benefit of fellowship in a church fellowship of Christian believers.  But do not mistake gathering together for meetings or activities as fellowship which sharpens.  If I were to drop a handful of iron knives into a drawer, open and close it for an hour, in addition to a sore arm my knives would be more dull than before!  Anyone who has sharpened or tried to sharpen a knife knows there are right ways and wrong ways to go about it.  The knife needs to be laid at a consistent angle.  Even pressure must be applied to remove the material to sharpen the edge.  One or two strokes is not sufficient to sharpen a factory edge:  be ready for a time-consuming process!

Sharpening does not occur accidentally, and so is the process of being sanctified.  We are sharpened when we are challenged, encouraged, and exhorted by brothers and sisters who are walking with Jesus.  It is not our physical proximity or shared activities, but when the truth of God's Word impacts our minds, hearts, and lives.  Most important is time intentionally spent at the feet of Jesus, meditating on His Word, and applying it faithfully to our lives through the Holy Spirit's power.  Listening to sermons or going to church doesn't sharpen you by virtue of the activity alone any more than sitting in the basket with the knives and forks in the dishwasher.  We must recognise our dullness before we can be sharpened, and God has provided the means through fellowship and service with others.  We need the oil of the Holy Spirit to keep us from rust which corrodes and dulls, for iron oxidises very quickly.  It's amazing, really.  As we are sharpened by God's grace, we will sharpen others.  Allow God to knock the rust off you first, and trust He will also see to it others are sharpened as well.

Sharpening is work, and every tool which requires sharpening has a specific use and designed purpose.  As you are sharpened by the LORD, be faithful to do according to God's calling upon your life.  As willing slaves of Jesus Christ, let us heed in our daily activities the exhortation of Colossians 3:22-25:  "Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. ²³ And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality."  The God who has called you out of darkness has called you into His marvelous light.  Whatever you do, do it heartily as unto the LORD!  Simple obedience will make a greater impact on others than you can ever know.

Guess Who?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." The Bible is personally applicable and powerful, being the Word of God.  All written in the scriptures is for our learning and edification:  that all people might know their Creator and experience an everlasting, loving relationship with Him.  There are numerous good and bad examples of people who trusted God, a realistic picture of humanity without any attempt to veil flaws.

Apart from the life of Jesus Christ, there are far more bad examples and failures observed in people who trust God than good ones.  It does not require the learning of a brilliant theologian to discern inconsistencies, errors, and major faults in God's people:  they are clear for all to see.  It seems when we are first born again we scratch our heads when we read of the disobedience, rebellion, and stiff-necked stubbornness seen in God's people.  How their stupidity annoys us!  How ridiculous is their poverty of faith!  Their failures are so blatantly foolish it even strikes us as humorous.  How could someone be so weak and shortsighted to make the same mistakes again and again and again?

Do you really want to know the answer?  It is not a hard question from God's perspective.  The answer is simply, me and you.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  The inconsistencies and hypocrisy we see in others are the same ones our hearts naturally embrace.  The biblical characters we view as most vile and disgusting are merely a mirror image of the sinful nature of our own hearts.  Without exception, all characteristics we disdain and condemn in others thrives in us.  "But I've never murdered anyone," you might protest.  From a biblical perspective, you don't need to physically shed blood to have murder lurking in the shadows of your heart.  God sees hatred (which is to love less) as murder (1 John 3:15).  The hatred which God sees as murder thrives naturally in all human hearts.  It is a humbling to see our sin enlightened by the Word of God.  In my flesh I perceive the disobedience of Adam, the envy of Cain and King Saul, the folly of Nabal, the violence of Agag, the hatred of Haman, the idolatry of Ahab and Jezebel, the greed of Judas, and the rebellion of Barabbas, the fearful denials of Christ by Peter - all rolled into one.

God be praised, for all who trust in Jesus are made new creations.  All who repent and place their faith in Jesus are born again and the Holy Spirit dwells within us.  We are then free from the shackles of sin and free to glorify God with a life which genuinely shines forth His righteousness, holiness, and purity.  Like Paul said, in our flesh dwells no good thing (Romans 7:18), but the glorious life and love of Jesus Christ can now be displayed by the grace of God.  The light of God's Word provides a clear view of ourselves in truth, and acknowledging our sins magnifies God's marvelous grace.  Instead of focusing on our faults, God looks upon faith exercised in Him with great delight - and counts it as righteousness.

So whenever we shake our heads and scoff the boneheaded decisions or inconsistency of people in scripture, guess who we are looking at?  Ourselves!

Water to Swim In

Jesus came to provide all who will trust in Him an abundant life.  This does not translated into an excess of material goods or money, for it is Jesus who said, "One's life does not consist in the abundance of things he possesses." (Luke 12:15)  The abundant life Jesus offers is one only realised through faith in Him and being born again.  It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates and dwells inside a follower of Jesus, teaching, guiding, comforting, and helping us to live for God's glory.

It is an unfortunate reality the abundant life Jesus offers is misunderstood or goes unrealised - even by people who profess to be Christians.  People thirst for knowledge, spiritual experiences, longing for God's power, and in all their labours miss the sweetness of fellowship God has for those who simply love and obey Him.  It is easy to move from the simplicity of the Gospel and become learned Pharisees who polish a clean exterior but nurse a critical and judgmental spirit within.  We can neglect to continue to pursue a deepening relationship with our Creator, content with scant knowledge and a compartmentalized Christianity.  And the worst thing is, we can think in this sorry condition of calloused familiarity we are actually living the abundant life Jesus offers.  It is disgust with our unregenerate life which awakens our understanding and desperation for new life provided by the Gospel, and dissatisfaction over our spiritual poverty after being born again which God uses to open our eyes to draw closer to Jesus Christ in faith and obedience.

Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well in John 4:13-14:  "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."  Jesus provides the Holy Spirit, the spiritual Living Water who brings life, refreshment, and a pure, cleansing influence in and through us.  It is a life to be lived and experienced in fullness right now - not just only after our bodies go the way of the earth.  When Jesus sits enthroned in our hearts as King, LORD, and Saviour, the living water of the Spirit's presence flows through our lives.  The vivid, literal picture painted in Revelation 22:1 applies to Christians today figuratively:  "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb."

A beautiful illustration and personal application of this abundant life all can have through Christ is seen in Ezekiel.  This is a literal description of a river which will flow during Christ's Millennial reign which will heal the waters of the now Dead Sea.  Ezekiel 47:1-5:  "Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. ² He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. ³ And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. ⁴ Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. ⁵ Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed."  Ezekiel was led along the water which flowed from the temple towards the east, towards the sun's rising.  A man measured the depth of the water which flowed from the throne.  For a thousand cubits (about 457 metres) the water came up to Ezekiel's ankles.  A thousand more cubits and the water came up to his knees.  A thousand cubits more and the waters had risen to Ezekiel's waist.  One thousand more metres and the water became too deep to walk, "water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed."  A small stream grew to be immeasurably deep and wide.

It is impossible for us to plumb the depths of God's love, wisdom, grace, and goodness.  The life God has offered us is an abundant, refreshing life, yet we can be content to splash around in ankle deep water.  The Living Water is in us, and we feel very good to be in the water when it suits us.  But how about going deeper?  What do you know of swimming around in the love and power of the Holy Spirit of God?  It is a stream of Living Water which cannot be crossed!  These waters are meant for swimming, "water in which one must swim!"  Jesus calls out to all who will listen today, "Come to me, all who thirst!"  The water is more than fine, dear friend, for it is good and glorious.  This life-giving, life-sustaining, refreshing flow continually directs us to the Risen Son, the King of Glory.  Go deeper!  Don't be content with water up to your knees when you could be immersed in the life God has provided for you!

Jehovah Nakah: The God Who Strikes

Over coffee this morning a brother shared a wonderful truth out of the Bible.  God has revealed His righteous character through various names, like "Jehovah Jireh" ("the LORD will provide" in Genesis 22:14), "Jehovah Shalom" ("the LORD is peace" in Judges 6:24), "Jehovah Nissi" ("the LORD my banner" in Exodus 17:15), and "Jehovah Rapha" (the LORD who heals" in Exodus 15:26 ).  People named altars and even a city after attributes of God which provide glimpses into details of His awesome and magnificent ways.  My friend turned to Ezekiel 7:9 which reads, "My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; I will repay you according to your ways,and your abominations will be in your midst. Then you shall know that I am the LORD who strikes."  "Jehovah Nakah" - the LORD who strikes or kills - is probably not the first name of God people frame on the wall or include in lists on their bookmarks.

The point my mate made was the same word used for "strike" is used concerning the Messiah mentioned in Isaiah 53:4:  "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted."  God is the God who smites, yet He is also the God who was smitten and killed for the sins of the world.  God is not willing that any should perish, but God still sent Jesus Christ - His only Son - to die so those who repent and trust Him can be partakers of His everlasting life.  God said in Deuteronomy 32:39, "Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; nor is there any who can deliver from My hand."  Do you see the divine order?  God wounds our pride to heal with grace; He was willing to kill His own Son so we might share in His life.  It is through dying to self we are raised to newness of life with Christ.  Jesus Christ took the punishment sinners deserved upon Himself, so we might be made righteous through faith.

What comfort there is in knowing Jehovah Nakah!  He kills but makes alive.  He strikes with heavy blows, but provides restoration, wholeness, and eternal life for all who trust in Him.

Deceitful and Desperately Wicked

"Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD."

Jeremiah 17:5

It is remarkable how deceitful our hearts of flesh can be.  We will cheat at solitaire!  If we will cheat whilst playing cards or a board game which is insignificant in eternity's light, what will we do or say under pressure?  Christians have been spiritual regenerated by faith in Christ and given a new heart, but deceit continues to lurk in our flesh.  Regeneration does not mean perfection.  This morning during an early round of golf, I wrote a 4 on my scorecard instead of a 5.  I was convicted by my sin and changed the score.  C'mon, really?  And I was playing all by myself!  God, deliver me from the folly and deceit of my own wicked heart!

Faithfulness in the little things matters.  How important it is to recognise our sin and repent immediately!  It is in yielding in little things which demonstrates a departure from trust in God.  As stupid as it is to cheat while playing golf by yourself, it is infinitely more foolish to depart from trusting God and placing our confidence in men.  Our hearts depart from the LORD before there is any tangible evidence.  That is why it is important we abide in Christ, being filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit.  He brings conviction of sin, righteousness, and judgment.  He guides us into all truth and provides the comfort and help we desperately need.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 reads, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? ¹⁰ I, the LORD, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."  Only God knows the depths of the wickedness in our hearts.  Only He is able to cleanse and wash us of the filth of deceit.  On the golf course today God supplied me a test I failed and then passed through repentance, all by the grace of God.  God's tests are more humiliating than a four-putt, and far more beneficial.  Let us cry out in humility to God, asking Him to see if there be any wicked way in us.  Praise the LORD, for He restores our souls.

The Secular Argument

The truth of the scripture has always been unpopular.  One of the results of this is the temptation for Christians to turn to or rely on secular reasoning to promote scriptural principles in the public arena.  While on the surface this may seem wise, it is folly.  Those who trust God and the scriptures know faith in God's Word is most reasonable, but to substitute human reason for the words of life is most unreasonable.  People believe what they want.  It is not difficult in our subjective age to find plenty of support for doubt and unbelief.  Minds blinded by the god of this world are unable to see the truth, no matter how logical and persuasive our best arguments can be.  Withholding the scriptures means we are not sowing seed, and therefore there can be no spiritual fruitfulness in such wranglings.

God is able to redeem even secular arguments for His purposes, but only God is able to change hearts or the way people think.  Jesus appealed to reason when He spoke, but He did not withhold the divine truths only received by faith.  He spoke with authority of Adam, the first man created by God from the dust of the ground.  He spoke of heaven and hell, conscious there were many who did not and would not agree with Him.  He spoke with objective certainty of right and wrong in a world where every man naturally does what is right in His own eyes.  Jesus did not address men's heads only, but He went straight to the heart.  God's Word has the power to accomplish what secular arguments cannot:  exposing sinful motives, affections, and poverty of the human soul apart from God (Hebrews 4:12).

Jesus did not debate or squabble with unbelievers, but rather He engaged the world with divine spiritual truth.  He did not merely hold forth principles derived from the Word, but in the face of temptation and attack said again and again:  "It is written..."  Even when beliefs of people have strayed from scripture, why not use the scripture rightly divided as the basis of your belief?  Appeals to human reason muzzle the true Word of God to breathe clarity through the subjective fog of current social issues.  Just because issues have been hijacked as "political" or "scientific" or "ethical" should not be justification to see the biblical view as irrelevant.  Are you more interested in having people believe or agree with you, or is your primary desire to turn people from darkness to God's marvelous light?  Should we cite statistics to prop up our arguments when God's Word is a sure foundation?  What does it profit a man to engage the world with reason and purposely avoid the means to provide salvation for souls?

Examine your motives in choosing to primarily hold forth secular arguments to challenge minds of others.  Be purposeful in hearing God's Word and obeying it first yourself, and without shame or embarrassment hold fast to the everlasting Word God has placed above His own name (Ps. 138:2).  If we desire to see spiritual fruit from our efforts, do not neglect sowing the seed of God's Word.  It is the scripture applied lovingly through the Holy Spirit - not our emotional appeals or rational arguments - which leads people to everlasting life.  A transformed nature through trust in Christ will change hearts, and this produces a new mind receptive to the things of God.  Should we lay down the sword in the midst of the battle in exchange for the feather duster of secular arguments?  If we choose to parry or defend ourselves from attack with the Word of God, who cares if the enemy shouts, "That's not fair?"  Let scoffers scoff, mockers mock, and unbelievers cling to deceit.  Tighten your grip on your sword, child of God!  To lay down the sword is to admit defeat, even if you manage to sway a few minds for a season.

Spiritual Aikido

Satan is a created being by God who continually seeks to mimic his Creator, masquerading as an angel of light.  Jesus Christ is the Way, but the devil tries to thwart the advance of His kingdom by many counterfeit "ways."  Jesus is the Truth, and much of the world is deceived to believe truth is subjective and bows to the judgment of each individual.  Jesus is the Life, and no one goes the the Father or heaven except through Him (John 14:6).

One of the ways the world has substituted for a life of repentance and faith in Christ through the Gospel is attempted self-improvement.  One such "way" is through martial arts.  From the moment I was exposed to Aikido in particular, I have always had an appreciation and interest in the skills of the practitioners.  The irony of this martial art is the non-violent philosophy which governs it.  That is why Aikido does not have competitions, but demonstrations.  Whilst some believe martial arts and techniques can be practiced apart from the spiritual aspects connected to the development of them, the two in Aikido in the purest form are inseparable.  The philosophy and purpose behind Aikido offers a substitute for what can only be obtained through faith in Jesus Christ.

Quoting from an Australian Aikido website, "Aikido is a modern, non-violent Japanese martial art that was developed early in the 20th century by the late master Professor Morihei Ueshiba, commonly called O Sensei...Aikido is effective as a martial art but its essence goes beyond the resolution of physical conflict. Based on a background of rigorous training in traditional Japanese jujitsu, Professor Ueshiba spent the latter half of his life developing the art as a means of refining and uplifting human spirit. He succeeded in creating what he then named 'Aikido', 'the Way of Harmony with the Forces and Principles of Nature'. Aikido is a true 'budo', path in which the keen edge of martial training is utilised as a 'Way' to spiritual growth."  As a spiritual exercise Aikido is a "way," but Jesus is the "Way."  Only the righteous God who created man is able to lift up fallen men, and make a way through spiritual regeneration for eternal life.

One aspect of Aikido which interests me is how force applied by an attacker is turned against him.  The harder a person tries to punch or kick an Aikido master, the more their exerted power is redirected in disarming or throwing himself to the ground.  This mimics the way God causes the evil of the wicked to return upon their own heads.  As it is written in Proverbs 26:27, "Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and he who rolls a stone will have it roll back on him."  In the matter of judging others, this is also true:  with the judgment we judge we will be judged, according to the measure we use it will be measured to us (Matthew 7:1-2).  What we sow, we will also reap just like God designed from the beginning.  I was reminded of this when reading Jeremiah 14:15:  "Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land'--'By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!"  False prophets in Jeremiah's day claimed sword or famine would not be in the land, and God ensured they fell by their own deceptions.  The things they claimed safety from would be the very thing which consumed them.  People who are enemies of God stir up God as an enemy against themselves.

When men fall prey to the lie they can spiritually improve themselves through self-discipline or worldly means, they labour for their own destruction.  Seeking enlightenment in any but the Light of the World Jesus ultimately ends in darkness.  Matthew 16:24-26 reads, "Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. ²⁵ For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶ For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"  The man who tries to better himself will only grow worse, and all who try to save their lives themselves will only succeed in losing them.  Praise God He has given us the true Way!

Fitness for Service

I remember days when I could eat whatever and as much as I wanted without a clear negative correlation to my physical health.  When I was about twenty a friend a bit older than me warned as age increases the metabolism can slow down.  "You'll notice a change around thirty," he predicted.  "At least, that's when my metabolism started slowing down.  I had to make adjustments to my eating habits or I would really pack on the pounds!"  Yeah right, I thought to myself.  But to be honest, he wasn't too far off.  I have found it is important for me to eat less and exercise more to maintain my current body weight.

This year I will be celebrating my fortieth birthday, and needless to say a lot has changed since I was twenty.  The thing I find most challenging is the necessity to be constantly vigilant concerning my fitness.  The nature of my job is sedentary, and it is rarely convenient to make time to exercise.  I look at myself in the mirror and it seems no matter how much I reduce my intake of foods or sugary drinks, those stubborn pounds just hang around.  I have finally come to accept this simple fact:  the battle for staying fit is "on," and as long as I live in this failing body it will continue without intermission.  The only way the battle will be over is if I passively surrender to the advance of age and become careless towards my health.  If I want fitness I've never had at my age, I must be willing to sacrifice more and work harder than I ever have before.

The same is true concerning the spiritual health of a Christian.  Because we have been given the victory over sin by grace through faith, we might think we can be passive and still win the battle for our mind and affections.  Not so!  Jesus has defeated sin, Satan, and death, but I am often my own worst enemy.  I would like to think that sinful habits once overcome will remain perpetually beaten and powerless.  But you know what?  Enemies have a way of secretly growing stronger, launching secret attacks, and waiting for complacency to provide easy opportunity to regain control.  Enemies adapt and adopt new strategies to succeed where prior efforts failed.  Exterminators do not only spray their poisons one time and assume a pest infestation is handled.  They spray again and again, open and inspect dark places, and scour for any evidence of any remaining pests.  Even when the bugs are gone they will continue to spray, because if left unchecked the filthy freeloaders will be back.

Let's not be smug and think there are no negative correlations between sin and bondage, that being spiritually sedentary will not make us listless, dull, and easy prey for the enemy of our souls.  Instead of looking into the mirror to gauge your progress, look to Jesus in the clarity of His Word.  God created you to be a person through whom His glory shines in the world in holiness, purity, and power.  We ought to take seriously this responsibility and privilege, and be willing to sacrifice more and labour harder than ever to improve our fitness for service.  Are you willing?

A Tract Concerning Sin's Folly

For a long time I have kept my eyes open for volumes of The Sword and the Trowel, a compilation of articles and tracts from C.H. Spurgeon.  I am happy to say I discovered a couple of clean used copies (Volumes 1 & 2) from a bookseller (Christian Books Australia) and have been enjoying them as expected.  As I read a tract published over a hundred and fifty years ago, I was amazed at how little has changed concerning the human heart and Satan's tactics.  Here is the tract, as originally published  by Passmore & Alabaster:

Rowland Hill illustrated the folly of sinners by the story of a butcher who was followed by the swine right into the slaughterhouse.  As pigs are not usually in the mind to go where they are wanted, it seemed a mystery how these animals were so eager to follow their executioner; but when it was seen that he wisely carried a bag of pease and beans with which he enticed the creatures onward, the riddle was solved at once.  Unsuspicious of impending death the hogs cared only for the passing gratification of their appetites, and hastened to the slaughter - and in the same manner ungodly men follow the great enemy of souls down through the jaws of hell, merely because their depraved passions are pleased with the lusts of the flesh and the pleasures of sin which the devil gives them by handfuls on the road.  Alas, that there should be such likeness between men and swine!

The joys of sin are so short and so unsatisfactory, that they can never be thought of for a moment as a fitting inducement for a rational being to lose his immortal soul.  Will a few hours' foolery, gambling, drinking, or wantoning, compensate for eternal fire?  Is the momentary indulgence of a base passion worth this endurance of flames which never can be quenched?  To moan in vain for a drop of water!  To be tormented by the never dying worm!  To be shut out from hope for ever!  To be eternally cursed of God!  Is any sin worth all this?  Can any gain make up for this?  O ye who delight in the poisonous sweets of sin, remember that though pleasant in the mouth for the moment, sin will be as wormwood and gall in your bowels for ever.  Why will ye swallow the bait when you know that the hook is there?  Why will ye belured by the Satanic fowler?  Surely in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird; but you are more foolish than the birds and fly into the snare when you know it to be there.  O that ye were wise, and would consider your latter end.  Let that one word Eternity ring in your ears and drive out the giddy laughter of worldings who prefer the present joys of sense.  "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life by Jesus Christ."  Jesus receiveth sinners.  Go to him and he will no wise cast you out.   (Spurgeon, C. H. C.H. Spurgeon's Works as Published in His Monthly Magazine The Sword and the Trowel. Vol. 1. Pasadena, Tex.: Pilgrim Publications, 1975. 35. Print.)

God Does Not Threaten

The ideas people have of God's character or nature are commonly not based on the revelation of scripture but their own faulty assumptions or reasoning.  People imagine God to be a certain way based upon short quotes (without context) or observation of others who claim to know him.  Do you think you could possibly "know" a musician by learning the lyrics to their songs?  Can you become intimately acquainted with a politician based upon a short television interview, sound bites or an advertisement?  The truth is, a lot of people who enshrine misconceptions of God actually "know" musicians and politicians (they do not know!) far better than they know God.

God is not whoever man imagines him to be.  Many have constructed a "god" in their own minds which is not God, an imaginary being of whom they approve, blame or hate based upon blind ignorance.  Being God, He is not subject to our judgments or self-centred bias.  God has revealed Himself through the Bible, God's word, and God became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ.  All of nature reveals and proclaims the undimmed glory of God, while man often worships creation over the creator.  Man in his folly sets up idols for himself which "will not totter" (Is. 40:20) and are well pleased to slide a little cardboard under the leg to prop up their misplaced affections--rather than repent, trust and obey the living God.

One thing consistent in God's character revealed in scripture is He does not threaten:  He tells man how it is.  Man often views a warning as a threat, but they could not be more different.  Let's say you are teaching someone to drive a car.  You warn him if he follows cars too closely, he runs the risk of rear-ending other vehicles and causing an accident.  Imagine if the student's head whipped around, and with narrowed eyes asked, "Is that a threat?"  How ridiculous!  It is not a threat to explain what is the eventual certainty of taking the risk of following another car too close.  What if you saw a young child (not your own) playing dangerously near a fire while camping and felt you should say something?  "Careful now," you call out as you see the flames reaching out to lick the clothing of the clueless lad.  "If you play near that fire, you could be burned!"  This is not a threat but a loving response in the face of danger.  Not being your child, the young one might cry or run away because they did not understand your motive.  Such is often the case when unbelievers hear God's Word, for they interpret warnings as threats.

The scriptures say with absolute authority:  "The soul that sins will surely die" (Eze. 18:20).  God never threatens a man with death for his disobedience.  The fact is, all human beings are sinners who will die because of our sin.  We are already doomed to destruction because of our disobedience, and our souls are headed to hell!  As certain as the law of gravity has an impact on life on earth, so the law of sin and death means we are already facing judgment and eternal damnation.  Punishment in hell is not a threat to manipulate those God wants to control:  God warns us because it is already a reality.  He is not willing that any should perish but that all would repent and receive eternal life by faith in Him, for the death of the wicked provides God no pleasure.  The reality of death and eternal separation from God is true concerning all people and even nations.  This morning I read in Jeremiah 12:17, "But if they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation," says the LORD."  This is not a threat but the effect of sin on a people that walk in disobedience and disregard of God.  It has been proved true again and again with all nations, including Israel. Still God shows compassion to those once disobedient, and graciously restores all who place their trust in Him.

Consider the example of Jesus Christ, supremely consistent with the character of the Father in 1 Peter 2:20-25:  "For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. ²¹ For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ²² "Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth"; ²³ who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴ who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵ For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."  Jesus had all power and authority in heaven and earth granted to Him, yet did not threaten (verse 23).  He did not threaten those who skewered Him with punishment nor threaten to withhold forgiveness or the Gospel.  Jesus committed Himself and all His pain and suffering to the Father in heaven who judges righteously.  Eventually all those who hate Jesus will receive their wages, and the wages of sin is death.

Do you feel threatened by the warnings of God?  Ezekiel 33:11 conveys the heart of the God who seeks to save the lost:  "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'"

Called to Serve

When I arrived home this afternoon, I turned the kettle on for a hot drink.  Over the sound of the electric kettle I heard an odd mechanical noise outside.  A quick glance out the window revealed evidence which confirmed my suspicion:  the pool pump!  With all the leaves falling of late, the pool filter basket fills quickly.  The large amount of leaves floating on the surface suggested strongly the basket was packed full and the pump was straining to draw water through.  I quickly went outside, turned off the pump, and discarded the leaves which had collected.

As I used the net to skim off the remaining leaves, my initial thought was:  "How is it no one else seems to notice the basket needed to be emptied?"  But then I caught myself.  What if one of my contributions to a smooth running household is my awareness of the pool's condition and doing something about it?  If I was called to be the pool cleaner, why should I be frustrated or annoyed at other people who aren't doing what I am supposed to do?  I am thankful to have a pool, and grateful for the tools and ability to clean it.

Then it struck me:  how many times in church ministry have I seen people bothered the "church" isn't doing what they think it should be doing?  Could it be those people who are acutely aware of a need are actually the ones who could do something about it?  How sad it would be for me to berate my wife and children for not doing the thing I am called to do myself!  Teaching, training, and delegation all have their place and value in life and ministry.  But too often we notice our "pool" is not clean, it bothers us those choking leaves seem to bother us more than others, and this leads to judgmental, grumbling, and sour believers.  It would seem a bit strange for me to pray God would call someone to clean up these leaves - when I am holding the skim net in my hands.  Huh.  It looks like God already has!

How good it is to know God is in control, and He gives us the ability to rejoice in any situation.  If God has called you to be a pool cleaner, rejoice!  If He has called you to do the washing, clean dishes, or mop floors for the glory of His name, so be it!  In all things may we be thankful, happy to be of service in the simple ways He graciously provides.  Instead of frustration the pool wasn't clean, I can rejoice God led me to notice the condition and clean it myself.  Ah, the bliss of doing what God calls us to do!

Delighted in God

I've enjoyed reading through a George Muller biography written by Roger Steer titled Delighted in God.  Both encouraging and challenging, it is refreshing to read of a man who was absolutely convinced of God's power and ability to provide for all his needs.  Not only were the needs of George abundantly supplied by the LORD through prayer, but also the needs of staff, thousands of orphans, building projects, supplies, and upkeep.  Here is a memorable snippet from the mouth of William Ready, a young man who spent time in Muller's orphanage:

'How vividly comes back to my mind that last meeting with the father of the fatherless before leaving his care.  He received me kindly when I went into his prayer room at No. 3 orphanage.  Ah!  What wonderful prayers had been offered there on behalf of the orphans and what remarkable answers he had there received!'

Muller put half a crown into his left hand and a Bible in his right. 'You can hold tighter with your right hand than with your left, can you not?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Well, my lad,' said Muller, 'hold to the teaching of that book and you will always have something for your left hand to hold.'

Muller then asked William to kneel, and putting his hand on his head, he committed him to God's keeping.  Helping him then to his feet Muller said, 'Trust in the Lord and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land and verily shalt thou be fed.  Goodbye, my lad, goodbye!'  (Delighted in God, Steer, 1981, pg. 178)

What George Muller believed and lived I have also found to be true.  Those who trust in the LORD will lack no good thing.  What is written in Joshua 21:45 remains true today for God's people:  "Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass."  If God so clothes the grass of the field which is green today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will God feed and clothe us?

Jesus Comes Unexpectedly

One of the things I have been doing for exercise lately is playing golf.  Walking over uneven ground pushing a buggy has helped me with balance and endurance.  Though it is cold and often foggy early at 6:30am, I brave the chill during a weekday to squeeze in a round as early as possible.  It is a blessed time of quiet with the LORD as I take in the beautiful scenery.  Since I typically golf alone, I am often able to be completely finished by 9am and head off to work.

Because the course I typically play had a competition going this week, I played at another course in the area.  I called in a couple days in advance and was assured I could tee off by 7am.  As is my custom I arrived twenty minutes early, just in case I would be able to tee off earlier.  As I waited by the locked pro shop an elderly member pushed his buggy near mine.  "Still isn't here," the old man said.  "Usually he turns up early, but since the boss is out of town he's taking advantage of it."  We continued chatting for a few minutes.  Ten minutes after 7 he arrived and I headed out into the fog.

The man's words had me thinking.  How typical it is of human nature to take advantage of someone's absence to be slack concerning our responsibilities!  Jesus told several parables which warned against the folly of this approach to life.  Luke 12:42-46 states, "And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. ⁴⁵ But if that servant says in his heart, 'My master is delaying his coming,' and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, ⁴⁶ the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers."  By his wicked deeds the "servant" was proved no servant of Christ at all, but lived to please himself.  Thus exposed as a false believer, such a one faces eternity separate from God in Hell.  This is a warning all people who profess Christ do well to consider.

Many times in scripture we are told no man knows the day or the hour of Christ's return, but only the Father in heaven knows.  But in another sense, we can know for certain exactly when Jesus will come:  He will come for those unfaithful servants in the hour when they least expect it!  If I was the owner of the golf course and I wanted to see how things truly run in my absence, perhaps I would cut a holiday short and show up unannounced early in the morning when it would be least expected.  The employees who are faithful would be prepared for my arrival, but those who took the opportunity to sleep in and arrive late would face stern consequences.  Jesus is coming back, and His reward is with Him.  All Christians must give account of their stewardship to the One who has committed all things unto them.  Our faithfulness to Christ's call to obedience, our gifts, talents, and resources will all be judged by Jesus to see if we have measured up to His standard of faithfulness.

Let's keep looking to Jesus, knowing the time is short.  Blessed is that wise and faithful servant whom our Master discovers has been obedient to His will.  Jesus is coming at a time we do not expect!

There Remains A Rest

As I continue along the road of recovery from ACL reconstruction, the path stretches beyond me as far as I can see.  In addition to walking, weights, and cycling occasionally, I have begun to add jogging to the mix.  Running on the grass is good for strengthening stabilising muscles and taxes areas of my legs not addressed on the bike.  The knee is a bit sore when I first start running, and afterwards I definitely notice it when walking down stairs.

Jogging around the park yesterday was not for the fun of it, I assure you.  My whole body hated the experience.  I had set a goal for myself to run at a good pace around the park three times.  About halfway through each lap, I so wanted to stop and walk.  But you know what kept me going?  The promise of a break when it was all over.  Looking forward to the rest helped me to push through pain with determination.  The pain I was experiencing would soon be over, and I would carry the benefits of the strain with me long after I caught my breath.

The same thing is true in the Christian life.  The mistake people make is looking to rest which cannot supply our deepest needs.  We look to the weekend to help ourselves through a trying week at work.  We look forward to sleeping in or lounging around, hoping to recharge.  We look with great longing on the holiday we have booked for ourselves, thinking that break will revive us.  The truth is, the cessation of activity or alteration of a busy schedule does not provide rest for our souls.  No weekend, holiday, or break can provide the rest found only in Jesus Christ.  Isn't it ironic Jesus said if we will take His yoke upon us - to do His work with Him - it is in that working posture we will find rest?  To be sustained, we must look to the eternal rest God has promised us when our life has been spent for God's glory.

Jesus promised in Matthew 11:28-30:  "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Jesus is the Way spoken of by the prophets of old, for it is in Him we find rest for our souls (Jeremiah 6:16).  It is possible, the writer of Hebrews pointed out, that even those who have trusted in Christ may not enter into the rest provided freely through faith in Christ.  Hebrews 4:1 says, "Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it."  If my efforts to please God become my focus over Christ Himself, I will not experience the rest He offers.  If I look to weekends or holidays when I should be looking to Jesus today I will find myself burning out, like a flame starved of oxygen.  I will come back from my holiday just as depleted as when I left.  When I find my rest in Jesus despite the circumstances of life, pain, or busyness, the Holy Spirit supplies all the fuel I need to shine bright in a world darkened with sin.

Let Christ be your motivation and your Way as you run the race God has set before you.  Are you at rest?  Have you learned in every situation to be content?  Consider again the words of Hebrews 4:8-12:  "For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day. ⁹ There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. ¹⁰ For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. ¹¹ Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."  There is a rest remaining for all who are in Christ.  It is a rest to be experienced now, and also a rest remaining for us in the heavens.  We are to labour hard while it is yet day, for night is coming when no one can work.  For some of us, our break from earthy labour lies just ahead.

Keep going!  The scripture lays out the divide between truth and error, and this truth must be applied to our lives.  Stick to the old path; keep on the good way.  Jesus will transform us as we take His yoke upon us and learn from Him.  He has much to reveal to us, and will teach us to enter into His rest!

As Little Children

When the disciples of Jesus asked Him honest questions, He provided wise answers.  Jesus often appealed to simple visual illustrations to provide deep spiritual truth.  We read of such an interaction when the disciples asked Jesus in Matthew 18, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"  Jesus answered their question in a profound way.  Matthew 18:2-4 reads, "Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, ³ and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

To answer their question, Jesus simply called a little child to himself.  We do not know who this child was or what he was doing.  It could have been a son or daughter of Christ's disciples, or it could have been a street urchin working his way through the crowd.  Who it was was not as important as what the child did:  at the call of Christ the child heard His voice, stopped what he or she was doing, and obediently came to Jesus.  The child likely was not highly educated, and certainly had no seminary training.  All the things the disciples measured themselves against one another melted away into insignificance.  "If you want to be great in the kingdom of God, you must be as this little child."  Huh.  This was likely not the answer the disciples were expecting or looking for!

Jesus said to enter the kingdom of heaven, we must be converted and become a little children.  The word "converted" in the Greek means, "to twist, i.e. turn quite around or reverse." (Strong's Concordance)  The child had been heading one direction, and upon hearing the call of Jesus turned around and obeyed Him instead.  There was implicit faith in the actions of the child to do so.  A humbling of self was involved, to put aside his own plans and heed the call of the Saviour.  The call of Christ is one of repentance, obedience, and to trust in Him.  There are no adults of heaven, only children of God.  The greatest in God's kingdom are those who come to Him as children, choosing to embrace humility and even suffering for His name's sake.

Are you willing to humble yourself before your Maker?  God does not value the things we tend to value:  knowledge, experience, the ability to speak eloquently, position in a church, or social status:  He is looking and calling for people to hear His voice and come to Him in humility, yielding themselves to His will in absolute surrender and trust.  We are living in the last days, and no man knows how short his remaining time of earth is.  Allow me to remind you of the words of Jesus in John 7:37-38, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."  Jesus calls to all who thirst today.  Are you thirsty?  Repent and respond to the call of Jesus right now.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Only those who humble themselves as children before Him will enter into the kingdom of God!

Receive Instruction

Friday nights at Calvary Chapel Sydney we have been slowly working our way through the book of Proverbs.  Eternity will not provide enough time to plumb the depths of God's wisdom, but it has been fun diving in.  One passage which was especially useful for me this week was Proverbs 24:30-34:  "I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man devoid of understanding; ³¹ and there it was, all overgrown with thorns; its surface was covered with nettles; its stone wall was broken down. ³² When I saw it, I considered it well; I looked on it and received instruction: ³³ a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; ³⁴ so shall your poverty come like a prowler, and your need like an armed man."

Solomon looked upon the fruit of laziness with a keen eye.  He did not do as many of us would do, sneering or shaking our head at the state of the lazy man's neglected property.  The state of the vineyard spoke volumes.  Solomon did not waste time or energy judging the man at all.  He did not offer suggestions on what he would do to rectify the situation.  When Solomon saw the overgrown vineyard and broken down stone wall, he received instruction for himself.  This is profound.  He looked at the field and thought, "Poverty sneaks up on people unawares and overpowers them.  I too could be overwhelmed and unfruitful should I embrace a lazy approach to my responsibilities."  Instead of judging others or jumping to supply solutions for the apparent problems of others, it is wise to apply the truth to your own life.  It is one thing to know what to do, but another step entirely to put it into faithful practice.

Giving advice is easy:  receiving instruction is difficult.  It is only through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit we can understand, receive, and walk in the wisdom of God.  Praise the LORD He supplies both the will and power to do according to God's good pleasure!

"You're Going to Hell!"

There are few tings more devastating to a Christian's witness than condemnation from the judgmental hypocrite.  I sadly confess as I young child I once told a neighbour he was going to hell for some petty issue.  When the accusing words flew out of my mouth, it was a fleshly response to conflict without a hint of compassion or love.  My mother was wise to quickly discipline me for such folly in my youth, for I learned early the error of such hurtful and divisive censure.
 
"But people are going to hell," some might protest.  "Isn't it the loving thing to do to tell them where they will spend eternity if they remain in sin?"  Ah, but there is a loving way to communicate biblical truth.  Jesus met many people heading to eternal destruction in hell, but He never raised His voice to utter the phrase, "You're going to hell!"  If Jesus, who intimately and perfectly knew the hearts of men never spoke to sinners in that fashion, we are foolish to think we know better than Christ.  Jesus talked about hell - a lot.  Again and again He spoke of the terrors of hell and everlasting torment which awaited those who died in their sins (Mark 9:43-48).  But there was no hint of accusation in His tone, no overweening self-righteousness present which so often accompanies the aforementioned phrase.

Because we are not God, we cannot know perfectly the hearts of men.  It would be presumptuous for us - on our authority or according to our limited understanding - to condemn souls of men to eternity in hellfire and outer darkness.  What we can do is meekly bring the Law to bear upon one who sins against God and places himself under His wrath.  We can say with Christ's authority what is proclaimed in Romans 6:23:  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Without fear we can hold forth the truth of God's Word in Revelation 21:7-8:  "He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. ⁸ But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."  Even as light reveals dust, so the light of God's Law reveals sin.  The same scriptures also bluntly hold forth the penalty for sin:  the soul that sins will surely die, and the second death is forever.

All people are born on earth are heading to hell because of our own sin, but God made a way for justice to be satisfied through the sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  Lay the heavy weight of the Law upon proud, self-righteous sinners so they might see their need for salvation and repent.  Give grace to the humble, showing the way of salvation through faith in Jesus.  But for your own sake and your listeners (who may not listen long and be further hardened against the message because of your harshness), take care you do not do great harm with hateful speech and condescending tones.  If we are severe in judging others, we will be severely judged on the Day of Judgment (Matthew 7:1-5).  Instead of threatening, take time to lead little lambs to the Saviour who loves them and does not desire their destruction (2 Peter 3:9).  Be compassionate towards those who are perishing, and trust God will grant them repentance leading to salvation.

See Jesus Only

"Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? ² For all those things My hand has made, and all those things exist," says the LORD. "But on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word."

Isaiah 66:1-2

God has revealed His eyes go to and fro throughout the whole earth, seeking to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chron. 16:9).  Through the prophet Isaiah, God gave a snapshot of such a person:  one who is humble of heart, with a contrite spirit, who trembles at His Word.  Does God's Word have such an effect on you?  In the New Testament, there is a lovely fulfillment of this passage when Jesus was transfigured before His disciples.

Jesus took Peter, James, and John up a mountain to pray.  The disciples, bless their hearts, were overcome with sleep.  They awoke in a shock to see Jesus tranfigured in radiance, speaking with Elijah and Moses appeared with Him.  They spoke of His decease and future glory.  Peter, not knowing what to say in such a rare moment, suggested they build tabernacles for Jesus, Elijah, and Moses.  Suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and Matthew 17:5-8:  "While he [Peter] was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" ⁶ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them and said, "Arise, and do not be afraid." ⁸ When they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only."

When the Father spoke from heaven, the disciples heard His words and fell on their faces in great fear.  Jesus came near His disciples, touched them, and spoke words of comfort to them:  "Arise, and do not be afraid."  When they mustered the courage to look up, hearing Christ's command, they saw no one but Jesus only.  I love this!  No longer was their gaze upon bright lights and shining clouds. They were not busy thinking and talking about potential future building projects!  They were not in awe of seeing men of faith they respected:  they only saw Jesus.  May we who have been humbled before God and tremble at His Word turn our eyes upon Jesus only, for God has looked upon our low, powerless, and fruitless condition.  We have been sleeping when we could have been praying, but God looks upon the heart.  He has many things to tell us if we will listen.  When we are weary and frightened Jesus will come to us, touch, and speak comfort.

Bow before your Maker, man!  Tremble before His Word!  Humble yourself before your LORD and Saviour, and He will lift you up.

Up to the Task?

Many are duped into thinking if God has called them to something, they will feel confident or up to the task.  This is not the case.  In our service of God He always makes an allowance for faith in Him.  If we felt confidence in ourselves to accomplish anything for God, we will ultimately fail because without Him we can do nothing.  The truth is, feelings of inadequacy and helplessness facing what we believe God has called us to do puts us in great company.  We are not sufficient, but we can do all things through Jesus who strengthens us.

This came to mind when reading Jeremiah 1:4-7:  "Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." ⁶ Then said I: "Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." ⁷ But the LORD said to me: "Do not say, 'I am a youth,' for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak."  God formed the prophet Jeremiah for a specific role and calling, yet Jeremiah did not feel up to the task.  "I cannot speak," Jeremiah said.  "I'm too young!"  God gently rebuked Jeremiah, reminding him in God's power he was the man for the job.  Jeremiah trusted in God and His Word, and faced unspeakable trials and difficulties in answering God's call.  Bless the LORD, for He caused Jeremiah to endure faithfully.

How about Moses?  When God called out to Moses from the burning bush in Exodus 3, he had many reservations.  Exodus 4:1 says, "Then Moses answered and said, "But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, 'The LORD has not appeared to you.' "  Moses was around 80 years old, but he was concerned about what other people would think.  He doubted anyone would listen to him.  God provided three miraculous signs Moses could do to prove he indeed spoke on the authority of the Most High.  One might think the ability to perform miracles would provide a level of confidence, but that was not enough.  Exodus 4:10 reads, "Then Moses said to the LORD, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."  Moses cited his perceived poor speaking ability as a reason why he was not the man to deliver Israel, why he should not answer God's call.  Yet God persisted, and Moses ended up serving God in a unique and powerful way.

Gideon was a man called as a judge and deliverer of Israel who denied he was fit to lead.  Judges 6:14-16 says, "Then the LORD turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?" ¹⁵ So he said to Him, "O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house." ¹⁶ And the LORD said to him, "Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man."  Gideon could not see how God would use him.  He pointed to the weakness of his family and that he was not respected even in his own house.  Yet God saw Gideon as a mighty man of valour because He had sent Him and would be with him.  Step by step Gideon followed God's commands in faith, and God used Gideon to bring deliverance and salvation.

Have you asked God what He has formed and sanctified you to do?  Has He put words in your mouth to tell others you fear will not listen?  Do you see yourself as pathetic and unable to do what God has commanded you to do?  Praise the LORD, for He has ordained and sanctified you for a role in the Body of Christ to bring Him glory and honour.  Instead of waiting endlessly for feelings of self-confidence (that will not come, or if they do will be powerless to accomplish anything for God's glory), choose instead to trust and obey God's Word.  Take one step of faith and trust He will be with you.  He will lead and guide you every step of the way.  We can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us!

The Way God Speaks

The Bible is God's Word, inspired by the Holy Spirit.  It is a primary means God uses to speak to His people.  Certainly God is not limited in His ability to communicate to those who have ears to hear, and He employs others means to speak as well.  He can speak to us through dreams and visions.  Circumstances of our lives can be open doors which beckon us to take another step of faith.  God also uses others to confirm what we believe God has said to us.

Have you ever had an impression you were unsure of whether it was merely a thought in your mind or God was speaking to you with His small, still voice?  I remember when God impressed upon me during prayer He had called me to be a pastor.  Since I had no desire to be a pastor, nor was it a calling I ever imagined for myself, I knew this idea was not a product of my own thoughts.  This idea from outside almost intruded upon my thinking, and it surprised me.  I was not immediately convinced these thoughts were from God.  God was gracious not to leave me wondering and seeking for long.  A day or two later after prayer, a fellow believer came up to me and said with a grin, "God told me something about you recently."  "Oh, yeah?" I asked.  "And what would that be?"  "He told me you are going to be a pastor."  "That's funny," I answered, "because God recently told me the exact thing."  This is what I call when God is "talking in stereo."  God has ways of confirming an impression on your heart through the reading of His Word or by someone else speaking on that exact subject.

Don't think this is something I came up with myself.  The principle comes straight out of the Bible.  Check out Jeremiah 32:6-8:  "And Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, ⁷ 'Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, "Buy my field which is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it." ' ⁸ Then Hanamel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said to me, 'Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption yours; buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD."  Jeremiah was a prophet of God who was experiencing great hardship.  The land was in turmoil facing defeat at the hands of the Babylonians.  Let's just say it was not a great time to be buying land which would soon be enemy territory.  Yet Jeremiah believed God told him to buy a field from Hanamel who would come to him.  We aren't told how long he had to wait, but Hanamel came to Jermiah and asked him to buy his field.  Look at the last part of verse 8:  "Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD."

How cool is that?  God spoke to Jeremiah, and then confirmed His word.  Jeremiah knew for certain it was the LORD's will he buy the field, and stepped out in faith according to God's command - though it was a dumb business decision according to man's wisdom.  What God says, He will certainly bring to pass.  That's another way you can know if God was speaking to you or just a thought in your own mind:  the passage of time will make it clear.  In the scriptures, repetition is used to strongly emphasise truth.  When you start hearing God in stereo, listen and believe God.  Even if it doesn't make "cents," the only sensible thing is to trust God and obey.  Whatever Jesus says to you, do it!

Lies and the Bible

I am so grateful for the wisdom of God in His Word.  It exposes the incorrect and foolish views we have been convinced of.  God speaks the truth, though it may hurt.  Receiving God's truth and aligning our hearts with it is a key step in spiritual maturity.  If you are wondering what truths I possibly could be speaking of, here are three examples of lies we tell ourselves exposed by God's Word.

"When I sin, it is out of character."  I recently read a news article about a man who was caught after he installed cameras in public toilets.  He claimed he wasn't a bad man, but he just did a bad thing.  Quoting the man convicted in the article, "While he understood nothing would make up for what he did to up to 90 women and children recorded by his devices, he hoped it helped that he had never done anything similar and never would again. "It was out of character," he said. "I am a human and have made many mistakes."  The Bibles says no one is good before God.  Our character apart from God is completely sinful.  Psalm 14:2-3 says, "The LORD looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. ³ they have all turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is none who does good, No, not one."  Man does not sin in a "moment of weakness."  The reality is, when we are at our worst we witness the real you and me bubbling to the surface.  That ugly monster is not an anomaly:  it is the wretch who hides within us only Jesus can redeem.

"Ah, it's just a little thing.  I can step it up when it counts most."  What people see as little things are as big things in God's estimation.  Man doesn't see a problem with "white lies" or occasionally arriving late to work without reporting it, but such deeds do not escape God's notice.  God reveals the way we handle the little things is the exact same way we handle big things.  Jesus said in Luke 16:10, "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much."  Notice the objective words Jesus chose to use.  The man who is dishonest over a dollar cannot be trusted with thousands.  Argue all you want, but God says it like it is.  If we lie to children over a trivial matters to save face, we will lie in court after placing our hand on the Bible to save our skin.

"I am strong, not weak."  Weakness is a characteristic present in all people.  Measuring ourselves against others we perceive as weaker gives us the illusion of strength.  But what strength can man claim which has not first been given Him by God?  All are born helpless babies, completely dependent upon others for survival.  Proverbs 24:10 says, "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small."  We make the mistake of gauging our strength when we are at our best, not when we fail.  If a disobedient child or physical pain is enough to make us lose our temper, how strong are we really?  Being relatively strong in one area does not dispel the reality of our weakness in another.  Compared to the God who spoke the universe into existence, we are small and feeble indeed.  God is strong, and it only through Him man can discover true strength.

These are just a few of the countless truths held forth in scripture which correct man's faulty views.  Can you think of others?  What scriptures has God used to reveal lies you once believed?  The world believes and perpetuates all manner of lies, but the Bible is the source of all truth.  2 Timothy 3:16-17 reads, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."  And that, my friends, is the truth!