Our Consuming Fire

The Bible has been a part of my life for as long as I remember.  Yesterday I recalled an occasion as a child when I was inspired by a passage in 1 Kings 18 to build a small altar of rocks in the back yard.  My actions were inspired by God's response to the prayer of Elijah atop Mount Carmel by causing fire to fall from heaven and consume the sacrifice.  I hoped to be amazed by divine fire igniting the dried pine needles I carefully perched on a pile of rocks.  Around the altar I had carved a trench I dutifully filled with water as Elijah had.  I prayed to the God of heaven, but alas, no fire fell.  And it was a good thing too.  God would not indulge a child with the equivalent of playing with matches.

Looking back on that day long ago under the big pine tree, it is instructive of common mistakes even adults can make when it comes to miraculous signs:  I was focused on the wrong things.  I wanted to see fire fall from heaven, but I didn't consider why God caused fire to fall and consume the sacrifice on Mount Carmel.  God caused fire to fall and consume the sacrifice for the purpose of revealing His reality, power, and superiority over the idols the people worshipped - not just to show Elijah was a genuine prophet or to amaze the people.  People enjoy seeing incredible, even miraculous things.  And there is something in us which enjoys the thought of harnessing such power to achieve our ends - even just to impress others.

Another thing I did not consider was God's desire for the people to re-establish the worship of God according to His prescribed order.  The people were divided in their allegiance between God and Ba'al.  Because of wicked King Ahab and his wife Jezebel the prophets of God had been hunted and slaughtered whilst the prophets of Ba'al numbered in the hundreds.  1 Kings 18:30 reads, "Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me." So all the people came near to him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down."  Even as the altar had broken down, so the relationship with God had been broken through idolatry and neglect.  My thoughts weren't focused at all on the glory and worship of God but what I wanted done.  Calling down fire from heaven was about what God could do for me.  After the altar was restored 1 Kings 18:36 says, "And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that You are God in Israel and I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word."  Elijah drew near to God in prayer and affirmed all he did that day was for God's sake in obedience to God.

Though I tried to follow the example of Elijah, my model had one crucial omission:  the lack of a sacrifice!  I believe it was Leonard Ravenhill, a man revered for his praying who said, "Everyone wants my mantle, but no one wants my sackcloth and ashes."  The gist of this quote is suggests people desire to have influence with the almighty God, yet are unwilling to present themselves before God as a living sacrifice.  Isaac was willing to be bound and laid upon the altar by Abraham according to God's command, and God graciously supplied a ram as a substitute.  It is Jesus Christ who is the Lamb of God who was slain on Calvary as a sacrifice for sinners once for all and therefore put to death the need of sacrificing animals according to the divine Law.  God caused divine fire to fall in the person of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost who regenerates, fills all believers, and guides us into all truth.

If we desire to see fire to fall from heaven, we must be willing to be the living sacrifice upon whom it falls.  Paul exhorted believers in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."   Fire purges, purifies, and consumes; it heats and provides light in darkness.  May it be our lives would provide opportunity for God to restore people to Himself through our obedience so He might be glorified.

Take the Lead to Love

During our family's recent visit to the States, I was blessed to have a meaningful conversation with my brother and his wife.  I appreciate the enlightenment which comes from the thoughtful observations of others from a different perspective.  In the discussion my brother brought up he did not approve with the common suggestion from pulpits that men are called to be the "spiritual leader in the home."  What bothered him was not the call for men to lead well according to scripture, but the statement can be a subtle suggestion men's leadership in the home, marriage, work, or child-rearing is limited to spiritual matters.  I had not thought of this before, and it is a fair point.

We have observed many not-so subtle changes in society and culture today which have eroded what we could call "traditional" values for better or worse.  One wonderful aspect of God and His Word is that it does not change and we can count on God to guide us into all truth regardless of our culture or upbringing.   God has made a distinction between males and females throughout the scripture and provided guidance for what constitutes marriage, roles, duties, and responsibilities.  Though males and females are different and their roles in a family distinct, the role of the our hearts being surrendered before God as believers is of primary importance.  Dealing with the sin in our own hearts is a common struggle we all must face.

It is a ploy of the devil to undermine and sabotage the good things God has created like marriage and the family structure.  He will point to abusive and domineering husbands why a woman ought not to submit according to the biblical mandate, and use contentious or disobedient wives as an example why men shouldn't love them as Jesus loves the church - or be married at all.  The world seizes the language used in the Bible and hijacks it according to fallacious caricatures embracing excess, marital rape, manipulation, and oppression.  This is not to say there are never cases of abuse or oppression among Christians, nor does it suggest non-believers cannot have satisfying relationships.  The fact is we are all sinners, and just because Christians have not lived up to Christ's righteous standards does not mean the standard is evil or wrong.

The Bible outlines not only the roles of husbands and wives, but also the attitude and way we are to do things:  in the love of God.  There is to be grace, mercy, compassion, and caring of the needs of others more than your own desires.  It is not a sentimental relationship but sacrificial as both are obedient to the LORD.  In a marriage the husband is responsible before God to lead as the head, and the wife is to manage the home and children with his authority.  Both have equal responsibility before God to do their part as He leads together.  The marriage relationship is one formed by God and under God, and whether married or single we are all to submit under Him.  Ephesians 5:15-21 is a great exhortation for all people regardless of gender or marital status:  "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, ²⁰ giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God."

It is in this context and heart wives are to submit to their own husbands and husbands are to love their wives.  Whether or not a man believes his wife is in submission to his will, his duty before God is to keep loving his wife as Jesus loves the church - the church for which He purchased with His own blood.  As a married man I must be occupied with this one thing, not being preoccupied with perceived failures of others.  The words Jesus spoke to Peter ring true concerning the issues of others:  "What is that to you?  You follow me."  Husbands ought to take the lead in communicating, serving, sharing, giving, providing, and encouraging.  We ought to be leaders in showing mercy, giving grace, forgiving, helping, and strengthening.  Think of all Jesus has done for us - and what He keeps doing for us despite our faults.  He intercedes for us with the Father, and we ought to pray for our wives.  We should remain chaste in body and mind for our wives, even as Jesus is pure.  In everything we ought to take the lead, and this includes spiritual nurturing and training.  And brothers, if we do not do the first thing to love our wives as Christ loves the church, awful spiritual leaders we will be.

Grief and Love

The life, experiences, and example of Jesus are a constant source of comfort to Christians.  He was in all points tempted, yet without sin.  This demonstrates how He walked in obedience to the Father and He will always lead us according to the Father's will.  The prophet Isaiah spoke of the Messiah being a "man of sorrows" and "acquainted with grief."  We have all experienced sorrow and grief, but never to the level of a holy God who completely knows the thoughts and hearts of men.  There is much which grieves God that escapes our notice, yet Jesus retained fullness of joy. Though He grieved Jesus did not despair, and this is a trap we can avoid by His grace.

Today in prayer I was speaking with God about things which grieve me.  The Webster's 1828 dictionary defines "grieve" in these ways:  "1. To give pain of mind to; to afflict; to wound the feelings; 2. To afflict; to inflict pain on; 3. To make sorrowful; to excite regret in; 4. To offend; to displease; to provoke."  I was reminded how Esau's choice of wives brought about great grief of mind to his mother, Rebekah.  Then in dawned on me:  Esau's poor decisions were a grief of mind to Rebekah because she loved her son.  She cared about him and wanted only the best.  This instance shows grief can be a result of love for others.  Love, when provoked by pains or harm of those dear to us, can respond with grief.

This is a surprising development, that increased love for others brings about additional grief for us - and in addition great happiness and satisfaction.  I am most pleased to be married to my wife and to be blessed by God with two sons.  Their friendship and companionship is a treasure to me, and it is a pleasure to know and spend time with them.  At the same time, because I do love them, their struggles or decisions can be a source of grief.  Their decisions do not grieve someone down the street or across the globe because they do not know or love them.  But because I love them I care, and I become more acquainted with grief because of God's love in me.

When we grow in love of God and others, we will experience grief.  God never does anything to be grieved over, but I can be grieved how I have often grieved Him by sinful choices, selfish behaviour, and hurtful words.  I have grieved him by my unbelief and folly.  I dislike the feelings of grief very much and try to avoid them, and my life has given cause for Jesus to be grieved.  But praise the LORD, I do not need to drown in grief perpetually because my Saviour does not.  He knows me, has saved and washed me, and made me righteous by His grace.  I do not need to grieve continually for others either, having committed them into the hands of God who loves them far more than I ever could.  We should keep on loving, but we don't need to grieve forever as those without hope.  Grief will someday be a thing of the past, and we can always rejoice in the our Saviour's love.

To God We Belong

"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.'"

Acts 27:22-24

During a voyage, the ship bearing Paul to Rome was caught in a severe storm in the Mediterranean sea.  When all hope had been given up of being saved, Paul addressed the men.  He shared with them a fantastic revelation spoken by an angel sent from God that every one of their lives would be preserved.  God had answered Paul's prayer and there would be no loss of life among them.  It was not uncommon for people to worship and serve many gods in a polytheistic culture - including the emperor.  People had household idols for protection, prosperity, good fortune, and countless more.  What was unique about Paul's statement was that he did not have gods or charms in his possession which belonged to him, but he belonged to God.  I imagine in the violent tempest many pagan gods literally overturned, were lost, or thrown overboard in a desperate attempt to lighten the ship and save their lives.  Paul could not lose his God, nor could he be lost by the God to whom he belonged.  What comfort this brings all who fear the God of Israel!

Idolatry has been a common error throughout history.  Micah was a man in the book of Judges who was a religious man.  He was religious, but was not at all righteous.  He was a thief who made a shrine full of idols in his home, made carved and moulded images, fashioned a copy of the ephod used by the priests in the tabernacle, and consecrated one of his sons and later a travelling Levite to be his priest.  He believed God would do him good because of his religious efforts and expense.  A day came when scouts from the tribe of Dan saw the shrine with the valuable images and spoke with the Levite.  They offered him the opportunity to be a priest not only of a household but a whole tribe!  The Levite was glad for a status upgrade, and so the shrine was robbed of both idols and priest.  As you might imagine, Micah was not pleased to be so robbed!  He and his household pursued, overtook the company from Dan, and boldly confronted them.

Judges 18:23-26 says, "And they called out to the children of Dan. So they turned around and said to Micah, "What ails you, that you have gathered such a company?" ²⁴ So he said, "You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, 'What ails you?' " ²⁵ And the children of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry men fall upon you, and you lose your life, with the lives of your household!" ²⁶ Then the children of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house."  The gods which belonged to Micah were stolen, and he did not have the power or ability to take them back from the men of Dan.  Some gods those were which needed protection and security provided by Micah!  Micah felt he had lost everything because gods which belonged to him were taken, but the reality was he lost nothing.  Though fashioned with precious metals by a skilled craftsman artistically, those gods had no power to hear, speak, or save.

What a difference it is to belong to God who has chosen all who fear Him, rather than serving a god of your own devising and choosing.  Paul said to the intellectuals of Athens in Acts 17:29-31, "Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man's devising. ³⁰ Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, ³¹ because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead."  We have not chosen the one true God but He has chosen us, and proved Himself to be Saviour and Judge of all the earth by raising Jesus Christ from the dead.  What a glorious relationship God has invited us to enter, that we could have the right through faith to be children of God!  We may not feel like we belong anywhere in this world, but as Christians we belong to God.  Our belonging and endurance does not depend upon our grip because He holds us close and speaks even in storms.

Jesus Has All Authority

People who speak the same language can have distinct accents.  As a person born in America now living in Australia, my status as a dual-citizen nor the years I have lived here have softened my foreign accent.  I can use and understand Aussie slang in conversation, but my accent still stands out.  I have discovered a similar phenomenon to this in Christian circles, how particular words they employ reveal their beliefs and background.  There is a Christian culture which places large emphasis on the "authority" of believers as children of God.  Whilst God has equipped His children to do His will and contend for the faith, I believe it is much better to focus on the authority and sovereignty of God.  Can you imagine a little child shouting at an advancing army, "Go away!  I have authority!" because he is the son of a king?  As an enemy that's not a kid I take very seriously.

I was reading A.W. Tozer and he had some excellent insights on how believers should conduct themselves in conflict - especially those of a spiritual nature.  There are no shortage of books on how to conduct "spiritual warfare," various praying techniques, and approaches to "deliverance ministry."  Our culture believes if it works for me it must be true or good, but God's Word remains the perfect standard.  This excerpt from The Crucified Life lays out great observations better than I could say myself.

One solution offered these days is to engage the enemy.  When we feel the enemy attacking us, we need to dig in our heels and have a face-off with him.  This is a display of spiritual machismo.  We want to show the troublemaker, and anybody else who might be watching us, that we're nobody to be fooled with.

The only problem is that the devil will never face you directly.  And I might as well say it:  the devil does not fight fair.  The devil uses rules that he makes up as he goes along...The devil loves us to engage him in battle.  This is what he lives for.  He knows that he cannot win, but he also knows that he can do some damage in the process.  The entire agenda of the enemy can be boiled down to one objective:  embarrass God through some of His children.  The devil thought he could do that with Job in the Old Testament.  But what the devil did not know was that God was in absolute control every step of the way.

Another solution that some Christians try is using Scripture to defy the enemy.  But what these Christians do not realise is that the devil knows Scripture better than some theologians.  The devil's heart is not filled with doubt but with hatred and jealousy.  His hatred of God and jealousy of God blind him to the reality of God's leadership.

For any Christian to use Scripture without the Spirit is like engaging in a battle with a paper sword.  It is not the Word only that will turn back the devil; rather, it is the Word and the power.  The devil can quote Scripture better than any seminary professor, but when the Word is under the direction of the Holy Spirit, it will always find its deadly mark.

When Daniel was thrown into the lion's den, he did nothing to defend himself.  He did not try to engage the enemy.  He did not try to defy his enemies by quoting Scripture.  He simply left his situation in God's hands.  This brings me to David's solution to his problems...In Psalm 57:1, David says, "In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until these calamities be overpass."  Instead of going out to fight his own battles, David took refuge in God.  How tempting it might have been for him to show the enemy his strength and might.  To show his enemy that he was not somebody to be messed with must have been a great temptation for a man like David.  Instead of engaging the enemy, however, David took refuge in the shadow of God's wings. 

 What a blessed truth to understand that, in the middle of all of our difficulties and calamities, we have a refuge.  Certainly, there is a time to go forth into battle and engage the enemy.  But this should only be under the direct orders of the Captain of our salvation. (Tozer, A. W., and James L. Snyder. The Essential Tozer Collection: the Crucified Life. Bethany House, 2017. pages 184-185)

Better than asserting my authority in Christ how much better it is to look to Jesus Christ who has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18-20).  God is able to protect all His children, and we can trust Him completely.  I am unable to remain vigilant at all times against human or spiritual assailants and have no strength to defend myself, but God is a refuge in every calamity.  We rest in His power and strength.  Praise the LORD He has claimed the battle and the victory as His.

A Time To Surrender

There are many comparisons made in the Bible to help us understand the roles God has called us to.  Each genuine Christian in the church is an important member of the Body of Christ.  The church (and Israel too) are compared to being God's bride.  At the same time we are children of God, and we should relate to Him as a trusting and obedient child would in relation to his father.  We are to be living sacrifices, ambassadors of Christ.  His is the Vine and we are the branches, and we are the sheep of in the fold of the Good Shepherd, Jesus.  All together this imagery creates a pictorial symphony, harmonising beautifully our relationship and roles before God.  It is important to maintain a biblical view, well-rounded by the many pictures provided in scripture.

One aspect of the Christian life alluded to in scripture is that of warfare.  This imagery is employed in 2 Timothy 2:1-4:  "You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. ² And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. ³ You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier."  Ephesians 6 goes into detail of the armour God has provided by the Holy Spirit, and our fight is not against flesh and blood but against principalities, powers, and spiritual rulers of wickedness.  Some people use these passages as a lens through which they view many conflicts, perceive they are "under attack," and take the battle to the LORD in prayer.  It is a good thing to remember it is God who fights for us, who protects and shelters us.  But people like doing things.  They like taking the fight to the enemy best they know how, being vigilant and watchful in prayer.

It occurred to me how it does take courage to trust God and fight.  Sometimes this "fight" may not look like anything which would pass for a "battle."  God directed the Israelites to walk through the parted Red Sea when the Egyptian army pursued them.  He also commanded they walk around Jericho day after day until the seventh day when God cause the walls to collapse.  After hearing the giant from Gath defy the army of the living God young David volunteered and defeated Goliath with a sling and stone.  Jonathan and his armour bearer stormed a Philistine garrison and slaughtered their foes.  On and on stretch the brave exploits and victories of God's people, even to this day.  We are easily stirred by gallant and noble deeds done by people of faith, and aspire to the privilege to see God work in our lives in like manner.

There is a time for victory, and a time to...surrender in defeat?  This is unexpected for a child of God, right?  Well, that's what the prophet Jeremiah spoke to king Zedekiah.  The Babylonians were drawing near to sack Jerusalem, and the king wondered what the correct course of action was.  He inquired of Jeremiah what he should do.  Jeremiah 38:17-18 reads, "Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: 'If you surely surrender to the king of Babylon's princes, then your soul shall live; this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live. ¹⁸ But if you do not surrender to the king of Babylon's princes, then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans; they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.'"  If Zedekiah wanted to survive and preserve the city (not to mention the people and the temple), he was directed to surrender to king Nebuchadnezzar.  God had determined the city would fall, but if Zedekiah would humble himself and surrender, he would be delivered.  This was not a popular course of action amongst the rulers who stood to lose land and power, and Zedekiah knew it.  It turned out he was not willing to obey the word of the LORD, and paid for it dearly:  his sons were slain before his eyes, his eyes were gouged out, he was bound in chains, and taken to Babylon for judgment.

When the hour of Jesus finally came, He was betrayed, arrested, and crucified.  Unlike Zedekiah (whose defences had fallen and army was weak), Jesus could have commanded legions of valiant, powerful angels to defend Him.  One of these angels could have defeated thousands of powerful fighters in an instant.  But because Jesus was obedient to the Father He willingly laid down His life on Calvary.  Jesus did not even need to fight to win, but He surrendered unto the will of the Father - by allowing wicked men to do all they wanted to Him.  This is a very hard saying, and it will not be popular for those who idealise "victory" and what it looks like.  Yet it is a biblical truth, and the Holy Spirit will lead us in following the example of Jesus in the power of His resurrection.  Zedekiah would not humble himself before Nebuchadnezzar because he refused to humble himself before God.  If we will adopt a humble posture before God and obey Him, we win even if to the world it appears we lose.  That is a glorious truth we glean from the Gospel.  He who tries to save his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for Christ's sake will gain everlasting life.

So how do we know when to fight and when to surrender?  Once we are surrendered to God in obedience He will reveal to us the next step as we abide in His love.  There is a time to cast stones and a time to gather them; a time for war and a time for peace.  Peace which passes understanding is ours when during conflict we look to Jesus in faith and honour Him with our choices.  Having surrendered before God we are provided enduring victory.

As Unto God

Jesus spoke of a future time when He would come in glory and all people would be gathered and judged.  After commending them for feeding Him when He was hungry, giving Him a drink when He was thirsty, visiting Him when He was sick or imprisoned, housing Him whilst a stranger, and clothing Him when He was naked, He said to the wondering chosen who would enter into eternal rest in Matthew 25:40,  "...Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."  There is an example of this in the book of Jeremiah with the Rechabites.

In Jeremiah 35 God used the house of the Rechabites as an object lesson for His erring people.  The patriarch Jonadab the son of Rechab gave his sons clear commands:  they were not to drink wine, build houses, plant vineyards, sow seeds in a field, and were to only live in tents for all their generations.  Generations later the family members faithfully heeded the words of their grandfather Rechab and passed down the commands and prohibitions to their children.  Jeremiah 35:18-19 reads, "And Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites, "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: 'Because you have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts and done according to all that he commanded you, ¹⁹ therefore thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: "Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not lack a man to stand before Me forever."

The sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab would be established before God forever, and God ascribed their obedience as unto Him.  Paul lays out this principle of those who live by the grace of God in Romans 14:6-8:  "He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks. ⁷ For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. ⁸ For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's."  We are to be intentional in living for the glory of God, and God also credits us with obedience to Him when we do so unto the least of these.

The Rechabites honoured their father and God would fulfil His promise to those who do so, proclaiming they would not lack a man to stand before Him forever!  Pretty awesome how God rewards eternally those who honour the authority He has ordained in our lives.

Faith and Humility

Today I was reminded of when Cain and Abel brought offerings before the LORD in Genesis 4:3-5:  "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD. ⁴ Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the LORD respected Abel and his offering, ⁵ but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell."  Cain was a tiller of the ground and brought an offering before the LORD, and Abel also offered of the firstborn of his flock.  Abel's offering was accepted by God, and Cain's was not.

Now the explicit reason why Abel's gift was accepted and Cain's was rejected is not mentioned here.  It would be unwise to claim we know hearts only God can righteously judge.  Personally I do not believe the issue is primarily what was offered but the condition of the heart of the one who offered it.  Hebrews 11:4 says Abel gave a more excellent offering because it was done so in faith and was therefore deemed righteous by God.  It is therefore implied if Cain had given humbly in faith in God, he too would have been accepted.  See in verse 5 God "did not respect Cain and his offering."  It was not that the offering was unworthy, but since Cain himself was not accepted by God his offering was also rejected.  The scriptures say that whatever is not of faith is sin (Romans 14:23), and though Cain acknowledged the existence of God and even conversed with Him, there was no reliance upon God or humility before Him.  1 John 3:11-12 reads, "For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, ¹² not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother's righteous."  The wickedness of Cain was not only in a faithless offering but the murder of his brother, refusal to repent when convicted by God, and his self-pity when faced with consequences.

Humility before God is a result of faith in Him, for genuine humility comes from God alone.  I have seen people bowing with their faces touching the ground before monks on the street, but that does not mean they are humble people.  The outward show of humility or presentation of an offering is not always indicative of a heart of humility and faith before God.  The fact Cain's "countenance fell" suggests he was in some way lifted up.  Those who fear God and recognise His greatness - and our great sinfulness - will be drawn to Him in humility.  Jerry Bridges made excellent observations in the book Respectable Sins:

In Luke's account of the sinful woman who washed and anointed the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:36-50), Jesus said, "He who is forgiven little, loves little" (verse 47).  The opposite is also true, as Jesus clearly indicates in verses 41-43; that is, he who is forgiven much loves much.  Simon the Pharisee did not realise how sinful he was and how much he needed to be forgiven, so he loved little or actually not at all.  The sinful woman realised how sinful she was and how much she had been forgiven, so she loved much.  The way to grow in our new affection (for Christ) that Chalmers preached about is to grow in our awareness of Christ's love for us as revealed to us in the gospel.  The apostle Paul wrote that it is Christ's love for us that constrains us to live for Him (see 2 Corinthians 5:14-15).  Such love for Him that will drive out our love for the world can only be a response to the deep, heartfelt sense of His love for us. (Bridges, Jerry. Respectable Sins. NavPress, Published in Alliance with Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2016. page 174-175)

When we humble ourselves in the sight of the LORD, He will lift us up.  He divinely condescends to behold and have respect unto us.  Psalm 138:6-7 states, "Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar. ⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me."  How great is our God, that He will not only look upon or hear us but also desires to dwell with us.  He did not remain at a distance from us but Jesus Christ came to earth.  He not only dwelt among us but He chose to die on our behalf, willingly becoming a sacrifice for our sins.  How awesome is our God!  Let us bow humbly before Him, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices for this is our reasonable service.

Clothed With Humility

Some of my favourite fairy tales as a lad were ones written by Hans Christian Andersen:  "The Ugly Duckling" and "The Emperor's New Clothes."  I especially enjoyed the latter because of the incredible ridiculousness of the concept but how apt a depiction it was of the human heart.  The pride and vanity of the Emperor was targeted by deceptive and greedy weavers who promised to make him the most lovely apparel.  They sat before looms without yarn or linen, moving their hands without a thread to be seen.  The weavers claimed the fine fabric they wove was invisible to anyone who was unfit for their office or hopelessly stupid, and because the Emperor was obviously neither he agreed it was the finest he had ever seen.  The whole charade reached a climax when the "clothed" Emperor made a grand appearance before the townspeople who murmured with approval.  Only a child had the sense to say what all the people knew when the foolish king paraded by them nude:  "But he isn't wearing anything at all!"  Sometimes there is wisdom in a simple observation of a child which adults blinded by greed or ambition cannot see.

One of the common threads throughout the tale is how even good men cover for themselves and others.  At one point the Emperor couldn't see the clothes on the loom, so he sent a trustworthy old minister to report of the progress.  The elderly man was shocked when he did not see any fabrics or patterns, but did not want to admit he could not see them so he played along with the sham and provided a detailed report to the Emperor.  A trusted official was sent as well and he too was alarmed when he could not see the clothes!  He could not admit before the Emperor there were no clothes to be seen, for in doing so he would be admitting he was unfit for his position or hopelessly stupid.  So he too played the fool and repeated the words of the swindler weavers, using lies to cover his folly and insecurity.  It seems it was not only the Emperor who was laid bare by the weavers, but the minister, trusted officials, and all the townspeople who vainly praised the clothing they could not see.  It seems good standing before the Emperor was the clothing people used to cover their own pride.

This compelling fable, which well-describes the conflict in a human heart when we seek to please others or cover for ourselves, is an allegory applied to many circumstances we face in life - even when it comes to matters of faith.  The Jewish Pharisees wore clean clothes and searched the scriptures to find eternal life, but Jesus declared it was a cover-up for the rottenness they hid within.  They were like a cup which had been carefully buffed and polished to a high shine, but the cup was filthy within.  Just because the Emperor thought or hoped he was actually wearing clothes does not believe clothes are a sham, for evidence of genuine clothes are all around.  To say the Pharisees used religion as a cover for their own wickedness does not suggest there is not a God who has revealed Himself and can forgive and cleanse people from sin.  The fact there are many gods worshipped does not mean there is not one true God who ought to be feared and worshipped.  Because people have misplaced trust does not mean there is not an almighty God in whom we ought to trust.

Followers of Jesus Christ are not exempt from the folly of the Emperor or the people of the town.  In our Christian circles we can plaster on a smile, act like life is great and all is fine when we are struggling, depressed, and perhaps not even walking with Jesus.  Our lives can be full of compromises and contradictions.  Our knowledge of scripture and theology can be the invisible clothes with which we try to cover the nakedness of our lives polluted with doubts and sin.  We can know about God but it does not mean we are seeking Him; we can say prayerful words with heads bowed but never enter into the LORD's presence because we have never invited Him into us.  Scriptures or Christian catch-phrases can be repeated - not because we actually believe or are experiencing these truths - but if we say them enough perhaps they will.  How we need the truth of God's Word to pierce our hearts and to admit we are unfit for the task of following Jesus and hopelessly stupid on our own!  The ones who humble themselves before God are the ones He will lift up.

Jesus said in Mark 10:15, "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it."  It was the shrill voice of reason which snapped the townsfolk to their senses in Andersen's fable, and may the words of Jesus strike us to our souls.  Let us never suppose we can rely upon our strength, resolve, or knowledge any more now than we did when we first believed.  We need Jesus to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, and we desperately need Jesus to stay the course.  The faith of a child in Jesus - not the deceitful ambitions of an adult - is what is needed to be born again, fruitful, and faithful.  Instead of being puffed up with pride, let Christians of all ages heed the exhortation of 1 Peter 5:5:  "Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  This is fine clothing which is always in style and fit for the Kingdom of Heaven..