Flawed but Loved

I saw an article the other day concerning "hands models" who make their living by posing for advertisements.  One of the photos shown struck me as a microcosm of the phoniness of this world and the things of it:  what is portrayed as reality isn't always the case.

As I considered the picture later, I thought of the message it conveys:  a model with a pretty face doesn't always have the hands to match the flawless ideal, and the model with photogenic hands doesn't have the face the advertiser wants.  The world has set up a facade to worship, an impossible ideal to measure up to.  What is considered beautiful today can be cast off as old or ugly tomorrow.  We chase perfection without hope, for even those who have lovely hands are not judged to have the face to match.  Change our appearance as we might, there always remains in us a flaw beyond our grasp.

This is where Jesus Christ meets us in spite of our imperfections.  He does not seek us out for the beauty of our face and reject our hands:  He loves us wholly out of His goodness and grace.  We are not like the model whose face is acceptable but her hands are not presentable.  We cannot measure up to a standard of physical or spiritual perfection, and we are never called to.  The Law was given to show a man his need for forgiveness and not a means to measure righteousness.  No man by working can attain an acceptable standard of righteousness before God.  But when we place our faith in Jesus Christ who died for us, we are accepted by Him and walk in His love.  God demonstrated His love for us when we were yet sinners through Christ dying on Calvary.

Many people think we can earn God's favour or acceptance by our efforts, but this is impossible.  No one can earn God's love by attempts to measure up, by altering our behaviour or trying to "clean up our act."  There is no act which can fool God, for He and our conscience confirms we are sinners who deserve eternal punishment for our sin.  Having received the Gospel and forgiveness by grace through faith we respond by choosing to live in the righteous way which pleases the God who loves and gave Himself for us.  Our identity should not be found in what we do or how we look but in who God is and our reconciled relationship with Him.  We are flawed, but God looks upon those who trust in Him as flawless.

Proverbs 31:30 says, "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised."  We praise and compliment people for their looks, but those who fear the LORD shall be praised.  This world and the glory of it is passing away.  I love the observation of C.S. Lewis who said Jesus was able to pass through walls to meet with the disciples who hid behind locked doors because in His resurrected state He was the most real thing.  Locked doors and stone walls are mist and vapour before Him who is eternal and awesome.  Only God is worthy of glory and honour, yet God provides undeserving sinners salvation and eternal life with Him by grace.

Buried in the Bowl

"The lazy man buries his hand in the bowl; it wearies him to bring it back to his mouth."

Proverbs 26:15

When I think of this passage a story comes to mind.  Years ago a co-worker told me about a small dog (Chihuahua mix) he owned that had a voracious appetite.  Having bought a new bag of dog food, on a whim he decided to see how much the dog would actually eat.  He cut the top off the bag and laid it down for the hungry and frantic pup's special "all you can eat" meal.  After leaving for awhile, he returned to see how the dog was doing.  The dog was completely exhausted and full, laying on his side with his head in the bag, seemingly unable to move but humorously drew an occasional morsel into his mouth with his tongue.

The lazy man in Solomon's parable is like a fellow who has a bowl of food in front of him--in his own hand even--but it seems too much work to move his hand from the bowl to his mouth.  The irony is someone had gathered or purchased ingredients, prepared the food beforehand, and yet the sluggard determines feeding himself is just too difficult.  The survival of his body depends upon being adequately fed, yet the labour involved is unreasonable.  The work is already mostly done for him, but he cannot see the benefit of working even when he directly benefits from it.

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a lazy, slothful person.  Working and eating are privileges from God to be celebrated in moderation.  It is possible we can overwork to be rich and overeat and be full; we can shun both of these things to coddle the lazy flesh with idleness.  There are many things we can be busy with that are not productive, useful, or beneficial to ourselves or others.  Paul called out believers in the church over this in 2 Thessalonians 3:7-13:  "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; ⁸ nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labour and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, ⁹ not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. ¹⁰ For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. ¹¹ For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. ¹² Now those who are such we command and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. ¹³ But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good."

Paul set an example of a good worker, one who contributed with labour day and night.  He worked for his food instead of expecting others to provide it for free.  He laid down the principle if a person would not work, they should not eat.  Understand many of these people who would not work were very busy with prying into the lives of others, gossips, and tale-bearers.  The correct order was to work for their food, but these busybodies went from house to house trading bits of gossip for food.  These days we don't need to leave the lounge to engage in gossip, spreading rumours or slander online.  Paul exhorted and commanded such in Christ's name to find honest work and eat food they worked for.

There is a spiritual parallel to consider as well.  Think of the richness of God's Word which provides sustenance for our souls!  We hold the very words of God in our hand, yet we too can bury our hand in the bowl.  We have Bibles but do not bother reading them, or we read the words and are not intentional to practice it.  This spiritual laziness is more concerning to me than the lazy man whose hand rests idle in the bowl of chips or popcorn (revolting as that would be!).  Christians are called to walk in an orderly and honest manner, not to grow wearing in doing good in obedience to the LORD.  Having tasted and seen how good God is our conduct, words, and work ethic is to reflect the faithfulness of God's goodness to us; our possessions should be handled with generosity with the good of others in mind.  We aren't to talk a good game but to demonstrate it as Paul did, working in quietness and eating his own bread.

God has provided wondrous things for us in His Word, and it shameful when we are too lazy to bother to read or take them to heart.  He has already done all the work to give us all that pertains to life and godliness, so let's not bury our hands in the bowl. :)

Ground to Powder

Last night before bed I read the passage in Revelation when the sixth seal is opened, one of many judgments which are coming upon the earth.  God's wrath with be released upon people who have rejected Jesus Christ as it is written in Revelation 6:15-17:  "And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, ¹⁶ and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! ¹⁷ For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

When I think of lambs, I picture a soft woolly creature feeding on grass or bouncing around a green meadow--not anything capable of wrath and destruction.  Jesus Christ is the Lamb without blemish referred to here, for He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah.  The first time Jesus walked the earth (as was supposed) the son of Joseph and Mary He came as a gentle and meek Saviour, and when He returns He shall return as a conquering KING OF KINGS.  He is the same Saviour and LORD on both occasions without contradiction.  When we were children the same dad who protected and brought comfort to us with his strength struck fear into our hearts when angered at our lies or disobedience:  the same is true with Jesus.  He came as the Lamb of God, but having been rejected and scorned the manner of His return will be with wrath.

It is a harrowing situation when men plead for the rocks to fall on them to hide them from the face of God and His great wrath.  Yet there is no hiding from the God who sees all, the One who predicted this very thing.  Jesus made an allusion to the "stone rejected by the builders" which God had chosen and made the chief cornerstone.  The builders in the metaphor were the Jewish religious leaders, and Jesus was the stone they rejected.  Jesus said in Matthew 21:44, "And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder."  Those who lament the judgment of God and seek refuge in caves, pits, or under rocks that fall upon them have no hope, for their only hope would be to fall on the stone in repentance, faith, and brokenness rather than having the Stone fall on them.  It is ironic to ask for what can only grind to dust.

Psalm 34:18 says, "The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."  It is true none can stand before a holy God, for His wrath is poured out on the unrighteous.  Since Jesus Christ is our only hope we are called to run to Him, to joyfully accept His invitation to draw near in faith.  If we reject our only salvation, caves and rocks will provide no protection whatsoever from the wrath which is surely coming.  He is fierce and terrible, and the wise tremble before Him in reverent fear.  His power to save is matched only by His wrath against the ungodly, and our righteousness comes only by grace through faith in Him.  Jesus Christ is a sure foundation, our Rock of Salvation, the stone rejected by builders which God has made the Chief Cornerstone.  In Him is forgiveness and salvation today, but those who reject Him will face the full measure of God's wrath someday.  Better to be broken in contrition than ground to powder!

Jesus Says Amen!

It struck me the other day how remarkable it was of the thief crucified with Jesus to say to Him, "LORD, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  In doing so he demonstrated great faith which perceived more than what he could naturally see.  Over the head of Jesus was a sign inscribed by the hand of Pontius Pilate with the accusation brought against Him:  "JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." (Matthew 27:37; John 19:19)

Never had a king been so ill-treated by His own people, being accused as an evildoer by envious men with His subjects shouting to the Roman ruler as one man, "Crucify Him!"  He hung battered from blows and brutal scourging, covered in gore, barely recognisable as a man.  The thief who lived his life in violation of God's law and initially reviled Jesus had his eyes suddenly opened to the reality Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Son of God and Son of David who would have an everlasting kingdom.

In desperation the dying man cried out to the One who willingly laid down His life on Calvary never having sinned, "LORD, remember me when you come into your kingdom."  He looked beyond the nails which held the dying Man on the cross with eyes of faith which knew Jesus was going to live beyond the cross.  He knew Jesus had a kingdom and He would somehow live to sit on the throne.  The criminal knew Jesus would be able to remember him in the future and begged him to do so.  Luke 23:43 says, "And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."  Instead of trotting out the man's faults, which were many and deserving of death, Jesus responded to the man's humble request in faith with the promise of eternal life.

In the original language the word translated "assuredly" here is "amen," a word which means the same in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English.  It is a common practice to conclude our prayers to God with "amen" in agreement with God to hear, but how wonderful it is for God to graciously respond with "Amen!" to our requests!  Those who come to Jesus Christ with faith in Him He rejoices to receive.  Do we have faith as this condemned criminal to pray what seems on face value to be impossible yet believing God is able and will keep His word?  Jesus has promised to give eternal life to all who repent of sin and trust in Him.  The words He spoke in Matthew 11:28-30 can be fulfilled today in your life by our risen LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ if we will meet His conditions:  "Come to Me, all you who labour 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."

Power With God

God is truly all powerful.  The creation of the universe, global catastrophes, and miraculous might are just the edges of His ways.  It is remarkable to me how God has all authority and power, yet men can move Him through humble requests.  Many times God stated His intention to do something, and when those who feared Him spoke with God He relented.  God remained righteous and good, yet mountains were moved and inevitable judgment delayed by a simple request.

This morning I thought back to the time after Jacob left Laban's house as a wealthy man with many children.  He heard Esau was coming to meet him with hundreds of men and he was concerned for the safety of his family and himself.  That night the biblical account says he wrestled with a man until the breaking of day.  This man and how they began to engage in the tussle is not explained in scripture.  But reading on shows this "man" was much more than an ordinary man, for he simply touched Jacob and his hip was dislocated with an injury which caused him to limp for the remainder of his life.

Jacob refused to release his hold on the Man who Jacob came to realise was God in the flesh, an encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ.  He would not let go until he received a blessing from the Man he wrestled with.  Genesis 32:28-30 reads, "And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." ²⁹ Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there. ³⁰ And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."  The Man changed Jacob's name to Israel and blessed him, and in a moment he went from "heel catcher" to "governed by God."

What is not mentioned in this passage is the manner of Jacob during the marathon wrestle through the night.  We might think it was sheer grit, determination, or skill at wrestling which caused Jacob to prevail in a struggle with God.  Hosea 12:3-5 says of Israel, "He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and in his strength he struggled with God.⁴ Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; He wept, and sought favour from Him. He found Him in Bethel, and there He spoke to us--⁵ that is, the LORD God of hosts. The LORD is His memorable name."  Jacob struggled with God and prevailed not by physical might but his power with God was in weeping and making his request known to God in desperation.  His faith was rewarded with God graciously bowing to his request.  The God who moves mountains and can put a hip out of joint with a gentle touch can bless, transform a person from within, and alter an eternal destiny.

Those who have power with God do not do so by the power or might of the flesh but by the Holy Spirit who works in the lives of men.  Tears are not a magic formula to having our requests granted, yet they can indicate a broken heart God delights to heal.  Like a father who loves his children and supplies them with good things, God is pleased to hear and answer us.  God has given to each a measure of faith and those who humble themselves before God in prayer believing have access and help in God's throne room of grace in time of need.

Iniquity By Default

"You have plowed wickedness; you have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, because you trusted in your own way, in the multitude of your mighty men."

Hosea 10:13

I forget things or misspeak, but God does not.  He knows all things, having created the world and all the processes therein.  Reading this verse holds forth an important principle by what God through the prophet did not mention.  A farmer typically ploughs furrows, sows seed, and reaps the harvest.  This passage references ploughing and reaping but does not mention sowing at all!  The fact is unless we plant good seed we cannot expect good things to grow.

We see evidence of this all the time:  we turn over the soil to plant flowers or a vegetable garden and all manner of weeds and grass sprout up.  These weeds ought to be pulled because all these do is propagate after their own kind and rob the good plants of nutrition, sunlight, and space.  God used the illustration of ploughing and reaping in the lives of people many times in the Bible.  Paul wrote in Galatians 6:7-8, "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."  We reap what we sow, but we also reap what we have not sown--good and bad.

The preceding verse says in Hosea 10:12, "Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the LORD, till He comes and rains righteousness on you."  To reap mercy the children of Israel needed to sow for themselves righteousness.  Because they had forsaken God and trusted themselves they had no righteousness which only comes from God.  They did not have the resources within them to do righteously, therefore they reaped iniquity when they sowed nothing.  Hosea 10:4 also conveyed the results of their sinful speaking:  "They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant. Thus judgment springs up like hemlock in the furrows of the field."  Hemlock was a poisonous, noxious weed which sprang up in furrows.  They had not sowed righteousness so severe judgment from God would be the result.

Hosea 10:13 also teaches what we reap we also eat.  Because they ploughed wickedness they would reap iniquity and eat the fruit of lies.  This all came about because they had forsaken God in whom is all righteousness and wisdom.  They placed their faith in themselves rather than trusting the obeying God.  The did not follow the example of Abraham who believed God and his faith was accounted for righteousness (Romans 4:3, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23).  Without God man cannot sow righteousness and thus will always reap iniquity by default.  Like noxious weeds that spring up in the furrows, so judgment grows for those who depart from God and His ways.

If we want to be partakers of God's mercy and eternal life, we must be made righteous by grace through faith in God.  In our natural state we can only plough wickedness and reap iniquity.  Praise be to God who desires to be found by those who seek Him with their whole heart.  Jesus is coming and our righteousness springs from Him.

Perilous Wealth

It is tragic when people do not have basic necessities for survival like clean water, wholesome food, or adequate shelter.  Billions of dollars of financial aid and countless volunteer efforts go towards helping those in need near and far.  As real the risk is for those who lack, there is also a risk for those who have.  It is ironic those who have great abundance also run the greatest risk of forgetting who they need most:  God.  In the Law of Moses God provided warnings for the wealthy.  Having our needs met by God can cause us to be filled with pride and forget God who provides life and all we possess.

Through Moses God warned His people in Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 17-18:  "When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you. ¹¹"Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, ¹² lest--when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; ¹³ and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; ¹⁴ when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage... ¹⁷ then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.' ¹⁸ And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."

Jesus said it is easier for a camel to pass through an eye of a sewing needle than for a rich man to enter heaven for good reason.  Poverty and wealth both have their pitfalls, but wealth can blind even God's people to their fundamental need to rely upon Him for all things.  Poverty may lead people in their desperation to theft and degrading employment, but wealth works to lift up man with pride.  Pride leads to self-reliance and self-confidence rather than faith in God who gives man power to acquire wealth.  Conceit leads to self-deception and to forget about God in daily activities.  Wealth makes man a god unto himself, a self-exalted deity to do what he pleases.  Lack prompts a man to seek God to supply his needs, but being full makes this need for God less obvious.

Australia is largely a population of "haves" rather than "have nots."  This warning to the wealthy is one we ought to take to heart because our natural resources, homes, food, technology, education, and employment have been supplied by the grace of God.  He has blessed us so abundantly with peace and prosperity we believe we are entitled to it.  Though we are an admittedly secular society God is the gracious source of the peace and all good things we enjoy.  Because we generally do not acknowledge God as our Creator and King we are tricked into believing He has no place amongst us.  It is God's grace which will one day deprive us of what we view as basic human needs and rights so our eyes in desperation will look to Him again in faith.

Praise the LORD, for what is impossible with men is possible with God!  God makes it possible for a wealthy person to fear and trust God even when riches increase.  We need not set our hearts or affections on what will not endure but continue to seek the LORD.  Our wealth need not be a liability but an asset for God to administer through us for His glory and the good of others.  Proverbs 11:25 contains a valuable principle:  "The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself."  God is generous to us, and the humble soul will not forget it.

God Knows How to Deliver

When it comes to temptation to sin, we can feel very alone.  In the moment we can feel powerless to find the way of escape God has provided for us.  But this pitiful self-focus is a chief source of our chronic problems, that we imagine ourselves to be the central figure in the struggle and forget about the power of God.  We think it falls to us to do the impossible rather than seeking the LORD.  Failure can lead to our resignation to sin instead of fleeing as we ought.

Last night I was struck by what Peter wrote in 2 Peter 2:7-9.  Those who sinned without repentance God destroyed "...and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked ⁸ (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)-- ⁹ then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment..."  If we will be delivered out of sin and temptation, it is Jesus Christ who must help us by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Christ is a deliverer of all who cry out to Him in faith.

Lot lived among people who did not fear God and brasenly sinned against Him, and how their conduct vexed Lot!  Yet even when he was divinely warned Sodom and the surrounding cities would shortly be utterly overthrown and destroyed, Lot tarried.  He was unable to make the decisive first move to leave his home, stuff, and extended family.  When the pressure was on Lot suffered analysis paralysis.  Left to his procrastinating ways he would have been destroyed in the fierce judgment that was coming, but the angel graciously took him by the hand and led him out.  Lot walked out on his own two legs yet he needed the help of a divine messenger to lead him to depart the dangerous place where he lingered.

Has temptation to sin ever caused you to linger?  Our minds work tirelessly to weigh options:  is it right or wrong?  Why is it wrong?  What does it matter?  Who would know?  And because sin in us is stirred up by the desires of the flesh, our minds linger over the decision.  As children of God we must acknowledge God knows how to deliver His people out of temptations.  Since we are incapable of delivering ourselves this is most comforting and encouraging.  Before Jesus left the earth He promised to send the Holy Spirit, the Comforter and Helper.  In temptation and tribulation He helps us because He leads us to follow Jesus.  We are powerless, but the LORD knows how to deliver.

The Divine Escape Plan

Temptation is more than enticement but actually puts us to the test:  it is an examination to see if we will choose God's way or not.  The Bible explains God cannot be blamed for temptation to sin, as it is written in James 1:13-14:  "Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God"; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed."  The fact temptation to sin appeals to us at all is because we are the crooked and corruptible ones.  God is righteous and always leads us to do righteously.  It is we who err.

The grace of God is revealed in providing a way for those who trust in Christ to avoid sin and do what is right.  See what 1 Corinthians 10:13 has to say on the subject:  "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it."  In our flesh no good thing dwells, but when we are born again and filled with the Spirit there is life in us to resist the devil and walk in obedience to Christ.  With every temptation allowed by God He also makes "the way of escape."  Commercial buildings are required to have illuminated "Exit" signs to make the way out clear in case of emergency.  If we find ourselves in the middle of a temptation which presses upon us, our call is to look to the Light of the World who shines in the darkness.  God makes exit from temptation possible.

The reality is we live in a body of flesh which is still very prone to sin and desires it over pleasing God.  That is why Paul exhorted believers in Romans 13:13-14, "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil its lusts."  In every case when there is sin to put off, there is Jesus Christ to put on through faith in obedience.  The flesh says concerning forsaking sin, "But what about me?"  but Jesus says "Deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me."  Sin is not to be given any space to operate freely in our lives, just like all the gaps in a house must be stopped to keep out rats and mice.  As believers sin only has power over us when we willingly submit to it, and when we are in active submission to God we will not choose sin.