Early this morning I walked into my son's shared room to see Abel lying on his back, shivering in bed. The air was chilly and the room dark. Though Abel had thick blankets available for him to use, one had fallen off the bed and the other was at his feet in a ball. His arms clung tightly to the thin flannel sheet as he slept.
My initial reaction was a cross between amusement, annoyance, and compassion. It struck me funny that Abel clung to the thing which offered him least protection against the cold. But if the bed had been completely made with the blanket tucked it could not have slid onto the floor! The boy was cold and needed warmth. The steps which precipitated the shivering was not as important as the cure: lifting the blankets back onto the bed, smoothing out the blanket pile, and Abel laying underneath them.
In Australia, a thick bedspread is often called a "doona." In the States where I was born, a common term is a "comforter." The LORD impressed upon my heart that Abel's condition is not unlike many in the body of Christ in a spiritual sense. The Holy Spirit is referred to as the "Comforter" who will guide us into all truth. His role is to glorify Jesus Christ, teach us of the things of God, and lead us according to God's will. There are many Christians who are shuddering in the cold because they have not embraced the Person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit provides gifts to be used for the edification of the Body and the glorification of God. In his sleep, Abel was blind and insensible. He was cold when he could have been warm.
Christ baptized the disciples with the Holy Spirit and fire on the Day of Pentecost, and He baptizes people in like fashion today. Many have kicked the idea of baptism with the Holy Spirit to the side of their Christian experience. Satan has done much to warp perception of this baptism through excess, abuse, and confusion. But the biblical precedent is clear and simple: we receive this baptism through faith in Christ with the asking, even as a child receives a peeled egg from the hand of his father. Eggs are to be ingested, and blankets are to be snuggled under. Praise God for His compassion upon us, that He has not left us in the dark or in the cold! Our heavenly Father has given us the Holy Spirit through Christ's intercession as Jesus says in John 14:16-17: "And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."
Jesus affirms in Luke 11:13: "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Let us not be cold or settle for lukewarm, but fanned into a burning flame through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is like oil ignited: when mixed with the Living Water which flows from our hearts the flame is not extinguished but spreads with great intensity! The Holy Spirit is in all who repent and trust in Christ: may He be upon us as well.
23 August 2011
Done Your Duty?
Definition of "duty" (first of seven) in Webster's Dictionary of the English Language, First Edition, 1828
Time does not change truth. IF God does exist and created all things, man does owe Him. IF the Bible is truly God-breathed, man has a responsibility to heed and obey it. IF God has revealed His perfect Law through scripture, then man's duty is to keep it. IF we have broken a single law of God, the Bible says the wages of sin is death. IF Jesus Christ came to the world, died on the cross for the sins of the world, and rose again to prove His victory over sin and death, we have a duty to give Christ the reward of His suffering through repentance and trust in Him. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. If God has given a gift, it is our duty to receive.
John 3:14-16 reads, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." It is man's duty to trust in Christ and fully live to please Him. We fulfill this duty best when we do it for God's sake, not for our own. We are the benefactors of God's love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and grace. Gratitude and love for God compel us to see this duty done!
DUTY, n. [from due, Fr. du.] - That which a person owes to another; that which a person is bound, by any natural, moral or legal obligation, to pay, do or perform. Obedience to princes, magistrates and the laws is the duty of every citizen and subject; obedience, respect and kindness to parents are duties of children; fidelity to friends is a duty; reverence, obedience and prayer to God are indispensable duties; the government and religious instruction of children are duties of parents which they cannot neglect without guilt.Definition of "duty" (first of seven) in The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Third Edition, 1992
DUTY, n. - An act or a course of action that is required of one by position, social custom, law, or religion.A lot of things transpired during the 164 years between the printing of these definitions. Not all changes have been for the better. The Webster definition hails from a biblical worldview, while the American Heritage definition is left ambiguous and theoretical. No doubt many today would bristle at the suggestion that God does exist, created man, and therefore man owes God.
Time does not change truth. IF God does exist and created all things, man does owe Him. IF the Bible is truly God-breathed, man has a responsibility to heed and obey it. IF God has revealed His perfect Law through scripture, then man's duty is to keep it. IF we have broken a single law of God, the Bible says the wages of sin is death. IF Jesus Christ came to the world, died on the cross for the sins of the world, and rose again to prove His victory over sin and death, we have a duty to give Christ the reward of His suffering through repentance and trust in Him. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. If God has given a gift, it is our duty to receive.
John 3:14-16 reads, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." It is man's duty to trust in Christ and fully live to please Him. We fulfill this duty best when we do it for God's sake, not for our own. We are the benefactors of God's love, forgiveness, compassion, mercy, and grace. Gratitude and love for God compel us to see this duty done!
21 August 2011
Leisure or Rest?
While reading a book yesterday on the importance of ordering the inner life, I began to reflect upon the differences between leisure and rest. From a worldly perspective, they could almost appear to be synonyms. As I compared and contrasted the two, I was amazed at the vast differences between them. Jesus promises in Matthew 11:28, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Rest is not the absence of work, even as peace is not the absence of war. Jesus bids us to take His yoke upon ourselves. A yoke is attached to a plow and allows the ox to do work he could not naturally perform. The strength of an ox when yoked to a plow can aid a farmer to sow and reap much grain.
When we are fatigued physically or spiritually we often seek rest through the ceasing of effort or activities. Yet if we do not seek rest in the person of Jesus, it will not satisfy the need we have for rest. Rest is simply the inner man seeking to enter the presence of the Living God and abiding there. Leisure, while perfectly fine in itself, is no substitute for the rest Christ has given. If we seek rest through the leisure of long weekends, holidays, the neglect of chores or spiritual duties, we find ourselves duped by a cruel substitute: we remain weary and things remain undone.
Leisure activities can be very costly in terms of money, time, and mental activity. Yet even the most expensive and exciting hobbies and pastimes become boring and dull. The most appealing diversions don't satisfy us the way we thought or hoped they would. Leisure is focused on the external realm, the relaxation of the body or the checking-out of the mind. You can try to escape in movies or fiction novels, therapeutic massages and spa treatments and still be completely wound inside - because you know at some point the game will be over, the weekend will end, and Monday morning starts early. The excitement of the senses is a big part of leisure. But the senses are never satisfied: eyes never grow tired of seeing, ears never grow weary of hearing, and stomachs are always looking to be filled.
Contrast leisure with rest found in Christ. It is not without cost, but those who have experienced the presence of God know it is priceless. Instead of being discovered though external means, true rest is found when we intentionally focus on seeking God and listening for Him. We find in Christ a satisfaction and refreshment for the soul not found in worldly pursuits or endeavors. It is exciting to seek God's will and to receive direction from Him. God never ceases to amaze! Rest is not found through the emptying of our minds, but in purposely cultivating a relationship with God with heart, mind, and soul. Whether we work long hours or are unemployed, we can be at rest. When the storms of life hit with full-force, we can rest in Christ and the comfort He provides. We know He will never leave or forsake us. Making Christ our chief pursuit allows us to rest in His rest.
There is great value in a Sabbath rest. When we are willing to put down our hammers and saws, God will built us up. If we are only about advancing our careers, following the dictates of our hearts, or substituting leisure for rest, burnout is not far away. The Pharisees made keeping the Sabbath all about externals, but God had another plan altogether: He desires that our souls will purposefully enter into His rest through Jesus Christ. Jesus promises in Matthew 11:29, "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." It is this labour of love which brings rest to our souls.
We enter into this rest not through working to do so, but through belief. Consider Hebrews 3:18-4:2: "And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." Jesus has given us rest, and we are called to enter in by faith. Leisure and ease provides rest for our bodies, but not for our souls. Let us enter into the rest God provides by coming to Christ and abiding in Him through faith. In Him we find rest for our souls.
When we are fatigued physically or spiritually we often seek rest through the ceasing of effort or activities. Yet if we do not seek rest in the person of Jesus, it will not satisfy the need we have for rest. Rest is simply the inner man seeking to enter the presence of the Living God and abiding there. Leisure, while perfectly fine in itself, is no substitute for the rest Christ has given. If we seek rest through the leisure of long weekends, holidays, the neglect of chores or spiritual duties, we find ourselves duped by a cruel substitute: we remain weary and things remain undone.
Leisure activities can be very costly in terms of money, time, and mental activity. Yet even the most expensive and exciting hobbies and pastimes become boring and dull. The most appealing diversions don't satisfy us the way we thought or hoped they would. Leisure is focused on the external realm, the relaxation of the body or the checking-out of the mind. You can try to escape in movies or fiction novels, therapeutic massages and spa treatments and still be completely wound inside - because you know at some point the game will be over, the weekend will end, and Monday morning starts early. The excitement of the senses is a big part of leisure. But the senses are never satisfied: eyes never grow tired of seeing, ears never grow weary of hearing, and stomachs are always looking to be filled.
Contrast leisure with rest found in Christ. It is not without cost, but those who have experienced the presence of God know it is priceless. Instead of being discovered though external means, true rest is found when we intentionally focus on seeking God and listening for Him. We find in Christ a satisfaction and refreshment for the soul not found in worldly pursuits or endeavors. It is exciting to seek God's will and to receive direction from Him. God never ceases to amaze! Rest is not found through the emptying of our minds, but in purposely cultivating a relationship with God with heart, mind, and soul. Whether we work long hours or are unemployed, we can be at rest. When the storms of life hit with full-force, we can rest in Christ and the comfort He provides. We know He will never leave or forsake us. Making Christ our chief pursuit allows us to rest in His rest.
There is great value in a Sabbath rest. When we are willing to put down our hammers and saws, God will built us up. If we are only about advancing our careers, following the dictates of our hearts, or substituting leisure for rest, burnout is not far away. The Pharisees made keeping the Sabbath all about externals, but God had another plan altogether: He desires that our souls will purposefully enter into His rest through Jesus Christ. Jesus promises in Matthew 11:29, "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." It is this labour of love which brings rest to our souls.
We enter into this rest not through working to do so, but through belief. Consider Hebrews 3:18-4:2: "And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 1 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it." Jesus has given us rest, and we are called to enter in by faith. Leisure and ease provides rest for our bodies, but not for our souls. Let us enter into the rest God provides by coming to Christ and abiding in Him through faith. In Him we find rest for our souls.
19 August 2011
No Pleasure in Death
"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?'"
Ezekiel 33:11
Before I finally went to bed last night I flipped back and forth between a couple of movies. I wanted to see the end of both "The World's Fastest Indian" and "The Count of Monte Cristo," movies I had seen previously. I wanted to see Burt Munro finally open up the throttle on the salt flats. Then I couldn't remember the exact ending of Monte Cristo, as Dantes took his revenge upon the wretched traitor Mondego. He is a most unlikable villain who even makes Nurse Ratched seem genuine and caring.
As I saw the final battle scene of the movie that ends with Dantes' sword skewering Mondego's heart, I sensed a difference in myself. The satisfaction I expected from seeing the fitting end of the snake Mondego never came. Instead, all I heard were the words repeated over and over in my mind: "I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked." It was a revelation to me, though I was already familiar with the passage in Ezekiel. But it made me think about God and the misconceptions I have had concerning Him over the years.
There is a tendency for us to think God must think like us. Movies with the theme of revenge are common in both the theater and on the screen. A happy ending is the right people live and die: a bad ending is when the "wrong" people live. Therefore we have this idea that God is pleased when "bad people" die because we are. In the cases of the ends of the movies I caught last night, both were happy endings: Munro finally fulfilled his dream of racing in Bonneville, and Dantes killed Mondego, was wealthy, and had a bright future with the woman who loved him. Mondego acts the part of villain so well I'm sure most viewers really want to see him dead! After scheming, murdering, lying, and deceiving all the way through the movie, it wouldn't feel like a good ending if Mondego lived, right? In God's eyes, a good ending would have Mondego repent and live. And if justice demanded the death of Mondego, God would take no pleasure even in that.
God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked! Ezekiel 18:20 states, "The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself." Death has come into the world because of sin. The wages of a single sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. Even when people commit sin and deserve death and eternal condemnation under the law, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Why will people die when Jesus has died so they might live? There is no divine satisfaction when serial rapists and murderers are executed for their crimes. God has no satisfaction to see people die and their souls perish in hell.
Contrast this with Psalm 116:15: "Precious in the sight of the LORD Is the death of His saints." The wicked depart into eternal torment, while those righteous through faith in Christ will spend eternity with Him. What gives God pleasure is for people to turn from their sins and be forgiven through the shed blood of Jesus. He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but in the salvation and redemption of lost souls. John 11:25-26 contains a wonderful promise to those who trust in Christ. "Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?" Even a man being strapped into the electric chair is not beyond salvation through repentance and faith in Jesus.
Do you take pleasure in the death of the wicked? God doesn't.
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