In Australia the term "silly season" is often used as a reference to the Christmas season, where Christmas is associated with sun-soaked beaches, family barbies (BBQ), seafood, mangoes, and drunken revelry. With kids and adults on holiday the potential for silliness reaches new highs or lows, depending on your perspective! It is silly to go into debt for the whole year to purchase gifts. But I think to gloss Christmas as "silly" goes way too far. The commercialism of Christmas should not stunt our wonder or dull the glory of Christ's coming. There's nothing silly about my Saviour.
Christmas is celebrated in different ways and for widely different reasons across the world. Some may celebrate Christmas merely from family or cultural tradition. It is an opportunity to gather with friends and family over special food and give gifts. Others see it as a huge waste of time. There are some who see it as a Christianization of a pagan holiday. I see Christmas as an opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Messiah sent to seek and save the lost. As far as I can see, Jesus is the reason for the Christmas season and all others. Jesus is the Giver, and He has given Himself as the Gift: providing forgiveness, righteousness, and eternal life for all who repent and trust in Him.
The Bible describes a future event when the world will rejoice over the death of the two witnesses sent by God. After their testimony is complete, Satan will slay them. Their dead bodies will lie in the streets of Jerusalem and everyone will rejoice, refusing to bury them. Revelation 11:10-13 reads, "And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven."
When the people on earth saw God's witnesses were dead, what was their response? They rejoiced, made merry, and sent gifts to each other. After three days, however, God will raise the dead men to life and ascend to heaven. When Jesus came to earth, wise men brought gifts in worship. If even heathen people rejoice over death by giving gifts, it is certainly not silly to rejoice and worship Christ - the Giver of Life to all who will believe - through giving gifts to one another. It is not silly to give! The end result? May our celebration begin and end with giving glory to the God of heaven.
However you celebrate Christmas, may you do it as unto the LORD. Romans 14:5-9 says, "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 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. 9 For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living." As long as we live, let us live as children of the Most High God! Jesus is not dead, but alive! He came to set the captives free, open the eyes of the blind, and deliver mankind from sin and death. Sound it from the mountains, spread the Good News in the valleys: "Joy to the world, the LORD is come! Let earth receive her King."
Reign this Christmas, LORD Jesus. Reign now and always!
19 December 2011
15 December 2011
Blessings of God
When we talk about blessings from God, many times we think in temporal terms. The material things we receive by God's grace are certainly blessings, but they cannot compare with the priceless gifts God has given all who repent and trust in Him. Our homes, cars, food, and jobs are blessings from God. But all of these things will pass away. Psalm 32:1 reveals King David's perspective concerning blessings from God: "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."
What a blessing it is to be free from the condemnation, guilt, shame, and damnation due to our sin! No amount of silver or gold is enough to post bail to escape the eternal destruction that sin demands. But God, who is rich in mercy, has sent Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of the world. We are not forgiven because we are sorry, but because Jesus has satisfied the righteous requirements of God's justice through His shed blood. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
Not only have Christians received the blessing of forgiveness of sins, but of reconciliation with God. Because of sin, every human being is estranged from God. Our sin makes us active enemies of God. But God revealed His love to us that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. God the Father made Jesus Christ the Son, who knew no sin, to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. All who repent and rely upon Jesus are forgiven and have His righteousness imputed to us. We are made co-heirs with Christ and made ambassadors on His behalf to those still in sin so they might hear and receive the word of reconciliation.
All the temporal "blessings" the world can provide cannot give us the peace, joy, and satisfaction of knowing God. Jesus gives love which swallows all our fears, and we are given exceedingly great and precious promises out of the goodness of His grace. What does it profit a man to gain the entire world and lose his own soul? What a blessing it is to have assurance through God's Word and the testimony of the Holy Spirit that our souls are safe in Jesus Christ. The entire world will pass away, but the Word of the LORD will endure forever. Build on Christ, a foundation which cannot be moved!
What a blessing it is to be free from the condemnation, guilt, shame, and damnation due to our sin! No amount of silver or gold is enough to post bail to escape the eternal destruction that sin demands. But God, who is rich in mercy, has sent Jesus Christ to be the Saviour of the world. We are not forgiven because we are sorry, but because Jesus has satisfied the righteous requirements of God's justice through His shed blood. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
Not only have Christians received the blessing of forgiveness of sins, but of reconciliation with God. Because of sin, every human being is estranged from God. Our sin makes us active enemies of God. But God revealed His love to us that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. God the Father made Jesus Christ the Son, who knew no sin, to be sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. All who repent and rely upon Jesus are forgiven and have His righteousness imputed to us. We are made co-heirs with Christ and made ambassadors on His behalf to those still in sin so they might hear and receive the word of reconciliation.
All the temporal "blessings" the world can provide cannot give us the peace, joy, and satisfaction of knowing God. Jesus gives love which swallows all our fears, and we are given exceedingly great and precious promises out of the goodness of His grace. What does it profit a man to gain the entire world and lose his own soul? What a blessing it is to have assurance through God's Word and the testimony of the Holy Spirit that our souls are safe in Jesus Christ. The entire world will pass away, but the Word of the LORD will endure forever. Build on Christ, a foundation which cannot be moved!
12 December 2011
Risk Worth Taking
I recently read John Piper's book Don't Waste Your Life and was challenged. It is easy to go through life being busy but not necessarily with things that count for eternity. As a Christian, I know that I am called to walk by faith. Faith is demonstrated through obedience to God without understanding the particulars of His plan from start to finish. Abraham was called to leave his family and country and go to the land God would show him. Without being able to tell anyone his goal destination on this side of heaven, Abraham trusted God and went. Because God is worthy of trust and capable to act beyond the imaginations of my limited intellect, I am called to take the next step as God directs. It is a conscious act of relying upon the character and ability of God to do what I cannot predict. His ways are higher than my ways, and faith releases God to do His wonders.
Since Christians are called to walk by faith and absolute trust in God, the denying of the flesh to obey God will make my flesh uncomfortable. The flesh is conditioned to walk by sight, not by faith. The path of following Jesus Christ does not always appear to the eyes to be safe or even desirable. But since Christ is both the means and the substance of my life, He is always to be treasured above all. In his book, Piper voiced some excellent observations concerning the aspect of risk in following Christ. He writes: "Why is there such a thing as risk? Because there is such a thing as ignorance. If there were no ignorance there would be no risk. Risk is possible because we don't know how things will turn out. This means that God can take no risks." (Piper, Kindle edition, pg. 100) God can take no risks, and any apparent "risk" from a worldly perspective a Christian takes by faith in God is simply a mirage. The fact that I see risk is proof of my ignorance. I embrace the fact of my ignorance that I might rest in God's wisdom!
You've probably seen the ads on television for investment firms who provide historical data and statistics to aid people in selling and trading stocks. Based upon evidence, people invest money where there is the probability of lowest risk and highest yield. Often the higher the risk, the higher the potential yield or loss. When setting up investments, financial advisers recommend that investors diversify so all the money is not committed to a single fund. The theory is while one fund may lose money another will remain stable, and the conservative funds will slowly build. But Jesus tells us we cannot diversify our faith in this way. We cannot put some of our faith in our business, a little in our savings and properties, and invest our faith in Him when it is time to pay the bills and taxes. No, we must put all our faith in Him alone. The following quote is often attributed to Jim Elliot: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Jim Elliot risked his life to share the Gospel to unreached people in Ecuador and he was killed in the mission field by Waodani warriors. But it was not a risk to follow Jesus on that path of the cross. In dying a Christian gains what he cannot lose: a glorious entry into eternal life with Christ, where we shall worship, glorify, and serve Him forever.
When we follow Christ in faith, inevitably we will be faced with what appears to be risk. If there is no risk in our Christian experience, then we must seriously consider if we have experienced Christ! God cannot risk because He knows all things. This is not an invitation to be foolhardy or cavalier, assuming God will come to our rescue when we make foolish decisions because of pride. But if God directs you to take a step of faith, there is no risk in obedience. So take that step, believer! God is able to accomplish all that concerns you today!
Since Christians are called to walk by faith and absolute trust in God, the denying of the flesh to obey God will make my flesh uncomfortable. The flesh is conditioned to walk by sight, not by faith. The path of following Jesus Christ does not always appear to the eyes to be safe or even desirable. But since Christ is both the means and the substance of my life, He is always to be treasured above all. In his book, Piper voiced some excellent observations concerning the aspect of risk in following Christ. He writes: "Why is there such a thing as risk? Because there is such a thing as ignorance. If there were no ignorance there would be no risk. Risk is possible because we don't know how things will turn out. This means that God can take no risks." (Piper, Kindle edition, pg. 100) God can take no risks, and any apparent "risk" from a worldly perspective a Christian takes by faith in God is simply a mirage. The fact that I see risk is proof of my ignorance. I embrace the fact of my ignorance that I might rest in God's wisdom!
You've probably seen the ads on television for investment firms who provide historical data and statistics to aid people in selling and trading stocks. Based upon evidence, people invest money where there is the probability of lowest risk and highest yield. Often the higher the risk, the higher the potential yield or loss. When setting up investments, financial advisers recommend that investors diversify so all the money is not committed to a single fund. The theory is while one fund may lose money another will remain stable, and the conservative funds will slowly build. But Jesus tells us we cannot diversify our faith in this way. We cannot put some of our faith in our business, a little in our savings and properties, and invest our faith in Him when it is time to pay the bills and taxes. No, we must put all our faith in Him alone. The following quote is often attributed to Jim Elliot: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." Jim Elliot risked his life to share the Gospel to unreached people in Ecuador and he was killed in the mission field by Waodani warriors. But it was not a risk to follow Jesus on that path of the cross. In dying a Christian gains what he cannot lose: a glorious entry into eternal life with Christ, where we shall worship, glorify, and serve Him forever.
When we follow Christ in faith, inevitably we will be faced with what appears to be risk. If there is no risk in our Christian experience, then we must seriously consider if we have experienced Christ! God cannot risk because He knows all things. This is not an invitation to be foolhardy or cavalier, assuming God will come to our rescue when we make foolish decisions because of pride. But if God directs you to take a step of faith, there is no risk in obedience. So take that step, believer! God is able to accomplish all that concerns you today!
11 December 2011
Your Daddy Matters
On Saturday my club baseball team played after a three-week hiatus. When I slid into second base ahead of the throw, I bent my right wrist back. I never used to be sore after playing baseball as a young person. The only thing which experienced soreness was my throwing arm after pitching. Now I have all sorts of lingering injuries: knee, calf, hamstring, wrist, AND shoulder. Getting older makes a person long for heaven!
As I grimaced and moved the wrist around, the second baseman said, "Injury?" "Just aggravated an old one," I said. Then she said something I did not expect: "That's because you came from apes." While I was sorting out whether it was intended as a personal insult based upon my appearance or sharing her views of the origin of the human race, the ball was hit and I was off to third. I found the comment disturbing because I do not believe that any human being is a descendant of apes. I believe that Adam was the first human being, formed by a loving God in His own image.
Her comment prompted me to ask the question: how would my life be different if I truly believed my family tree branched off from apes in the distant past. If an ape is my distant relative, than I was not created in the image of God. Human beings then are no different than any other animal. Ethics and morality become empty philosophies with no grounding in absolute truth. As animals are driven by instinct without free will, so my highest purpose in life is to exercise my glands to feed the desires of my flesh. There is no heaven, and certainly no hell. There is no absolute right and wrong. There is o future judgment but no future hope. The only thing I could be certain of is disappointment, misery, and death. Life is pointless, and the sooner it is over the better.
I don't believe in God because it is convenient for me to do so. I believe and trust in Him because I am convinced the Bible is the Word of God. Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life in fulfillment of scripture, and rose from the dead proving the validity of His claims. God created the order we see in the universe, established all natural laws, and created all plant, animal, and human life according to each kind. The more the scientists investigate into the cell, DNA, and even blood clotting, instead of mastery the mysteries expand. There has been an information explosion in the past 100 years. What the increase of knowledge has done is enlighten us to more things we do not know!
Your family tree makes a difference in how you live. If your great-great-grandpappy was an ape, you are no better than one yourself. God has created man to glorify Him and to make Himself known to all people. Sin has separated man from God. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and be saved from eternal punishment in hell - the just punishment for a single sin. Jesus gave His life so all might be reconciled to God and experience the forgiveness, peace, and love only God provides. I pray knowing personally the One to whom I speak when I say, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name!" I know the One who designed apes, human beings, wrists, and knees. God is my Father, and if you were to trace back my family line it would reach all the way back to Adam - not to some beast. Jesus is the One who introduced me to real love, and that's the absolute truth.
As I grimaced and moved the wrist around, the second baseman said, "Injury?" "Just aggravated an old one," I said. Then she said something I did not expect: "That's because you came from apes." While I was sorting out whether it was intended as a personal insult based upon my appearance or sharing her views of the origin of the human race, the ball was hit and I was off to third. I found the comment disturbing because I do not believe that any human being is a descendant of apes. I believe that Adam was the first human being, formed by a loving God in His own image.
Her comment prompted me to ask the question: how would my life be different if I truly believed my family tree branched off from apes in the distant past. If an ape is my distant relative, than I was not created in the image of God. Human beings then are no different than any other animal. Ethics and morality become empty philosophies with no grounding in absolute truth. As animals are driven by instinct without free will, so my highest purpose in life is to exercise my glands to feed the desires of my flesh. There is no heaven, and certainly no hell. There is no absolute right and wrong. There is o future judgment but no future hope. The only thing I could be certain of is disappointment, misery, and death. Life is pointless, and the sooner it is over the better.
I don't believe in God because it is convenient for me to do so. I believe and trust in Him because I am convinced the Bible is the Word of God. Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life in fulfillment of scripture, and rose from the dead proving the validity of His claims. God created the order we see in the universe, established all natural laws, and created all plant, animal, and human life according to each kind. The more the scientists investigate into the cell, DNA, and even blood clotting, instead of mastery the mysteries expand. There has been an information explosion in the past 100 years. What the increase of knowledge has done is enlighten us to more things we do not know!
Your family tree makes a difference in how you live. If your great-great-grandpappy was an ape, you are no better than one yourself. God has created man to glorify Him and to make Himself known to all people. Sin has separated man from God. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and be saved from eternal punishment in hell - the just punishment for a single sin. Jesus gave His life so all might be reconciled to God and experience the forgiveness, peace, and love only God provides. I pray knowing personally the One to whom I speak when I say, "Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name!" I know the One who designed apes, human beings, wrists, and knees. God is my Father, and if you were to trace back my family line it would reach all the way back to Adam - not to some beast. Jesus is the One who introduced me to real love, and that's the absolute truth.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)