Be Strong and Fear Not

I picked up C.H. Spurgeon's The Sword and the Trowel again, the first volume of a set of seven.  He cited Isaiah 35:4 which reads, "Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you."  On this theme he wrote:

"Oh how precious is the Word of God!  For it contains a cordial for every sickness, a balm for every wound, and here at the close of the day let me console myself with it.  How often does a fearful heart weaken and vex the people of God!  How well it is that the Holy Spirit has given this word to cheer them in their distresses!  Sometimes GREAT TROUBLES cause the heir of heaven to be much cast down.  But why is it so?  Are not our fears groundless?  Do not our troubles work our lasting good? Why need we fear the issue when it is in Jehovah's hands?  Our fears grieve us more than our afflictions.  Our greatest pains spring from our unbelief, not from our trials, for if we had more faith our trials could not makes us afraid...GREAT DUTIES also have a tendency to alarm our poor timorous flesh and blood, but let us remember that the work is the Lord's, we do not go a warfare at our own charges.  Our Master will never set us upon a work which is too hard for us.  When we have his command we are sure to have his assistance.  BE STRONG, FEAR NOT." (Spurgeon, C. H. C.H. Spurgeon's Works as Published in His Monthly Magazine The Sword and The Trowel. Vol. 1. Pasadena, TX: Pilgrim Publications, 1975. 244. Print.)

We need not take vengeance, for our God will come with vengeance.  He has provided us everything which pertains to life and godliness.  Not one thing He commands us can we do by our own strength, yet all things God commands us we are enabled to do through faith in Him.  The picture of the man going to war is a good one, for no soldier supplies his own tanks, food, transport, and battle plan.  Pilots in the Air Force do not supply or repair their own planes, nor do they buy the missiles loaded upon them or what is a strategic target!  Sailors in the Navy do not purchase the aircraft carrier they are stationed on or tend livestock for food when deployed.  Their training, gear, supplies, and orders come from others.  At the same time a soldier, airman, or sailor is required to apply himself in fitness, training, and skill development.  For armed forces to be effective in following orders they must be equipped, and God has done more than this for us.  As we labour to do His work, He will supply all our needs.

Let us be strong, and fear not!  Spurgeon is right:  if we had more faith in God "our trials could not make us afraid."  The old song laments, "O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer."  When God tells us in His Word to "be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might" (Eph. 6:10) through the Holy Spirit we can be strong.  It is acknowledging our weakness and trusting in God that we discover strength which transcends our own.  Praise the LORD:  the things which are impossible with men are possible with God!

Suffering and God's Will

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy."

1 Peter 4:12-13

It is Jesus Christ who brings meaning and eternal value out of suffering.  In every way He was tempted as us, but He has suffered far more than any other man.  One cannot say in every way we suffer He has suffered because His suffering is exponentially greater.  As omniscient God whose wisdom is infinite, one can only imagine the depth of Christ's sufferings as Ecclesiastes 1:18 explains, "For in much wisdom is much grief, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow."  Because Jesus is for us Wisdom, we can identify with Him in all our suffering for His sake; through faith we can rejoice with exceeding joy even in the fiery trial.

Everyone on this planet will suffer, and sometimes as a result of our own sin.  Peter exhorted followers of Christ in 1 Peter 4:15-16, "But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people's matters. ¹⁶  Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter."  As a follower of Christ we have fellowship with Him through suffering.  Jesus opened His arms to people who rejected Him, and we can open our arms to people who refuse us.  We can be hated for loving others according to the example Jesus has provided for us.  The fact we do the right thing before God and suffer aligns us with the experience of Jesus during His earthly pilgrimage.  For this reason we are to glorify God, realising He is the One who will help, comfort, and empower us to persevere.

For me, 1 Peter 4:19 is the clincher:  "Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator."  Sometimes we question the fiery trial we feel thrown into, but it is supremely comforting to know when we suffer for Christ's sake we "suffer according to the will of God."  Jesus only did the will of the Father and was a "man of sorrows, acquainted with grief."  The divine paradox is He is also the source of fullness of joy which surpasses knowledge!  It is this knowledge which aids us to commit our souls to God in righteous conduct despite pain or opposition, knowing our God is faithful.  He will not forsake us, and nothing can separate us from the love of Christ Jesus.

Everyone suffers, but for the Christian suffering is redemptive and brings transformation.  Suffering by itself leads to despair, but suffering according to God's will enables us to rejoice in our Saviour.  As real as your suffering is today for Christ's sake, your rejoicing will be infinitely more intense, continual, and eternal when Christ's glory is revealed.  How good is that?

Both To Will and To Do

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³  for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure."

Philippians 2:12-13

I love these verses because they hold forth man's responsibility before God and God's sufficiency to accomplish all.  Followers of Jesus Christ are not saved by good works but we have been saved for them (Eph. 2:10).  We cannot rightly adopt a passive and careless view of our choices or conduct, assuming God will accomplish His will in our lives without our cooperation.  The work of God is not performed through mustering the strength of our flesh, but through faith and obedience to the Holy Spirit who works in us "both to will and to do for His good pleasure."  Our desire to obey God and the ability to do things which please God both arise from Him alone.

To "will" and to "do" are two distinct things.  We may desire to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, but completing the ascent is another matter altogether.  There are also things in life we do because we must, and we can approach and complete tasks devoid of all desire or affection.  A job can become a drudgery, a duty we actually despise.  Yet when it comes to pleasing God through good works, God works in us both to will and to do.  He brings these things together beautifully and makes pleasing our Maker possible and brings satisfaction to our souls.

On my son's cricket team, in batting it is a rare commodity to possess both the will and the ability to bat.  Virtually none of the boys are interested to open against the best bowlers.  Many forced into the role showed they were not able to score runs before losing their wicket!  But occasionally there will be a lad who has the will to be in and the ability to stay in.  When they succeed in a run chase or finish the day "not out," they are all smiles as they walk triumphantly off the pitch.  They had both the will and the ability to endure and succeed.  They are happy with their accomplishment, and I imagine their teammates and parents are glad too.  All men find satisfaction in a job well done, and those who hear "Well done!" from their heavenly Father are infinitely glad as well.

Praise the LORD when we work out our own salvation He works in us both to will and to do for His good pleasure.  That God would partner with men for His glory!

The Worthy Ideal

Positive reform requires an intentional return to an old ideal.  Progress is not altering the original ideal but a renewed aim of obtaining it.  That is a philosophical strength of Christianity, for Jesus Christ is the One we are called to fix our eyes on and pursue.  We strive to obey Him, love like Him, and do all for His glory.  Just because we fail doesn't mean Christ is a failure or is unworthy of being pursued.  He provides a more solid foundation for us than the bedrock of earth, for Jesus was, is, and will ever be.  This world will have an end, but Jesus Christ and His words will endure forever.

When I see people protesting and rioting over political disagreements, I wonder if the rioters all agree.  I can tell you they do not.  Even if they all agree on anarchy and the means they employ to destroy the corrupt "system," I can assure you they do not agree on what form of government should rise in its place or who should make the decisions concerning it.  Without a fixed ideal men destroy and cannot build.  People united for change tear down what was built and then tear each other apart.  When God confounded the languages at Babel not only did the inhabitants cease working together but they couldn't imagine living together.  This is the world in which we live - among people who speak the same language but cannot agree on a governing, guiding principle.  Consider the observations of G.K. Chesterton in his masterpiece, Orthodoxy:

"As long as the vision of heaven is always changing, the vision of earth will be exactly the same.  No ideal will remain long enough to be realised, or even partly realised.  The modern young man will never change his environment; for he will always change his mind.  This, therefore, is our first requirement about the ideal towards which progress is directed; it must be fixed.  Whistler used to make many rapid studies of a sitter; it did not mater if he tore up twenty portraits.  But it would matter if he looked up twenty times, and each time saw a new person sitting placidly for his portrait.  So it does not matter (comparatively speaking) how often humanity fails to imitate its ideal; for then all its old failures are fruitful.  But it does frightfully matter how often humanity changes its ideal, for then all its old failures are fruitless." (Chesterton, G. K. Orthodoxy. 1st ed. Grand Rapids, Mich.: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. pages 114 - 115, Print.)

As we follow Jesus Christ with our eyes fixed upon Him, all our failures can be made fruitful.  We have all made many blunders along the way, but Jesus remains the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  We have failed to live according to God's standards of righteousness, love, and forgiveness, yet God's sublime standard remains unchanged, untainted in a world soiled with deceit, hidden ulterior motives, and subjectivity.  Jesus stood and cried aloud to all who listened, and He stands today having risen from the dead.  His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; His rule and reign is without end.  He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  It is easier for this universe to be completely dissolved than for a single word He has spoken to be stripped of power and significance.  Jesus is, and wise men seek Him, fix their eyes upon Him, and follow Him.

The Planting of the LORD

During Sunday's sermon I related a story to encourage all how God keeps His promises.  Though there aren't always signs or miracles continually to confirm the faithfulness of our God, He does provide His presence and amazing evidence in our earthly pilgrimage.  If we seek the LORD with our whole hearts we will find Him.  For well over a decade I have met weekly with various fellow Christians to pray.  For years before I knew of God's call upon my life to immigrate to Australia I met with a brother named Rudy to seek the LORD in prayer.  God brought great encouragement and strength through times of prayer, and even used a fallen tree to confirm His word to me.

I was on staff at the church when a tree in a large pot toppled over.  The tree was sizable and it lay flat on the ground for a day or two as the staff considered our options.  We certainly didn't want it to go to waste, so the assistant pastor and I dug a hole big enough for the root ball to fit in a sunny spot, dragged the tree over to the hole best we could, and transplanted it.  We lashed limbs to a nearby fence and watered the tree.  It was really a "sink or swim" approach to planting a tree with no special fertiliser, amended soil, or much knowledge or skill in growing trees at all.  If it lived it lived, and if it died it was firewood.

The tree went into shock and dropped most of the leaves.  Though it looked sad for a while there was still life in the tree, so I kept watering it.  One day Rudy said something like, "That tree is a picture of what God is doing with you.  He's going to transplant you."  That struck me.  It showed me the importance of my need to be established before there could be growth.  As a family we would need to be patient to have roots drinking in water to withstand strong winds and dry seasons.  It was almost a living parable of the church God connected us with as well.  God eventually opened a door for us to move to Australia, and the tree was almost forgotten.  It turned out I had not been forgotten by God or the many people who have continued to pray for us to this day six years later.

After about two years I returned to visit my home church.  One of the first things Rudy said to me with a grin upon my return was, "Have you seen your tree?"  I walked over and looked at it.  Gone were the restraints, it was full of green leaves, and well over twice the size than before!  It was such an encouragement to know God cares for people more than trees, and He is able to make both thrive in His time.  As I prepared to share this story as an illustration in the sermon, on a whim I decided to look up what kind of tree it was.  Imagine my surprise when I discovered the name of "my" tree was "ficus benjamina" - Benjamin being my first name!  That God could use a fallen tree as a support for my faith as I look to Jesus!

My home church has since sold the building to a school and over the years much has changed.  I used Google Earth to see if the tree is still there, and to this day it continues to flourish and grow.  God has promised all who meditate of His Word day and night will resemble a tree in Psalm 1:3:  "And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."  No tree will last forever, but God, His promises, and those whose lives are founded upon Jesus Christ will.  How awesome is our God!  He can use a single tree to impact a life, and He can use you too!  (the tree can be seen behind the school on the corner of Johnson and Main in El Cajon, circled below in white)

Lead On Softly

Today I read Genesis 33, the passage where Esau and Jacob are reunited after over 20 years apart.  When they parted Esau was scheming about the right time to kill Jacob for robbing him of his father's blessing.  Their reunion was marked by Jacob sending waves of gifts before bowing seven times to the ground before Esau.  The part which stood out to me was when Esau suggested Jacob, his family, and vast flocks and herds travel together with his 400 men.  Jacob graciously declined the offer.  He said in Genesis 33:14, "Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir."

For the sake of his family and flocks Jacob bid Esau to leave so they could both travel at an appropriate pace.  No doubt Esau and his 400 men had things to do and places to go, and Jacob did not want to be a hindrance.  He expressed his desire to "lead on softly" at a pace which was suitable for his children and animals.  This approach to shepherding is one shared by God.  Many people are destination driven, and the destination is important.  Yet God is not so keen to arrive at a destination quickly that He will drive the sheep to exhaustion and death.  A good shepherd pays attention to how the little ones are faring, ensuring there is good grazing, adequate water, and providing rest along the way.  God will lead on softly as much as we can endure because He will never trade a quicker arrival at a destination for the exchange of the life of a single lamb.

This loving way God leads and guides His people reminded me of a song my mum used to sing often.  It was one of the songs I requested the most when she played guitar and sang to us kids as we went to bed.  The song is taken from Isaiah 40:11, and the preceding verse is provided for context:  "Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. ¹¹ He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young."  God has a strong hand and is fit to rule all with a rod of iron.  At the same time He uses his hand gently to gather lambs and carry them.  He gently leads those that are pregnant with young, for He will ensure they do not come to the birth too soon.  God considers the health of His ewes and their little ones as more important than arriving at His intended destination, so He leads on softly - even carrying ones close to His heart who are without strength.  He will not abandon them in the way.

How good it is for us to take this to heart!  For those who are parents this is a good reminder for us to "lead on softly," not harshly driving our flock beyond capacity.  There is a big difference between leading and driving.  Driving is done from the rear with a loud crack of the whip and shouting, but leading is done from the front.  Let us be those who embrace the journey of godly child-rearing and be patient with others in Christian ministry, even if the road is long and the destination seems to always loom far in front of us.  A strong hand ought to be used to gently foster unity and patiently carry those who are without strength.  Hasn't God been gracious to lead us on softly?

Genuine Fellowship

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."

1 John 1:6-7

The word "fellowship" has been loosely used as a description of Christian gatherings as long as I can remember.  People say things like, "It would be great to get together for food and fellowship."  Fellowship (koinonia) as described by scripture is the ideal, but what passes for "fellowship" can be merely a friendly social interaction.  Personal fellowship with God is required before we can have fellowship with others.  Fellowship is not a gathering of people with similar beliefs, but those who are living righteously, loving others, and are being obedient to Jesus.  The Greek word "koinonia" as translated and defined by the Strong's Concordance can help aid us in recognising genuine fellowship from other impostors.

In the KJV, "koinonia" is translated "fellowship" 12 times, "communion" 4 times, and "communication," "distribution," "contribution," and "to communicate" once each.  Koinonia is much more than talking but a deep connection and intertwining of personal lives in the pursuit of Jesus Christ.  True fellowship is a freedom to contribute and distribute to others what He has freely given to us.  When Paul received a financial gift, he said they communicated with him concerning giving and receiving.  Paul had given them Bible teaching to supply their spiritual needs, and they communicated practical things to meet his physical needs.  Perhaps the meaning of "koinonia" is even more clear when we look at the Strong's definition:  "partnership, (literal) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction; to communicate, communion, (contri-) distribution."  Let's examine some of these facets in greater depth to help us appreciate what koinonia looks like:

• Partnership:  there is a big difference from working at the same job and being "partners."  One is a shared work space, but a partnership is a commitment to another person or people.  It is joining together as one for a cause for the benefit of all, choosing to trust God and others moving forward.
• Participation:  this means to be actively included.  It may be many people go to a dance and are content to sit and watch, but only those on the dance floor are actually participating in the festivities.  Not everyone will have the same skills or style, but anyone can have fun should they choose to lay aside self-consciousness and go for it.
• Social Intercourse:  this described a social interaction which goes deeper than surface level, as the word "intercourse" suggests.  Because other people are viewed as significant through God's love, there should be a genuine interest in others.  Christians who have been accepted by God must accept others, and have freedom to be transparent and share honestly without fear.
• Benefaction:  Christians are benefactors of the love, grace, and forgiveness of God.  We have received freely from God like beneficiaries noted in the will of a deceased person.  Our God is alive and gives according to His will.  We have each received some of the same things from God, but also unique gifts and talents we should rejoice in and use for the glory of God and the building up of other Christians.
• To Communicate:   communication is an exchange of ideas which requires a willingness to listen and contribute through conversation.  It suggests availability and the desire to pass on truths God has revealed and wisdom He has taught us through the scriptures.  Receiving is required for communication to occur, so we must be willing to both give and receive.
• Distribution:  Our time, money, and resources are all gifts from God we have received and ought to give to others as He leads.  When we recognise all good things we have are from God, we acknowledge His ownership through obediently giving according to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  If you become aware of a need, it could be God desires to use resources He has given you to meet it.

My friends, this is a picture of genuine fellowship.  As you walk in the light of Jesus Christ through obedience to Him, genuine fellowship can only be expressed and enjoyed by faith in God as we abide in His love.  Koinonia is a way of life for Jesus, and He is life for us.  If this description of fellowship makes you uncomfortable, good!  It is a grace completely foreign to our natural selves, yet an imperative if we will grow and mature in following Jesus and lead others to Him.  To walk in fellowship with God and one another is a call for all Christians, and God help us to joyfully do our part.  True fellowship is only something God can give.  If you are looking for "fellowship" primarily from a church or people, you're looking in the wrong place.  Once you have fellowship with God then you can have fellowship with others, and God will supply genuine koinonia for the church through you.

Coffee and Church Snobs

Among Christians, "the church" can have a bad rap.  There are "coffee snobs," and there are church snobs.  Unlike coffee snobs who know where good coffee can be found, church snobs resembling connoisseurs seem unable to find a church where they fit.  Like the Pharisees these have an amazing ability to find fault where there is really no fault at all.  Local churches which comprise the universal body of Christ may not be attractive to a visitor, just like a unique nose on a man's face could not be called particularly handsome. But it is the nose he has been born with, and it suits him just fine for smelling.  Church snobs embrace a role similar to an eager plastic surgeon looking for clients, happy to offer opinions how appearances could be improved.  One difference between plastic surgeons and church snobs are church snobs typically do not have a list of churches who have offered glowing reviews and endorsements of their services.

The church is compared in scripture to a building comprised of living stones which are people built on the foundation of Jesus through faith in Him.  It is also compared to to a body in where Christ is the head,  and people make up the diverse members and functions of the body.  To view "the church" as an organisation yet forgetting it is fundamentally a living organism birthed and sustained by God is a grave mistake.  It is more than structure but filled with breath, life, and light by the living God.  Human beings are much more than skeletons but living, thinking, speaking flesh.  God has placed unique personalities within all people, and because of our own human peculiarity we may find some personalities refreshing but others taxing.  Perhaps this is how it is with individual churches as well.  It is more than meetings, schedules, doctrine, and decor.  Every person and every church has a history, style, appearance, and feel all its own.  Pastors and parishioners alike through the transforming love of Christ make a church what it is.

I have heard people apologetically or boastfully claim coffee snob status, but to date I have never heard a church snob admit they are one.  Coffee snobs are all about barista skills, quality coffee, and enjoying the atmosphere of their preferred cafe.  They are receivers, consumers, looking to soak up the ambience.  Church snobs are very much the same, viewing a church like a person looking critically and wincing at the sheer ugliness of a man's nose.  Now a man cannot help the nose he was given at birth, but at least he can keep it wiped clean.  So it should be with church.  A man is grateful for a loving person who quietly alerts him to his dripping nose so it can be washed and be presentable, but to criticise his nose is to criticise the One who made him.  That is the error of what I  call the church snob.  Instead of criticism a contribution of grace would be most conducive to Christian fellowship.

When we commit to following Jesus, our responsibility before God is to cultivate intimate, regular fellowship with other Christians.  Church snobs seem to forget this, preferring their own convictions and company.  A critical and divisive spirit may lead to scathingly amusing cafe reviews, but it is murder on the body of Christ - and for the graceless soul from which it springs.  Instead of looking to receive, a humble servant of God seeks to give and contribute to the health of all through obedience to Jesus.  Instead of pointing out deficiencies, we are called to meet needs through Christ's sufficiency.  There should be a commitment to love believers made from the same stuff as our commitment to follow Jesus before we rebuke or chastise others.  How about sharing the love, mercy, and grace of God with others as you have freely received from God?  Out of His mercy God has maintained a relationship with us though we are undeserving:  how about happily sticking it out with others who love Jesus, contributing grace and being patient in the process?  Choose to learn to love others in the church, even when it seems impossible.  Then you will know it is God's love in you and not your own.

A Revelation of God

Before the death of Isaac, he called Jacob before him, blessed him, and directed him to go his uncle Laban in Padanaram to seek a wife.  Though Jacob had the birthright and his father's blessing, he was commanded to leave home and all that was familiar.  Unlike his outdoorsman older twin Esau, Jacob was a "plain" man who preferred living the comforts of home.  His dad gravitated to manly Esau, and his mother favoured Jacob.  He was a homebody, and apparently preferred spending his day tending stew over working outside.  In his advancing age Isaac sent Jacob away, and it must have been hard for him to leave.  I imagine many would have felt rejected and ostricised at that moment.

Jacob went from sleeping in the comforts of his tent to sleeping under the stars with rocks for a pillow.  After laying down to sleep in the darkness, in a dream God revealed Himself to Jacob.  Jacob had been sent away by his father, but God's eyes were upon him though he was alone.  Genesis 28:12-15 reads, "Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. ¹³ And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: "I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. ¹⁴ Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. ¹⁵ Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."

See how God made a mundane thing like a night's sleep miraculous!  Darkness gave way to the light of divine revelation, and loneliness was swallowed up by God's assurance.  God promised to be with Jacob, to keep him, bring him into the land, and would not leave him until all was accomplished.  When Jacob woke from his dream, the place had not changed but he had.  Genesis 28:16-19 says, "Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it." ¹⁷ And he was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!" ¹⁸ Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹ And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously."  A place where out of necessity rocks were used as pillows became "The house of God."  The God of the house had revealed himself to Jacob, and he went forth to Padanaram with blessing and comfort from God's promises.

Jacob trembled at the revelation of the Living God, the One who graciously called to Him and promised to provide and protect Him.  We might feel ostricised, isolated, and rejected, but the God who sees will come to those who cry out to him.  We may be far from others, yet God is always near to us.  Jacob went out from under the watchful eyes of his mother and likely lamented his situation.  After God revealed himself, Jacob knew he was not alone.  Perhaps he spoke within himself words to the same effect uttered by Paul in Romans 8:31:  "If God be for me, who can be against me?"  A man is blessed to go forth even to unknown territory through faith and confidence in God and not in himself.  This is the man who will be prosperous and have good success (Joshua 1:8).

God Exists; Therefore I Think

Old news came across my Facebook feed the other day about how Pope Francis boldly declared support for evolution saying, “When we read about Creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so,”  I believe the Bible provides evidence God is far greater than a magician using sleight of hand who seems able to do everything - without waving a "magic" wand.  That fact God can do everything is the precise conclusion Job came to when God revealed Himself in Job 42:1-2:  "Then Job answered the LORD and said: ² "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You."  A god who cannot do everything is not God, and certainly not worthy of worship.

The words of the Pope do not affect my beliefs in the slightest, but unfortunately much of the world sees him as speaking for the church with a degree of authority.  My entire life has been lived in a season during which Darwinian evolution is widely believed to be a reasonable means to explain the origin of species, and consequently anyone who believes in the literal creation of the world by God according to the Bible account is often ridiculed or at least seen to be a bit soft in the head.  Now G.K. Chesterton was a Catholic, and he spoke a lot more rational sense in his book Orthodoxy concerning evolution than Pope Francis from a philosophical vantage point on this subject.  Pope Francis reasoned evolution does not contradict scripture, yet Chesterton claimed evolution suicidal to reason.  Consider carefully this excerpt from a brilliant chapter titled, "The Suicide of Thought:"

"Evolution is a good example of that modern intelligence which, if it destroys anything, destroys itself.  Evolution is either an innocent scientific description of how certain earthly things came about; or, if it is anything more than this, it is an attack upon thought itself.  If evolution destroys anything, it does not destroy religion but rationalism.  If evolution simply means that a positive thing called an ape turned very slowly into a positive thing called a man, then it is stingless for the most orthodox; for a personal God might just as well do things slowly as quickly, especially if, like the Christian God, he were outside time.  But if it means anything more, it means that there is no such thing as an ape to change, and no such thing as a man for him to change into.  It means that there is no such thing as a thing.  At best, there is only one thing, and that is a flux of everything and anything.  This is an attack not upon the faith, but upon the mind; you cannot think if there are not things to think about.  You cannot think if you are not separate from the subject of thought.  Descartes said, "I think; therefore I am."  The philosophic evolutionist reverses and negatives the epigram.  He says, "I am not; therefore I cannot think," (Chesterton, G. K. Orthodoxy. New York: Lohn Lane, 1909. 39-40. Print.)

I do not find it particularly troubling in itself that people see evolution as intelligent and creation by God as idiotic, but I am greatly concerned when professing Christians yield to evolutionary dogma for a second.  All people have a prerogative given by God to think and believe what they want.  If you are a Christian, consider this:  we can only be Christians through the reasonable rock-solid doctrines contained in scripture.  We are beneficiaries of real promises in the Bible and transformational power from God - not metaphors or poetry from which we can draw superficial comfort or peace.  God's Word claims He spoke the world into existence, and thus God's Word has power beyond compare.  If Christians do not believe what is plainly written in the Bible, that God created all things to bring forth after their own kind, how can they believe in heaven, hell, sin, or that they are even saved?  Evolution does not need God, so why does God need evolution?  I need God as truly as I need the light and warmth of the sun, air to breathe, and water to drink.  If this makes me weak, stupid, and pathetic I will accept that gladly, for in my God there is strength, wisdom, and truth.  Darwinian evolution offers nothing but blind determinism, no freedom of thought or will.  Evolution commonly believed thrives on death, but God is the One who supplies life - and eternal life at that.

Knocking In

Being an immigrant opens a new world to explore and enjoy.  There are countless adjustments to life after moving to a new country.  Australia is a culture permeated with sport, and it didn't take long after moving to Australia to notice the popular sports are quite different to those I was familiar.  Instead of growing up playing baseball, kids play cricket or compete in "Little Athletics" (track and field events).  I have never seen gridiron (American football) played in a park, but I have seen plenty of rugby.  Australian football (footy) bears no resemblance to any football I knew previously, and netball seems to be more popular than basketball.

There is great personal enrichment available for all who will humbly lay aside what is familiar and be open to new things.  I remember hearing a message from Alan Redpath who hailed from Britain when he spoke of the "raw material" Abraham was made of, this flesh which "needed knocking in and knocking about."  Before I came to Australia, I didn't know "knocking in" is a cricket reference.  Before a English willow cricket bat can be used, it needs to be "knocked in." This process takes many mundane and tiring hours of using a special mallet or ball (these days rollers are used as well) to compress the wood fibres so the bat will not split or crack when the ball is hit.  A bat which is properly "knocked in" performs far better as well, the ball springing off the prepared surface almost like a trampoline.  I would never have understood this reference unless I had come to Australia and learned about cricket.

What Alan Redpath said is true concerning our lives when we first come to Christ.  There is a period of "knocking in" required to maximise our usefulness.  But if "knocking in" is a reference to putting away sin, repentance, growing in faith, and walking in obedience, the process of "knocking in" will continue until the LORD calls us home!  The process of preparing a cricket bat is time consuming and even tedious at times, but let us remember our justification and sanctification work in us to fulfill God's purposes concerning us.  We do not exist for ourselves but for God's sake and His glory.  When a batsman scores runs he will be complemented with, "Good knock mate!"  May the same be said of us when we run with endurance the race set before us, looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.  It is the one who expertly wields the bat who receives the glory for a "good knock," and may we be faithful implements in the hand of our Master who brings great increase to His kingdom.

Pain in the Process

A great challenge in our Christian walk is working through painful trials.  A couple of useful books on the subject is The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis and Where is God When it Hurts? by Philip Yancey.  We labour hard to reduce and eliminate it when we can, but pain isn't a bad thing when viewed through a biblical perspective.  Pain is a useful sensation (excruciating as it can be at times) to notify us of physical damage and prevents us from wounding ourselves further.  It is not fun to be robbed of sleep or rest due to pain, yet we can still find solace in Christ as our rest.  Our bodies heal much better and faster than wounded hearts and minds.  There is no prescription a doctor can supply to heal a broken heart, and what is impossible with men is possible with God.  The only time physical pain truly is a thing of the past is when a Christian enters into eternal glory.

Last Saturday I sprained my ankle playing baseball, and I did a quality job.  My ankle and foot swelled a bit and blood from the torn connective tissue pooled in a colourful bruise.  When I showed a picture of my ankle to a mate who has personal experience with ankle injuries he replied something to the effect of, "It's good you have swelling because it means most of your ligaments are still intact."  I must say this was an eye-opening perspective.  If there are no ligaments attached there would be no tearing or swelling:  only weakness and pain.  My ankle bruised because I had ligaments to tear.  Jesus brings healing for ankles, hearts, minds, and restores souls.  There will be pain in the process, but His love will carry us through.

When we are born again, God removes our heart of stone and gives us a heart of flesh. The ligament of God's love provides a new depth of feeling and compassion for others we never had before.  We are given love for people we have never met and care deeply about their pains.  I have heard it said "Love hurts," and truthfully love makes a person willing to hurt for others.  Jesus was willing to endure the pain of the cross for me, and He provides the strength to endure suffering for His sake.  As much as we dislike pain and try to avoid it, this world is filled with it.  All people face the reality of pain, and God makes us sensitive to the pain of others because we have been born again.  A dead man feels no pain.  Only Christ provides meaning behind suffering which is profitable and reveals God's grace.

When I Cannot God Can

The tendency to self-reliance is common to all people.  No matter how dependent we are on others or our environment, we retain the freedom of preference to suit ourselves.  It is a jarring realisation when we accept the fact we are powerlessness to change a situation.  We value the right to choose, and when that is "taken" from us we can resent it bitterly.

This morning I read of Isaac and Rebekah who for about twenty years of marriage were without children.  They wanted to have children but Rebekah was barren.  There were no fertility clinics back in those days.  But the God who created man and woman was able to heal such an irreversible condition as infertility.  Genesis 25:21 says, "Now Isaac pleaded with the LORD for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his plea, and Rebekah his wife conceived."  It occurred to me Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had wives who were for a time barren but the LORD remembered them and gave them conception.  I recalled to mind my wife and I also had this issue for a time.  Our ultimate solution and results were the same as these in scripture.

After the birth of our first son, Laura and I had a plan which I will call the "two year plan."  Two years seemed a good amount of space between siblings, and so at the appropriate time we ceased using any method of birth control.  Month after month there was no conception.  I began to analyse the situation, considering if there was something wrong with me.  Surprise turned to frustration, for conception was foolproof before.  It was about at the five month mark without conception that I read Genesis 30:22-24:  "Then God remembered Rachel, and God listened to her and opened her womb. ²³ And she conceived and bore a son, and said, "God has taken away my reproach." ²⁴ So she called his name Joseph, and said, "The LORD shall add to me another son."

When I read the scripture it struck me:  God is the one who shuts and opens the womb.  All that time I had grown frustrated, thinking the fruit of the womb was reliant upon me and factors which could be medically explained rather than God.  I repented that day and determined I would leave the matter with the LORD.  Joy replaced irritation and frustration.  Many months passed without a change and though I continued to pray my approach was, "If it happens it happens."  I remember clearly when I was working at Balboa Hospital when the truck driver patched through a call from Laura:  she was pregnant.  I was thrilled and gave God the glory.  There is nothing more wonderful than by faith exchanging my inability for God's sufficiency.

God shuts wombs and opens them.  He raises up kings and deposes them; He lifts up nations and casts them down.  He causes the rain to fall, the fruit to form, and supplies peace, joy, and abundant life for those who trust in Him.  Realising we are powerless to change ourselves and others brings us low, but God lifts up those who admit this and trust Him instead.  How good God is to hear our prayers and answer them!

What Jesus Believes

I love the genealogies in scripture.  They may be a bit tedious to read out loud or to teach from expositionally, but they are great evidence the Bible is a book of historical fact.  We understand in this world everyone is a descendant of other human beings, and the line of Jesus Christ is taken right back to the beginning, to the first man named Adam (Luke 3:38) God created from the dust of the ground and breathed into a human soul.  I do not find it difficult to believe there is a God who created all things and is able to do everything.  What I find impossible to reconcile is how people who say they believe in this God and the Bible is God's Word yet explain away Adam and creation account in Genesis as figurative.

Jesus claimed to be the Christ, the Son of God sent of the Father to save people from their sins.  He did many miraculous signs which confirmed His identity as God, the One who created all things.  I do not feel the need to scientifically explain how Jesus did miracles, for science bows before Him as King and Ruler.  The Bible says clearly what God has done and sometimes even how He did it.  He spoke the world into existence by speaking.  Jesus healed a man born blind by putting a mix of saliva and mud on his eyes and told Him to wash.  Science has no answer or even a theory to explain these things because we have spoken words and know dirt and water has not medicinal benefits.  In these acts we observe the same power revealed by the same God.

I thought it would be fun to point out a few things Jesus referenced from the Old Testament He believed were real, things which some people today imagine must be figurative or try to explain away:

• Jesus believed God created the heavens and the earth without any mention of Darwinian evolutionary process.  Mark 13:19 says, "For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be."
• Jesus believed there was a man called Noah who built an ark which saved him from the great flood which covered the earth.  Matthew 24:37-39 says, "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. ³⁸ For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."
• Jesus believed in the existence of Satan, a wicked personality who opposes God and is an unseen enemy of human beings God alone can bind and destroy. Matthew 12:25-26 says, "But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?" 
• Jesus made a cryptic warning concerning Lot's wife who was turned to a pillar of salt when she looked back to Sodom in Luke 17:32:  "Remember Lot's wife." (you can read a post on this verse here)
• Jesus believed God spoke to Moses from a burning bush in Mark 12:26:  "But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?"
• Jesus believed a man named Jonah was swallowed by a great fish and lived to tell about it!  Luke 11:29-30 tells us, "And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. ³⁰ For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation."

I believe Jesus Christ is the promised Messiah who was conceived by the Holy Spirit in virgin Mary, died on a cross for my sins, after three days rose from the dead, and remains alive today.  His life and resurrection proved His power over sin, death, and hell.  If you can believe these things, is it so hard to believe God created the world, caused a flood to destroy it, led a man to build a boat to survive it, spoke to man face to face, and caused a man to survive being swallowed by a great fish?  I serve a God who has the power to do everything.  I praise God for making miracles possible, because without Him I could not love Him, know anything, or exist.

God Hears Your Cry

Today the LORD had encouragement for me from the book of Genesis.  The portion I read was when Hagar and Ishmael were sent away by Abraham with bread and a skin of water.  They wandered around in the wilderness of Beersheba until the water was gone.  It says in Genesis 21:15-16, "And the water in the skin was used up, and she placed the boy under one of the shrubs. ¹⁶ Then she went and sat down across from him at a distance of about a bowshot; for she said to herself, "Let me not see the death of the boy." So she sat opposite him, and lifted her voice and wept."  I will admit this part is not very uplifting.  It is a sad picture of a dying child and a hopeless mother all alone in a wilderness.  Yet it is in the midst of this confronting and tragic scene God graciously revealed Himself.

Hagar placed Ishmael in the shade, a boy of around 13 years old.  Not wanting to see him die of thirst, she separated herself to a distance where she could not hear his whimpering.  It was just too much.  She broke down in tears, wailing for her son and their impossible situation.  Then Genesis 21:17 tells us, "And God heard the voice of the lad. Then the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What ails you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the lad where he is."  Following the flow of the passage this verse is a surprise.  Verse 16 said Hagar lifted her voice and wept, and verse 17 says God heard the voice of the lad.  Hagar distanced herself from the cries of her son, but God heard him right where he was.  Hagar couldn't bear to bring herself to be where Ishmael was because of her inability to help him, but God heard him and would help him.  He opened Hagar's eyes to see a well of water, and she filled the skin with water and gave it to her son.

At times I have been in the sandals of Hagar and Ishmael.  I have felt powerless to help others who are in a perilous and dreadful condition.  I have also felt like everyone is at a distance, unable to help or understand what I was going through.  But even when it seems we are all alone and without hope or help, when we cry to God He will hear us and respond to our cries.  God was a well-spring of life Hagar didn't perceive in her pain, like the well of water which was there from the beginning.  He will provide miraculous salvation and deliverance, for He opens our eyes to His gracious supply.  He also brings other people along to help us in times of trouble, and we too can be useful vessels to share His love with others.  This passage shows us there is always hope for the person who cries out to God.

Psalm 61:1-4 says, "Hear my cry, O God; attend to my prayer. ² From the end of the earth I will cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I. ³ For You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy. ⁴ I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah"  Sometimes we can speak or shout and not be heard.  Our words can fall on ears incapable of understanding and people we look to for help are without any power to save us.  Let us ensure we cry out to the LORD in prayer, for He alone is able to deliver.

A New World of Ideas

I kept a few of my university textbooks as reference materials.  One I find particularly interesting is a compilation of Lee A. Jacobus titled, "A World of Ideas:  Essential Readings for College Writers" (Fourth Edition).  It is a smattering of ancient and modern writings which include offerings of Aristotle, Charles Darwin, Thomas Jefferson, Mary Wollstonecraft, Lao-Tzu, Karl Marx, Mary Daly, Plato, and Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha).  The great irony is this "world of ideas" considered essential for the modern writer pass over words spoken by Jesus Christ.  Perhaps the Sermon on the Mount provides too much food for thought.

For a follower of Jesus Christ, this is no surprise.  It can hardly be debated Jesus Christ should be counted among the most influential people in the history of the world and certainly among the most polarising.  He was inclusive and exclusive at the same time.  He bid anyone who was thirsty to come to Him and drink of the Living Water He alone could supply.  He also said things like in Luke 14:26:  "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple."  Jesus claimed to be the exclusive Way, the Truth, and the Life - the sole way to eternal life.  Such claims are either the ravings of a madman or the honest truth from One who can provide salvation for all who trust in Him.

I have been convinced by the testimony of scripture Jesus is the only true source of divine spiritual wisdom, and His is wisdom not of this world.  Paul had something to say on this topic in 1 Corinthians 3:18-20, "Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; ²⁰ and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile."  The primary contrast between all the writings in "A World of Ideas" and the words of Jesus is He makes constant truth claims which require faith and obedience.  He did not care to say deep things but what was, is, and will be true and remain shockingly objective.  The words of Jesus are without apology in our subjective age and are understood fully only by those who believe Him.

The greatest intellects in the world will find themselves quite out of their depth should they dive into the Bible.  A unschooled man filled with the Holy Spirit has more spiritual understanding and acumen than a thousand intellectuals.  This is explained in 1 Corinthians 2:12-15:  "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. ¹³ These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. ¹⁴ But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one."  The Bible is a book only spiritually discerned by the wisdom of the One who inspired it, the God who gives us Living Water and rest for our souls.

There is an immeasurable amount of facts in this world I am ignorant of, but I have tasted and seen God is good.  Like the man born blind whose eyes were opened by Jesus, I can testify that once I was blind but now I see.  Ideas, theories, and reasoning cannot save anyone, but Jesus Christ can.  Knowing Jesus Christ is the principle thing, and in knowing Him it opens up a new world of understanding beyond this one.

Reasonable Salvation

Today I had the privilege of "staying with the stuff" as a chaperone during a Camp Kedron outing at the beach.  It was cool and overcast, a welcome change from the heat of late.  After a pleasant bushwalk we arrived at Curl Curl to find the beach closed because of strong current.  I noticed a lifesaver (Australian for lifeguard) heading out to the waves for a swim, and it wasn't to cool down on a hot day.  He was checking the conditions of the surf.  It wasn't long before the rip pulled him further and further left, and as a result the beach remained closed after he easily swam back in.  The pros make it look so easy.

I wondered how the lifesaver would have reacted if I waded after him into the rip and grabbed him by the arm to "save" him.  Needless to say it would have been an offensive and unwanted intrusion!  Now if he was a drowning swimmer flailing in the rip and I was a lifesaver, it would have been a totally different situation.  There would be nothing more welcome for someone fighting for life in strong current than a strong saviour.  It reminded me how a person often needs to be at a point of desperation for help before they will gladly accept it.

A person must be convinced of their need for salvation before the Gospel has appeal.  It is the Law of God which reveals the sin which damns us and our inability to meet God's righteous standard.  Even that is not enough for some, as we read in Acts 24:25 concerning Paul's witness to Felix:  "Now as he reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was afraid and answered, "Go away for now; when I have a convenient time I will call for you."  Felix trembled at the prospect of judgment, but even his inability to measure up to Christ's standard was not enough for him to humble himself before God or man.  God was calling Felix, but Felix wanted to call Paul when convenient.  A man who believes he is in imminent danger of death now would be ridiculous to ask for a more "convenient" time to be saved when today is the day of salvation.  The sad truth is, deceived and dying men assume they have plenty of time left.  Time usually runs out before such see their need to repent and be born again through faith in Jesus.

In sharing the Gospel with others it is important to do as Paul did - whether people respond in faith or not - and reason (not monologue) concerning righteousness, self-control, and judgment to come.  The righteousness of God is revealed in the Law, our guilt is clear through our lack of self-control, and we are all facing eternal judgment for our sin.  The good seed of God's Word will always bear fruit when it falls upon prepared hearts.  When a man realises his life hangs in the balance it often brings a crucial shift in perspective.  Salvation is never convenient for anyone, but the Gospel is a labour of love both for Christ and His people.  It is the Law and justice of God which reveals God's grace, and the promise of future judgment quickens a man to seek salvation today.

God is Able to Perform

"Persistence pays," people say.  "If at first you don't succeed, try and try again."  The English language is littered with such cliches.  I have found if at first we don't succeed, it is not long before we are looking for a new or different method.  A cricket player will hire a new coach to help his batting, and may even adopt a different stance.  It has also been mused that a definition of insanity is to continue doing the same thing hoping for a different result.  We come closer to the truth when these cliches are combined.  There are fundamental truths which cannot be denied, like a batsman in cricket should bring his bat to the crease.  A batsman cannot bat without it, and a return to basic fundamentals will help him find his way back to top form.

Abram (later called Abraham) had been given a promise by God that through him all nations of the earth would be blessed.  God had promised Abraham his wife Sarai (whom later God named Sarah) would have a son.  The problem was, Sarah had been barren for decades.  I am sure they did what is common for people to do today who struggle to conceive.  Perhaps they ate certain foods or avoided others, choosing particular days to "try" to conceive the baby they desperately wanted.  They did believe God's promise, even when persistence didn't seem to pay the desired dividends.  They tried and tried for years without success.  Finally their patience reached a breaking point in Genesis 16:1-2:  "Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. And she had an Egyptian maidservant whose name was Hagar. ²  So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her." And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai."

It seems Sarah and Abraham put pressure on themselves to conceive and bear a son.  Their actions showed they did not believe God's promise or agree with His timing.  Abraham listened to the suggestion of his wife and sired a son through Hagar rather than remembering God's promise and doing his part in faith.  Lack of apparent fruitfulness led to Abraham venturing beyond his calling as a husband in order to fulfill their dream of having a son.  I believe this same error can be made in Christian ministry.  God has called us to minister, serve, preach the Word, make disciples of Jesus, and to speak the truth in love.  Because fruitfulness is never immediate - or even seems to persist for years - we can be tempted to depart from God's calling and adopt programs or popular approaches to foster this growth.  Worldly methods may produce what some would call "fruit," but cannot bring the fulfillment of the promises God has made to us.

The passage of time provides a great test of our faith and steadfastness in obedience.  Many start well, but there are few who joyfully finish their race with endurance as Paul did.  It is possible that along the way we will begin to drift from complete reliance on God's Word and the Holy Spirit.  We can think increase depends upon our performance rather than God's grace.  Because our patience has been exhausted in desperation we can take matters into our own hands, willing to try anything to bring about the results we hope for.  Galatians 6:7-10 reads, "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. ⁹  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith."

We all have room to mature and grow in faith, taking new ground in obedience to Jesus.  But let us not lose heart because our efforts in ministering unto the LORD do not seem to be having the effect we desire.  Let us heed the command and promise of God, that if we continue to sow the good seed of God's Word we will reap a fruitful harvest.  Do not lose heart, believer!  Good questions to consider are considering stubborn barrenness is:  1) what am I sowing? and 2) where am I sowing?  We can trust God and His promises, for He who promised is able to perform - even when we are not able (Romans 4:12).  Praise the LORD for the fruitfulness which comes to those who persistently trust and obey God.

Weary of Sin or the Way?

“You are wearied in the length of your way; yet you did not say, 'There is no hope.' You have found the life of your hand; therefore you were not grieved.”

Isaiah 57:10

This verse grabbed my attention from our text at Calvary Chapel Sydney this week.  The context of the passage is God’s rebuke of His people for offering sacrifices to idols.  They went to great lengths to embrace the abominable practice of human sacrifice and sensual fertility rituals.  God’s lament was how the people wearied themselves in their sin, but they were not weary of their sin.  Their sin was what they lived for, and it was killing them at the same time.

The people were wearied by the expense of their sin but did not notice the toll it took upon their families, nation, and their ability to worship God.  It reminds me of the response of smokers I worked with when California exponentially increased the cost of cigarettes.  The price increase may have influenced some to quit, but the people I knew were only annoyed their habit would cost them more.  They were already fully invested, for smoking was a part of their lives.  In Isaiah’s day until now people looked to other gods for hope which could not deliver.  They offered grain in hope of better harvests, and fed their own children to the flames in fertility rituals.  Instead of worshipping God with thankful hearts for what He had already provided them, they sacrificed what they had to idols who could not receive their offerings, save, or provide anything.

It is good for us to be brought to a point of hopelessness so we might discover the genuine hope offered all by Jesus.  We do not need to placate demons, nor do we need to bribe idols to keep evil at bay:  the Most High God who created all things is over all.  Jesus has come to break the chains of the wicked one and deliver us from the power of Satan.  As it is written in 1 John 3:8, “He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.”  Jesus said a house divided against itself cannot stand, and Satan is not interested in tearing down with his own hands what he has laboured to build.  Jesus is able to bind the strong man, plunder his house, and in due time cast him into hell.

How important it is to discern the difference between being weary of the way or being weary of our sin!  Many times men have repented for the way, experiencing grief for their great pains and sacrifices without the return they longed for.  This is not repentance for sin but sorrow for self.  There is a sorrow for sin not to be sorry for because it results in repentance (2 Corinthians 7:11).  May God bring all of us to true repentance for sin so we might be finally rid of it and enter into the peace and freedom God provides for all who are born again through the Gospel.

True Loyalty

I may live in Australia, but it didn't take long for the news to reach our shores that the San Diego Chargers intend to relocate to Los Angeles.  For someone born and raised in San Diego, it is a low blow first to lose our beloved NFL franchise, but to leave for a rival town who claims not to even want them adds insult to injury.  The purpose of this post is not to lament this loss, for as we all know the National Football League is a business, and in business the aim is to invest money today with the highest level of future return.  Detailed analysis of how or why this has finally happened cannot change the fact it is happening.  The Chargers are moving, and that is what loyal supporters are processing today.

I am sad for the many loyal Chargers fans who feel betrayed by an organisation which did not extend enough loyalty to them to remain.  Many fans are loyal to their local team, supporting the team unconditionally, regardless of personnel changes or performance on the field, holding out hope for a future year which will bring a championship home to their city - though the trophy would be likely kept on private property.  Because this hope of Chargers' supporters has been dashed, it was reported within half an hour of the announcement fans arrived at the Chargers complex to throw their prized jerseys in a pile and and burn Chargers gear to show their disgust.  For the Chargers organisation to obtain their goal of more, newer, and better, they threw aside the loyalty of people who already had invested all they could.  Football is a game of emotion, and it's no surprise when people are emotional when you take what they love away from them - not to mention making their dreams forfeit as well.

This situation fleshes out a characteristic common to humans, that people give their loyalty to what has no loyalty to them.  We can be loyal to a brand of clothes or tools over another, a company, a sports team, even to a preferred beverage!  Brands and beverages have no favourites but are marketed to make money.  The trouble is not that we are loyal, but it is human nature to be loyal and emotionally attached to the wrong things.  Our loyalty is often misguided.  We can demonstrate more loyalty to a company fueled with corporate greed than family members who love and need us.  But the one thing human beings are most loyal to is self.  A man is loyal to the company because it gives him the opportunity for personal wealth, promotion, and power.  I do not believe a company or a sports team is worthy of unconditional love, yet we love just the same.  We can't help ourselves.

The glorious truth is God loves us, and He is worthy of our utmost loyalty.  The sad reality is we can be loyal to countless things in greater degrees rather than unashamed, complete, true loyalty to God.  It is good to recognise we have chosen bondage through ungodly loyalties, and only Jesus Christ can deliver us from these chains.  He is the One who opens our eyes to see, sets us free, and gives us boundless, eternal horizons.  Enjoy sport, the feeling of accomplishment of a job well done, cheer on your team, and thank God for all He has provided.  At the same time guard your heart, enduring God has your complete loyalty, reverence, and love.  Share God's love generously and graciously, for He loves without measure.  He is the One who brings to pass realities which are greater than temporary championships and even your wildest dreams.

The Good Old Way

I've enjoyed reading through G.K. Chesterton's What's Wrong with the World, and because the nature of humanity has not changed he remains insightful and strangely prophetic.  Chesterton was able, with eloquence and humorous poise, to point out inconsistent folly in his day which has continued unabated until now.  I see no reason why these observations will not remain relevant for another hundred years - or until we start actually learning from our mistakes.

One of the paragraphs I have turned back to a couple of times concerns a modern approach to education, one that was on display during the life of Chesterton and I have also observed myself.  There is a push in an effort to "save the children" to inject new and virtually unproved methods and programs to benefit students.  Recent examples of this are "Common Core" curriculum pushed through in the United States and the ridiculous "Safe Schools" program in Australia.  It seems many schools and governments which fund them have a different vision from the educational system which produced their minds.  It seems like philosophies concerning education can overrule practical reading, writing, and arithmetic, even as the Chairman's "Great Leap Forward" was a self-inflicted catastrophe.  What students write about and how they express themselves seems more important these days than actually knowing how to write and communicate effectively.  The ever-elusive lure of using compulsory education to shape the minds of others into one agreeable with our own is as strong as ever.

Consider the musings of Chesterton on the subject:

"Now most modern freedom is at root fear.  It is not so much that we are too bold to endure rules; it is rather that we are too timid to endure responsibilities.  And Mr. Shaw and such people are especially shrinking from that awful and ancestral responsibility to which our fathers committed us when they took the wild step of becoming men.  I mean the responsibility of affirming the truth of our human tradition and handing it on with a voice of authority, an unshaken voice.  That is the one eternal education; to be sure enough that something is truth that you dare to tell it to a child.  From this high audacious duty the moderns are fleeing on every side; and the only excuse for them is, (of course,) that their modern philosophies are so half-baked and hypothetical that they cannot convince themselves enough to convince even a newborn babe.  This, of course, is connected with the decay of democracy; and is somewhat  of a separate subject...The trouble in too many of our modern schools is that the State, being controlled so specially by the few, allows cranks and experiments to go straight to the schoolroom when they have never passed through the Parliament, the public house, the private house, the church, or the marketplace.  Obviously, it ought to be the oldest things that are taught to the youngest people; the assured and experienced truths that are put first to the baby.  But in a school today the baby has to submit to a system that is younger than himself.  The flopping infant of four actually has more experience, and has weathered the world longer, than the dogma to which he is made to submit...Today we all use Popular Education as meaning education of the people.  I wish I could use it as meaning education by the people."  (Chesterton, G. K. What's Wrong With The World. 1st ed. New York: Dodd, Mead and Co., 1910. Print.)

Nothing in this world is truly new unless God makes it so.  It is not a new way that is needed, but the true way - a hotly debated topic in a subjective society when anyone is bold enough to step near to it.  I have observed this in churches as well as in the education sector, that a fresh approach is needed to reach a new generation.  I am all for freshness as far as fruit and vegetables go, but let us call them what they are.  New wine should be placed in new wineskins, and it should be called new wine.  The modern approach to freshness is to avoid talk of man's sin, judgment, hell, man's need for repentance for salvation, and the blood of Jesus which cleanses us through faith.  This is not fresh; this is folly.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  If we do not believe in the truth of the Bible ourselves, it does no good for us to offer it as one option among many.  There is the saving Gospel, and there is everything else. Jeremiah 6:16 says, "Thus says the LORD: "Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.'"  It is the ancient way which is the good, right way.  You will see many different gaits and a variety of people joyfully travelling this road, and there are few who find it.

Our Secret Spring

This morning I read of the interaction between Abram and Lot after their herdsmen had quarreled together.  So plentiful were their flocks and herds that the land was unable to support them both.  Though Abram was his elder, he graciously declared to Lot in an effort to make and keep peace in Genesis 13:9, "Is not the whole land before you? Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left."  He gave Lot the opportunity to go wherever he wanted, and promised to go in the opposite direction.

Abram was good as his word for Genesis 13:10-11 tells us, "And Lot lifted his eyes and saw all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere (before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt as you go toward Zoar. ¹¹ Then Lot chose for himself all the plain of Jordan, and Lot journeyed east. And they separated from each other."  For a man walking by sight, choosing the well-watered plain was a no-brainer.  Lot went to the well-watered plain which looked like an oasis, and Abram went the opposite way likely across arid, rocky, and hilly land.  Abram (who would later be called Abraham) walked by faith in God, knowing the God who promised would be faithful to establish and preserve him regardless.

It's likely you noticed the foreboding little parenthetical comment in verse 10.  The land which was truly lush and well-watered ended up being destroyed by God when Sodom and Gomorrah were judged.  It became a land of sulfur where nothing grew.  And what became of Abraham?  He wisely chose a source of Living Water when he chose to walk by faith in God alone.  Genesis 13:14-17 says, "And the LORD said to Abram, after Lot had separated from him: "Lift your eyes now and look from the place where you are--northward, southward, eastward, and westward; ¹⁵ for all the land which you see I give to you and your descendants forever. ¹⁶ And I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth; so that if a man could number the dust of the earth, then your descendants also could be numbered. ¹⁷ Arise, walk in the land through its length and its width, for I give it to you."  Abraham trusted God, and God gave him great promises which extended to his many descendants.

Abraham built altars unto the LORD, and he also dug wells.  Though many of these after the death of Abraham were filled with earth by the Philistines, Abraham's son Isaac went back and dug them again (Genesis 26:15).  Isn't it thought provoking, that Lot chose the attractive, well-watered plain which was later uninhabitable, yet Abraham had an enduring legacy because God keeps His promises?  Abraham found a source of Living Water which was unseen by men, even as the refreshing water which his men discovered as they dug wells to water Abraham's flocks.  Beersheba was a place where Abraham claimed a well and there the LORD met with Abraham's son Isaac in Genesis 26:24-25:  "And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. I will bless you and multiply your descendants for My servant Abraham's sake." ²⁵ So he built an altar there and called on the name of the LORD, and he pitched his tent there; and there Isaac's servants dug a well."

This passage teaches us when we choose God's way - the way of trust and faith in God - He will supply our needs according to His promise.  God is more trustworthy than man's perceptions of the direction which is best for our lives to head.  Walking by sight caused Lot to go to a place which would be severely judged for sin and he would lose much of his precious herds he sought to provide for.  We do not read of him building altars but a sordid tale of his daughters plying him with alcohol to rape him.  Abraham went God's way into the arid land of Canaan and not one word of God's promise failed, a promise which has been kept to this day and will continue forever!  How true are the words of our Saviour Jesus Christ who said the man who tries to save his life will lose it, but the man who loses his life for God's sake will find it.  Jesus provides a spring of Living Water through the Holy Spirit for all who trust in Him!

No Coincidence

During the holidays it is easy to stay up a little later at night and rise a little later in the morning.  I set an alarm on my phone to ensure I do rise at an hour before the house is awake and bustling.  Eliminating these potential distractions is a big help to a sustained and focused time of prayer with God.  The scripture says a man's heart devises his way, but the LORD directs his steps (Prov. 16:9).  One way this works out daily is I set the alarm, but God wakes me up when He wants. :)

Today He woke me minutes before my alarm was to sound, and this is always lovely.  Whenever this happens I am convinced this is no coincidence, for my times are in God's hands.  After I knelt in my customary place it was a sweet time of thinking about God and affirming my appreciation for Him.  Time during prayer can rush by or feel like time stands still as a soul draws near to his Creator.  At one point I opened my eyes and noticed a flash of silver near my knee.  It was a sewing pin!  I was so grateful God caused me to notice the potential hazard and pushed it back into the classic tomato pincushion.

If I did not believe in the existence or providence of God, I could have taken credit for finding the pin myself, even as I could have been proud of my well-tuned body clock.  Yet as a follower of Jesus, it was profoundly satisfying to give all credit to where credit is due:  to the God who Created me, sustains my life in His hands, and protects me from hidden dangers.  Even if the pin pierced my knee, I could maintain confidence in my great God who allows pain.  When all is well it is quite easy to "trust" God, but it is the painful circumstances which provide a clearer indication of our genuine faith and loyalty.  Job refused to curse God and die despite the pains God sovereignty allowed, and God remains praiseworthy in times of plenty and loss, in peace and pain.

Haters of God accuse Him of great evils, but as one who knows God through divine revelation it is clear wickedness has its origin and rabid continuation in man.  Many see the spectre of God as severe, brutal, arbitrary, and delighting in the pain of others, but this reveals they are not able to see clearly.  They do not know God.  Martyrs have intentionally embraced the flames of the stake, knelt without resistance before claws and teeth of wild beasts, willingly faced imprisonment, torture, and the loss of all things rather than deny their good and glorious God.  People were offered life if they would only recant, but they wisely realised their lives were forfeit forever if they did recant.  We follow the God-Man who said on the cross, "Into your hands I commit My Spirit," Jesus Christ who rose from the dead glorified forever.  He is the Resurrection and the Life, and the reality of His life and comforts is more real than burning flame, the crushing of bones, being nailed to a cross, or being sawn in two.

We do not need to suffer as martyrs to prove our resolve, but are called to daily deny ourselves, take up our cross in obedience to Jesus, and follow Him wherever He leads.  Christianity is a continual laying down of a life which urges us to take matters into our own hands again.  God's providence, protection, and even pain He allows are not coincidences but opportunities to thank and trust God more than ever.  God uses wealth and lack to test us, and we can rejoice in our God in every season.  It is written in 1 Peter 1:6-9:  "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, ⁸ whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, ⁹ receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls."

Off the Rails

It is newsworthy when a train derails, and always bad news.  No train goes "off the rails" without incredible damage due to the sheer size and weight of the train.  With immense force linked carriages pile into one another, creating a twisted pile of metal carnage.  A train which leaves the track whilst transporting people is a greater catastrophe still.  The aftermath is a nightmare for all involved.

Sometimes the lives of people have been compared to a train wreck, a personal disaster which causes people to stare and wonder in amazement.  A life which seemed to be going along smoothly to a profitable destination suddenly veered off course possibly due to bad choices.  Complications and severe consequences can quickly escalate out of control.  We say such a person has gone "off the rails."  A life which was once promising can be stopped in its tracks through drugs, alcohol, and debt.  There are undoubtedly many factors which lead to the derailment of a train, and there are a myriad of potential dangers to a healthy, fruitful, and prosperous life.

When we ask ourselves how someone with such positive potential - or really with so much to lose - could go "off the rails," it is important to recognise life for us is not like a train on a rail which can only go forward, reverse or stop.  A train is a machine at the mercy of the engineer, the design and quality construction of the track, and the arbitrary schedules of men.  It has no will of its own like a man does.  A man is more like a pioneer, exploring a wide world on foot and trying to find a place for himself to build a life which best meets his ideal.  Human beings could only be "off the rails" if they were first on a rail, and the only path a man is on from birth is a scenic descent to hell.  This is one area where man has no choice, for sin is master and ruler over us all from the womb.  Ultimately eternity in hell is the place where all will go, having fallen short of God's righteousness.

Those who recognise their eternal end afar off and repent, seeking salvation through trust in Jesus, will be delivered from this fiery destruction.  A train is rightly restricted to a track, but Jesus Christ has brought freedom, forgiveness, and deliverance for all who trust in Him.  Going "off the rails" in this sense is the best thing ever!  AC/DC sung a song about heading down a highway to hell, a "season ticket on a one-way ride." and people happily sing along.  Ozzy Osbourne has long sung of a crazy train he's riding, saying "I'm living with something that just isn't fair."  He expresses resentment for the hand he has been dealt, wounds that never seem to heal.  On the Day of Judgment, all whose names are not written in the Book of Life will receive what is fair, for the wages of sin is death.  But by the grace of God we can turn around and avoid our deadly destination, and Jesus will save us from what we deserve by trusting in Him.

I don't know about you, but I will never use the phrase "off the rails" the same way again!  I am eternally grateful for the freedom and the new life I have realised through Jesus and the glorious future which awaits all those who love Him.

The Aerated Heart

We have been experiencing summer in full swing in Sydney, and areas of our lawn without shade have begun to dry out.  Though the Sir Walter turf is very hardy, additional water is needed at times to keep it green and growing.  It took me mowing and edging to notice the dusty and dry condition of the lawn.  It's funny, isn't it?  I look across our green lawn every day, but it isn't until I tend to it that I notice areas of neglect which escaped notice.  Yesterday I spent a good half-hour watering the lawn and offering my skin to thirsty mosquitoes (I found this out later).  The soil was so dry it took a while before the water penetrated the surface.  A large portion of the turf slopes down to the street so it was necessary to water above the area I wanted to soak because of the water runoff.  Thirsty and dry as the soil was, it was like it was incapable to drink the water in.

As I stood watering, it occurred to me dryness is one of the reasons soil is aerated from time to time.  Sun-hardened soil and roots packed tightly together do not allow water or fertiliser to adequately penetrate.  To aerate a machine with sharp teeth pulls plugs out of the soil, and this stimulates growth by ensuring water and nutrients are able to soak in beneath the surface.  As Jesus compared the condition of human hearts into various soil types in the Parable of the Sower, this sun-baked ground was also instructive to me.  Dry and thirsty souls are often incapable of receiving the Living Water God supplies through the Holy Spirit.  God allows words and situations to cut us deep like the sharp teeth of an aerator so we will be receptive to His truth.  He allows our hearts to be broken so He can graciously heal them.

Pain is an impetus to prayer.  For those who have the Holy Spirit within us, pain breaks the fallow ground of our hearts and moves us to offer petitions, requests, and praise to God we wouldn't be mindful of otherwise.  I find physical pain wakes me up and helps me rise in the mornings for prayer when I might be tempted to remain in bed for a few more minutes.  When we perceive danger to ourselves or others we pray fervently and more diligently.  All the while God rains His grace, love, and truth upon our hearts, stirring us to consider Him in our pains.  God breaks us to restore and save.  Financial ruin, marital woes, work and family conflicts have worked salvation for many who have suffered such things, for it is often a heart painfully aerated by trials which is most receptive to God and spiritually refreshed in the end.  The pierced heart is a soft one, divinely prepared for fresh growth.

Friend, are you dry?  Perhaps you haven't invited the LORD to search your heart for a while.  God invites you to come to Him as it written in Isaiah 55:1, "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."  We are perpetually thirsty, but Jesus is able to satisfy what this world cannot.  He said to a Samaritan woman in John 4:13-14, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."  He is our Source; He is our life.  Those who are thirsty need never be thirsty again, for Jesus provides eternal life.