Life is All About God

One of the biggest challenges we face in following Jesus is shifting our focus off self and to God.  We are naturally the central figure in every situation because we view life from our own eyes.  If we are having a "good" day we are happy; if our expectations have been dashed we feel down.  This propensity to colour reality according to our own feelings or circumstances is done without a thought.  As we follow Christ we don't often recognise it, but life is pretty much all about me.  Let me explain what I mean.

If I find myself in a trial, I might imagine God "must be trying to teach me something."  Therefore it falls to me to learn the lesson quickly so the painful ordeal can be brought to an end, and this assumes I am capable of teaching myself by concerted effort.  This personal struggle often results in frustration and disillusionment because we think ourselves capable of doing God's work ourselves and we find ourselves in the dark.  Our minds become so clogged with judgments and doubts we don't know what to do.  When we are sick we wonder if we have sinned in some way or are under spiritual attack.  Again, we remain the central figure in our drama.  We perceive we are being negatively affected, so it falls to us to figure it all out, do something, or stop doing something to end the madness.  Does this sound familiar?

Last night I was reading from the book of Job and I was struck at the depths of his suffering.  Who but Jesus Christ suffered as this man, and he did not even have the comfort of the scriptures or the promise of the Holy Spirit we have today!  He was an upright man who feared God, and in the midst of great loss, spiritual attack, physical pain, and emotional torment he did not waver in his belief.  But he asked probing questions about the nature of his suffering and demanded an explanation from anyone to justify it.  He defended himself from friends who accused him, falsely asserting his sin was the reason for his tragic circumstances.  In his suffering, Job was central:  he lamented the day of his birth, wished he had died in the womb, and that he had never lived to see such dark days.  He was the main subject in his suffering as he scraped his boils with a shard of pottery.

In the end, however, Job's suffering had very little to do about Job:  it was an opportunity for God to reveal Himself to Job, to His friends, and to us.  Instead of answering Job's questions with dot-point explanations, God asked Job many questions of His own.  This divine revelation made all of Job's pains, questions, and personal wranglings insignificant.  God ensured the end of Job was twice as blessed as the beginning - not because Job "learned the lesson" - but because God is compassionate and merciful.  See what insight is brought to the subject in James 5:10-11:  "My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. ¹¹ Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord--that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful."  Job persevered in faith, but it was never about Job at all.  The end of Job was intended to reveal the compassion and mercy of God given to all who keep trusting God despite pain.  Job is a major player in the book of Job, but it is a book which primarily illustrates the compassion and mercy of God.

What a wondrous revelation, that it does not fall to us to earn God's approval or blessing.  We learn slow but God is patient and compassionate.  God is to remain our central focus as we patiently trust in Him.  Some might ask, "Why would a compassionate or merciful God allow anyone to suffer so?"  God allows suffering to work for our good and the salvation of others.  Consider the suffering of Jesus Christ on the cross and the salvation which has come to countless sinners.  The life of Job provides tangible proof of God's sovereign power, gracious blessing, compassion, and glorious rewards for all who endure not only in this life, but in the one to come.  I have been profoundly blessed by Job and how God dealt with him, and may it be God would be so glorified through His dealings with me.  In Christ our lives are God's own, having purchased us with the blood of Jesus.  Life isn't about you or me but all about Him!  

Reading and Heeding

A conversation today reminded me of an eye-opening experience I had as a youth.  In our Jr. High Sunday School class, we were encouraged to read our Bibles every day and bring them to church on Sundays.  Those who did so would be rewarded by a night out to Souplantation - a real treat.  I already aimed to read the Bible every day and so going out for a special meal was a free bonus I wouldn't pass up.  All you can eat for a 13-year-old?  It was a dream come true!

I remember there was one regular student who brought her Bible to class as often as me and (due to the general state of carelessness concerning spiritual things among my peers) I was impressed with this display of faithfulness.  Then one day her parents gave me a ride.  Nothing could have prepared me for what I saw in the back of the car:  there was her Bible lying on the seat, ready and waiting for church on Sunday!  I honestly think my eyes widened and my mouth fell open a little.  Judgmental me felt like the veil had been pulled back to expose a cheat and a fraud, and I was quite shocked and disappointed at the same time.

Now it is possible the other student had two Bibles:  one for the car/church, and the other to read at home.  It is also possible the Bible was left behind only once, though upon inspection that Bible was obvious faded from the sun.  Regardless, it is instructive for personal application:  is your Bible being used for its intended purpose, being read with an aim to hear the word of the LORD?  Would it have more practical use as a paperweight or doorstop than a means of seeking God's wisdom?  And if we are reading the Bible, are we seeking to heed it and put it into practice?  Or is my reading a means of ticking off boxes and gathering up points I hope God redeems when I find myself in strife?

What a treasure we have in the Bible, and God's Word shouldn't gather dust.  No matter how much we think we know, all who know God would readily agree He knows infinitely more than us.  In reading His Word let us seek more than counsel alone but aim to discover God Himself in those divinely-inspired pages.  What truth will God speak to you today?  How about opening the Word and finding out?

Working with Jesus

"You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. ⁴ No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. ⁵ And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶ The hard-working farmer must be first to partake of the crops." 

2 Timothy 2:3-6

Last night at Calvary Chapel Sydney our group (Tribe) talked about Paul's exhortation to Timothy.  He used three different examples to instruct and encourage Timothy at the same time.

Soldiers on the front lines suffer many privations and cannot enjoy the presence of family or the comforts of home.  A soldier engages in warfare will not be looking for investment properties, buying stocks, or seeking to marry a wife.  He must remain vigilant, for his life and those he fights alongside are always at risk.  A soldier is trained to follow orders, and it is in his best interest to find favour in the eyes of his commanding officer.  In days past a man fought for a king who could bestow riches and honour:  what more could a man want?

Competitors in the Olympics games were people dedicated to mastery of their discipline.  Today people train from their childhood to hone their skills for the chance of obtaining a gold medal and global recognition as the best in the world.  The main point Paul makes is a participant must compete according to the rules to win the prize.  Each game or competition has specific rules which must be followed.  A false-start leads to disqualification, and the runners must follow the set course.  Only those who compete according to the rules can be crowned.

The third example is that of a "hard-working farmer."  Farming requires long days ploughing, planting, irrigating, harvesting, and preparing crops for market.  It means rising long before the sunrise, battling cold, heat, and insects, and the maintenance of fences and equipment.  Severe frost could mean the loss of crops, and drought can ruin the chance of a profitable growing season.   The farmer must trust the good seed will eventually sprout and bear fruit, even when nothing on the surface seems to be happening.  After hard labour and perseverance, the farmer is the one who receives the firstfruits.

In applying this to the Christian walk, we are like the soldiers who have voluntarily enlisted to serve Christ as King.  We must be willing and prepared to endure hardships, and in doing so we will please God.  Instead of being entangled with the affairs of life, we must make our commitment to God our chief priority.  In one sense we are also like the Olympic athlete, recognising God has laid a course before each of us to run.  If we desire to receive a full reward, we must run in obedience to God's Word.  Those who continue steadfast to the end will receive rewards and a crown of glory.  Finally, we are compared to hard-working farmers who are the first to partake of the crops.  We are to sow the good seed of God's Word with the promise of abundant life to be enjoyed now and for all eternity.

All we are and all we do can be redeemed for God's glory and eternal rewards.  Jesus is a triumphant warrior, a champion of salvation and righteousness, and a hard-working sower of God's Word and Saviour of souls.  We can follow His example and receive a full reward:  we can please our God who has enlisted us; we can compete and win the prize; and our hard work will bring increase for the kingdom of God we will partake of.  Exciting times, walking and working with Jesus!

Out of the Depths

"Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD; ² Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications. ³ If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. ⁵  I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope."

Psalm 130:1-5

Often we must be taken to our lowest point before we will look up and cry out to God in earnest.  It may be we have prayed to God many times, but there is desperation and consciousness of our personal need in the depths.  We do not like to see anyone down or low, nor do we delight in being cast down ourselves, but being low may not be low enough.  We should not labour moved by pity to hinder anyone from reaching rock bottom by trying to fix their circumstances, for in the depths is the exact place where God works to deliver and change people for good.

Jonah is a man who cried to God out of the depths.  After God called and commanded him to preach in Nineveh, Jonah refused and boarded a ship headed in the opposite direction.  God prepared a powerful storm which tossed the ship with wind and waves.  While the crew panicked and called all hands on deck, Jonah initially remained asleep in the bottom of the ship.  He was at the bottom of the ship, but he needed to be brought lower.  He did not cry out to God in the storm because he had been sleeping through it!  Jonah instructed the crew to throw him overboard, for he perceived his disobedience was the cause of the storm.  It is possible Jonah expected to die, and this would have been easier than what God prepared for him.

God prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah, and he remained alive in the belly of the beast for three days.  After three miserable days beyond reckoning, Jonah found himself at his lowest point.  Only then did he cry out for God's attention and intervention.  Jonah 2:2-7 reads, "And he said: "I cried out to the LORD because of my affliction, and He answered me. Out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and You heard my voice. ³ For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the floods surrounded me; all Your billows and Your waves passed over me. ⁴ Then I said, 'I have been cast out of Your sight; yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.' ⁵ The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; weeds were wrapped around my head. ⁶ I went down to the moorings of the mountains; the earth with its bars closed behind me forever; yet You have brought up my life from the pit, O LORD, my God. ⁷ When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the LORD; and my prayer went up to You, into Your holy temple."

It was by reason of his affliction Jonah cried out to the God he at one time fled from.  He had been brought down to hell, down in the cold crushing depths of the sea - and it was there he discovered he was heard by God.  Jonah had finally been brought to the breaking point by extraordinary circumstances, and it released the prayer for deliverance God delighted in and was prepared to answer.  No one likes the dark depths, but even in those seemingly God-forsaken places His light shines brightly for those looking for Him.  Sometimes we are truly incapable of seeing anything, like Jonah in the belly of the great fish.  But we, like Jonah, can cry out to God.  A tiny baby which cannot express himself in speech can cry, and when we direct those cries to God He will hear us based upon the promises of His Word.  Crying for ourselves does nothing, but God is moved when we cry out to Him in faith.

So if you find yourself at the breaking point, do not stop on the threshold of brokenness.  Forfeit your pride and self-pity and all backup options and throw yourself on the mercy of our great God who hears, forgives, and saves.  Then do as Jonah did, obediently doing the very thing God told you to do at the beginning without resistance.  The depths are not fun but they can be most fruitful.  Turn your eyes away from the impossibilities, away from self, and look again to God in His sovereign throne.  Those who trust in Him will never be put to shame.