God Dwells Among Us

"I will dwell among the children of Israel and will be their God. ⁴⁶ And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them. I am the LORD their God."

Exodus 29:45-46

The children of Israel were slaves in Egypt, and God promised Moses His people would be set free.  He tasked Moses to deliver a message to Pharaoh, to let His people go to serve Him and offer sacrifices a three-day journey into the wilderness.  It seems as long as they served Pharaoh baking bricks and building his cities they could not properly serve God.  Serving God is an exclusive task for Jesus said, "No man can serve two masters."

God would bring His people out with a mighty hand and show His wondrous power to the world through great plagues.  Though Egypt was destroyed, God preserved His people in their land.  He spared His people the afflictions visited upon the unbelieving oppressors.  God's intent was to dwell among His people, but it was not fitting for Him to dwell among His people in an idolatrous nation.  He would birth the Jewish nation out of bondage in Egypt and then dwell among them.  He said, "And they shall know that I am the LORD their God, who brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that I may dwell among them."

God knew and called His people unto Himself, and brought them out of Egypt so He might dwell among them.  The God who created the universe desired to dwell among people.  He wanted to be central in the lives of those He loved.  I find it remarkable God would choose to dwell in a tent in the midst of a stiff-necked people.  I find it even more unfathomable how God now has extended salvation to whosoever will come to Him in faith.  He desires to dwell within each of us.  That we would be filled with the presence of the Living God is beyond comprehension yet is realised through faith in Jesus Christ.  The children of Israel were not forced by God to leave Egypt, and no one is forced to leave a life of bondage to sin.  But if we desire fellowship with God leaving the old life marked by sin is necessary.

I am reminded of Paul's strong words in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18:  "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵ And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶ And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people." ¹⁷ Therefore "Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you." ¹⁸ "I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty."  Jesus says we cannot serve God and money, and there are countless things which vie for mastery over us.  If we want fellowship with God we cannot embrace lawlessness, walk in darkness, or join ourselves with unbelievers.  If we will have God as our Father, then we must be obedient and loyal to Him.

In coming to God we are not moving from the dungeon to a chain-gang:  we go from bondage to joyful freedom.  We do not "give up" anything to leave Egypt, so to speak, but we only gain:  where our LORD is and Good Shepherd for our souls we lack no good thing.  It is true the Israelites often looked back to the food of Egypt with longing (conveniently forgetting the hard labour which caused them to cry out to God in the first place) as they were led by God through the wilderness, but remember they were stricken with unbelief.  This selective memory can affect us as well, causing us to lose sight of all we have in God, His promises, and presence.  Let us value God's love and presence over all, for in Him is life, light, and liberty for all who believe.

Making His Mark

There is a longing in every person for significance, to make a lasting impression in the world.  No matter how much effort we put towards this end, however, will ensure success.  Absalom wanted to be remembered so he built a tomb which stands to this day, but it is an testament of his failure because he never was buried in it.  After he was killed for his villainy he was dumped in an unmarked grave.  Recently a surgeon was caught burning his initials into the liver of his patients - seriously.  Far more common is when people etch their names or press their palms into wet concrete, but even well-formed slabs aren't permanent.  Monuments, plaques, and tombs carry memories precious to some which fade over time.  It is as the Bible says:  our lives are as a breath, like vapour which vanishes without a trace.

As I walked around the oval during cricket training yesterday, I noticed a bare patch of silty dirt surrounded by turf.  This dirt had many impressions upon it:  I recognised the tyre treads of a truck, a bicycle, and and few shoe prints.  With a little wind, rain, or others trampling the surface these marks will be erased forever without memory.  I started thinking about how footprints in a sandy beach are noticeable at first but in moments begin to fade.  How many sand castles have been carefully formed which later were flattened by waves!  The great holes in the beach we dug as children have effortlessly been filled in over time, and not one person can tell exactly where (or why) they were dug.  This is the vanity King Solomon talked about, great effort and accomplishments with the passage of time seem meaningless.

While I pondered these things the question Jesus asked rang in my mind:  "What does it profit a man to gain the world and lose his own soul?"  Most people approach life without thinking about what happens after our life on earth is finished and therefore do not invest in what will endure.  Money, gold, silver, and Bitcoin all have their limitations and we cannot take what we acquire with with us.  Like any legacy we leave, it will be left for others to use, maintain, or waste.  The words Jesus said strike at the heart, for we all know this life on earth with someday end - the world itself has a limited life span.  We are all using borrowed money and a gift of time we have no idea when it will be rescinded.  The clock is winding down, and we have not the power to wind it again.  In choosing Christ we only have gain, though perhaps not as the world measures it.  But the gain the world is after will all perish;  it will all fade, be forgotten, and worthless to us when we are gone.

We all want to make our mark on the world, but sin has made permanent marks on us.  Not one of us measures up to God's standard of righteousness and our souls are doomed to destruction in hell forever.  But God has made a way of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus Christ through faith in Him and supplies the everlasting richness of God's kingdom.  Psalm 130:3-4 says, "If You, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? ⁴ But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared."  How glorious it is to be forgiven, to have our souls saved and cleansed forever!  This forgiveness can be obtained without money but through faith in Jesus and the precious blood of Jesus Christ shed on Calvary.  He has imputed His righteousness to each one who is born again through faith, and this mark is a permanent one.  We are sealed with the Holy Spirit and are guaranteed to live forever.  Better than making a mark in this world is when God puts His mark on us, claiming us as His very own.

God Is Gracious

"If you ever take your neighbour's garment as a pledge, you shall return it to him before the sun goes down. ²⁷ For that is his only covering, it is his garment for his skin. What will he sleep in? And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious."

Exodus 22:26-27

God cares about people, even the poor who lack basic necessities.  As a kid when I went to the neighbourhood recreation centre to give them an identification card or my wallet as collateral to play Foosball, table tennis, or pool.  Once I returned the supplies to the attendant my property was returned to me.  A similar method was used in ancient times, where people would give a loan of money and hold their cloak as collateral.  God placed a stipulation that if a garment was taken as a pledge to secure payment on a loan, by law it was to be returned "before the sun goes down."  This would afford him warmth on a cold night.

The last part of the verse grabbed me:  "And it will be that when he cries to Me, I will hear, for I am gracious."  God is a gracious God, having mercy and compassion on poor debtors.  He does not chide such a one for their poverty, the decision to take out a loan, or say of the shivering man, "Serves him right!"  God is gracious, a phenomenal characteristic and remarkably rare for a king (or anyone else under the sun, for that matter).  Kings typically reward loyalty and are harsh against any who rebel against them.  Kings who intend to keep their thrones do not promote those who have not been absolutely trustworthy in the past.  Their allies are the wealthy, the ones upon whom they have bestowed titles and lands - not the shivering poor crying at night.

When we come to God in our poverty, crying out to Him in sorrow, sadness, or because of injustice God will hear because He is gracious.  In the darkness when no one sees, in the cold we cannot escape, we can enter into the presence of the Almighty God who is KING OF KINGS.  His grace is seen by the audience He has freely given us and in taking action for our good.  We are all sinners before God and unworthy of His care, but all who trust in Jesus Christ have been redeemed, adopted as children, and exalted to be co-heirs with Jesus Christ.  That we could be grafted into the body of Christ as a viable part through whom God desires to work!  Having received such grace, let us also be gracious as our heavenly Father is to all who cry out to Him.

The Green Room Experience

A "green room" is defined as "a room in a theatre or studio in which performers can relax when they are not performing."  It is a place to hang out and rest with comforts and amenities provided.  Before the show there is a palpable sense of excitement complete with some nerves.  For musicians and actors it is the final moment before displaying the culmination of hard work to do the thing they have worked towards their entire lives.  I have met with people to pray before a church service in a "green room" of sorts, and there was no dread in the air but expectancy God would work and whatever God does is amazing.

For Christians, death beds are similar to a green room.  Instead of sitting on plush or comfortable furniture, those preparing to depart this world lie upon stark hospital beds.  These rooms are not located adjacent a world-famous auditorium but in living rooms, trailers, hospice and aged-care facilities.  There is no murmuring of the adoring fans gathering in the hall but the whirr and beeping of medical equipment and the hushed tones of a visitor or two.  Instead of rehearsing lines or riffs scripture is read aloud, prayers are offered, and tears are shed.  There is no set hour for departure from this spiritual green room, but at the hour only known by God the graduation to glory occurs in an instant.

I remember visiting my Grandad after he had a stroke and seeing a friend in intensive care who was in an induced coma after contracting flesh-eating bacteria.  I held my aunt's hand as she drifted out of consciousness in her living room and sang songs around my Grandmother before her passing surrounded by family.  In these largely quiet and always sacred moments these dear souls had little physical movement besides the drawing of breath, but I am convinced they eagerly awaited release from the body to enter into the joy of the LORD.  In my mind's eye I seem them sitting next to me as I spend a few last moments looking at their tired bodies, and they are on the edge of their seat ready to be ushered by angels into God's presence.

Does the song of your heart echo the words of the Johnny Cash song?  "Let us labour for the Master from the dawn till setting sun, let us talk of all His wondrous love and care, then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done, and the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there."  The only way any of us will leave this earthly green room and enter the presence of the LORD is by faith in Jesus Christ.  No one earns the right to be a child of God by their own efforts, and there is no curtain call for applause from men.  At the appointed time we will all be freed from the husk of these failing bodies and into heaven, or be shackled and cast into outer darkness and eternal torment.  For those dead in sins it is like awaiting a second death, but the "green room" experience is one of exhilaration because Christians were born again for the moment to be called up on stage for life everlasting.

Be Mine!

It was customary for me in primary school to hand out "Valentine's Day" cards with messages that read "Be Mine" or to give out boxes of chalky Sweethearts candies with each classmate's name written on them.  It was a simple tradition which did not lead to romantic interest (as far as I know).  It was the one time an easy opportunity was given to share feelings about someone, though cards or candy were brought for all.  In my youth the exchange of Valentines was polite and innocent, without any promises of commitment.

God's love and grace is not fickle like the hearts of people who have a crush on someone one week and then affections can shift dramatically.  God offers His favour and blessing to anyone who will have Him.  In a way God asks every person, "Will you be mine?"  All who consent to this relationship can count on the enduring love and the complete commitment of God forever.  When I handed our Valentine's Day cards I did so only for my classmates, but Jesus has come and invited all people to follow Him - not only as servants but as friends.  God is not desperate for attention or needy, as if He needed anyone to validate or appreciate His existence, but because He truly loves.  Love is never content to remain at a distance but seeks unity and intimacy.  This love is not based in sexual desire or selfish control.  Having demonstrated God's love through dying on the cross, our response to Christ's love is the voluntary yielding of our will in recognition of who God is and all He has done - as a child before a loving parent.

This equal opportunity for God's favour was shown to the kings of Israel.  After the people demanded a king, God chose Saul.  He was a handsome, humble, a man head and shoulders taller than all others.  David is described as a "man after God's own heart" whom God brought out of the sheepfold and set him on the throne of Israel.  God then established the throne of Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived.  Finally (for the sake of this example), God revealed to the hard-working Jeroboam He would make him king over 10 tribes of Israel.  What God promised to Saul, David, and Solomon He promised similarly to Jeroboam in 1 Kings 11:38:  "Then it shall be, if you heed all that I command you, walk in My ways, and do what is right in My sight, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as My servant David did, then I will be with you and build for you an enduring house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you."  If Jeroboam would be God's man, God would be with him and establish him.  But if Jeroboam rejected the LORD as Saul and Solomon in their later years, God would strip the kingdom from him and his house.

God made a conditional promise to all of these kings, and only David - the man after God's own heart - continued following God faithfully.  This shows us a royal bearing, great wisdom, and an industrious work ethic are not enough to keep our hearts from wandering from God.  We must have transformed hearts after God's own through the power of the Holy Spirit to keep walking in God's ways, giving honour and glory to Him as is His just due.  That is the prime distinction between David and the other three first mentioned:  the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit of God was with David from his anointing by Samuel until the end of his days.  This blessing and promise of the Father is not for kings or Jews only but even to all people from every nation under heaven.  When God says "Be Mine!" and you gladly submit to this, He will be yours as long as you will have Him.  Praise the LORD, for He delights to abide in us forever!

The Home of the Brave

I was born and raised in the United States, the "land of the free and the home of the brave."  Freedom has been one of the great hallmarks celebrated by many in American culture:  freedom of speech, freedom to bear arms, freedom to assemble, freedom of religion, and more lately freedom for gays to marry.  A potential landmark case is being heard in the U.S. Supreme Court which seemingly pits religious freedom against discrimination.  A baker who declined to make a cake for a same-sex wedding in Colorado ran afoul of State law and appealed his case to the Supreme Court.

I remember as a kid reading signs on the doors and windows of restaurants which said, "No shirt, no shoes, no service!"  It makes sense if an entrepreneur decides to own and run a restaurant which serves the public, it is their rightful place - ultimately for the good or bad of the business - to place restrictions on the conditions of service.  A CNN article says the baker also refused to make Halloween cakes, but apparently he was not taken to court over it.  The Supreme Court now is tasked to weigh the right of religious freedom against a "license to discriminate," as an ABC article puts it.  A quote from the ACLU lawyer concluded the article:  "I worry about what the world looks like if the bakery prevails."  I do not worry, and I hold the opposite view.  What will America look like when an entrepreneur is only free to say yes?  What kind of warped freedom is this?

One thing is for certain:  if the baker does not prevail, America can no longer claim to be the land of the free.  It is truly said freedom is never free.  But there are many who are brave to stand up for what they believe to be true.  Their bravery, as this courageous baker who has paid dearly for his refusal to earn money by compromising his principles, will continue to be on display in America and across the world where the tyranny against God reveals itself.  The Supreme Court contrary to God's Law made a ruling to legalise same-sex marriage in America, and now the same Court may decide a man cannot legally refuse to perform a service in the public sphere.  This is not surprising or shocking.  This is the world we live in, when governments and courts legislate godless morality and those who fear God must make the brave choice.

I commend this baker and many like him who have chosen to honour God at a high personal cost.  His brave approach to this ongoing saga - which will not end when the gavel comes down - embodies the courageous and fearless heart which truly fears God.  It is admirable for a man to stand for what he believes even when he stands to lose much he has laboured for, knowing his future is safe in God's hands.  By God's grace I too am prepared to lovingly stand for my Saviour.  This freedom and power afforded us in Christ no government, court, or legislation can take from us.  When we freely stand up for God there is none who can stand against us.  Even in the face of death, the God who abides in us empowers us to be brave and strong.  Like William Wallace said in the movie "Braveheart," "They may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom."

A Proverb and Byword

The lives of people we observe are like books which instruct the wise.  They provide examples of what to do and what not to do.  In this case even a "bad" example can be a useful one.  The failures of others and the painful consequences are warnings to all who will take heed.  Because God loves us, He issues specific warnings so we will know right from wrong and the certain awful results of sin.  Every man must decide for himself if he will submit to God's Word in obedience or not.

God provided a warning to King Solomon after the temple was built in Jerusalem.  God answered Solomon's prayer to make the Temple His house of sacrifice, a holy place sanctified by God's presence.  Though God graciously granted this request, God also issued a warning Solomon and all would do well to heed.  With the knowledge God has made born-again Christians the temple of the Holy Spirit, consider the implications of this warning in 2 Chronicles 7:19-20:  "But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, ²⁰ then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples."  After Solomon and others turned to idolatry, God did exactly as He said He would do.  The Temple was pulled down and the rubble burnt.  And He has done this to the lives of the undiscerning many times since.

There is no shortage of people who began following Jesus faithfully but turned aside.  Over the years there have been many prominent pastors and Christians whose private failings were publicised.  The shame of scandal is not only reserved for pastors or televangelists but shame is truly the result for every Christian who turns away from the LORD, sinning against the One they claim to fear and love.  My, how unbelievers delight to see others fall!  I am sure you could rattle off a few notable Christians who fell into sins like greed, lust, deceit or pride and are no longer fit for ministry.  They were as the lights in Shiloh which burned bright and hot for a season when the Tabernacle housed the Ark of the Covenant, but God caused them to be extinguished because of sin.  It is not our role to judge them but as we pass by anyone can see there are only burnt stones where once a ministry flourished.

No one wants to be a "proverb and a byword."  A proverb in this sense is a simile, kind of like a fable with a true moral everyone should take to heart.  Sodom became a proverb, a permanent illustration of God's judgment and the results of sin.  A "byword" is a "taunt or gibe."  It is something which gives others ammunition to mock and ridicule, like one who has fallen in the mud everyone sees, has a bit of a laugh at, and perhaps even kicks them for good measure.  History reveals there are some who remain a proverb and byword, and there are some God graciously delivers from such an end.  Pastors who fell in sin have been restored, perhaps not to their former glory as with the second Temple compared to Solomon's Temple, but restored before God and man nevertheless.

The moral of the story?  Let us not turn away from God and forsake His statues and commandments.  The lure of self and idolatry for every believer are very real, and like the wise Solomon we will at times fail. Examining ourselves according to God's standard in His Word is crucial, and repentance is imperative.  Is there a one among us who is content for God to cast us out of His sight?  When confronted by the words of the prophet Samuel the High Priest Eli was resigned rather than repentant.  May our lives be a testimony of the grace, goodness, and provision of God rather than what not to do - a proverb and byword which dishonours our glorious God.

God's Treasures

When I was a kid I had a wooden box in which I stashed my "treasures."  The objects placed in the box had no resale value but for some reason I liked to collect them.  In the box were keys I had found, stickers with my name on them, ticket stubs to baseball games I attended, and random raffle tickets.  Looking back there were a lot of strange things I collected:  bones, baseball cards, rocks, and action figures.  Some things I collected had a small amount of monetary value, but the majority of it could be classified "junk."  Where it has gone I do not know, but I know where it belongs:  in the bin!

In the same way a parent raises their eyebrows at the worthless sort of stuff kids love to collect, I wonder how God loves me.  I receive His love gladly but at the same time know I do not deserve it.  That God would love sinners and make them His greatest treasures is beyond my comprehension.  He does not merely lift us out of the gutter or from the scrap heap of life, but He raises our carcasses dead in sins to new life and adopts us as His special children.  God even keeps notes concerning our conversation as it is written in Malachi 3:16-17:  "Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. ¹⁷ "They shall be Mine," says the LORD of hosts, "on the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him."

There is space in the church and in heaven for all people who repent and trust in Jesus Christ.  God will not refuse any who rely upon Him, for He has plenty of room.  We are not like dusty relics stowed away in a box which are easily forgotten, but a place in heaven is being prepared for us.  Daily we can experience fellowship with God in His presence, for the Holy Spirit dwells in each of us.  Also Jesus has promised that wherever even two or three gather in His name, there He is in the midst of them.  He is the One who has called us and grafted us into the Body of Christ, uniting all Christians as one.

The things we treasure as children we gladly part with later, but God delights in us as our love of Him develops and grows.  God will not part with you any more than a sane person would part with an eye or a leg on a whim.  I am overwhelmed to consider God, who can make all things new from scratch, desires to be glorified through the life of a sinner He has made a saint.  God demonstrated His love by dying on the cross to atone for our sin and purchase us with His own blood (Acts 20:28).  Amazing, that we would be counted among God's precious treasures!

Who Do You Love?

"Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

Psalm 91:14-16

God makes amazing promises to those who set their love upon Him.  This is to be an exclusive and special love, even as a husband loves his wife or a parent loves their child.  My love of God is a response to His unfailing love which He graciously has extended to me.  Those who set their love upon God, having trusted Him for salvation, find all other genuine loves flow from this supreme one.

These promises God offers are conditional upon our obedience to Him.  1 John 5:1-3 says, "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. ² By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. ³ For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome."  It is not a burdensome thing for us to love One who has demonstrated His love towards us.  Many times people love and desire others who refuse every advance, but God has extended love to all people.  He did not wait for us to "make the first move" but has created us, spoken to us, revealed Himself to us, and offered Himself for us on Calvary.

There are many who profess to love God, and God knows who loves Him in truth.  All who love Him will be the joyful recipients of God's deliverance, enjoy God's presence, be satisfied, and receive eternal salvation.  All these benefits of knowing and loving God are not the primary motivation for loving God.  We are not to set our love upon deliverance from trouble or salvation but upon God.  If we only love the benefits God provides we are only loving ourselves.  When we love someone, we want to be with them.  Jesus Christ was called "Immanuel" which means, "God with us."  He must certainly love us to choose to be with us, much less die for us!  God is worthy to be loved; He is worthy to be praised and exalted.

Power Present to Heal

"Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. ¹⁸  Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralysed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him."

Luke 5:17-18

This scene provides a dynamic contrast between those who place their faith in Jesus Christ and those who will not.  Fame of Jesus due to His teaching and miraculous power spread throughout Israel.  The passage says Pharisees and teachers of the law assembled who hailed from all Israel - even from Jerusalem.  These masters of the Law of Moses viewed Jesus as a troublemaker, a young upstart, an untrained layman, a prophet at best but most likely a wicked deceiver of the people who needed to be silenced.  I do not believe these men thought Jesus could teach them anything, and likely He couldn't.  It wasn't because they knew more or better than the Son of God, but they thought they did!  It was customary to sit when teaching, and these men sat as masters before their Creator.

These Pharisees and doctors of the law were likely able-bodied men (having travelled far) and highly respected among the Jews.  They did not need instruction, especially from a carpenter hailing from Galilee.  The second sentence of verse 17 would be a shocker for them to read:  "And the power of the LORD was present to heal them."  They were in desperate need of healing and they did not realise it.  Their demeanour probably resembled the haughty Pharisee who trusted himself to be righteous whilst despising others, the one Jesus mentioned who prayed with himself in Luke 18:11, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector."  Unbelief left these deeply religious men mired and dead in their own trespasses and sins.  Because they deemed themselves righteous and believed they saw clearly, their sin remained.  They did not believe they needed healing, and in came a man whose healing was beyond hope.

Before them was brought a living object lesson of their spiritual condition:  a paralysed man was lowered down before them and Jesus Christ.  Perhaps they wrinkled their noses at the gaunt form of the man muttering under their breath, "This man or his parents must have been wretched sinners."  Oh, they were sinners alright (as all men are), but this was not the point.  The power of God was present to heal these self-righteous, hardened sinners as well as the paralysed man who lay motionless on the bed.  The Pharisees bristled in their hearts when Jesus forgave the man's sins and they thought, "Who but God can forgive sins?"  Jesus answered their silent rebellion with a question of His own:  "What is easier to say - your sins are forgiven or to say to a paralysed man - 'Rise up and walk?"  Of course it would be easier to say "Your sins are forgiven" because no physical proof is required.  But so they would know Jesus had power to forgive sins (and was God in the flesh) He said to the paralysed man, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."  And the man did.

Many people, like these learned Pharisees, do not recognise their need for healing because their need is of a spiritual nature.  This paralysed man is one of many people who came to Jesus or sought  or cried out to Him to be cured of physical afflictions.  People born blind sought Him, a woman with a flow of blood reached out and touched Him, and people with sick or demon possessed children begged for help from Him.  Sadly many people were physically healed but they happily walked away just as sinful as before.  Though I am sure it happened often, would you believe there is only one recorded time in the Gospels when a sick person who was miraculously healed stopped to say "Thank you" to Jesus?  This shows me everyone wants healing when they are sick but not everyone is willing to use their wellness to thank God and follow Jesus in faith.

Jesus wants to do more than heal bodies but to raise souls dead in sins to new life through faith in Him.  Do you recognise your need to be healed by Jesus?  The power of God is present today to forgive, redeem, reconcile, and heal all who repent and trust in Him.  Many were astonished and amazed by the things Jesus said and did, and many were physically healed by Him.  But there were many He could not heal because of their unbelief and their sin remained.  The wages of sin is death and we are all beyond hope, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.  If you are one who has been spiritually or physically healed by Jesus Christ, are you willing to invest your wellness to give Him thanks and walk in obedience?

Gifts With Your Name On Them

As a young kid I was introduced to hard work.  "Work before play" was a well-known saying for us, and many summer mornings we signed up for chores we were responsible to do that day.  It could be washing the dogs, mowing and raking the lawn, spraying for fleas, cleaning windows and screens, doing the washing (laundry), cleaning bathrooms, washing the van, and the list went on.  I remember being about 10 years old when I proudly put in my first solid eight-hour work day, nailing the floor of our upstairs room addition.  That was a fun kind of work - much better than pulling weeds or gardening.

One thing as a kid that was not work was the tradition of going to my grandparent's home in Ramona on Christmas Eve to enjoy time with family and a wonderful meal.  A stocking with my name on it hung on the mantelpiece, and piled around the Christmas tree were many gifts.  A few of those also had my name on them.  Receiving and opening one of those gifts wasn't hard work, though the waiting was difficult.  We would stay up late, watching cartoons or old movies on the Disney channel with my Grandpa.  But in due time morning came, and after the whole family had gathered and eaten the gifts would be exchanged.  For me growing up, it didn't get much better than that.

You likely agree with me:  receiving a gift is not strenuous work.  For me to receive a gift intended for me at Christmas the two basic requirements are I needed to be present, and I needed to take it in my hands and open it up.  These are both acts of the will.  Sometimes the gift would be something I asked for, but most often it was a complete surprise.  When it comes to receiving spiritual gifts from God, the same is true.  Out of His goodness and grace God has spiritual gifts with our name on them.  We do not need to work to earn them but must humble ourselves to draw near to God in faith and receive gladly whatever He sees fit to give.

I am convinced we over complicate the receiving of spiritual gifts big time.  Wouldn't it be strange for me to ask my smiling grandmother as she holds a gift out to me, "So how do I receive this gift?  Should I open this now or later?  Is it for personal use only?  What will other people think about me if I actually use this gift?  How do I know this gift is really from you?  And will it make me speak in tongues?  If it's tongues I don't want it."  How silly this sounds, but these are the kind of things we can say when it comes to spiritual gifts.  We have no right to demand a gift from God, and there are no returns.  And since God gives gifts according to His perfect will, why would we want to?  James 1:17 says, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."  God's Word is explicitly clear we ought to desire spiritual gifts, and having received them we ought to use them.

So what are the conditions to receive a spiritual gift?  We receive them by faith even as we received salvation, believing the promises in God's Word.  After being born again by faith in Christ, the first thing to do is to ask Him to fill us with the Holy Spirit.  James writes that we often have not because we ask not.  We receive the fullness of the Spirit through the "hearing of faith" and not by the works of the law (Galatians 3:2).  Obedience to God is also key as Peter said in Acts 5:32, "And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him."  When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, He will equip and gift us according to His will.  Those who have the Holy Spirit living within them and present themselves before God in obedience, God can gift to do whatever He wants.  This should not make us fearful but rejoice that we are indeed children of God.  Spiritual gifts are not like dishes at a buffet where we are free to pick and choose.  Like children who wrinkle their noses in disgust at unfamiliar foods, grown adults can do so concerning spiritual gifts.  We must first surrender our will, come to God with an empty plate so to speak, and happily ask Him to fill us however He wants.

God has spiritual gifts with your name on them:  are you willing to ask and receive them?  Let's not over complicate what God has made simple.  A child before they can speak can receive a gift with shining eyes, and every child of God in faith can do the same.  Won't you surrender your will before God and gladly receive with the intention to use for His glory all the gifts Jesus has prepared for you?

The LORD Lives

"The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, the Rock of my salvation!"

2 Samuel 22:47

Only the living God who created all things can save.  The One in whom is life was able to create life from nothing, and He alone can save our souls for eternity.  God can do everything because He is alive.  He is infinitely greater than man, but in living men we see a shadow of God's greatness.  The God who created the eyes of men to see sees all; the One who made ears to hear also hears all.  This God who formed man's mind to consider and think possesses infinite wisdom and knows all.  He created the mouth of man to speak intelligible words can speak clearly to all people.  Whatever a man can do God does infinitely greater.

No spirit, man, thing made by man, or beast can be likened unto God or rightly compared with Him.  He alone is God and is exalted forever without end.  How can an idol of wood, stone, silver, or gold compare with the living God?  God lives, and this is a primary distinction between Him and all others.  He does not only live today but He has always lived in eternity past.  He was not imagined or created but existed before time and the creation of the earth.  God also will always live, for He is not subject to time nor will He ever be.  For an eternity after this world is dissolved and time as we know it is not remembered by a soul, He will live and remain the Rock of my salvation.

God is exalted whether men think to praise Him or not.  If there is anything in this world which fills us with awe and wonder, that is the worship God deserves for He is greater still.  Though He is greater and over all things, God has revealed Himself to lowly man.  When God descended and communed with Moses on the mount Exodus 34:6-8 says, "And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, ⁷ keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children's children to the third and the fourth generation." ⁸ So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped."  People and generations pass away, but God remains.

How good it is to serve a living God who speaks with us, who has come to us in Jesus Christ, and is risen from the dead.  Therefore let us bless and exalt our Rock of Salvation, the LORD who lives!

Reasoning Together

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the LORD, "though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Isaiah 1:18

There is a great example in the Bible of people reasoning together during the siege of Abel.  After David was restored to the throne in Jerusalem, a rebel named Sheba the son of Bichri blew a trumpet and gathered men after himself.  Joab received word that Sheba had taken shelter in Abel of Bethmaachah, and therefore he built a siege mound and battered the wall to bring it down.  2 Samuel 20:16-19 records, "Then a wise woman cried out from the city, "Hear, Hear! Please say to Joab, 'Come nearby, that I may speak with you.' " ¹⁷ When he had come near to her, the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Hear the words of your maidservant." And he answered, "I am listening." ¹⁸ So she spoke, saying, "They used to talk in former times, saying, 'They shall surely seek guidance at Abel,' and so they would end disputes.¹⁹  I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel. You seek to destroy a city and a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the inheritance of the LORD?"  Some people were prepared to hunker down behind their walls without negotiation, but not this wise woman.

2 Samuel 20:20-22 says, "And Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy! ²¹ That is not so. But a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba the son of Bichri by name, has raised his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him only, and I will depart from the city." So the woman said to Joab, "Watch, his head will be thrown to you over the wall." ²² Then the woman in her wisdom went to all the people. And they cut off the head of Sheba the son of Bichri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew a trumpet, and they withdrew from the city, every man to his tent. So Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem."  Joab informed the woman he held no ill will against her or the city, nor was he intent on destroying Abel.  The problem was a rebellious man had sought shelter within Abel, and if she would agree to deliver him all would be well.  The woman said decisively, "His head will be thrown to you over the wall."  She consulted with the people in the city and they agreed:  why risk the safety of their families, children, home and future to shelter a wicked man?  Once his head was thrown over the wall and identified, Joab called off the siege and returned to Jerusalem.

The situation in Abel is one which commonly plays out in the lives of God's people.  At times our hearts, minds, and deeds are rebellious before the LORD and we bring ourselves under His judgment.  We do not reason with Him as equals but as His subjects - like the wise woman with the general of the army of Israel who acted on king David's command.  The woman and the people of the city were free to harbour the king's enemy, but if they chose this course they would be forced to deal with the consequences.  Only after the head of Sheba was thrown over the wall was the siege lifted and the city safe from harm.  Assurances of Sheba's innocence or claims the king's demand was unreasonable were not enough to call off the attack of the city, and refusal to heed God's commands leads to discipline and strong judgment.  If the people of the city saw the sense in surrendering the head of Sheba to save themselves, city, and families, why don't we always see the sense in surrendering our sin or weights which easily encumber us?  Should we defend what God has condemned?

Consider the practical implications for a city besieged by a strong army.  At first there may only be a negligible effect, but the inhabitants of the city are forced to wait around to die.  When a city is besieged no one is permitted to enter or leave so trade and communication ceases.  Before long those under siege suffer shortages of food and water, their homes, gates, and walls take damage from barrages, and the mental strain of having the enemy at the gates quickly begins to take a physical and mental toll.  Would you say this city under siege well represents a soul labouring under sins not repented of?  Praise the LORD God has drawn near to us with conditions of peace through the Gospel:  if we will confess our sins and repent, He is faithful to forgive us.  But understand that if we will not surrender Sheba or whatever is demanded by our King we will have no peace.  Those are His conditions, and they are altogether reasonable.  What a joy to have the siege lifted and once again have freedom, good food, clean water, communication, and security restored!

Blessed In All Things

"Now Abraham was old, well advanced in age; and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things."

Genesis 24:1

When I read this verse last night, a slow smile spread across my face.  Think of it!  The LORD had blessed Abraham in all things:  he had been blessed in his travels, in his marriage, with his children, in necessities, in growing older, and even concerning his temporal and eternal future.  There was no part of his life which had not been blessed by God.  This means he was blessed by God even before he knew God or believed Him!  How great is our God to bless in such a manner.  But having said this, often our ability to receive and walk fully in the blessings God provides is conditional.  

Do you want to be blessed by God?  Blessed is the man who delights in God's Law and shuns evil (Psalm 1).  The one who has clean hands a pure heart by grace through faith in God is blessed (Psalm 24:3-6).  Jesus listed many conditional blessings in Matthew 5:3-12:  "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

This list provided by Jesus reveals our natural concept of "blessings" and God's descriptions are often fundamentally different from one another.  We think we are "blessed" with good health, and so we are.  But God is able to bless us in poor health, even as God blessed Abraham in all things.  We think of being blessed when we have a near-miss which could have been disastrous, but God blesses us in disasters.  When the world is falling apart and we are splitting at the seams, through faith in God we are blessed in all things.  Praise the LORD His blessing is not dependent on circumstances or our perfect performance, but is according to His grace, goodness, and unfailing promises.  Can you identify with these words spoken of Abraham, that the LORD has blessed you in all things?  May He open our eyes to say with all our hearts, "Yes, indeed He has!"

Standing Firm

Yesterday the results of the Australian same-sex marriage survey were revealed.  The LGBTI community and their supporters celebrated a strong majority result.  Though the laws have not yet been changed to reflect this result, the government and members of parliament are working to pass legislation changing the Australian constitution to approve gay marriage.  In the context of our secular society this result does not at all come as a surprise to me.  I am without fear; I am not worried for in Christ I stand firm.  I am resigned to acknowledge the opinion of the majority of Australians, but that does not deem it righteous.

And this is the place where the victory for same-sex marriage rings hollow:  even when the government legalises and acknowledges gay couples as married, the perversion of God's institution of marriage will never be acceptable in the eyes of God and many who hold a biblical worldview.  My heart breaks to consider the smiles and celebrations will quickly fade into disillusionment, frustration, and anger this result will not provide the kind of acceptance and "equality" many long for.  I am convinced the definition of marriage established by God cannot be altered by the legislation of men.  God's Word cannot be broken, and in Him I place my trust.  His approval is everything.  I love people who identify as gay and understand their desire to marry even as heterosexuals do, but my loyal adherence to the scriptures will likely be viewed as hate and bigotry.  Such is life for born again Christians.

People in the world will do what is right in their own eyes, but followers of Christ are exhorted to hold fast to God's righteous standards as revealed in scripture.  The Bible which clearly illuminates the way of salvation through the Gospel also says all will be judged by God according to their works.  All professing Christians ought to take heed to God's warning, for He has pronounced great woe upon His people who forsook His ways and approved of wickedness as it is written in Isaiah 5:20-21:  "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! ²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"  Many believers have been duped to think they can follow Jesus and celebrate abomination, but this is impossible.  The New Testament passage Romans 1:32 plainly states those who approve and consent to any manner of depravity endanger their own lives and souls.

When we chose to follow Jesus, remaining loyal and obedient to His Word is what we signed up for.  Whilst the world celebrates and rejoices Australia is now "on the right side of history" concerning the approval of gay marriage, I rejoice to hold fast to the truth of God's Word without apology.  I make no claim of perfection or being "holier than thou," but by God's grace He will enable me and all God's children to stand firm in the faith.  These are troubling times, but we have all the security, joy, and hope we need in Jesus.  We ought to rejoice and lift our heads because the day of our salvation draws nigh.  All is exactly as our Saviour foretold in His Word, and He will never leave or forsake us.  He gives peace not as the world gives, an enduring peace which passes understanding.

Narrow Truth and Broader Views

As we follow Jesus Christ and mature in faith and knowledge of His Word, He broadens our understanding.  Studying the scriptures led by the Holy Spirit enables us to connect ideas which provide greater insight into God's truth.  When I was a child after I knew how to count I enjoyed dot-to-dot puzzles.  What began as a mess of dots and numbers became a recognisable object which could be coloured in with crayon.  In a similar way, the more we heed the scriptures the better we comprehend what the Bible says, what it means, and how to rightly apply it in our lives.

Looking back, I believe my views of scripture used to be more rigid than they are now.  My views were rigid because my understanding was limited.  Truth and the Christian walk is narrow, and we cannot deviate from obedience to God and His Word.  We do not need to compromise truth to hold a broader view than we once did.  I have held views in the past which were not wrong in themselves, but I was wrong because I restricted the truth to my current personal view.  We all run the risk of parroting what we have heard from a pastor without critical thought or searching the scriptures ourselves.  We can allow a verse or pet-doctrine to direct us down a familiar track of thought like a dog running a well-worn circuit in the backyard when the gate is open and a world of discovery awaits.

There are people I highly respect, people I am convinced are anointed by the Holy Spirit and called to teach, yet based on my understanding of scripture I am not in full agreement with their Bible interpretation on particular points.  For instance, I recently heard a Bible teacher say leaven always represents sin in the parables of Jesus.  Since the Bible does not explicitly say this, it seems to be a narrow view which disregards the context of each parable.  I agree it is true leaven is commonly used to represent sin, I believe it is a mistake to say it always represents or is a "type" of sin (see Matt. 13:33).  It is commonly taught all birds in the parables represent evil or satanic influence, and whilst this is the given interpretation in one Parable of the Sower it is dangerous to attribute "type" status to birds without considering the context.  These assumptions cause us to read into the text rather than observing the context and interpreting correctly.  Wrong interpretation leads to incorrect application.  Parables are not the only tricky part of scripture to rightly interpret and apply.  Poetry, prophecy, and many hard sayings of the Bible make studying it a most rigorous and challenging exercise.  Without God's help, we could never understand or unravel it.

Praise the LORD for His wisdom and patience with me and all children of God.  My understanding has been expanded from the days of my youth, and undoubtedly there are many areas where I remain in the dark.  We too should be patient with others whose views seem unnecessarily rigid because we too are naturally like them.  A teacher of scripture who will not be taught by God or men is of no value, so let us remain humble and open.  Though there will be differences of opinion on secondary doctrines among genuine believers, let us be gracious - not threatened or suspicious.  Let us respond as Apollo when loving believers pulled him aside and explained the Gospel to Him more perfectly.  He received their correction with joy and boldly spoke the truth in love.  Sometimes we are the ones to come alongside in a spirit of gentleness to instruct and correct.  Love does not compromise truth, but it is willing to speak the truth for the restoration of others.

A Godly Perspective

It is a strange thing when a Christian goes from trusting God for salvation and begins to look to his own strength or abilities in daily decisions.  David provides a compelling example of this in 1 Samuel 17.  God's assessment of David was he was a man after God's own heart, but even he was prone to lean on his own understanding.  His life provides a compelling illustration of what is common to all men - even godly ones.  Just because we have trusted God in the past doesn't mean we are trusting Him today.

When David was a young man he was sent by his dad on an errand to the front lines of battle where a few of his brothers were.  He was shocked when Goliath the champion of Gath stood before the army of Israel and defied and cursed them by his gods.  David wasn't awed by the imposing size or the verbal threats of the giant, but was incredulous Goliath was permitted to reproach the armies of the living God whilst the men of Israel hid in fear.  News of David’s willingness to fight Goliath reached King Saul’s ears and he summoned David.  Saul said, “You can’t fight him.  You’re just a youth and he’s been a warrior from youth.”  David pointed out God had delivered him from the paw of the lion and the bear and God would help him defeat the Philistine also.

Saul finally agreed to allow David to face Goliath, but wanted to outfit him with armour and his own sword.  Being unaccustomed to the encumbrance of armour and unskilled with a sword, David politely declined using them.  He was content to trust God and fight Goliath with a sling and a handful of smooth stones which he gathered from a brook on the way to face Goliath in a battle to the death.  He came before the scoffing Philistine warrior in the name of the God of Israel, and God wrought a great victory.

Years later and then son-in-law to the king, David found himself only a step between him and death because King Saul sought to murder him.  As he fled for his life, 1 Samuel 21 details an incident when he dropped by the Tabernacle in Nob.  He and his men were hungry and desperate for food and supplies.  The chief priest Ahimelech was cautious but willing to help David, and provided him bread from the Table of Showbread for he and his men.  Read what 1 Samuel 21:8-9 says:  "And David said to Ahimelech, "Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste." ⁹ So the priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, there it is, wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it. For there is no other except that one here." And David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."

Isn’t this ironic?  David trusted God to deliver him from lions and Goliath, but having fought many battles since the victory over Goliath it appears he had grown accustomed to using a spear, sword, and other weapons.  Notice he said, "I have brother neither my sword nor my weapons with me."  Do you find it odd David demanded the sword which was not able to save Goliath?  What had changed?  Was King Saul a more terrifying foe than Goliath?  God had not changed, but in that stressful moment David's perspective had.  It seems it was easier to trust God when facing Philistines than when the attacks came from his own king and kin.

My point is not to second guess David’s choices, but to contrast how he faced conflict in these two instances.  Facing a Philistine in his youth David was fine to trust God, but having become a skilled warrior when threatened David felt he needed a sword.  In the end it turned out he didn’t need the sword because God delivered David.  God was patient and faithful to David, and He is also patient and faithful to us when we forget to trust Him.  Believer, have you started trusting yourself more than God?  Success and popularity can cause us to look to ourselves instead of seeking and simply trusting the LORD.  We trusted God to help, protect, provide, and guide us at the start of our walk with Jesus, and we need to keep trusting Him today.

Commitment or Surrender?

In a sermon I recently heard, the difference between "commitment" and "surrender" was a point of emphasis.  In warfare conditions of surrender are negotiated, but not so in a life which is surrendered to Jesus Christ as LORD.  Since our lives have been purchased with the shed blood of Christ, we are not our own.  As Jesus laid down His will before the Father, we are to voluntarily lay our lives down before our Saviour.  The comment by the preacher was if all we do is "commit" our lives to Christ, we seek to dictate our own terms or will even withdraw our commitment when it pleases us.

In light of this thought, the Oxford definition of "commitment" is interesting.  It means, "The state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc.; a pledge or undertaking; an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action."  Men are fickle and often do not keep their commitments.  We make promises we do not or cannot keep, and do not like our freedom to do as we choose restricted.  A commitment can become a hindrance from what we want to do rather than being liberating.  It is a burden to be borne rather than a privilege.  In all our commitments we retain our sovereignty over our own will rather than surrendering our lives to the will of God.

Contrast the previous definitions with that of "surrender:"  "stop resisting to an enemy or opponent and submit to their authority; give in to; give up or hand over (a person, right, or possession), typically on compulsion or demand."  Christ makes many demands of His disciples, and on the strength of our commitment we are unable to fulfil any of them.  We might as well claim we can do the work of God in our own strength!  We are called to stop resisting or grieving the Holy Spirit through rebellion and disobedience, repent, and be filled with the Holy Spirit.  If we stop short of full surrender, we attempt to remain in charge of our lives.  If we are Christ's disciples, we must lay down our will so we can embrace and be empowered by God to do His.

Many Christians "recommit" their lives to Jesus many times because they have not fully surrendered to Him.  Surrender is not a one-time decision, but one confirmed daily by obedience to God's Word as we deny ourselves, take up our cross daily (die to self), and follow Jesus.  Praise the LORD this is His will, and when we surrender ourselves to Him He will accomplish it.  Answer this question honestly:  are you totally surrendered to God?  Until then we resemble a child falling asleep on a merry-go-round - movement but no real progression.

Do Not Be Deceived

All human beings are susceptible to all manner of deception.  It is one thing to be intentionally deceived by another person, but far worse is when we are deluded by self.  This sort of deception we often do not recognise.  We are most blind to the deceptions which lurk in our hearts, and since no man can know the depravity of his own heart we are susceptible to it.

In addition to revealing God to us, the Bible is a primary means of warning against and identifying common deceptions for us.  The clear implication of God’s warnings against deceptions is we indeed can be deceived.  It is important for us to examine our hearts, admitting we too can be deceived.  If we do not heed God’s Word we blindly head to ruin.  Because God knows the thoughts and intent of our hearts, loves us and is the source of all wisdom, He faithfully reveals our common faults and the path of righteousness.

Deceptions take place in our minds and hearts.  The way we naturally think appeals to the flesh, and the scripture rightly applied by the Holy Spirit changes the way we think.  So what are common deceptions the Bible says we must be aware of?

We can be deceived to turn aside to idolatry.  Deuteronomy 11:16-17 states, “Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them, [17] lest the LORD'S anger be aroused against you, and He shut up the heavens so that there be no rain, and the land yield no produce, and you perish quickly from the good land which the LORD is giving you.”  I believe it was Calvin who quipped the hearts of men are idol factories, and even a cursory glance at our lives reveals our affections and faith is often misplaced.  We must be watchful and take heed to guard our hearts and minds from idolatry and not assume we are loyal only to God.

We can be deceived to follow false saviours.  Luke 21:8 reads, “And He said: "Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He,' and, 'The time has drawn near.' Therefore do not go after them.”  The Son of God Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and He is the only one Christians ought to follow.  It is natural for us to follow after men, to look to them for guidance and leading rather than God.  The world offers many false saviours and vain men are glad to draw followers unto themselves.  We can be deceived by liars, thinking their way is right when it is not Christ's way.  Many have turned aside after deceivers, but may we not be among them.

We can be deceived to think the unrighteous will go to heaven.  1 Corinthians 6:9-10 says, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, [10] nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.”  Those who are born again have crucified the lusts of the flesh.  If we are truly transformed within by the power of the Holy Spirit, the evidence of this will be clearly seen.  The Gospel of grace is no excuse to continue in sin, for there is no salvation without repentance.  Those who believe they are saved when their lives are defined by habitual sin are deceived.  We may give a "free pass" for others for their sin, but God will not.  God's judgment concerning sin and how we live matters!

We can be deceived to think we are impervious to evil influence.  1 Corinthians 15:33 reads, “Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits."  Sin is a pollutant which defiles our minds, hearts, and wounds our souls.  It destroys a godly witness and renders us spiritually dull and listless.  We are deceived if we think we can expose ourselves to filth or dabble in disobedience without serious consequences.  There may be men compared to “Teflon” because nothing seems to stick to them, but spiritually we are all dry sponges which unthinkingly absorb whatever liquid that contacts us.  God is able to preserve us from all evil, yet when we intentionally dip our minds and hearts in filth the fountain of Living Water within us is defiled.

We can be deceived to believe sinful choices will not bear evil fruit.  Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”  The type of a seed sown will be clearly evident after it sprouts, grows to maturity, and bears fruit.  If we sow to the flesh we will of the flesh reap corruption.  We can be deceived to think it is what we believe with our minds and profess with our mouths is of primary importance, but God examines the inner man:  our motives, thoughts, and obedience.  He knows if we are proud, arrogant, and rebellious, and a polished image before men does not mean righteousness before God.  We can trick men, but we cannot fool God:  what we sow we will reap.

So how did you go?  When we fall prey to deception we must repent before God, for He is a redeemer and restorer of souls.  And if all seems well it is good for us to admit our tendency to all these deceptions so we might be on guard against them in the future, being watchful concerning ourselves whilst looking out for one another.

The LORD Our Shade

"The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade at your right hand. ⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night."

Psalm 121:5-6

How good it is to know God protects and provides for our needs!  Day or night we need never fear, for God is faithful.  A great illustration of this scripture is seen in the life of Hagar when she was sent out by Abraham.  In response to God's direction, Hagar and Ishmael her son were sent out from Abraham with bread and a skin of water.  They wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba, which means "well of an oath."  Before long they were stricken with thirst, for the water in the skin was used up.  Hagar desperately placed her son in the shade of a shrub to protect him from the searing heat.  Hagar hopelessly retreated to a distance where she could not hear his cries.  She reached the point that all she could do is weep, and in that moment God spoke.

Genesis 21:17-19 reads, "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. ¹⁸ Arise, lift up the lad and hold him with your hand, for I will make him a great nation." ¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water, and gave the lad a drink."  In her distress Hagar moved away from Ishmael, but God drew near and heard the cries of the lad.  Isn't this remarkable?  He will not forsake any who cry out to Him.  The angel of God asked, "What ails you, Hagar?"  I suppose from the perspective of the world there was plenty to cry about:  she had been kicked out of her home, did not know where she was, where she should go, the water had been spent, her son was dying, and she could not save him.  She asserted in a previous wilderness experience God is the One who sees but God also revealed himself as the One who hears and is "your shade at your right hand."  With such a God was there any legitimate cause for despair?

God opened Hagar's eyes to see a well of water she had not seen before.  It is fitting this occurred in Beersheeba, for God showed her a well and gave her a promise:  God would save her son and make of him a great nation.  Until it was divinely revealed Hagar didn't notice the well which held life-sustaining water, and often it is our unbelief, grief, and forgetfulness of God which blinds us to the Living Water offered freely by Jesus Christ.  He supplies more than water to quench the thirst of our bodies but supplies Living Water to satisfy our souls forever.  God has made a covenant through the blood of Jesus Christ which provides us forgiveness and eternal life through the Gospel.  No matter what we face in this life we do not need to fear, for God is our keeper, our shade at our right hand, our refuge, and Saviour who loves us and supplies our every need by His grace.

God was faithful to keep His promise to Ishmael, for God was with him as he grew.  During our earthly pilgrimage there will be wilderness experiences and dry times, but it is good for us to discover God is our only genuine source of help, hope, and life.  We often look for shelter under wilting shrubs when God stands ready to help and deliver, our shade at our right hand.  Much of our pain comes from focusing on ourselves, circumstances beyond our control, and feeling others have it better than us.  Hebrews 13:5-6 provides us an exhortation and promise:  "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." ⁶ So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"  Fear and death have been swallowed up with victory, and praise the LORD for His promise.  He is our keeper and shade at our right hand.  The death of our bodies will not annul His promise but bring it to completion in eternal glory.

God Created Man

“So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Genesis 1:27-28

In my lifetime I have observed an erosion of what once was called “morality” according to biblical principles.  This gradual movement has gathered speed to the point it could be likened to a destructive avalanche, leveling all which once stood upright in its path.  This opposition of God, His Word, and ways has often been too subtle to notice in real-time but the effects are widespread and pronounced.  When seeds of wickedness are sown, those doing the planting deny anything bad will happen.  Eventually the corrupt and ugly fruit is displayed for all to see.

Man has rebelled against the order and laws established by God from the beginning – even concerning something simple like eating.  The appetites of the flesh were not satisfied by forbidden fruit, and sex is an area man delights to deviate.  Not content with the divinely ordained confines of marriage, people committed fornication and adultery.  Homosexuality and bisexuality have become increasingly common and widely celebrated.  People were not content with deviant sexual practices, but now the biblical definition of gender itself faces sceptical scrutiny and overthrow.  God created people male and female from the beginning, yet man thinks he knows better than God who created him.

The wisdom of God to create men and women male and female is plainly reflected in the terminology we use in hardware.  A plumber uses the term “male” and “female” to describe the type of fitting needed to connect pipes.  Just like two bolts alone or two nuts by themselves are incapable of fastening materials together, two male couplings do not fit together properly according to the design.  In the same way, God made people male and female to be fruitful and multiply, to reproduce according to their kind in the confines of the marriage relationship.  Attacks on gender are an assault primarily on God’s order, and this assault is nothing new.

Believers are called to hold fast to the scriptures, to uphold the righteous judgments of God no matter how thick the fiery darts fly.  In these darkening days we must grip the shield of faith and Sword of the Spirit (which is the Word of God) like never before.  Enemies of God and His truth will attempt to chip away at the foundations, but we can stand firmly upon them without fear of man.  We ought not apologise that God in His wisdom created men and women as distinct.  Our gender is a gift given to us freely by God, and we ought to rejoice in all God has provided by His grace.  Men and women of God are born and made, and it is God who makes them.

Noah's Example

Peter referred to Noah as a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5) and pointed out how God preserved him alive from the judgment of the great flood which destroyed the ungodly.  Pastor Drew shared this morning at Calvary Chapel Sydney how Noah testified of this coming judgment in two primary ways.  The first was with words as a preacher of righteousness for over a century.  God had told him plainly in Genesis 6:13, "The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth."  Believing this to be the case, Noah warned others.  The second way he demonstrated his belief was through the building of a massive wooden ship.  As he was commanded he built the enormous ship and loaded it with provisions for a voyage - nowhere near a large body of water on dry land.

Ultimately the word of God was fulfilled, and Noah and those who sought refuge in the ark were preserved.  All the people and animals which exist to this day are evidence of God's salvation.  The Bible makes it abundantly clear a future day of judgment is coming, but with the daily grind of life the evidence of this future calamity can be lost on us.  We are like the fabled townspeople so fatigued by the boy's false alarms of "Wolf!" we ignore obvious paw prints and dead chickens - sure signs wolves are around.  How many times has the "end of the world" been predicted and nothing has happened?  Do we dare believe judgment will indeed come on the unsuspecting world?  Peter certainly thought so, and based on scripture so do I.

2 Peter 3:1-7 reads, "Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation." ⁵ For this they wilfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men."  Forget global warming:  there is consuming fire reserved for the future of this world and all its inhabitants, and only those who are born again through faith in Jesus will be preserved.

IF we believe this to be true, the sense of urgency and focus of purpose which marked the life of Noah should mark ours.  It is good to be reminded of our mortality and to continually re-align our perspective according to God's Word, for it is easy to drift off course.  A small lapse of focus can have disastrous consequences for a pilot or driver, it is the same for us.  We only have one life to live on earth for our Saviour's glory.  It is imperative that we be about our Saviour's business on our earthly pilgrimage, seeking and obeying Him faithfully.  We might not have the opportunity to preach from a pulpit, but the manner and aim of our lives speaks plainly to all who observe.  The prophet Ezekiel was directed by God to say and do many things people inquired about, and may our lives also be a curious testimony of God's love, salvation, and future judgment so they too might discover and worship Him.

Psalm 91

The world awoke to news of a calculated but senseless attack on random citizens in New York which claimed the lives of at least 8 people and wounded many more.  To think a person's life is at risk walking or leisurely riding a bike with friends targeted by a rampaging driver is alarming and tragic.  So where does an overwhelmed soul go from here?  Assembling in a show of angry defiance?  Fear and isolation?  Justice is needed for the perpetrator, but not vengeance upon potential suspects.  The LORD God, He will repay.

Recently I read Psalm 91, an encouraging passage for all those who place their confidence in God.  The terrible things we hear and the news and painful circumstances we face threaten to rob us of joy given us by our Saviour Jesus Christ, but by His grace we can rest peacefully as we look to Him and remember God's promises.  Fear prevents us from being strong and courageous.  Bad things happen to believers and unbelievers alike, but there is sure and eternal hope in our God who keeps our souls from all harm.  Evil which drowns others in fear and perdition has no power over God's children to destroy.  Our strength is not in self but in the God who loves and carries us.  We need not fall prey to the fear which is common to all men.  Take courage in the LORD, believer, as you seek refuge in Him.  Call out to the LORD and He will hear you and answer.  Here is Psalm 91 in the NKJV:

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. ²  I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust." ³ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. ⁴ He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. ⁵ You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, ⁶ nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. ⁷ A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. ⁸ Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. ⁹ Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, ¹⁰ no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; ¹¹ for He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. ¹² In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. ¹³ You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. ¹⁴ "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. ¹⁵ He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honour him. ¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

Definite Questions and Answers

"It happened after this that David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up to any of the cities of Judah?" And the LORD said to him, "Go up." David said, "Where shall I go up?" And He said, "To Hebron."

2 Samuel 2:1

After the death of King Saul, David inquired of the LORD where he should go.  His place in Ziklag had been burnt with fire, and David wisely sought insight from the LORD concerning his next course of action.  He provides a good example for all who fear God in asking a specific question and did not act on the matter until he received a definite answer.  If we are honest concerning our prayers, we may discover we do not ask many definite questions.  If this is the case, we should not be surprised when a clear answer does not come.

We are not told exactly how God spoke to David, but the text makes it evident God did speak and David heard Him.  In the previous book we read Abiathar, son of the high priest, had brought the ephod and joined David's company after the slaughter of the priests at Nob.  He undoubtedly was involved in this process, likely with the Urim and Thummim.  David obediently went up to Hebron according to God's direction, and shortly thereafter was crowned king of Judah.

It is interesting to note we see a similar situation and a very different result early in the reign of King Saul.  Saul was the king and his demeanour was self-assured and domineering - even with God.  1 Samuel 14:19 says, "Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."  Looking at the situation by sight, Saul made an executive decision to act.  Trusting his own senses, he did not value or desire insight from God.  Such a person who walks by sight or reacts to the movements of the enemy should not expect an answer from the LORD.

In your prayer life, are you intentional to ask a definite question and actively wait on the LORD for a definite answer, confirming His revealed will through His Word?  Proverbs 18:13 explains the result of those who speak presumptuously when they only know half the story:  "He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him."  The same is true for those who act presumptuously, responding to what they see or hear.  We ought to patiently, humble ourselves as David before the Almighty God who has wisdom and insight to impart to all who fear and obey Him.

We do not need an ephod, the Urim and Thummim, or any sanctified relic to gain an audience with God, for Jesus Christ is our High Priest who lives to intercede with the Father on our behalf.  We have been given the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts and guides us into all truth. The Holy Spirit will not tell us everything, but He will tell us enough and empower us to fulfil our duty before God in all He requires of us.  We often have not because we ask not.  We have cast our cares, poured out our complaints, and we might even tell God what we want Him to do.  But if we do not ask intending to obey whatever He says, we should not expect an answer.

May followers of Jesus Christ indeed seek Him, for He is for us wisdom.  When our view is obscured may we be reminded of our desperate need for His insight and guidance through life, and as we patiently heed His Word we might honour and glorify Him all our days.