Showers of Grace

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

Matthew 5:43-45

People across Sydney and much of Australia awakened this morning praising God for the rain that has come to our dry land.  This soaking rain has been predicted to remain for at least a week and will provide much needed relief from bushfires, smoke, and high heat coupled with drought conditions.  For months now I have been praying for rain and it is a blessing to see God answer the requests of many toward this refreshing end.

Jesus taught His followers to love their enemies, doing good to those who hate them, and pray for those who spitefully use them.  The reason given for this is based upon the example of God who makes the sun to rise on the evil and good, and sends rain on the just and unjust.  People across the globe are benefactors of God's goodness, grace, and generous provision who do not acknowledge or thank Him.  Australia is called by many "the lucky country" and do not ascribe glory to God for the richness of the land He has provided for us.  Yet even on avowed enemies of God He has sent an abundance of rain today we all desperately need:  fires are burning, dams are at the lowest level in over a decade, and because of water restrictions our gardens and lawns are dry.

If we are born again children of God through faith in Jesus, then our acts can and ought to reflect His love and grace.  On people who walk in darkness He allows the sun to shine and the Light of the World Jesus Christ has been sent to save them.  Sydney is known to have scattered showers which drench one area and another remains dry.  God has the power to withhold rain and to cause it to fall, but let us not think any of us deserve His blessings because of our goodness or our relation to Him:  all we have received is of grace.  God answers our prayers for rain with showers from heaven because He is gracious, not because He owes us anything.  God is compassionate and gracious to all, commanding rain to fall on the just and unjust because He is good, faithful, and delights in mercy.

Scripture With Scripture

Using scripture to interpret scripture is a most valuable practice and provides great insight into God's truth.  Because the Bible is the infallible Word of God apparent contradictions can aid us understanding it is not always "either or" but sometimes "both."

An example is seen in 2 Samuel 24:1-2:  "Again the anger of the LORD was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, "Go, number Israel and Judah." ² So the king said to Joab the commander of the army who was with him, "Now go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people."  As a loving father disciplines a child he loves, God at times disciplined His people for their sin through a variety of means:  being troubled or defeated by enemies, stirring up adversaries from within, famine, pestilence, lack of rain, and on.  We are not told precisely why God's anger was aroused against Israel, but scripture reveals God is sovereign, slow to anger, and longsuffering.  His righteous anger (when stirred up) is always justified and perfectly weighted with love and grace.

A parallel passage with a significant difference is found in 1 Chronicles 21:1-2:  "Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel. ² So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, "Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it."  Some might ask, "Was it Satan or God who moved David to take a census?"  One thing we know about the character of Satan from scripture is he is a liar and murderer from the beginning who always is an adversary against God and His people and desires their destruction.  The explanation is God used Satan as the instrument to chasten and teach His own people--even as He used the Babylonians to judge Israel.  There is always a limit to our knowledge or understanding but we should bring the whole counsel of God to aid us to best interpret a Bible passage.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary puts it like this:  "This is no contradiction for the Lord had simply allowed Satan to prompt David to an improper course of action in order that Israel might be punished and that David might be instructed. This is similar to the Lord's permitting Satan to trouble Job (Job 1:12; 2:6) and His allowing an evil spirit to torment Saul (1 Sam. 16:14). In any case, the Lord Himself did not incite David to do evil for "God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone" (James 1:13)."  The Commentary illustrates the need to go beyond even the two passages initially cited to look for precedent which support or reject an interpretation.  Knowing the character of God as revealed in scripture helps us rule out erroneous implications and draw informed and useful interpretations and personal applications from scripture.  Having a solid foundation of scriptural truth under our feet by faith in God and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are then enabled to grow in understanding and spiritual maturity.

The Third Dimension

In a world of uncertainty there is security in absolutes.  We like the clear-cut difference between "yes" and "no" or our choices being limited between "A or B."  In Christian circles this desire can filter into doctrine to allow us to make judgments between right or wrong and to determine the "saved" from "unsaved."  Though the truth of God is objective and unchanging our perception of it is in degrees because our limited understanding.  Applying the revelation of God and His Word is more nuanced than a choice between two options.  There are 32 compass points but not one of those readings take vertical elevation into account!

Yesterday I read Romans 1 in the morning and was impacted by something I never noticed before.  It is very easy as a believer in Christ to read this passage (and others like it) with a sort of spiritual superiority akin to the way Jews viewed Gentiles before Jesus established the church and made us one in Him.  When Paul talks about atheists, idolators, fornicators, or homosexuals, surely he is referring to them--not us real Christians, and certainly not me.  Yet see what Romans 1:24-25 says in the KJV, "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: ²⁵ who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."

If we relegate the second part of Romans 1 to only the unsaved it has far less personal impact than if we believe it can relate to all people, including myself.  The person who changed the truth of God into a lie is one who "worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator."  The implication of this is enormous because this is not an atheist but one who worships and serves the Creator, to a degree has knowledge of God!  This suggests a degree of worship and service unto God.  The people Paul warned Timothy about in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 could be included in this number:  "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ² for men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³ unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴ traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵ having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" (bold emphasis mine)

Is it possible a genuine Christian can change the truth of God into a lie, to worship and serve the creature more or rather than the Creator?  Sure!  Christianity can be viewed as a means to a better life now through financial gain or blessings.  It is the promise of eternal salvation without forgiveness, forgiveness without repentance, and repentance without brokenness for sin.  The Gospel can be distorted to worship all the benefits we receive from God rather than God who has freely given us all things by His grace.  Christians, like all sinners, have natural leanings towards serving the creature more than the Creator through man-pleasing, self-seeking, and being a respecter of persons.  How important it is to take God's Word personally so we might take it to heart and repent, and not to imagine warnings cannot legitimately apply to us because of our two-dimensional bias.

Loneliness and Love

During the Australian Open finals I saw an advertisement of an upcoming show of quite possibly the most ill-advised reality-type show ever:  "Married at First Sight."  I freely confess I have arrived to this negative view primarily on the basis of ads alone because I have never watched the show.  It seems ridiculous to pair perfect strangers together as a married couple in a culture which celebrates sex without a marriage relationship that honours God.  I don't know how contestants are compensated beyond money or becoming television celebrities (or gaining a lifelong spouse!), but in my opinion it seems too high a price to toy with people's emotions and feelings for a "social experiment" produced for entertainment.

The promo was particularly impacting because of the harsh reception a young woman named Connie received by family members when she announced she planned to appear on the show.  Connie shared with emotion how she often felt lonely and hoped going on the show and being married would change that.  I know Connie isn't alone.  In our hook-up culture largely devoid of intimacy or godly morality it is increasingly difficult to connect on a personal level that lasts.  This is not to say the church or Christians always have it right.  There are lonely people in the church, in Christian ministry, families, and marriages who seem to have everything going for them.

How I wish I had the opportunity to sit down for a chat with Connie and people who feel like her.  One thing I know for certain is marriage is no silver bullet to kill loneliness dead.  Placing your hopes on a marriage or another person to fulfill a gnawing need within you is misguided:  it is like the hope that eating a wholesome meal will permanently eliminate your need to eat.  No one can live up to our expectations.  To be loved, accepted, and belong is a need all people have only God is able to fully meet.  Looking to others to supply these needs for us will leave us wanting more and filled with dissatisfaction.  David wrote in Psalm 23:1, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want."  Because God was David's Shepherd he did not lack anything and was assured of all his needs being met forever by the God who gives eternal life.  David found satisfaction and rest in God who loved him.

It used to be common to say in marriage vows before God, "...till death do we part."  It is God's will marriage between a man and woman be lifelong, but it will not last forever.  The believer's relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ is an eternal union with our Creator who loves us and desires we be together forever.  A married person can feel alone in a relationship devoid of love and affection, but a single person can experience a satisfying, fulfilling life without loneliness through a relationship with God freely offered and received by His grace.  Amazing that God would call our name, that He would seek a union with us more permanent and perfect than the best marriage!

Since God knows our needs and has promised to meet them, we can trust the God who created us to supply our needs in His time and way.  He joins us to His own Body the Church with brothers and sisters, provides spouses and children according to His will.  We can know we are not alone because Jesus has said, "I will never leave or forsake you."  It is this relationship with God which positively impacts all other relationships because God alone is already satisfying us:  it is not about how other people make us feel but that we already belong to God and are loved by Him.  As God's love flows through us to others He continues to fill us.  Instead of thinking, "I'm not getting anything out of this relationship" God shows us how we can love one another as He loves us.  The affirmation God gives is more than positive thinking but unconditional belonging where feelings of loneliness flit away.