Victory Through Death

A few years back I had the privilege of visiting the historical location of the Alamo in Texas, a place where out-gunned and under-manned Americans took a brave stand in the face of Santa Anna during Texas' war for independence.  Davy Crockett and James Bowie were numbered among the men who held their ground with Colonel William Travis, a God-fearing man whose name I share.  During the siege  in 1836 Colonel Travis wrote a famous letter in which he signed off, "Victory or death."  In the post script he said, "The LORD is on our side," a testimony that he fixed his eyes on God beyond the reach of troops or cannon fire.  It sounds like Colonel Travis trusted God to provide for he and his men in this life and for his soul in the next should the fort fall, which it ultimately did.

In the battle to hold the Alamo there were only two options:  victory over the attackers, or death of the men who valiantly aimed to hold it.  What is remarkable is how a third option rose out of the ashes of defeat, for the courage and bravery those displayed to hold the Alamo became a rallying cry taken up by Texans in the fight for independence from Mexico:  "Remember the Alamo!"  A place marked by defeat and death became a symbol of courage to fight the good fight and to demonstrate the fortitude of those brave souls who gave their all for a worthy cause.

When Jesus went to Calvary, He demonstrated the miraculous ability to secure victory through death.  He did not fight to save His life but laid it down as a atoning sacrifice for sinners so all who trust in Him can have eternal life.  In dying and rising from the grave Jesus defeated death as Paul affirmed in 1 Corinthians 15:55-58, "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."  Observing the LORD's Supper is a fitting way to remember the price Jesus paid, the victory accomplished and to proclaim His death until He comes as a Saviour, Judge and King.

"Remember the Alamo!" was a rallying cry to fight courageously, and remembering Christ's victory through death fills us with gratitude and thanksgiving as we rest in the victory afforded us by Jesus.  Looking to Jesus keeps us from being weary and discouraged in our souls.  Let us thank God as we are steadfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing our labour and sacrifices will not be in vain because Jesus has already secured victory through death.

Proclaiming Jesus

I am enjoying reading through the Gospel of Mark with the family after dinner.  Yesterday we read chapter 5 of Mark when Jesus cast out a legion of demons from a possessed man.  The demons begged Jesus would not send them out of the country, and He permitted them to go into a herd of swine feeding nearby.  When the people of the town heard what Jesus had done, saw the man sitting with Jesus in His right mind, they begged Jesus to leave the region.  Ironic, right?

As Jesus boarded the ship to leave, the man who previously was demon possessed begged Jesus to go with Him.  It might be surprising to the reader Jesus declined his request.  Mark 5:19-20 says, "However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." ²⁰ And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled."  What Jesus did is an amazing, thought-provoking act in sending the man away with a clear directive:  to go home and tell his friends what great things the LORD Jesus had done for him.  This man was obedient to what Jesus told him, and through his witness all marveled at the power and compassion of Jesus Christ.

The transformation in the mind, body and soul of the previously demonised man was obvious, and it also speaks to the power of Jesus to protect people from what they have been delivered from.  This man did not need to read up on demonology or be versed in particular phrases to wield spiritual authority to return to the place and speak with people where he had previously been in spiritual bondage.  He was not put through a course of study or months of intensive discipleship classes before he was sent out as a harmless dove among wolves.  The power of God that delivered him from a legion of unclean spirits was the same power that kept him safe and gave eternal life, and Jesus had no trepidation in sending him out to declare the great things He had done for him.  He was alone but not alone, for God was with him.

Here is where we can have this wrong.  We put great emphasis on believers reading the word, being in fellowship at a local church, growing spiritually by learning as we follow Jesus in obedience--rightly so, all good things.  Instead of the typical "following up" to make sure a believer isn't falling back into old habits and being held accountable (perhaps even pestered!) to connect with fellow believers on a regular basis, Jesus gave this man the task of sharing with others the great things Jesus had done for him.  I suspect many people who make a "commitment" to follow Jesus or pray to receive Jesus in a church setting today do not know or cannot say exactly what Jesus has done for them.  They know facts about His death and resurrection, but do they know Him by spiritual regeneration?  Have they understood the great things Jesus has done for us and how He has had compassion on us?  Disciples of Jesus ought to look at their life and say to their family and friends, "This is how Jesus has shown compassion on me" and make a practice of sharing this reality as God opens our eyes to see His work in us day by day.

The bold proclamation by this man of what Jesus had done turned out to be more fruitful than the troubled townspeople who were shocked to see the once possessed man sitting by Jesus in his right mind.  The incident with the Samaritan woman in John 4 is illustrative here, for it was the testimony of the woman who alerted the men to come to Jesus to listen to Him.  John 4:41-42 reads, "And many more believed because of His own word. ⁴² Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."  Our testimony of Jesus leads people to see and hear Him for themselves, and true believers become proclaimers.  There is no better way for a baby to learn to walk by trying to do it, and the way to live the Christian life is to believe and obey Jesus and to proclaim what He has done for us.  Having received Jesus by faith we are protected and empowered to share Him with others.  In doing so we are strengthened, our faith grows, the church is edified and Jesus is glorified.

Let's trust Jesus to prepare the hearts of those to whom we speak about Him.  Let's believe in the power of the Gospel to transform people from demon possessed to being sent out as a missionary in one day.  Let's have all confidence that God who saves us can also protect us, lead us, and provide all we need to grow and be spiritually fruitful.  Let's be those who tell others what great things Jesus has done for us and how He has shown compassion on us.

Exceedingly and Abundantly Above All

The use of alliteration has the power to transform a mundane observation into a profound maxim.  Just because words rhyme, however, does not mean they are necessarily true.  One such statement I heard years ago is, "If your mind can conceive it and your heart can believe it, you can achieve it."  While there can be correlation between committed drive to meet a goal and ultimate success, effort alone is no guarantee of a positive result.  Many people have dreamt big and invested their all, yet they failed to achieve all they hoped.

This prescriptive formula does not account for the many people who achieved and accomplished exploits beyond their wildest expectations.  Looking back they plainly admitted not conceiving in their minds nor holding  belief in their hearts for all that later eventuated.  It can be satisfying to work towards goals and the achieve them, but the believer is called to realise all our ability and fruitfulness for our efforts is by the grace of God.  As it is written in Deuteronomy 8:18, "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day."  Joshua was able to say at the end of his days not one word failed from God's good promises, for all God said had come to pass.   It isn't the visionary or humanist that actually accomplishes anything, for whether man realises it what we may call success is all by God's grace.

Do you know your wildest dreams cannot compare to what God Who exceeds all expectations knows and plans?  We ought to pray for the desires of our hearts God has placed there, but know He is not in any way hindered by our short-sighted vision and plans.  Paul says God is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think in reference to heavenly, enduring riches that are beyond price.  He wrote in Ephesians 3:14-21:  "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height--¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

How many things Paul lists here we would not have considered to ask for a birthday or Christmas present:  strength through His Spirit, to have Christ dwell in our hearts by faith, to be rooted and grounded in God's love, that we could understand with all believers the fullness of God's love beyond reckoning, and to be filled with the fullness of God.  By the wisdom and power of the Holy Spirit Paul prayed for these things, and God would be faithful to do more still.  That is the power of God that is at work in the mind and heart of every believer, and the work God has begun He will be faithful to complete.  Isn't it wonderful to know to God will "be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever?"  It is also written in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10:  "...Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." ¹⁰ But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God."

We are called to believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God, not to conceive or achieve.  Even if we conceive the most awesome things imaginable God and His plans are infinitely greater; and should we achieve anything it is not our plans coming to pass which are worthy of notice because God can do everything.  Our ability to think, the measure of faith we possess and all achievements we might receive credit for are accomplished by God and He is worthy of all glory.  He reveals, strengthens, indwells, instructs and does in and through us "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think."  Praise the LORD!

Someone Loves Ned

Early this morning during a walk I happened upon an unexpected sight.  It wasn't the sliver of a moon hanging overhead or the mist which couched in the low lying fields that surprised me:  it was repeated declarations of love emblazoned in white and blue chalk all across the bitumen road that read, "I love Ned."

I was amused as I walked over the writing of someone who clearly was smitten by "Ned."  It made me wonder who this "Ned" was, if it was a person, dog, cat or skink.  Was "Ned" aware of this love written so boldly with elaborate lettering, or were these affections still a secret to him?  I considered what Ned must have done to have such devoted persistence to declare this love so willingly and passionately.  The last proclamation was even more personal:  "I love my Ned."  Let's just say these messages made me curious about Ned and his chalky admirer.

As I finished the walk, my thoughts went back to the chalk messages proclaiming to all a love of "Ned."  It gave me pause to consider if my words and deeds are such a bold declaration of love for Jesus.  Wouldn't it be a wonderful thing for lives of Christians to provoke such curiosity about Jesus Christ who loves us, who demonstrated His love for all people on the cross?  His declaration of love was far greater and enduring than messages written in chalk, for Jesus shed His own blood to save us sinners.  As wonderful and worthy as Ned might be to be loved, Jesus Christ is the most worthy of all.

I might never know who Ned is or meet him myself, but the glorious truth is everyone can know Jesus by faith in Him.  We do not need to see Jesus face-to-face, shake His nail-scarred hand or embrace Him to know He is real because He has revealed Himself to all in the word of God and through the love of His disciples.  Because Jesus gives all who trust Him eternal life, we will one day meet and all be together forever.  May people say of us believers, "Boy, they sure do love Jesus."  Oh, how I love Jesus, and I pray you would love Him too.