Lost Opportunity

“If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.” – 1 Kings 12:7

 Decisions based on pride and insensitivity lead to division. When King Solomon died he was succeeded by his son Rehoboam. His inauguration was to take place at Shechem. But right out of the box young Rehoboam was faced with a critical decision. Jeroboam, (an enemy of his father - 1 Kings 11:26-40), led the assembly of Israel to challenge Rehoboam. They said, “Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father, and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you” (1 Kings 12:1-4).  Solomon had expanded the kingdom of Israel to its greatest boundaries. He had built the magnificent Temple, his own house, the Milo, the wall of Jerusalem, Hazor, Megiddo and many other building projects (cf. 1 Kings 9:15-28). While he didn’t utilize forced labor to do this work (1 Kings 9:22), he did lay heavy tax burdens on the people.  Wisely, Rehoboam asked for three days to think about it his response (12:5).

Rehoboam first consulted “the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lives” (12:6). He first went to those who knew his father and had served with him. Their counsel was, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever” (12:7). In other words they counseled Rehoboam to be a servant leader. Jesus said the key to greatness is being a servant (Mat. 23:11). The counsel of the elders was spot and prudent. They also advised Rehoboam to answer the people and speak “good words to them.” “Good” (טוֹב - ṭôwb, tobe ) here means pleasant, bountiful, cheerful, proper types of words. Rehoboam shouldn’t respond haughtily but humbly. He was being advised to empathize and be sensitive to the needs of the people; to be gracious and willing to listen. The elders told Rehoboam if he would just respond in a good way with good words to the people, “then they will be your servants forever.” If he responded as a servant of the people and not a tyrant, the people’s hearts would melt before him and he would win them forever. Not only that, but we know that God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble (Prov. 3:34; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). If Rehoboam responded in humility, God would be on his side. This was good wise counsel from his father’s elders.

What the elders were really advising Rehoboam was to love the people. David loved the people. He was heartbroken when his poor decisions adversely impacted the people (cf. 2 Sam. 24:14). Solomon started with a concern and love for the people he ruled (1 Kings 3:9). Loveless decisions are always poor decisions. In the New Testament John wrote, “But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). Rehoboam had it in his power to relieve the burden of the people. In refusing to do so he exhibited loveless leadership. A good leader has compassion. A godly leader leads in the love of the Lord.

Unfortunately Rehoboam “rejected the advice which the elders had given him, and consulted the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him.” (12:8). The advice of his young friends was to answer the people, “My little finger shall be thicker than my father’s waist!” (12:9-10). In other words, “You think my father laid a heavy burden on you? Wait until you see what I do; you haven’t seen nothin’ yet!” This was a purely prideful response. Rehoboam and his young friends probably reasoned that to show compassion and sensitivity was to expose weakness. Perhaps they thought if I give in to them with this then it will only lead to more requests. They saw leadership as rule, authority, power, and control. They were more concerned with keeping power and lordship over the people than they were serving God by serving the people. They were so wrong.  

It’s not surprising that Jeroboam and the people didn’t respond well to the rough answer of Rehoboam. Not only did they completely reject his decision, but when they saw that he was unwilling to listen to their request and be fair, they said, “What share have we in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. To your tents, O Israel! Now see to your own house, O David!” (12:16). When King Rehoboam sent Adoram to collect the taxes, the people stoned him and   it began a civil war that resulted in the ten northern tribes separating from Judah and Benjamin in the south.  

What a lost opportunity! The unity of the nation was at stake. And the loyalty of a people to their king and king to the people hung in the balance. Even more importantly, the relationship of Israel to their God was about to be adversely impacted. And all was lost because of pride and a lack of love. Tragic! Humility and love are indispensable to leaders and decision making. Nothing good comes from pride. Nothing is gained by a lack of love.

Decisions based on pride and insensitivity lead to division. “By pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well advised is wisdom” (Prov. 13:10). “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18). Rehoboam’s proud harsh response to the people led to a foolish decision. A fool is someone who fails to factor God into their life equation (Ps. 14). Rehoboam consulted the elders of his father and his young friends, but he never consulted God! If he had maybe the Lord would have brought to mind the inspired proverb of his father that states, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Prov. 15:1). But God spoke to him and told him not to fight against those who had separated themselves from him (12:22-24). The consequence of the decision must take its course. This situation was linked in part to Solomon’s forsaking of God (1 Kings 11).

The division caused by pride was like a cancer. Jeroboam, concerned that he would lose people if they went to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship, erected an alternative altar in the northern area of the tribe of Dan and at Bethel. Two golden calves were made and outright apostasy and false worship was encouraged (12:25-35). Pride led to division. Division led to apostasy. Human relationships were severed by pride and insensitivity. And relationships with God were and added ultimate consequence. Nothing good ever comes from pride.

Is your life characterized by broken relationships and division? If so, it doesn’t mean you are necessarily the culprit or cause. Sometimes we are victimized by pride and lovelessness. But just in case, ask yourself a few questions. Are you more concerned with maintaining control than being compassionate? Are you looking to serve or be served? Are you proud or humble? “He who has a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered” (Prov. 28:25). Remember, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever” (12:7). Those are wise words. Pray about it. Servant or lord, what’s your choice?

 

 

In His Image – Grace, Faith, and Love

“So God created man in His own image” – Genesis 1:27

 We are created in the image of God. What does that mean? In part it means we are a reflection of God and who He is. We get a picture of who God is and what He is like when we look at the human makeup. Of course, that image has been marred by sin. Adam went from being created in the image of God to having offspring “in his own likeness,” that is, in his own fallen sinful nature likeness (Gen. 5:3). But there is still a lot we can learn about God and His ways by looking at His image in us.  

We see; God sees. We hear; God hears. We touch; God touches. “So do animals,” you say. Some would argue that primates are very human-like. They would go so far as to say they are simply less evolved than humans. That is a discussion for another day. Suffice it to say that humanity is so far beyond primates in intellect, creativity, and volition as to make comparison gross. Humanity is uniquely created by God in His image. What really sets humanity apart?

I like the comment of Pastor Chuck Smith in the Word for Today Bible for Genesis 1:26. He states, “What does it mean to be made after God’s likeness? The chief governing characteristic of God is His self-determination – His will and His ability to choose and to determine His own destiny. So man was created a self-determinant being. The chief emotional attribute of God is love. God made man in His image with a beautiful capacity to love – both to give it and receive it.” [1] The image of God in us is most clearly seen in our will and capacity to love.

Understanding the image of God in humanity is important because it sheds light on our accountability before God. Because we are created by God with the capacity to make decisions and to love others, we are accountable before Him for those decisions and our love or lack thereof.

Our existence is completely due to the sovereign determination of God. We exist because He chose to bring us into existence. “In Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:16b, 17). “You are worthy O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Rev. 4:11). That is grace. We don’t deserve to be created. But God created us by grace; undeserved favor. Grace is God acting according to His own nature of love. God created us graciously; according to His own nature of love. He created us in His image.

Created by His grace and in His image we have the capacity to make decisions. God’s image in us manifests itself in our capacity to choose right from wrong. We trust this or that. We exert the faith He has built into our being. “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15). “’How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.’ But the people answered him not a word.” (1 Kings 18:21).

The greatest decision we make is to love. “Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD our God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Mat. 22:37-40). The love God speaks of is not cheap love. It isn’t a love that is in word only. Love is not mere lip-service. “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.” (John 14:21a). “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 3:16-18).

Human choice and love are inextricably connected. If humanity does not have the capacity to choose, it cannot love. Love forced is an oxymoron. That’s important because some theology discounts the human will. It removes the image of God in humanity that provides the capacity to choose and make decisions. There are some who would remove human decision from the equation of salvation. And yet Christ’s call to repentance screams for decision (e.g. Mark 1:15). I understand the motive of those who discount human free will and the capacity for decision. I understand the desire to exalt God and make salvation completely and totally of Him, of His grace. But even if the salvation plan of God is viewed as incorporating a decision from human beings, salvation is still totally of God. God created us in the first place. He created us in His image with the capacity to choose. He reasons with us and draws us to Himself (Is. 1:18; John 6:44). He persuades us and convicts us of our sin (John 16:8-11). It’s all by His grace. We wouldn’t know we fall short of His glorious requirements unless by grace he revealed and exposed our depravity (Rom. 3).

Removing the decision required of humanity by God from the salvation equation serves to desecrate the image of God He has placed in the human creation. It makes God’s creation less than He created it to be. It diminishes God’s creativity. It doesn’t exalt God’s sovereignty, it lessons it. Is God only able to rule those He has programmed a certain way to be ruled? Or is God so great and glorious that He can field humanities’ questions and even their accusations and then respond, “Who is this who darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me” (Job 38:2-3).

To say humanity must respond to the gospel with faith or trust should not be viewed as incorporating a human “work” in salvation. Faith is not a work. When a person repents and puts their faith in Jesus they have nothing to boast about. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9). Faith is part of God’s image in humanity. It is there by grace. But humanity is responsible for using that capability.

Some say salvation circumvents a willful decision by people. Some say people cannot make a decision one way or the other. They affirm the only people who are saved are those who have been predestined to salvation by God beforehand. They say salvation is separate from any decision on the part of humanity. Such a view removes the image of God from humanity. Such a view reduces humanity to automatons; robots. Unable to choose, we are unable to love. Thank God this is not the truth! For God has given us a will and capacity to choose. Praise God we can choose to receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord! Praise God we can love! By His grace we can choose. By His grace we can love. Choose wisely.

 

 

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[1] Pastor Chuck Smith,  Word for Today Bible. (Costa Mesa CA: Word for Today Pub. 2012)  note on page 3 for Genesis 1:26.  

“Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’”

Jesus told Nicodemus, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” (John 3:7). We must be “born of the Spirit” (John 3:6, 8). Does that cause you to marvel? Are you amazed that in this age of eclecticism, unbridled tolerance, and relativism someone would be so bold as to claim there is a single solitary essential of salvation? Is that bigoted?

The context of those words was one Rabbi talking to another. Nicodemus was a religious man. As a rabbi he was beneficiary of a high quality of education relative to the day. He was probably well to do. He was outwardly clean and polished. He was religiously well dressed. He was in a position of prestige. He had all the advantages of being a prominent person in his society and culture. And yet when in the presence of Jesus this religious man of note was told, “You must be born again.”

What about people in the church who don’t believe a person has to be born again to enter God’s kingdom? What about people of other faiths: Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and Jews? What about good atheists and agnostics?  What about the millions who admit they simply don’t know? Or what about the millions who say you can’t know? Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matthew 7:13-14). That narrow but saving way is, “You must be born again.”

Why is it so important to be born again? Because without being born again humans are spiritually dead. We are dead in sin. Physically we will die. But there is much more than that. Because of sin we are dead to God. We are out of relationship with Him. Our sin separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:1-2). He is Holy and requires we be holy (Leviticus 11:44; 1 Peter 1:15-16). People forget about that. People concoct or create an image of “God” that doesn’t exist. Their “God” condones sin and immorality. They disregard God’s definition of sin in scripture and call evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20). That is unacceptable and repulsive to God. If we cherish sin in our hearts God will not hear us (Psalm 66:18). God is of purer eyes than to look upon evil and “cannot look on wickedness” (Habakkuk 1:13). And we are evil!

God in His word states, “The imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen. 8:21). In Psalms David states, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me” (Psalm 51:5). Solomon was inspired to write, “For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin” (Ecclesiastes 7:20). All this sin works death in us. In Ephesians Paul contrasts believers with what they once were by stating, “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others” (Eph. 2:1-3). Evil, iniquitous, unjust, dead in trespasses and sins, walking worldly, under Satan’s influence, disobedient, and fleshly, that’s our human condition. Would you want to stand before a Holy God in that state? We better be born again.

 

We must all be transformed from darkness to light, from the power of Satan to God, in order to receive forgiveness of our sins and God’s inheritance of eternal life (Acts 26:18). We must be saved from our sin. We must receive “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). We must be born again!

Paul said, “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not His” (Romans 8:9b). It takes the Holy Spirit within us to enable us to have a saving relationship with God. Only by the Holy Spirit can someone experience, “. . . the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15). It is “The Spirit Himself” who “bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). That should make us want to be born again.

Our world is confused. They foolishly think themselves wiser than God. They “marvel” at the supposed stupidity and narrowness of Christianity. But really they are cowards. They run from any conflict or integrity like it was the plague. They have grown weak as a wet noodle. They are unwilling to stomach what it takes to confront sin and stand in the gap for those running toward hell. They would rather allow people to fornicate while their house burns down around them. Some hide from personal accountability by claiming eternity is esoteric; unknowable. Therefore they claim every road leads to the same place; a nirvana of some kind. They think this philosophically prudent in terms of avoiding conflict. “Can’t we all just get along?” “Give peace a chance.”

But if all roads are right and all beliefs true it raises a lot of logical reasonable questions about the many contradictions such a worldview creates. Is there one God or many gods? Is He personal or impersonal? Has “God” communicated with us? Can we communicate with Him; or Her? Is there a heaven? What’s it like? How do we get there? Do we work our way to heaven? What “work” is sufficient? How much work is enough? Can we be sure? Is getting to heaven a religious or spiritual journey? Are those two things in agreement or conflict? Is there a right, a wrong?  There’s a myriad questions and humanity is seeking answers while in a dark dead state. All the while there is this ache within pondering  there must be more than this. There is. We must be born again.

“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:4-7). In love as a free gift of His grace God in Christ came into this world of sin. He reached down into the toilet of this world and made a way for us to be cleaned from the filth of sin. He has shined His light into our darkness. “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. . . . If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7, 9). The kindness and love of God has appeared. It does not speak of working your way out of this sinful mess. It speaks of mercy; not getting what we deserve. It speaks of salvation to those lost in sin. It speaks of thorough heart cleansing. It speaks of renewal; transformation by the Holy Spirit. It speaks of abundance. It speaks of the possibility to be justified before God or have a standing that is just as if I’d never sinned. And it speaks of all of this through Jesus Christ. His blood shed for us. The penalty for sin is death. He paid our penalty. He died for us. (Romans 6:23). He is faithful. He is just. He will forgive our sins. We can be born again!

If this salvation, this washing of regeneration, this spiritual birth, this second birth or being born again is not of works, then how can we experience it? “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God” (John 1:12-13). Receive Him. Take hold of Him, grasp Him. Just take hold of the gift He is offering. Believe in His name. Have faith in Him and all He stands for and has revealed. Be convinced. Trust Him. Rely on Him. Have confidence in Him as your Savior. All of this implies repentance. God’s offer entails turning from alternatives to Jesus. He doesn’t say “receive Him and . . . .” He doesn’t say, “believe in His name and . . . .” By nature we are walking from God. He gets our attention with grace, love, mercy, sacrifice. He who knew no sin has become sin for us. He offers us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). It’s not our blood. It’s not our human willful religious asceticism. It’s God. “You must be born again.” It’s the only way. It’s the truth. It’s life (John 14:6). Marvelous? In light of our sin, yes indeed. In light of our self-righteousness, definitely not! “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” Be born again!

 

 

 

The Prime Essential of Salvation

". . .  if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” - Romans 8:9

There is one prime essential of salvation. A person can be religious, relatively good, and even believe there is a God and that Jesus is the Christ, and still be lost! The Pharisees were amongst the most religious people that ever lived and yet Jesus denounced them for their hypocrisy (Mat. 23). The Rich Young Ruler had apparently kept the commandments of God and yet “one thing” (Mark 10:21). Demons believe there is a God and that Jesus is the Christ, “the Holy One of God!” and are still destined for hell (Mat. 8:29; Mark 1:24; Luke 4:34; James 2:19). What is the one prime essential which separates these examples from eternal life and a place in God’s Kingdom? It is the Holy Spirit within.

Jesus told Nicodemus the religious Pharisee, “You must be born again” and explained that to be a spiritual birth (John 3:1-21). Just as a person is physical born, they need a second birth, a spiritual birth. They need to be born again. Until that happens a person is spiritually dead. Until the Holy Spirit comes to reside or indwell a person they are incomplete. God created humanity to have fellowship with Him. We are dependent on fellowship with God. We are created with an inherent design for fellowship with God. No matter what success or partial fulfillment we acquire in this life without God there will remain emptiness in us.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ he is not His” (Rom. 8:9). The context is speaking of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit in the genuinely saved Christian. There are people who frequent churches, wear Christian paraphernalia, who do “good” deeds but still do not belong to God. Why is this so? Because they lack the indwelling Holy Spirit. Jesus referred to such people as “tares.” A tare is husk of wheat with no kernel inside. On the outside it looks like any other full husk of wheat. But on the inside it is empty. Jesus said there are tares among the healthy wheat (Mat. 13:24-30).  This raises two questions.

First, how can I be born again and indwelled by the Holy Spirit? This spiritual second birth takes place when a person responds to the gracious reasoning and call of God (Is. 1:18). No one can come to God unless He draws them (John 6:44). Sin separates humanity from God (Ps. 66:18; Is. 59:2; Rom. 3:9-23), who is Holy (Ps. 5:4; Hab. 1:13). God will not simply dismiss or turn a blind eye to our sin; that would go against the foundations of who He is (Ps. 89:14). The Holy Spirit convicts the sinner of their sinfulness, that in their own strength they cannot attain God’s required level of righteousness for salvation, and that they are therefore destined for God’s just and righteous judgment (John 16:8-11). The consequence of sin is death; not annihilation but eternal separation from God in a place called hell (Ps. 9:17; Mat. 25:46; Rom. 6:23).

But God who is Love made a way for humanity to be justified, redeemed and forgiven their sin through faith in Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Rom. 5:1f.; 8:1f.). Jesus the just paid the death penalty on the cross for the unjust (1 Pet. 3:18). He “was made sin for us” that we might receive His righteousness put to our account (2 Cor. 5:21). That transaction takes place when a person puts their faith in Jesus as Savior (Eph. 2:8-9). This is not mere assent like demons.  Saving faith by nature is repentant; a person turns from their sin to God. It also means they ask God’s forgiveness based on the atoning work of Jesus on the cross not their own efforts to be right with God.

When a person receives this salvation offered by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ God forgives their sin and gives them spiritual life (i.e. regeneration) by indwelling them with the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16; 6:19). The work of the Holy Spirit is described as, “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5). He washes away our sins and gives us spiritual life.

Second, how do I know if I have been born again and indwelled by the Holy Spirit?  The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity (one God; Three distinct Persons); He is God (Acts 5:3-4). Jesus described the Holy Spirit as “another Helper” which literally means, another just like Me (“another” = ἄλλος - allŏs, al´-los – another of the same of the same sort - John 14:16). Peter conveys this by using the words, “the Spirit of Christ” in reference to the Holy Spirit (1 Pet. 1:11). When we see references to Christ being in us it is referring to the indwelling Holy Spirit who is making the presence of Jesus known (e.g. Rom. 8:10; Col. 1:27). Therefore, when the Holy Spirit indwells a person there will be evidence of His holy work in that person and that holy work is conforming the indwelled person to Christlikeness (Rom. 8:29).

There are ten evidences of the indwelling Holy Spirit. These are the things associated with the regenerated life of the Spirit in scripture. They may be in degrees. They should be ongoing and growing. These evidence are:

1.      A desire to be led by the Spirit of God not the flesh (i.e. self-will; self-reliance; self-promotion) – Rom. 8:1-14; Gal. 5:16, 25; 1 Pet. 1:22.

2.      A personal relationship with Jesus via the indwelling Spirit – Rom. 8:10; John 15:26

3.      A warm familial rather than harsh slave/Master relationship with God – Rom. 8:15

4.      An assurance of salvation – Rom. 8:16; 1 John 3:24

5.      A power of the Spirit to help overcome weaknesses – Rom. 8:26a; Acts 1:8; Zech. 4:6

6.      A Spirit led prayer life – Rom. 8:26b-27; Eph. 6:18

7.      A Spirit led insight – John 14:26; 16:13; 1 Cor. 2:9-14; 1 Tim. 4:1f.; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22.

8.      A hunger for and submission to the God-breathed/inspired word of God which is the language of the Spirit - 2 Tim. 3:16-17; Eph. 6:17.

9.      A holy love for God and people – Rom. 5:5; Gal. 5:22-24;  2 Cor. 5:14

10.  A unity with other Spirit filled believers – Eph. 4:3

Do you see these evidences in your life? Paul was inspired to question his readers with the words, “. . . if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you” (Rom. 8:9). Have you been born again? Does the Spirit indwell you? Is there evidence of the Spirit’s indwelling in your life? The indwelling Holy Spirit is the prime essential of salvation. “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Cor. 13:5). Do you not know . . . ?

 

Have You Room for Jesus?

Are you in the Christmas spirit? Hurricane Sandy and the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre have put the kibosh on Christmas for many. In fact there are people who have actually taken down their decorations because they feel guilty about celebrating Christmas when there’s so much pain being experienced. Normally the frenzy to buy gifts threatens to crowd out Christmas and the Christmas spirit. Even Christians can get caught up in the rush to spend rashly. There are a lot of reasons to shut the door on Christmas this year. Some may go so far as to shut the door on Jesus. Have you room for Jesus?

If there’s no room for Jesus in your holiday season, it wouldn’t be the first time there was no room for Jesus. The first time He came there was no room for Him. In the Gospel of Luke it states, “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”  (Luke 2:7).

Theologically this speaks of the incarnation of Jesus. It speaks of the humiliation of Jesus. And it speaks of the providential workings of God to carry out His redemptive plan in Christ. But there are other down to earth revelations intertwined in the incarnation of Christ. They speak to our present state of affairs; especially this year.

God’s ways are not our ways. God works in ways that we don’t readily understand. His ways are not our ways (Isaiah 55:7-11). In Romans 12:2 it tells us not to be conformed to the world. A reason for this is that God regularly works in ways that the world and even in the religious community can not relate to. The ways of God are nonconformist and unorthodox by secular and religious standards. Who would have thought that a single Teacher with an inner core of 12 rag tag disciples would turn out to be not only God in the flesh but the Savior of the world?  Who would have thought the Savior of the world, God in the flesh, would be born in a stable because there was no other place for his mother to birth? Who would have thought this child would be the way the truth and the life and the only way to eternal life with God? God’s ways are not our ways.

Our plan can be opposed to His plan. God’s ways are not our ways. God’s plans may keep us from things we think are best for us. But God’s plan is always the best plan. He has only the best of intentions for us. If He says, “No,” to a request of ours, it is only because He has something infinitely and eternally better for us. We are limited and finite in understanding. He is infinite and all knowing. It’s always best to trust the LORD; even when we don’t understand. 

God is able to accomplish His will even when all seems lost. Mrs. A. E. Gadsby of Niagara Falls, Canada, in December 1940 mailed a Christmas parcel to her daughter in Prestwick, Scotland. The ship carrying the mail was torpedoed off the west coast of Ireland. All seemed lost in terms of that letter ever reaching its destination. But a favorable tide floated the package unerringly  ashore on the beach of Prestwick. The contents were soaked but perfectly usable. The address was still legible and the package reached the addressee two days after Christmas. God has a plan and He will work it out come hell or high water (Jeremiah 29:11-13). Hope in Him (Psalm 42).

God incorporates human free will in His plans. Human free will does not take God by surprise. But it does make for an interesting journey in God’s plans. Because of human free will Joseph in Old Testament times was sold into slavery, falsely accused and imprisoned, forgotten for a time, exalted to the second in command in the Egyptian empire and ultimately used by God with all of his hardship, for God’s good purposes to preserve the Messianic line (Genesis 50:20). Because of human free will there was an innkeeper who had no room for Jesus. Because of human free will Jesus was betrayed by one of his closest and most trusted disciples. Yet God used all of this to bring salvation to the world through His Son. God uses human free will and because of that we can’t always see His plan. God unfolds His plan bit by bit. As we follow His lead we begin to see. Sometimes the full plan won’t be seen until glory. Through it all, no matter what, the best plan is to, trust in God, hope in God, love the Lord and let Him bring to pass His good plan (Romans 8:28). 

Obstacles don’t necessarily mean we are out of God’s will. What if Joseph and Mary said, “Okay, there’s no room here for us to have the baby, let’s go to the next town”? If they had done that Jesus would not have been born in Bethlehem according to Messianic prophecy (Micah 5:2) and He would have been disqualified as Messiah. But they trusted in the Lord and made due with what God provided. There is no record of any complaints on their part. There is only a record of humble submission. Christmas is a time notorious for combustible complaints. God’s word tells us to “do all things without complaining and disputing” (Philippians 2:14). Maybe we should take action so that there’s room for Jesus but no room for bad Christmas attitudes.

When we encounter obstacles we should follow the leading of the Spirit. Mary and Joseph were humble enough to follow the Spirit. They didn’t come to Bethlehem expecting to have Mary give birth in a stable. But that is where the Spirit led them and that is where they went. The Spirit will never lead in a way that is contrary to God’s word. In fact the Spirit most often leads us by the word of God (Romans 8:14). We discover God’s will by giving ourselves to Him as living sacrifices. To discover His will we have to surrender ourselves and our own agendas to Him and His will (Romans 12:1-2).  

There is an enemy who wants to shut Jesus out. The devil wants to destroy Jesus and all who love Him. We see this in the slaughter of the innocents ordered by Herod (Matthew 2:16-18). Herod and many other people in history have been enemies of Jesus and His people. But the ultimate enemy of Jesus is Satan. Of Satan it is stated: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”  (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Jesus came to destroy the works of Satan (Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 3:8). We have an enemy and he seeks to distract, deceive and destroy everything connected with Jesus. We have seen our own version of the slaughter of innocents recently. The enemies’ objective is to make sure there is no room for Jesus in your life. He is ruthless and merciless in this effort. Don’t let him succeed! Make a conscious effort to have meaningful devotional times with the Lord each day during this time of year. This will help you make room for Jesus each day. Cultivate spiritual sensitivity to how Jesus might want to use you to help others make room for Him.

Not everyone has room for Jesus. Jesus states, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” (Rev. 3:20). Jesus especially knocks on the door of the church seeking to come in and fellowship. But not everyone has room for Jesus. Some have their own petty ideas or agenda to follow. Some are too angry to let Him in. Others are too proud and busy worshipping themselves to let Christ in. And still others want to rule on the throne rather than have Jesus be Lord. When Jesus knocks, open to Him. He is the reason for the season. Don’t forget that. Don’t be cheated out of the presence of Jesus this Christmas (Colossians 2:8, 23).

Do you have room for Jesus this Christmas? Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart right now. You may have never paid attention to His knocking but now He is getting your attention. Will you open the door of your heart and invite Him in? Admit you have sinned against God’s holy law and deserve eternal damnation (Romans 3:23; 6:23). Acknowledge that Jesus died for your sins upon the cross; He died in your place on the cross; He paid the penalty you deserved for your sins on the cross. Ask by faith God to forgive you of your sin based on your accepting what Jesus has done for you on the cross (Romans 6:23; 5:8).  Advance in the Spirit (who is now in you) and depend on God to help you bear spiritual fruit and live for Jesus.

We can learn a lot from that short verse in the gospel of Luke. But the thing we need to consider is do we have room for Jesus in our lives, in all of our lives? Have you room for Jesus? That’s the question before us right now. Have a meaningful Christmas and make room for Jesus!

 

 

Overcoming Faith for Overwhelming Times

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. - 1 John 5:4

God, in His word, promises to provide the means to overcome overwhelming times of this world. That means is faith. There is an overcoming faith that victoriously gets us through overwhelming times. And that is exactly what we need. Hurricane Sandy submerged countless homes in unprecedented numbers. Thousands are displaced. Thousands have had their world turned upside down. A Nor’easter added insult to injury. We are just now beginning to catch our breath. But the enemy is ruthless and not about to give us any mercy. Like a merciless combination puncher he is hitting us again before we can recover.

A dagger has pierced our heart. The governor of Connecticut has aptly said, “Evil has visited us.” This evil came in the form of a deranged twenty year old gunman who awoke from his sleep and started his day by shooting his mother in the face. Can’t get more personally hateful than that; or can you?  The deranged merciless murderer then inexplicably took his mother’s car, drove to the New Town Elementary school and proceeded to shoot the principal, other adults, and TWENTY CHILDREN ages 5-10! This was the product in part of a society steeped in ruthless, mindless, and cheapening of life. We are reaping the years of promoted godlessness and selfishness in our nation.

What was he thinking? It’s doubtful we will ever fully know. He was deranged and himself overwhelmed. But he is without excuse no matter his sick tale. What devilish evil had overtaken him? The world and even we may process this event with psychological terminology. But who can doubt that the demonic was the real fiendish, maniacal, genocidal, brutal and malevolent spirit behind these horrific and overwhelming actions?  This was a dark and overwhelming attack on our heart.

Coinciding with recent storms and tragedy is a rising tide of world economic crisis. There is the political and social upheaval in our nation as well as the Middle East. There is the pending nuclear arms capability in terrorist Iran. Then there’s the moral breakdown of society (e.g. rise of homosexuality and legalizing of same-sex marriage). These are sources of much grief especially for the righteous.

And all of this is compounded in its heart heaviness by the season in which it is occurring. Christmas time is here. Usually children are anticipating gifts; toys to enjoy; fun in the snow; a white Christmas. Is there a happier more joyous time than Christmas? Even if the world has trashed this holy time with materialism and myths, it’s still supposed to be and usually is a happy time. But those who have suffered lose know that Christmas time and thoughts of bygone happy times can intensify our sense of loss. We remember these happier times when we are forced to sorrow. We miss them. We yearn for them. We grieve for them and our lost or departed loved ones. And Christmas, in light of New Town, for many years to come will now be spattered with images of blood. It’s overwhelming.

Are you overwhelmed? After a while it just becomes too much for us. On our own we will wilt and fall. There is only one way to survive. We need to turn to God for His overcoming faith. The Bible says when the enemy comes in like a flood the Spirit of the LORD will raise a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19). The Spirit has what we need.

We will never be the same. Lives are changed forever. But there is a way to get through. God has provided an instrument to keep our heads above water. He has given a tourniquet to stop the bleeding. There is something that can get us on the road to recovery. We will never be the same. But we can survive. We can overcome. How?

God gives faith. His special kind of faith can get us through. But there are different kinds of faith. Not all faith sustains. Not all faith overcomes. Some faith is strong; some weak. The kind of the faith we have makes all the difference in the world in terms of overcoming or being overcome.

Did you know even demons have faith? They believe in the existence of God, and they tremble (James 2:19). Some of the first statements of who Jesus was in the gospels come from demons. Demons believe God but perform evil. Their faith in God has no impact, no fruit in their existence. Jesus rebuked such faith (Mark 1:24-25). Some people have this kind of faith.

Some have faith in “faith.” They fear offending others so they trust in a generic faith that in the end is meaningless. Faith is only as potent and sustaining as the object it trusts in. If you don’t even have enough faith to express who or what you have faith in, how strong is your faith? Not strong but weak.  

Christians, even disciples of Christ, can have weak faith. Jesus referred to this kind of faith as “little faith,” faith that was easily overcome with the things of this world (Mat. 6:30; Luke 12:28). This kind of faith falters in the storms of life (Mat. 8:26). It fails because it doesn’t keep its eyes on Jesus (Mat. 14:31). It is dull of understanding (Mat. 16:8).  

But there is a faith that victoriously overcomes in overwhelming times. That is the faith we need. Difficulty, disaster, and confronting the dark things of life prove the genuineness of our faith. Hardship reveals whether the faith we have will stand the test of trials (e.g. 1 Peter 1:6-9). Jesus said some reject the seed of His word outright. Some only receive what He offers in a shallow way. Some receive but then let the things of this world choke off any fruitfulness. Then there are some who take Him and His word down deep into their heart and the fruit of faith grows (Mat. 13; Mark 4; Luke 8). Which best describes you? Do you have an overcoming faith that is fruitful and nourishing in overwhelming times?

The faith that overcomes is a special kind of faith. It is not a faith that comes from within us. On our own, we couldn’t experience it. Look at its description in Psalm 33. It is a faith that praises God even when our heart is heavily burdened (33:1-2). It worships God in song, even if it is a sorrowing song (33:3). It is rooted in God’s word of truth (33:4). This faith trusts in God as Creator (33:5-9). It trusts in God as sovereign over the nations of the earth (33:10-12). It trusts in God to care for the particulars of individuals throughout the earth (33:13-15). This overcoming faith knows that if we trust in the Lord in the end we will come through victoriously rejoicing in Him (33:16-22).

In Psalm 37 the Holy Spirit has breathed out a description of a faith that does “not fret because of evildoers” (37:1-2).  We see a faith that trusts in the LORD; in the LORD! The LORD is the object of this faith. This faith does good and feeds on God’s faithfulness (37:3). It delights itself in the LORD, commits itself to the LORD, and doesn’t get angry but rests in the LORD (37:4-8). This is a faith that realizes evildoers will be cut off and dealt with in due time by the LORD. The person with such faith knows God watches over the righteous (37:9-22). They may give their life, but not lose their soul. Such faith knows a righteous person may fall, but God will always raise them up (37:23-26). This overcoming faith does good waiting on the LORD. It trusts that God will save, strengthen and deliver the righteous in the end (37:27-40). This is what we need.

There is one more essential particular of overcoming faith. It is the most critically important part of it. Overcoming faith is faith in Jesus and the rock of His word. God in His word very clearly reveals, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. ⁵ Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”  (1 John 5:4-5). It is faith in Jesus that leads to overcoming the world.

Jesus said, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. ²⁶ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” (Matthew 7:24-27). In these difficult times turn to Jesus and His word. He is there for you. He has promised to never leaven or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). He said He would be with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). The end of the world is closer than ever before. We’re not alone. Jesus is with us. How will you build?

What kind of faith do you have? Do you have a faith that will overcome times of testing? Is your faith in faith? Is it demonic? Is your faith weak, faltering, dull of understanding? Or is your faith an overcoming faith that trusts in Jesus and is built on the rock of His word? There are overwhelming times ahead. Will you overcome or be overcome? Will you sink and be shaken in the tsunamis of life? Every good thing comes from God (James 1:16-18). That would include faith in Jesus and His word. Pray to God in Christ as led by the Spirit. Receive His overcoming faith.

 

 

 

 

A “free gift” That Exceeds All Others

Google search for “free gift” and you come up first with a complimentary cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory. Coming in second and third are links to Godiva chocolates and Chuck E Cheese. Now that I have the attention of those of you with a sweet tooth, let me speak of a free gift that far exceeds all others.

Eternal life, salvation, God’s forgiveness of our sins, is offered as a “free gift.”  For those trying to work their way to heaven these are truly sweet words. How is that possible? Salvation as a free gift is offered to us by God on the basis of Jesus atoning death on the cross. Jesus paid our debt of sin on the cross so that when we trust in Him God justly forgives us. Something is free when you don’t have to work for it. Jesus has done the work of salvation for us. Therefore all we need do is turn from our sin to God by trusting Jesus as our Savior. Salvation is a free gift to be received (John 1:12).

Some of you have been consuming the junk food of a religious pursuit of God. You’ve been trying to earn God’s favor by doing things you think He’d like you to do. You are trying to work your way to heaven. The problem with that is you never know if your work is good enough or just simply enough. There’s no certainty; no assurance of your standing with God. All there is for the worker is an uncertain, unsatisfying, even fear of the future.

If you believe in and respect the Bible, (and there is a ton of evidence proving the Bible is no ordinary book but is in truth God’s revelation to humanity), then you should know that God’s recipe for salvation is the health food of salvation. This salvation comes by His grace as a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ. That alone is the dish that truly satisfies.  Your salvation can be as complete, certain and sure as Jesus cross work. And He said, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).

Let’s turn to a less palatable metaphor. The crust of food can be delicious. But when you use the word crust in regards to your skin or the earth’s surface you are speaking of some aspect of disease or the hard jagged surface of our planet. Sin is like cancer, even the smallest cell incident of sin will spread and become unmanageable if left unattended and untreated. Sin hardens the heart; it hardens the sinner. Sin makes the sinner crusty.  That’s not good.

But there is a cure for this crusty condition. And that cure is offered as a free gift. That cure is provided in Christ. There is a chapter in the Bible which three times states that salvation is a “free gift” from God. Romans 5:17 states, “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” This verse introduces us to Romans 5 where we see The Crust of Sin and The Cure of Christ.  I encourage you to get your Bible out and turn to Romans 5 where we will see our crusty condition of sin and God’s amazing free gift cure.

The Crust of Sin. When we look at this passage we see the marks of a patient with a potentially fatal illness. If left unattended the patient will die. There is a cure, but as an early church father stated, “Before you can prescribe an antidote, you have to know the poison.” What does this chapter tell us about the crusty cancer of sin?

It isn’t a pretty picture. The first symptom is guilt. We wouldn’t need to be justified unless we were guilty in some way (5:1a). There is unrest. We wouldn’t have to be put at peace with God unless we were first in a position of unrest toward Him (5:1b). There is a lack of Godlike love (5:5). There is weakness (5:6a). There is ungodliness; disobedience to the first 4 of the Ten Commandments (5:6b). The Bible calls this being sinners; breaking God’s Commandments in heart and deed (5:8). This leads to a sentence of God’s wrath. If this were not true, we wouldn’t need to be saved from God’s wrath (5:9a).

This crusty nature makes us enemies of God (5:10). We become so hard by sin that we are separated from God. Proof of this is our need to be reconciled to God (5:11). There is actually a genetic predisposition, (a sinful nature passed down from Adam) to sin (5:12a). This condition leads to death (5:12b). And it involves personal responsibility; “all sinned” (5:12c-13). We all break God’s holy and just Law. Therefore we are justly condemned (5:16) and destined to an unfavorable final judgment by God (5:18). If we die in our sin, God will put us in a place where the fires of His wrath will burn and incapacitate our contagious sinful crustiness forever.

Whew! That’s a pretty gruesome and ugly diagnosis. And what is even scarier is that every human being is born with this crusty sinful condition. Every person has this cancer of sin. Cancer by nature grows; it spreads. If left unattended or we deny sins reality in us, it will take us over. This is the most serious of conditions because it’s end does not lead to mere physical death, but can lead to eternal death; separation forever from God in a tormenting place called hell (Mat. 25:46). Is there a cure? Can we be saved and healed of this condition? YES!

The Cure of Christ. The cure for our sinful condition is not something we can work our way out of. There’s no physical therapy to fix this problem. But there is a cure. The cure is something we receive and must take in. The cure is a most precious commodity. It is the most expensive antidote in existence. In fact you cannot put a price tag on it. You can’t buy it. It can only be received and taken from God who offers it for free!

The effects of this cure start with justification (5:1a). Justification is a state of standing before God just as if I’d never sinned. This cure is so thorough, so deep, and so complete that it permanently removes the crust of sin.  This cure provides peace with God (5:1b). And all it asks of the patient is to trust in Jesus (5:1c). This cure in Christ gives us access to the greatest health plan of all time. This plan gives us access to God’s grace medicine (5:2a) and that is reason to rejoice (5:2b, 11). Hallelujah!

So effective is Christ’s cure that we are enabled to persevere through future trials (Oh yes, we may still encounter difficulties) (5:3-4). The able Administrator of this cure is the Holy Spirit who gives us an ongoing intravenous supply of God’s own brand of love (5:5). But it is Jesus Christ who pays the price for this cure. This saving cure is offered freely as a gift, but it wasn’t cheaply obtained. It cost Christ His life (5:6). It certainly wasn’t deserved by any of us (5:7). But God prescribed the curing treatment even if it did cost Jesus His precious blood offered on the cross (5:8-9).

And so we are saved from a wrathful end of the crustiness of sin (5:9). With the cure received and in place, we are reconciled to God and saved from death to life (5:10). The cure is centered on and provided by One Man, Jesus (5:15-18). The cure is “much more” than anyone could have ever imagined (5:15, 17, 20). With this cure we can now “reign in life” now (5:17, 21). With this cure we have “eternal life” forever! (5:21). And all of this provided by and offered to all as a “free gift” (5:15, 16, 18). That is a free gift that not only exceeds all other free gifts. But it is a free gift exceeds all other gifts of any kind; period.

Have you received this free gift of salvation? I encourage you to turn from your sins right now. Come humbly before God and turn over your life to Him. Receive forgiveness for your crusty sinful life through faith in Christ. Open your heart to the Holy Spirit and His love. You’ll never be the same. From death to life. Your crustiness cured! It’s a free gift! Receive it!