Proverbs 13:10: "Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice."
If one could peel back the facade of many of the churches in America today, one would see divisiveness about the most trivial matters. Whether the theme fueling the lack of harmony is the style of music or the color of carpet in the worship center, the deeper reason for such division can be found in personal pride. The original word for "pride" mentioned in Proverbs 13 is a word which means "boiling up"; that is, pride is a swelling of the ego to the point that the person ensnared by it believes himself and his opinions to be far superior to those around him. We also see in this prideful person a vehement anger that wells up when he does not get his way. The foundation of many arguments today is not necessarily the mere difference of opinion but the sinister clashing of unyielding personalities.
Again, since this boastful person sees himself as the center of the universe, to which all creatures are to bow in humble servitude, he is enraged when people do not surrender their wills to his perceived "perfect" will. And if one were to attempt to provide counsel to this arrogant person, in order that he might see his sin of pride, the confronting person is likely to receive a vituperative response. Why you might ask? Because the prideful person is unwilling to hear the wise counsel of others; he is too ensconced in his arrogance to see that he may in fact be wrong. This person often entrenches himself in his "cause" which in reality is his insistence that he get his own way. This type of person is the "cancer" of the church that eats away at God's will for the unity of the body (see Ephesians 4).
Sadly, many churches today are filled with people who are consumed with egocentricity. In fact, in my observation of church life today, I have noticed that many church attendees are connected to a particular church because they have been culturally conditioned there. They attend a particular church because they were reared in a social environment which expected church attendance and/or they have family alliances in a particular church. It may very well be that their dearly departed family members were instrumental in the development of the church. And in their opinion, this familial association gives them license to "run the church" the way that they expect it to be run. Seldom do they keep a pastor for more than a few years, for if the pastor has a vision from the Lord to direct the church in a direction that is different from the expectations of these "church rulers," then the pastor is run out of town. There is little desire for change (even if the Holy Spirit is a part of the change), for these wielders of church power want to maintain the norm in order that their power remains unchallenged.
How many times have I heard of or spoken with grieving pastors who have been called to a church by welcoming parishioners only to find that there is a centrality of power held by a few prominent families, and any deviation from the wishes of those few families brings the consternation and retributive wrath from them, that evolves into a campaign to replace that pastor with a "conformist."
Of course just the reverse can be true in that parishioners can call a pastor who at first seems to be the answer to the church's need for an overseer who will lead the people into faithful obedience to the Lord, when in fact, they soon find that the pastor is a tyrannical despot who seeks to dominate those to whom he believes himself to be called.
Whereas all of us have struggled with selfish pride in some manifestation, we need to remember that God hates a prideful spirit (it is one of the most detestable sins that God hates [see Proverbs 6:17]). Scripture compares an arrogant spirit to the evil of idolatry (see I Samuel 15:23), and we know that the Lord will punish all of those who place any other god above worship of the One True God! Of course, one can argue that an arrogant, prideful spirit is nothing less that worship of self above all other persons and things. Such idolatry is utterly abhorrent to the Lord, and He will judge such wickedness.
God tells us in Isaiah 66:2 that He esteems the one who is "humble and contrite in Spirit." Let us embrace a submissive spirit toward the Lord and others. Let us not push for our selfish agendas in prideful arrogance; instead, let us have teachable spirits that can receive the wisdom of the Lord to live lives of perfect obedience to Him as Lord. Were we within Christendom to renounce our selfish ways for the will of God Almighty, we would find unity rekindled and we would see the power of God released in truly miraculous ways.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
They Did Not Understand About the Loaves
Mark 6:51-52: "Then he (Jesus) climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened."
This passage recorded in the Gospel of Mark describes the events immediately following Jesus' miraculous feeding of the 5000 on a mountainside along the Sea of Galilee. Right after Jesus fed the people, He made His disciples get into a boat and sail for Capernaum. It was very late in the evening (Matthew's Gospel records it was about the fourth watch of the night [3-6am]). Jesus did not board the small sailing vessel with them, for He desired to retreat privately to a mountainside in order that He might commune with His Father in prayer.
Right in the middle of the disciple's four-mile sea trek, unexpected winds hurled down upon the helpless boat; the experienced seaman in the boat were terrified with the raging waters that threatened to capsize the vessel. As the disciples unsuccessfully strained to guide the boat with oars, they looked to the horizon and saw Jesus walking on the water towards them. Their first response was terror, for they thought that a ghost (possibly a spirit from Sheol, the place of the dead) had come to visit them and affirm their imminent demise.
Jesus quickly allayed His disciple's fears by extending peace to them; Peter was so amazed at Jesus' arrival, that he asked if he might come out to the Savior upon the water. When Jesus beckoned Peter out of the boat, the disciple (with eyes fixed upon Jesus) began to walk on the water toward Jesus. Of course, the wind and waves were still swirling about causing Peter to take his eyes off the Savior and look instead at the perilous condition in which he found himself. As soon as Peter was distracted by his circumstances and lost faith in the Savior, he began to sink into the turbulent waters. The disciple cried out to Jesus for rescue, and the Lord saved him; then Jesus rebuked His disciple for not having faith.
Jesus and Peter returned to the boat, and as soon as they boarded, the winds died down. The overwhelmed disciples began to praise Jesus, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Immediately, the boat reached the shore of Gennesaret, and Jesus continued His ministry with the people of that region.
As we read through the 3 gospel accounts that record this event, we are reminded that the disciples were amazed at Jesus' transcendence of natural law by His walking on water and His ability to calm the storm. One would think that the disciples, who previously had seen a number of miraculous events by the Savior (including the raising of a dead girl to life), would have not been so taken back by the events that unfolded on the Sea of Galilee. The Scriptures tell us that the disciples' amazement was fueled by their failure to understand Jesus' teaching about the loaves.
The "loaves" metaphor is mentioned by Jesus in John 6, when He instructed the crowds that He is the "Bread of Life who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (John 6:33). That is, Jesus is the Son of God who came into the world to be the eternal sustenance that would provide eternal life to those who would surrender to Him as Lord and receive His eventual gift of His very life as a ransom for their wickedness. His miracle of multiplying the 5 loaves to feed the 5000 was intended not only to feed the hungry people, but to teach those who would hear, that God has eternal nourishment for all who would come to Him by faith. The Bread of Life would be multiplied to feed everyone who would surrender his life to the Lord.
Thus, the feeding of the 5000 with bread, coupled with the subsequent events on the Sea of Galilee were intentional by the Lord, to teach His disciples of His role as the Source of True Life and Deliverance for the redeemed. We have already seen how Jesus would use the miraculous provision of bread for the crowds as a later teaching illustration, when He referred Himself to the Bread of Life (John 6). But even the storm event was used by the Lord to teach His disciples that He was the Sovereign Lord who would triumph over sin and who would be the source of salvation for all who would believe. In antiquity, the dark waters of the sea were seen as the abode of evil. Isaiah's eschatological prophecy recorded hundreds of years before, mentions the LORD punishing the great serpent, Leviathan, who lived in the abyss of the deep . . . the place representing darkness, evil, and chaos (see Isaiah 27:1).
Jesus' walking upon the waters symbolically declared His sovereignty and victory over all evil. Not only was He noticeably distinct from that which represented evil, but He was able to defeat evil in transcendent supremacy. Of course, the Apostle Peter wanted to walk upon the water to Jesus, and Jesus summoned him to come, but it would only be by faith in the Lord that Peter would triumph over the dark, murky waters. When Peter first left the boat, he walked on the very turbulent water that once was a source of fear for him and his companions in the boat. Peter's faith in the Lord brought the blessing of victory over the chaotic waters below. But with the crashing of the waves upon Peter, the disciple stopped looking to the Messiah and began to look around at his circumstances; as a result, he began to lose faith that Jesus could deliver him from his seemingly fateful demise. In an instance, Peter began to sink into the waters, and he cried out to the Lord for deliverance.
There is a tremendous teaching lesson for us in this story. Again, we understand that Jesus is the spiritual food for eternal and abundant life. Only He can provide our souls with the nourishment that will bring our salvation. He too is the one who can provide victory over the seemingly impossible situations in which we may find ourselves. As the wind and waves of tribulation crash around us, we must remember that only faith in Jesus will give us the power and strength to rise above the chaos and darkness of life to attain victory in an otherwise seemingly hopeless situation. Let us continue to "fix our eyes on Jesus (who is) the Author and Perfecter of our Faith" (Hebrews 12:2); for in Him alone will we find spiritual nourishment for the salvation of our souls as well as the strength to transcend the dark waters of despair that come upon us in our tribulations.
Of course, we must respond in faith to the Lord when our difficult times come; otherwise, we will find ourselves in the same proverbial predicament that the Apostle Peter found himself. We will start to sink into the abyss of the darkness that confronts us unless we put our trust exclusively in the Lord.
Then too we should not be so amazed that God is willing and able to provide us these spiritual victories in life. If we truly understand the significance of Jesus as the Bread of Life, we will come to anticipate His power made manifest in our lives, giving us the ability to triumph over any obstacle that may come our way.
This passage recorded in the Gospel of Mark describes the events immediately following Jesus' miraculous feeding of the 5000 on a mountainside along the Sea of Galilee. Right after Jesus fed the people, He made His disciples get into a boat and sail for Capernaum. It was very late in the evening (Matthew's Gospel records it was about the fourth watch of the night [3-6am]). Jesus did not board the small sailing vessel with them, for He desired to retreat privately to a mountainside in order that He might commune with His Father in prayer.
Right in the middle of the disciple's four-mile sea trek, unexpected winds hurled down upon the helpless boat; the experienced seaman in the boat were terrified with the raging waters that threatened to capsize the vessel. As the disciples unsuccessfully strained to guide the boat with oars, they looked to the horizon and saw Jesus walking on the water towards them. Their first response was terror, for they thought that a ghost (possibly a spirit from Sheol, the place of the dead) had come to visit them and affirm their imminent demise.
Jesus quickly allayed His disciple's fears by extending peace to them; Peter was so amazed at Jesus' arrival, that he asked if he might come out to the Savior upon the water. When Jesus beckoned Peter out of the boat, the disciple (with eyes fixed upon Jesus) began to walk on the water toward Jesus. Of course, the wind and waves were still swirling about causing Peter to take his eyes off the Savior and look instead at the perilous condition in which he found himself. As soon as Peter was distracted by his circumstances and lost faith in the Savior, he began to sink into the turbulent waters. The disciple cried out to Jesus for rescue, and the Lord saved him; then Jesus rebuked His disciple for not having faith.
Jesus and Peter returned to the boat, and as soon as they boarded, the winds died down. The overwhelmed disciples began to praise Jesus, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." Immediately, the boat reached the shore of Gennesaret, and Jesus continued His ministry with the people of that region.
As we read through the 3 gospel accounts that record this event, we are reminded that the disciples were amazed at Jesus' transcendence of natural law by His walking on water and His ability to calm the storm. One would think that the disciples, who previously had seen a number of miraculous events by the Savior (including the raising of a dead girl to life), would have not been so taken back by the events that unfolded on the Sea of Galilee. The Scriptures tell us that the disciples' amazement was fueled by their failure to understand Jesus' teaching about the loaves.
The "loaves" metaphor is mentioned by Jesus in John 6, when He instructed the crowds that He is the "Bread of Life who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world" (John 6:33). That is, Jesus is the Son of God who came into the world to be the eternal sustenance that would provide eternal life to those who would surrender to Him as Lord and receive His eventual gift of His very life as a ransom for their wickedness. His miracle of multiplying the 5 loaves to feed the 5000 was intended not only to feed the hungry people, but to teach those who would hear, that God has eternal nourishment for all who would come to Him by faith. The Bread of Life would be multiplied to feed everyone who would surrender his life to the Lord.
Thus, the feeding of the 5000 with bread, coupled with the subsequent events on the Sea of Galilee were intentional by the Lord, to teach His disciples of His role as the Source of True Life and Deliverance for the redeemed. We have already seen how Jesus would use the miraculous provision of bread for the crowds as a later teaching illustration, when He referred Himself to the Bread of Life (John 6). But even the storm event was used by the Lord to teach His disciples that He was the Sovereign Lord who would triumph over sin and who would be the source of salvation for all who would believe. In antiquity, the dark waters of the sea were seen as the abode of evil. Isaiah's eschatological prophecy recorded hundreds of years before, mentions the LORD punishing the great serpent, Leviathan, who lived in the abyss of the deep . . . the place representing darkness, evil, and chaos (see Isaiah 27:1).
Jesus' walking upon the waters symbolically declared His sovereignty and victory over all evil. Not only was He noticeably distinct from that which represented evil, but He was able to defeat evil in transcendent supremacy. Of course, the Apostle Peter wanted to walk upon the water to Jesus, and Jesus summoned him to come, but it would only be by faith in the Lord that Peter would triumph over the dark, murky waters. When Peter first left the boat, he walked on the very turbulent water that once was a source of fear for him and his companions in the boat. Peter's faith in the Lord brought the blessing of victory over the chaotic waters below. But with the crashing of the waves upon Peter, the disciple stopped looking to the Messiah and began to look around at his circumstances; as a result, he began to lose faith that Jesus could deliver him from his seemingly fateful demise. In an instance, Peter began to sink into the waters, and he cried out to the Lord for deliverance.
There is a tremendous teaching lesson for us in this story. Again, we understand that Jesus is the spiritual food for eternal and abundant life. Only He can provide our souls with the nourishment that will bring our salvation. He too is the one who can provide victory over the seemingly impossible situations in which we may find ourselves. As the wind and waves of tribulation crash around us, we must remember that only faith in Jesus will give us the power and strength to rise above the chaos and darkness of life to attain victory in an otherwise seemingly hopeless situation. Let us continue to "fix our eyes on Jesus (who is) the Author and Perfecter of our Faith" (Hebrews 12:2); for in Him alone will we find spiritual nourishment for the salvation of our souls as well as the strength to transcend the dark waters of despair that come upon us in our tribulations.
Of course, we must respond in faith to the Lord when our difficult times come; otherwise, we will find ourselves in the same proverbial predicament that the Apostle Peter found himself. We will start to sink into the abyss of the darkness that confronts us unless we put our trust exclusively in the Lord.
Then too we should not be so amazed that God is willing and able to provide us these spiritual victories in life. If we truly understand the significance of Jesus as the Bread of Life, we will come to anticipate His power made manifest in our lives, giving us the ability to triumph over any obstacle that may come our way.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Jesus . . . Our Spiritual Sustenance Leading to a Fruitful Life
Micah 5:2: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
In the nativity story shared in Matthew 2, there is a citation of the prophecy from the prophet Micah, who seven hundred years before declared that a Ruler would come forth whose "goings forth have been from everlasting" (see Micah 5:2). Of course, we today see the prophecy fulfilled through the LORD Jesus Christ. It is He who came, not simply to fulfill the prophecy of Micah, but to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. It is through Him and Him alone that we have the hope of salvation (Acts 4:10-12).
What is quite fascinating is the name of the town in which Jesus would be born. Whereas this town in Judea at the time of Christ's birth was of little size and significance, its name was perfect for the advent of the Messiah. We see that the name of the town was Bethlehem Ephrathah. The name "Bethlehem" means "House of Bread." This reference reminds one of the exchange that Jesus had three decades later with some of His followers near the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had just taken 5 barley loaves of bread and multiplied them to feed five thousand people; then, later, Jesus would use this miraculous event to teach His hearers that He was the true Bread of Life from whom comes eternal nourishment (i.e. salvation). Jesus exclaimed that those who would "feast" upon Him by surrendering to Him as Lord would receive life everlasting.
Sadly, many of these people who followed Jesus because He was feeding them physically in truly miraculous ways (see John 6:26), now turned from the Messiah and no longer followed Him. Jesus' provocative call to repentance and surrender would require every person to decide who would be the ultimate ruler of his life . . . himself or Jesus. Jesus promised that for those who would choose Him as their Lord, He would produce within them an abundance of spiritual fruit which would glorify the Father and edify other believers. Specifically, Jesus used the illustration of Himself being a vine and His followers being branches grafted into the nourishment of the vine, and the Lord told His followers that if they remained in Him and He in them, then they would "bear much fruit (for) apart from (Him [i.e. Jesus] they) could do nothing" (see John 15). This is where the latter name of the town of Jesus' birth is so significant, for the name, "Ephrathah" means "fruitful."
It is no mere coincidence that the name of the town in which Jesus would be born was Bethlehem Ephrathah. Not only did the birthplace fulfill God's promise to David 1000 years earlier that from his seed would come One who would have an eternal reign (see 2 Samuel 7), but also the birthplace communicated to the world that Jesus is the Source of eternal life for the believer, leading him to a spiritually fruitful life for the glory of God and the furtherance of His eternal kingdom.
In the nativity story shared in Matthew 2, there is a citation of the prophecy from the prophet Micah, who seven hundred years before declared that a Ruler would come forth whose "goings forth have been from everlasting" (see Micah 5:2). Of course, we today see the prophecy fulfilled through the LORD Jesus Christ. It is He who came, not simply to fulfill the prophecy of Micah, but to offer Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. It is through Him and Him alone that we have the hope of salvation (Acts 4:10-12).
What is quite fascinating is the name of the town in which Jesus would be born. Whereas this town in Judea at the time of Christ's birth was of little size and significance, its name was perfect for the advent of the Messiah. We see that the name of the town was Bethlehem Ephrathah. The name "Bethlehem" means "House of Bread." This reference reminds one of the exchange that Jesus had three decades later with some of His followers near the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had just taken 5 barley loaves of bread and multiplied them to feed five thousand people; then, later, Jesus would use this miraculous event to teach His hearers that He was the true Bread of Life from whom comes eternal nourishment (i.e. salvation). Jesus exclaimed that those who would "feast" upon Him by surrendering to Him as Lord would receive life everlasting.
Sadly, many of these people who followed Jesus because He was feeding them physically in truly miraculous ways (see John 6:26), now turned from the Messiah and no longer followed Him. Jesus' provocative call to repentance and surrender would require every person to decide who would be the ultimate ruler of his life . . . himself or Jesus. Jesus promised that for those who would choose Him as their Lord, He would produce within them an abundance of spiritual fruit which would glorify the Father and edify other believers. Specifically, Jesus used the illustration of Himself being a vine and His followers being branches grafted into the nourishment of the vine, and the Lord told His followers that if they remained in Him and He in them, then they would "bear much fruit (for) apart from (Him [i.e. Jesus] they) could do nothing" (see John 15). This is where the latter name of the town of Jesus' birth is so significant, for the name, "Ephrathah" means "fruitful."
It is no mere coincidence that the name of the town in which Jesus would be born was Bethlehem Ephrathah. Not only did the birthplace fulfill God's promise to David 1000 years earlier that from his seed would come One who would have an eternal reign (see 2 Samuel 7), but also the birthplace communicated to the world that Jesus is the Source of eternal life for the believer, leading him to a spiritually fruitful life for the glory of God and the furtherance of His eternal kingdom.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
God Fulfills His Promises . . . In His Time Frame
Acts 7:5; Hebrews 11:13-16: "He (God) have him (Abraham) no inheritance here, not even a foot of ground. But God promised him that he and his descendants after him would possess the land, even though at the time Abraham had no child . . . . All these people (including Abraham) were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own . . . . They were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."
The story of Abraham's life is an incredible testimony of faith in the promises of God, even though those promises would not be fulfilled in the patriarch's lifetime. If one remembers the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis, one recalls that God called Abraham to leave his homeland and travel to a distant place that the Lord would determine. Abraham would end up travelling hundreds of miles to an unfamiliar territory, with only the hope of the promise of God that he would receive the land to which God was sending him.
When Abraham arrived to the Judean territory, he did not take title to the land that the Lord seemingly promised him; in fact, he would wander around the land in nomadic fashion until the end of his days. The only land that he would own was a small burial cave for Sarah and himself that he purchased from the Hittites near Mamre.
One might conclude that Abraham could have been justified in any frustration at God for not delivering His promises during Abraham's lifetime. But Abraham's trust in God had been fueled by his intimate fellowship that he regularly had with the Lord. Hebrews 6:15 tells us that "Abraham waited patiently (finally) receiving what he was promised." This was faith in the midst of conflicting circumstances. Whereas Abraham could have capitulated to his dismal earthly circumstances (wandering around in the land to which God had promised him . . . and not taking ownership), Abraham, through the power of the Holy Spirit, was able to rise above his circumstances to press on in obedience to the Lord in spite of his circumstances. Abraham was able to see that he was still on journey even when he arrived in Palestine; in fact, he was just beginning the trek that would continue until the day of his death, when he would finally take possession of God's ultimate Promised Land! Abraham determined that his ephemeral earthly life was to be lived as a sojourner on pilgrimage. Abraham knew that the earthly life was not the end to which he should passionately pursue; rather, the patriarch knew that all of his determination should be on dwelling in God's presence in eternity. Abraham would not permit his earthly circumstances to dissuade him from his faith in the Almighty and His promise of eternal blessing . . . Heaven.
What is so incredibly telling is the above cited passage, that God "is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." God is so proud of those who would trust Him in faith no matter what their circumstances might be . . . those who would commit themselves to the promises of the Lord even if those promises are not realized until eternity. These are people who can see the bigger picture of life through the lens of God's eternal plans and purposes. God is not ashamed to be called the Lord of those who would demonstrate such faith in Him. And just as Abraham was strengthened through his intimate fellowship with the Lord (see Genesis 12 & 15), so too we should be strengthening our faith by being intimately connected to the Lord through His Word and through prayer.
Let's adopt a sojourner's attitude in this life. And as we travel through the painful ordeals that this world has to offer, let us embrace the promises of God that He has presented to those who have surrendered to Him as Lord and Savior. He has told us that He has prepared for us a Promised Land (see John 14:1-3). May we through faith and intimacy with our Lord press on to the goal of life . . . eternal fellowship with the Almighty!
The story of Abraham's life is an incredible testimony of faith in the promises of God, even though those promises would not be fulfilled in the patriarch's lifetime. If one remembers the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis, one recalls that God called Abraham to leave his homeland and travel to a distant place that the Lord would determine. Abraham would end up travelling hundreds of miles to an unfamiliar territory, with only the hope of the promise of God that he would receive the land to which God was sending him.
When Abraham arrived to the Judean territory, he did not take title to the land that the Lord seemingly promised him; in fact, he would wander around the land in nomadic fashion until the end of his days. The only land that he would own was a small burial cave for Sarah and himself that he purchased from the Hittites near Mamre.
One might conclude that Abraham could have been justified in any frustration at God for not delivering His promises during Abraham's lifetime. But Abraham's trust in God had been fueled by his intimate fellowship that he regularly had with the Lord. Hebrews 6:15 tells us that "Abraham waited patiently (finally) receiving what he was promised." This was faith in the midst of conflicting circumstances. Whereas Abraham could have capitulated to his dismal earthly circumstances (wandering around in the land to which God had promised him . . . and not taking ownership), Abraham, through the power of the Holy Spirit, was able to rise above his circumstances to press on in obedience to the Lord in spite of his circumstances. Abraham was able to see that he was still on journey even when he arrived in Palestine; in fact, he was just beginning the trek that would continue until the day of his death, when he would finally take possession of God's ultimate Promised Land! Abraham determined that his ephemeral earthly life was to be lived as a sojourner on pilgrimage. Abraham knew that the earthly life was not the end to which he should passionately pursue; rather, the patriarch knew that all of his determination should be on dwelling in God's presence in eternity. Abraham would not permit his earthly circumstances to dissuade him from his faith in the Almighty and His promise of eternal blessing . . . Heaven.
What is so incredibly telling is the above cited passage, that God "is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." God is so proud of those who would trust Him in faith no matter what their circumstances might be . . . those who would commit themselves to the promises of the Lord even if those promises are not realized until eternity. These are people who can see the bigger picture of life through the lens of God's eternal plans and purposes. God is not ashamed to be called the Lord of those who would demonstrate such faith in Him. And just as Abraham was strengthened through his intimate fellowship with the Lord (see Genesis 12 & 15), so too we should be strengthening our faith by being intimately connected to the Lord through His Word and through prayer.
Let's adopt a sojourner's attitude in this life. And as we travel through the painful ordeals that this world has to offer, let us embrace the promises of God that He has presented to those who have surrendered to Him as Lord and Savior. He has told us that He has prepared for us a Promised Land (see John 14:1-3). May we through faith and intimacy with our Lord press on to the goal of life . . . eternal fellowship with the Almighty!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Standing Firm
Matthew 24:10-13: "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved."
The above passage is part of Jesus' teaching concerning the end of the age, when God, the Holy and Righteous Judge, will return to bless the redeemed and judge the reprobate. The setting of this teaching by the Lord took place as Jesus and the disciples were leaving the Jerusalem temple. The disciples were rambling on about the impressiveness of the temple buildings as well as the amount of offerings being given to the priests (see Luke 21:5). Of course, Jesus challenged the disciples' consumption with external display by telling them that the magnificence of the temple buildings would not endure into eternity. He then began His teaching of the coming day when His disciples would experience persecution for their allegiance to Him as the Messiah.
Most noteworthy are Jesus' words concerning the end of time, for He vividly presents the disposition of the world when He returns to the earth a second time in glorious splendor. Jesus tells His disciples that many professing Christians will "turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other." The context of this passage deals with the heightened persecutions that the true Church will experience at the end of the age. Many within the church walls will cave to the pressures of persecution, and they will both renounce the faith and betray those who remain loyal to Christ. Still others who are filled with hate will see opportunity to destroy those to whom their hate is directed. The Scriptures tell us that these people that harbor such hate are not true followers of Jesus Christ; instead they are apostates who mask themselves as Christians (see I John 4:19-21).
We also find in the Matthew 24 passage that with the increased wickedness of the world, the "love of most will grow cold, but (the one) who stands firm to the end will be saved." The parallel passage in the Gospel of Luke says, "by your endurance you will gain your lives" (Luke 21:19). In the last days, people will become consumed with love for themselves and will justify any behavior that promotes their own selfishness above all others, including God. They will not "put up with sound doctrine; instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear" (see 2 Timothy 3:2f; 4:3f). The persecution of the true Church of Jesus Christ will be great, for everyone who lives his life in godly obedience will be persecuted . . . and the intensity of persecution will get progressively worse (2 Timothy 3:12-13). Nonetheless, this persecution will have a purifying effect of separating the true followers of Christ from those who only label themselves as "Christian" but who in fact have no personal relationship with the Lord of Hosts.
Still, God expects faithfulness during this oppressive time. Followers of Jesus Christ must continue to turn away from wickedness, even though it may not be the popular thing to do. Tragically, the end of the age will bring vehement persecution upon the righteous at a level of distress that will be greater than the accumulated volume and intensity of persecutions from the beginning of time until that day (see Matthew 24:21; 2 Timothy 2:19). Fortunately for the elect, God will shorten the duration of that persecution with His unexpected return, which will be like a thief in the night (see I Thessalonians 5:2). For the majority of people who will have turned to wickedness and thus forsaken any allegiance to the One True God, the Lord's return will bring widespread mourning. This is because these recalcitrant ones will be judged for their rebellion against the Lord, and they will be assigned for eternity to the place where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 24:51).
Whereas the true Church of Jesus Christ has yet to experience the level of persecution that Jesus mentions above, this passage is a word of warning that it is coming. Our Savior entreats us to stand firm in our faith, no matter the level of intensity of persecution from wicked men, who hate Jesus Christ and anyone who claims to follow Him as Lord (see John 15:21). Although many will fall away from the faith due to the level of distress from persecution, Christ compels us to "keep watch" and to "be ready" for His return (Matthew 24:42,44). Our Savior's return will make our steadfastness in the midst of tribulation worth it all, for we will be ushered into His glorious presence for all eternity, never again to experience the level of pain that we experienced at the hands of ungodly men who are controlled by the Evil One.
The above passage is part of Jesus' teaching concerning the end of the age, when God, the Holy and Righteous Judge, will return to bless the redeemed and judge the reprobate. The setting of this teaching by the Lord took place as Jesus and the disciples were leaving the Jerusalem temple. The disciples were rambling on about the impressiveness of the temple buildings as well as the amount of offerings being given to the priests (see Luke 21:5). Of course, Jesus challenged the disciples' consumption with external display by telling them that the magnificence of the temple buildings would not endure into eternity. He then began His teaching of the coming day when His disciples would experience persecution for their allegiance to Him as the Messiah.
Most noteworthy are Jesus' words concerning the end of time, for He vividly presents the disposition of the world when He returns to the earth a second time in glorious splendor. Jesus tells His disciples that many professing Christians will "turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other." The context of this passage deals with the heightened persecutions that the true Church will experience at the end of the age. Many within the church walls will cave to the pressures of persecution, and they will both renounce the faith and betray those who remain loyal to Christ. Still others who are filled with hate will see opportunity to destroy those to whom their hate is directed. The Scriptures tell us that these people that harbor such hate are not true followers of Jesus Christ; instead they are apostates who mask themselves as Christians (see I John 4:19-21).
We also find in the Matthew 24 passage that with the increased wickedness of the world, the "love of most will grow cold, but (the one) who stands firm to the end will be saved." The parallel passage in the Gospel of Luke says, "by your endurance you will gain your lives" (Luke 21:19). In the last days, people will become consumed with love for themselves and will justify any behavior that promotes their own selfishness above all others, including God. They will not "put up with sound doctrine; instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear" (see 2 Timothy 3:2f; 4:3f). The persecution of the true Church of Jesus Christ will be great, for everyone who lives his life in godly obedience will be persecuted . . . and the intensity of persecution will get progressively worse (2 Timothy 3:12-13). Nonetheless, this persecution will have a purifying effect of separating the true followers of Christ from those who only label themselves as "Christian" but who in fact have no personal relationship with the Lord of Hosts.
Still, God expects faithfulness during this oppressive time. Followers of Jesus Christ must continue to turn away from wickedness, even though it may not be the popular thing to do. Tragically, the end of the age will bring vehement persecution upon the righteous at a level of distress that will be greater than the accumulated volume and intensity of persecutions from the beginning of time until that day (see Matthew 24:21; 2 Timothy 2:19). Fortunately for the elect, God will shorten the duration of that persecution with His unexpected return, which will be like a thief in the night (see I Thessalonians 5:2). For the majority of people who will have turned to wickedness and thus forsaken any allegiance to the One True God, the Lord's return will bring widespread mourning. This is because these recalcitrant ones will be judged for their rebellion against the Lord, and they will be assigned for eternity to the place where there is "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 24:51).
Whereas the true Church of Jesus Christ has yet to experience the level of persecution that Jesus mentions above, this passage is a word of warning that it is coming. Our Savior entreats us to stand firm in our faith, no matter the level of intensity of persecution from wicked men, who hate Jesus Christ and anyone who claims to follow Him as Lord (see John 15:21). Although many will fall away from the faith due to the level of distress from persecution, Christ compels us to "keep watch" and to "be ready" for His return (Matthew 24:42,44). Our Savior's return will make our steadfastness in the midst of tribulation worth it all, for we will be ushered into His glorious presence for all eternity, never again to experience the level of pain that we experienced at the hands of ungodly men who are controlled by the Evil One.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Obedience to the End
Revelation 1-3: "And among the lampstands was someone like a son of man [Jesus Christ], dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet . . . . And the seven lampstands are the seven churches . . . . (The Lord said to the messenger of the church in Ephesus) 'Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place . . . . To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.' . . . . (To the Church at Smyrna the Lord said), 'Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life . . . . He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.' . . . . (The Lord said to the Church in Pergamum), 'To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it.' . . . . (To the Church at Thyatira the Lord said), 'To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations.' . . . . (To the Church at Sardis, the Lord said), 'He who overcomes will . . . be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels.' . . . . (To the Church at Philadelphia, the Lord said), 'Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.' . . . . (To the Church at Laodicea the Lord said), 'To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.'"
In modern Christendom, there is a false notion that God's grace somehow is obtained by church association or mere cognitive awareness of Jesus' death and resurrection for the atonement of sin. How many times have people rationalized their faith by concluding, "I don't want to go to hell, so I'm going to say the sinner's prayer, make it public before the church, and get my 'Get Out of Hell Free' card . . . . But I'm not going to surrender my life (with all of its selfish and carnal appetites) to God . . . . I still want to be on the throne of my own life." Some are even more brazen to the point that they identify themselves as Christian simply because they participate in a few ceremonious events each year at a "Christian" church and give infrequently to a "Christian" organization. It's as if people want God for His eternal benefits, but they are unwilling to surrender to Him as their Lord. People will relegate God to a small subset within their life experience, but they refuse to give Him everything through their submission to Him as Master and Savior.
The Holy Scriptures do not teach such heresy; in fact, the Scriptures inculcate that salvation is reserved for those who persevere in their obedience to the Lord of Hosts through the power of the Holy Spirit. No mere words or ritualistic observances will suffice for one's redemption, for in each of the above cited scriptural dictates, the Lord expressly commands that only those who overcome the power of sin through true repentance and obedience will be the ones receiving His eternal blessing.
This is not to suggest that Christians live perfect lives (the example of the Church at Laodicea should affirm this [see Revelation 3:15-16]). Still, the true believer in Christ lives his life in such a way that he strives for Godly perfection through the life-transforming power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:48). If the true follower of Jesus Christ begins to stray from obedience to the Lord, the Holy Spirit (who indwells the believer, giving him the power to overcome sin [see Romans 8:9]) will convict the believer of his sin and will lead him to the truth of repentance (John 16:8,13), and the true believer will respond with contrition, confession, repentance, and renewed obedience. One will not find a true believer straying very far and for very long from the path of obedience, for he willingly yields his own selfish will to the will of the Father, and he quickly returns to faithful allegiance, once the Holy Spirit begins to convict him of sin.
Therefore, we know that the true Christian is one whose mind, will, and body are controlled by the Spirit, because he is surrendered to the Lord of Hosts as his Master. God is the number one priority for the believer, and he cannot help but be faithfully obedient to Him as his Lord.
Romans 8:5-8 reinforces this fact by presenting the evidential difference between the reprobate and the redeemed. Specifically, the passage tells us that the reprobate "live according to the sinful nature . . . (being) hostile to God (by not) submitting to His (God's) law . . . (therefore) not pleasing God (and thus bringing) death" whereas those who are committed to Christ "have their minds set on what the Spirit desires (which brings) life and peace."
Let us not fall prey to the popular misconception of what it means to be a Christian. This identification is not flippantly assigned by the Lord to just anyone; instead, it is granted to those who have received the precious gift of grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ . . . and the benefits of this grace are experienced through faith, made manifest in repentance and complete devotion to God as the exclusive Lord of one's life.
In modern Christendom, there is a false notion that God's grace somehow is obtained by church association or mere cognitive awareness of Jesus' death and resurrection for the atonement of sin. How many times have people rationalized their faith by concluding, "I don't want to go to hell, so I'm going to say the sinner's prayer, make it public before the church, and get my 'Get Out of Hell Free' card . . . . But I'm not going to surrender my life (with all of its selfish and carnal appetites) to God . . . . I still want to be on the throne of my own life." Some are even more brazen to the point that they identify themselves as Christian simply because they participate in a few ceremonious events each year at a "Christian" church and give infrequently to a "Christian" organization. It's as if people want God for His eternal benefits, but they are unwilling to surrender to Him as their Lord. People will relegate God to a small subset within their life experience, but they refuse to give Him everything through their submission to Him as Master and Savior.
The Holy Scriptures do not teach such heresy; in fact, the Scriptures inculcate that salvation is reserved for those who persevere in their obedience to the Lord of Hosts through the power of the Holy Spirit. No mere words or ritualistic observances will suffice for one's redemption, for in each of the above cited scriptural dictates, the Lord expressly commands that only those who overcome the power of sin through true repentance and obedience will be the ones receiving His eternal blessing.
This is not to suggest that Christians live perfect lives (the example of the Church at Laodicea should affirm this [see Revelation 3:15-16]). Still, the true believer in Christ lives his life in such a way that he strives for Godly perfection through the life-transforming power of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:48). If the true follower of Jesus Christ begins to stray from obedience to the Lord, the Holy Spirit (who indwells the believer, giving him the power to overcome sin [see Romans 8:9]) will convict the believer of his sin and will lead him to the truth of repentance (John 16:8,13), and the true believer will respond with contrition, confession, repentance, and renewed obedience. One will not find a true believer straying very far and for very long from the path of obedience, for he willingly yields his own selfish will to the will of the Father, and he quickly returns to faithful allegiance, once the Holy Spirit begins to convict him of sin.
Therefore, we know that the true Christian is one whose mind, will, and body are controlled by the Spirit, because he is surrendered to the Lord of Hosts as his Master. God is the number one priority for the believer, and he cannot help but be faithfully obedient to Him as his Lord.
Romans 8:5-8 reinforces this fact by presenting the evidential difference between the reprobate and the redeemed. Specifically, the passage tells us that the reprobate "live according to the sinful nature . . . (being) hostile to God (by not) submitting to His (God's) law . . . (therefore) not pleasing God (and thus bringing) death" whereas those who are committed to Christ "have their minds set on what the Spirit desires (which brings) life and peace."
Let us not fall prey to the popular misconception of what it means to be a Christian. This identification is not flippantly assigned by the Lord to just anyone; instead, it is granted to those who have received the precious gift of grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ . . . and the benefits of this grace are experienced through faith, made manifest in repentance and complete devotion to God as the exclusive Lord of one's life.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Glorification in Judgment
Exodus 14:8,17b: "The LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly . . . . (the LORD said) 'The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.'"
As one looks through Scripture, one finds that God is glorified in many things throughout His creation:
God is glorified by the heavens that He has created. They "pour forth praises day after day" for the Lord of Hosts (Psalm 19:1-2).
God is glorified when the righteous exalt His name through their praise and celebration of Him as their Lord and Savior (Psalm 34:3).
God is glorified through the sacrificial death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, to provide salvation for those who would surrender to Him as Lord (John 13:31-32). This immeasurable act of love, which permits us the privilege of adoption as God's sons and daughters, praises God's glorious grace that He willingly "lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding" (Ephesians 1:8).
God will be glorified by the righteous elect when He returns to receive them into His heavenly abode. They will glorify Him as they marvel at the One in whom they believed as Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:10).
God is glorified through His works . . . they are "pondered by all who delight in them" (Psalm 111:2-3).
Of course the list of things that glorify God could continue for all eternity; however, one noteworthy point is found in the cited passage above, namely that God is glorified through the hardening of the disobedient, so that He might drive them to fulfill certain events that would declare His sovereignty over all things. This demonstration of judgment declares that His Holiness will prevail, no matter what stands in rebellion against Him.
We know from the Exodus account that Pharaoh and the Egyptians had held the Israelites in bondage in Egypt for many years; they dealt with them ruthlessly and enslaved them to forced labor so that the Israelites would not rise up against them. Of course, God had promised Abraham hundreds of years before that His descendants would dwell in the land promised to the patriarch (see Genesis 12); and God had promised that He would punish the nation that would force the Israelites to serve as slaves (Genesis 15:14).
True to His Word, God hardened Pharaoh's heart just after the Egyptian leader had released the Israelites to return to their promised land. Pharaoh quickly changed his mind as to the emancipation of the Israelites, and he summoned his army to pursue them and return them to bondage. God used Pharaoh's wickedness to lead him to an ultimate confrontation with the Lord. Pharaoh, who considered himself the god of the most powerful nation in the world, would engage in battle against the One True God; and God would be glorified through his victory over Pharaoh and the Egyptians army. God did this so that all people, including the Egyptians, would know that He alone was the Lord (Exodus 14:4).
Pharaoh summoned 600 of his chariots along with his soldiers and pursued the Israelites and caught up with them at the Red Sea. The Israelites were sickened by the approaching Egyptian army and complained to Moses for leading them out into the wilderness to die; however, Moses countered their grumbling by reassuring them that the Lord would "fight for them" (14:14). And true to His promises, the Lord moved in between the Egyptian army and the Israelites, and He defeated the Egyptians by using darkness, confusion, and disarray. The Egyptian army had followed the Israelites into the dry sea bed that had been formed when God moved back the waters to permit the Israelites to pass through to the other side. Once all the Israelites had reached the other side of the great sea, Moses stretched his hand over the sea, and the Lord responded by collapsing the walls of water that had been formed. As the Egyptian chariots started to fall apart, the army realized that the Israelite God was protecting His people, and they determined to return to Egypt to get away from this divine wrath. Unfortunately for the Egyptians, it was too late. The great waters engulfed the army, and none of them survived. The Scriptures tell us that when the Israelites saw the great power of God demonstrated through the destruction of the mighty Egyptian army, they "feared the LORD and put their trust in Him and Moses His servant" (14:31).
We see from this account that the Lord is not averse to using the wicked in such a way to demonstrate His Sovereign Reign over all. Even as the Egyptians were being utterly destroyed by God, He was being glorified. Certainly good came from this destruction as His covenant people were strengthened in their faith in the One True Lord of Hosts.
We must remember that the Lord will be glorified both through the praises of the righteous and through the judgment of the wicked. Let us renounce any wickedness in our lives that would bring a punitive response from the Lord; let us instead follow the Lord faithfully and obediently so that God's glory would be demonstrated through our surrender to Him as Lord!
As one looks through Scripture, one finds that God is glorified in many things throughout His creation:
God is glorified by the heavens that He has created. They "pour forth praises day after day" for the Lord of Hosts (Psalm 19:1-2).
God is glorified when the righteous exalt His name through their praise and celebration of Him as their Lord and Savior (Psalm 34:3).
God is glorified through the sacrificial death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ, to provide salvation for those who would surrender to Him as Lord (John 13:31-32). This immeasurable act of love, which permits us the privilege of adoption as God's sons and daughters, praises God's glorious grace that He willingly "lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding" (Ephesians 1:8).
God will be glorified by the righteous elect when He returns to receive them into His heavenly abode. They will glorify Him as they marvel at the One in whom they believed as Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:10).
God is glorified through His works . . . they are "pondered by all who delight in them" (Psalm 111:2-3).
Of course the list of things that glorify God could continue for all eternity; however, one noteworthy point is found in the cited passage above, namely that God is glorified through the hardening of the disobedient, so that He might drive them to fulfill certain events that would declare His sovereignty over all things. This demonstration of judgment declares that His Holiness will prevail, no matter what stands in rebellion against Him.
We know from the Exodus account that Pharaoh and the Egyptians had held the Israelites in bondage in Egypt for many years; they dealt with them ruthlessly and enslaved them to forced labor so that the Israelites would not rise up against them. Of course, God had promised Abraham hundreds of years before that His descendants would dwell in the land promised to the patriarch (see Genesis 12); and God had promised that He would punish the nation that would force the Israelites to serve as slaves (Genesis 15:14).
True to His Word, God hardened Pharaoh's heart just after the Egyptian leader had released the Israelites to return to their promised land. Pharaoh quickly changed his mind as to the emancipation of the Israelites, and he summoned his army to pursue them and return them to bondage. God used Pharaoh's wickedness to lead him to an ultimate confrontation with the Lord. Pharaoh, who considered himself the god of the most powerful nation in the world, would engage in battle against the One True God; and God would be glorified through his victory over Pharaoh and the Egyptians army. God did this so that all people, including the Egyptians, would know that He alone was the Lord (Exodus 14:4).
Pharaoh summoned 600 of his chariots along with his soldiers and pursued the Israelites and caught up with them at the Red Sea. The Israelites were sickened by the approaching Egyptian army and complained to Moses for leading them out into the wilderness to die; however, Moses countered their grumbling by reassuring them that the Lord would "fight for them" (14:14). And true to His promises, the Lord moved in between the Egyptian army and the Israelites, and He defeated the Egyptians by using darkness, confusion, and disarray. The Egyptian army had followed the Israelites into the dry sea bed that had been formed when God moved back the waters to permit the Israelites to pass through to the other side. Once all the Israelites had reached the other side of the great sea, Moses stretched his hand over the sea, and the Lord responded by collapsing the walls of water that had been formed. As the Egyptian chariots started to fall apart, the army realized that the Israelite God was protecting His people, and they determined to return to Egypt to get away from this divine wrath. Unfortunately for the Egyptians, it was too late. The great waters engulfed the army, and none of them survived. The Scriptures tell us that when the Israelites saw the great power of God demonstrated through the destruction of the mighty Egyptian army, they "feared the LORD and put their trust in Him and Moses His servant" (14:31).
We see from this account that the Lord is not averse to using the wicked in such a way to demonstrate His Sovereign Reign over all. Even as the Egyptians were being utterly destroyed by God, He was being glorified. Certainly good came from this destruction as His covenant people were strengthened in their faith in the One True Lord of Hosts.
We must remember that the Lord will be glorified both through the praises of the righteous and through the judgment of the wicked. Let us renounce any wickedness in our lives that would bring a punitive response from the Lord; let us instead follow the Lord faithfully and obediently so that God's glory would be demonstrated through our surrender to Him as Lord!
Monday, December 1, 2008
Be Diligent
Hebrews 6:12: "We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised."
As I have had the opportunity of observing professing Christians in America for most of my life, I have come to the conclusion that the biggest impediment to spiritual growth has not been religious persecution or the lack of resources and opportunity to facilitate one's spiritual maturation; instead, it has been an apathetic spirit toward God and His wonderful grace that He has "lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding" (Ephesians 1:8). And this apathy has been manifest in an indifference to serving the Lord faithfully and obediently.
It seems as if many who label themselves as "Christian" see their tag as a sociological identifier of their religious persuasion. Since America traditionally has been associated with the Christian faith (with many churches being organized and buildings being constructed in the 19th & 20th centuries), a majority of people in our nation have assimilated themselves within the rubric of this "popular religion." Many will identify themselves with Christianity when in fact they have never come to the point of surrendering their lives to the One True Lord of Hosts! There is little intimate fellowship with God through prayer and Bible study, nor is there any association with a collective body of Christian believers in a church, with the possible exception of certain holidays. Serving others before oneself and being obedient to the expressed will of God in Scripture seems foreign to these people, who are ensnared by the cultural philosophy of competitive self-adulation and self-satisfaction at the expense of others.
Whereas there may be a number of determinants for this lack of true faith among these professing Christians, it may very well be that these people have relegated their spiritual experience to a rather insignificant place in their lives. It is as if these people have compartmentalized their alleged faith as a subset of their overall life experience rather than making it the foundation upon which all other areas of life are laid. In reality, these people may not be Christians, for they have continued to worship themselves over the One True God, and they have desired to satisfy their own self-centeredness over their service to the Lord Almighty!
Leon Morris, in his commentary on I Thessalonians has summed up well the true ethos of Christianity when he writes, "Becoming a Christian involves a very definite break with non-Christian habits. Whatever the believers' previous background, there must always be a turning from idols of some sort. The act of conversion involves a change of direction of the will. This is a decisive happening, a reorientation of the whole of life."
Of course, we know that the grace of God is not merited by us (see Ephesians 2:8-9); it is solely the gift of God, to reconcile us to Him through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Still, God does not expect us to treat this gift of grace with contempt by a spirit of indifference. The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us not to become lazy, but to "imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." If anyone reading this passage is concerned with how this "imitation" is made manifest, he need only to look at the verses in subsequent chapters of the book of Hebrews. In chapter 10, the writer of Hebrews praises his listening audience for manifesting their hope in their glorious Lord by facing persecution and suffering for their faith. Some of these people were subjected to public insult for their allegiance to Jesus Christ, others had their property confiscated for their faith. Still, they rejoiced in the midst of their painful experiences, for they were strengthened with the assurance that worshiping and serving God was everything. They were also assured that God would redeem His people for all eternity, providing them with a rich reward for their faithfulness to Him.
As the writer of Hebrews implores his audience not to become lazy but to remain diligent in their commitment to the Lord, he uses the illustration of the patriarch, Abraham, as an example for the people to follow. Abraham was summoned by God to move hundreds of miles away from his homeland to a new land. The only assurance that he received from the Lord was the promise that God would bless the patriarch for his faithfulness. Abraham could have chosen to refuse God's offering and instead decided to live his own life according to his own desires. In fact, he could have chosen to forsake any surrender to the Lord and still labeled himself a "follower of God." Of course, this is not what we find with Abraham, for he yielded his own will to the will of His Lord. This surrender was not easy for Abraham. I'm certain that the trek was an arduous one, with many obstacles along the way. The easier path would have been simply to do nothing and in a spirit of laziness just "exist" in life. Abraham's decision to follow the Lord in faith would eventually bring to him the eternal blessings of God's promises.
As we reflect upon our own relationship with the Lord, we have to assess whether or not we have merely labeled ourselves "Christian" or if we are in fact true followers of Christ. We must not be self-absorbed and thus apathetic to the will of the Lord. If we truly are surrendered to Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will yield our own wills to His will. We will follow Him obediently, no matter the personal price, for we know that to obey Him is the least we can to for the Savior of our souls. People are not lazy or indifferent towards those things that they esteem. Let us revere the One True God in such a way that we submit to Him with passion and thanksgiving, knowing that He is everything to us.
As I have had the opportunity of observing professing Christians in America for most of my life, I have come to the conclusion that the biggest impediment to spiritual growth has not been religious persecution or the lack of resources and opportunity to facilitate one's spiritual maturation; instead, it has been an apathetic spirit toward God and His wonderful grace that He has "lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding" (Ephesians 1:8). And this apathy has been manifest in an indifference to serving the Lord faithfully and obediently.
It seems as if many who label themselves as "Christian" see their tag as a sociological identifier of their religious persuasion. Since America traditionally has been associated with the Christian faith (with many churches being organized and buildings being constructed in the 19th & 20th centuries), a majority of people in our nation have assimilated themselves within the rubric of this "popular religion." Many will identify themselves with Christianity when in fact they have never come to the point of surrendering their lives to the One True Lord of Hosts! There is little intimate fellowship with God through prayer and Bible study, nor is there any association with a collective body of Christian believers in a church, with the possible exception of certain holidays. Serving others before oneself and being obedient to the expressed will of God in Scripture seems foreign to these people, who are ensnared by the cultural philosophy of competitive self-adulation and self-satisfaction at the expense of others.
Whereas there may be a number of determinants for this lack of true faith among these professing Christians, it may very well be that these people have relegated their spiritual experience to a rather insignificant place in their lives. It is as if these people have compartmentalized their alleged faith as a subset of their overall life experience rather than making it the foundation upon which all other areas of life are laid. In reality, these people may not be Christians, for they have continued to worship themselves over the One True God, and they have desired to satisfy their own self-centeredness over their service to the Lord Almighty!
Leon Morris, in his commentary on I Thessalonians has summed up well the true ethos of Christianity when he writes, "Becoming a Christian involves a very definite break with non-Christian habits. Whatever the believers' previous background, there must always be a turning from idols of some sort. The act of conversion involves a change of direction of the will. This is a decisive happening, a reorientation of the whole of life."
Of course, we know that the grace of God is not merited by us (see Ephesians 2:8-9); it is solely the gift of God, to reconcile us to Him through the death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Still, God does not expect us to treat this gift of grace with contempt by a spirit of indifference. The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us not to become lazy, but to "imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised." If anyone reading this passage is concerned with how this "imitation" is made manifest, he need only to look at the verses in subsequent chapters of the book of Hebrews. In chapter 10, the writer of Hebrews praises his listening audience for manifesting their hope in their glorious Lord by facing persecution and suffering for their faith. Some of these people were subjected to public insult for their allegiance to Jesus Christ, others had their property confiscated for their faith. Still, they rejoiced in the midst of their painful experiences, for they were strengthened with the assurance that worshiping and serving God was everything. They were also assured that God would redeem His people for all eternity, providing them with a rich reward for their faithfulness to Him.
As the writer of Hebrews implores his audience not to become lazy but to remain diligent in their commitment to the Lord, he uses the illustration of the patriarch, Abraham, as an example for the people to follow. Abraham was summoned by God to move hundreds of miles away from his homeland to a new land. The only assurance that he received from the Lord was the promise that God would bless the patriarch for his faithfulness. Abraham could have chosen to refuse God's offering and instead decided to live his own life according to his own desires. In fact, he could have chosen to forsake any surrender to the Lord and still labeled himself a "follower of God." Of course, this is not what we find with Abraham, for he yielded his own will to the will of His Lord. This surrender was not easy for Abraham. I'm certain that the trek was an arduous one, with many obstacles along the way. The easier path would have been simply to do nothing and in a spirit of laziness just "exist" in life. Abraham's decision to follow the Lord in faith would eventually bring to him the eternal blessings of God's promises.
As we reflect upon our own relationship with the Lord, we have to assess whether or not we have merely labeled ourselves "Christian" or if we are in fact true followers of Christ. We must not be self-absorbed and thus apathetic to the will of the Lord. If we truly are surrendered to Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will yield our own wills to His will. We will follow Him obediently, no matter the personal price, for we know that to obey Him is the least we can to for the Savior of our souls. People are not lazy or indifferent towards those things that they esteem. Let us revere the One True God in such a way that we submit to Him with passion and thanksgiving, knowing that He is everything to us.
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