Bow or Burn

Daniel 3

Today’s Scripture is one that you might recall having heard in Sunday school when you were young, or in children’s church when you were a child.  However, the message here is definitely not just for children.  As adults, we can learn from today’s Scripture from the Book of Daniel, a message of standing strong for what we believe in, and not giving in to peer pressure, or any other pressure to do what we know is wrong.  Let’s take a fresh look at this Biblical account.

As our chapter in Daniel begins we read of King Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, setting up a tall golden statue of himself, and ordering the people to worship it (vs. 1-7).  Nebuchadnezzar was king of the Babylonian Empire from 605 BC - 562 BC.  He was the king who led the overthrow of the Kingdom of Judah, the destruction of Jerusalem, and the captivity of the Jewish people.  Like many kings, he had an inflated opinion of himself, and like many in the ancient world, he started to want his people to worship him as one of their many deities.  Thus he set up a large, 90 foot statue of himself, and told the people to bow down towards the statue whenever they heard a certain musical song played.  The punishment for disobedience was to be thrown into a burning furnace.  This was a direct order to break one of God’s Ten Commandments, that against worshiping someone or thing other than God, and worshiping idols.  Would God’s people bow or would they burn?

The Babylonian Empire had no problem with raising qualified people from the lands they had conquered to important positions within the empire, as long as they blended in with society.  If they were good-looking and bright, intelligent young men, they were trained and placed into positions.  Among them was Daniel and his friends, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.  These four, though, despite rising in rank, did not forsake or abandon their strong faith in God.

At the time that this idol was set up, and the order to worship it was given, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a decision to make.  (Daniel was probably out of the capital city on some business, and was thus not a part of this situation.)  Would they bow and save their lives, or not bow and burn?  The three didn’t even need to stop and ponder for a moment.  They had already decided they would never bow to a pagan deity, no matter what the cost.  Immediately enemies were there, ready to report these believers to the authorities (vs. 8-12).  Satan always has his people around to try and bring God’s people down.  They were reported and Nebuchadnezzar was furious.  He brought the three to himself and gave them one last chance.  Would they bow or would they burn? (vs. 13-15).

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did not give in to peer pressure or to political pressure.  They responded with boldness and courage.  They boldly gave testimony to their faith in God by stating that He was able to deliver them from the fiery furnace.  But even if He didn’t save them, they would not dishonor, disobey, or betray Him by worshiping an idol (vs. 16-18).  As we read, the three were thrown into the furnace, heated seven times hotter (vs. 19-23).  However, as the king observed, they did not die, and a Fourth Man was walking there with them.  This is believed to be a Christophany, a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus (vs. 24-25).  Nebuchadnezzar called the three out of the furnace, and began praising Yahweh for His great miracle in saving His servants who trusted in Him.  He then made a decree that no one is allowed to say anything against Yahweh (vs. 26-30).

What would you do today if faced with a similar scenario?  Would you bow to save your life?  Would you give in to the commands society makes, even though you know it goes against God’s Word?  Would you save your life for just a quick bow?  Would you save your job, your standing in your community just so you don’t look like you are going against what society today says is right, though you know it is against God and His Word?  These faithful men of God could have chosen to bow before an idol to save their own skin, but they had faith in the only true God, and knew the right thing to do.  It may not be easy to fight for what you know is right, but God will reward you for standing up in His Name and refusing to yield to evil.

These three had no assurance that God would spare their lives, yet they were fully committed to die a painful death.  Even if God didn’t rescue them from the fire, they chose to trust in His plans.  Even though God is able, we can trust Him when He doesn’t do what we think should be done.  Even if God’s plans for our lives aren’t what we hoped for, learning to trust God is part of His good plan,

God desires that we cling to Him - even if our loved one isn’t healed, even if we lose our job, even if we are persecuted.  Sometimes God rescues us from danger in this life, and sometimes He doesn’t.  The God we serve is able.  He loves us and is with us in every fiery trial.  Do not bend, do not bow, and look for the Fourth Man in the fire with you!

The Narrow Gate

Luke 13:22-30

How many people will be in heaven?  Is the number a large one, or not as many as some might think?  Just how many people are saved, how many in my city, in your city, in your country?  Maybe these questions have crossed your mind at one time or another, or maybe not.  They came to the mind of one person who was in the crowd of people who were listening to Jesus teach in our Gospel reading for today.  Why did he ask that question?  Did he want to feel good about himself, that he was part of that “in-crowd”?  Whatever his reasons for asking might have been, the answer that Jesus gave was probably not the one he was expecting or looking for.  Let’s see what Jesus had to say.

As we begin our Scriptures, this fellow asked Jesus the question of whether there will only be a few people who are saved (vs. 22-23).  I’m sure that he felt that he would be part of that group, him and his friends.  Surely not all of this riff-raff!  Did he genuinely care that people everywhere get saved, or only concerned that he and his friends were?  Jesus responded by telling him and all who were listening that they need to strive to be sure that they were, as not everyone who thinks they are will be entering heaven (vs. 24).

Jesus tells us here that we need to strive to enter in through the narrow gate.  The Greek word “strive” that was used in this verse is “Agonizomai” which means to agonize, to struggle, to endeavor with strenuous zeal, striving to obtain.  This isn’t something that we just casually attempt, but something that we earnestly pursue and undertake to obtain.  No one just automatically gets into heaven.

Jesus then continues by saying that the gate is narrow (vs. 24).  There are some who teach and preach that everyone gets to heaven, that no one is left out, almost as if it was a super, twenty-lane highway into heaven.  God’s Word tells us here that the gate is “narrow”.  This represents the exclusivity of salvation, that it is through Jesus Christ alone.  As we read in the Gospel of John, no one comes to God except through Jesus (John 14:6).  Not through any other religion, any other great religious leader, or great philosophy, only through Jesus.  No other name will bring salvation (Acts 4:12).  Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).  No other way leads to eternal life.

He then proceeds to give the picture of a homeowner who closes the door.  Those outside may knock, even pound on the door asking to be let in.  However the homeowner responds by telling them to leave, as he doesn’t know them (vs. 25-27).  Jesus tells us that this is what will happen on the final day.  There will be people who think that they belong in heaven, that they knew about Jesus, even ate and drank in His presence, but they do not get in.  There are many who are familiar with Jesus, but not truly saved by Him.  They may stand in a pulpit and preach using the Name of Jesus, but are not truly saved.  They may quote Bible verses, but are not saved.  And Jesus says that once the door is shut, it is too late.  This reminds us of Noah’s Ark.  When God shut the door, then judgment fell.

Jesus proceeds by describing the condition of those who are left out, that it is weeping and gnashing of teeth (vs. 28).  This is a clear reference to eternal separation from God in hell, a place of sorrow and torment.  Again, the Words of Jesus, the words of the Bible contradicts what many teach when they say that there is no hell, and that everyone gets to heaven.  Jesus teaches us that hell is real, it is eternal, and it is reserved for those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.  Since we do not know when that door will be closed, people need to repent now, and turn to Jesus, accepting Him as their Savior.

Our Scripture concludes by saying that there will be those from all four corners of the globe in God’s kingdom, and that those who thought they would be first will be last, and those who thought they were last will be first (vs. 29-30).  The Gospel of salvation is for all nations, for all people, regardless of their color or nationality.  It is not limited by geography, ethnicity, or background.  Anyone who has accepted Jesus is welcomed.

Rather than wondering how many people would be in heaven, that person should have been wondering if he was going to be there.  It is something that you should be asking yourself - are you going to be among the saved?  Don’t be one of those who somehow miss out because they never made an actual relationship with Jesus.  They thought that by occasionally going to church, or that because their parents were Christians, or that they were a “cultural Christian” was good enough, but they never personally themselves accepted Jesus as their Savior.  Proximity to truth is not salvation.  Church attendance, religious rituals, or cultural Christianity do not save.  Only a personal, repentant faith in Christ does.  Strive to enter through the narrow gate!

Mount Sinai or Mount Zion

Hebrews 12:18-29

When we were school-age children, one quick lesson that was taught in grade school was between comparing two or more items, and contrasting them.  Comparing focuses on the similarities between them, while contrasting focuses on the differences.  In our Scripture for today from the Book of Hebrews, the author takes a little time to contrast for us the differences between Mt. Sinai and Mt. Zion, the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, and why one is superior to the other.  Let’s see what he has to say, and why this is important for us.

As we read through this Scripture, we need to know what each of these places are, and what they represent here.  Mt. Sinai is a real, actual mountain located in the southern Sinai peninsula, in eastern Egypt.  Shortly after fleeing Egypt, the people of Israel journeyed to Mt. Sinai where they camped while Moses climbed the mountain.  It was from there that he received the Ten Commandments and the other Mosaic Laws from God.  It has been a very sacred place from then on.  In this passage, Mt. Sinai represents the Old Covenant, with its laws, judgment, and fear (vs. 18-21).  This mountain was a place that evoked fear in the people, as it was marked by fire from God, darkness, tempest, and the Voice of God that caused even Moses to tremble.

It was on Mt. Sinai that God gave Moses, and thus to the people, the Old Covenant laws.  While Moses was upon the mountain, the people were sternly warned that they were to keep a good distance away, and neither come near nor touch the mountain.  Access to God was restricted.  These laws revealed God’s holiness, along with man’s sinfulness.  However, they did not offer any permanent solution for mankind’s sin.

In contrast, Mt. Zion in this context is not a physical mountain, but a spiritual reality for believers.  It represents the New Covenant, along with grace, access to God, and joyful worship (vs. 22-24).  It is from this Mt. Zion that we are welcomed into the heavenly Jerusalem, and we find Jesus, our Mediator, whose Blood brings forgiveness, not vengeance.

While Moses was on Mt. Sinai, the people were warned to keep their distance.  Afterwards, when the Tabernacle was made, and later the Temple, the people could only enter the outer courts.  Only the priests could go further, and only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and then only once a year.  However, with Mt. Zion believers are declared righteous, our sins are forgiven through Jesus, and He brings us near to God the Father.  His Blood brings us a New Covenant.  Our position in Zion is secure, not based on the Law, but on grace.  We can rejoice in our spiritual position, as we are not under wrath, but under grace.

As the author of this epistle continues, he tells us that God still speaks to us through the Holy Spirit and His Word, the Bible (vs. 25-27).  Those who did not listen when God spoke through Moses and the Law did not escape judgment.  Today no one will escape judgment if they do not follow and listen to Jesus.  Just as God shook the earth at Mt. Sinai, He will shake heaven and earth again, and all that is not built on Jesus will be removed.  Only what is built on Christ will endure.  Those who have come to God through the Blood of Jesus have inherited a kingdom that cannot be moved.  It cannot be shaken or fall apart.  It is going to endure.  We need to build our life on the sure foundation of the Word of God.  When everything around us is being shaken, we will remain standing.

Our Scripture concludes with a call to worship the Lord God (vs. 28-29).  Grace leads us to reverence.  True worship flows from gratitude, not fear, however it is still marked by reverential awe.  God’s nature hasn’t changed.  He is still holy, still consuming in His purity.  Grace does not make God less majestic.  It does make our access to Him through Jesus more miraculous.

The author warns us that we need to serve God with reverence and godly fear, as He is a consuming fire (vs. 29).  God is not a pussy cat.  Though He is our Friend and loving Father, He is not a casual buddy.  He is not an over-indulgent gray-haired old man who lives in the sky.  We should be warned to not hide behind the grace of God and continue to live in secret sin.  Some boast that God loves them, and yet they continue to practice sin and condone things condemned in the Bible.  God is loving, but He is also a consuming fire.  He will never condone evil!

In closing, we need to come to God in worship and service with sincere reverence and awe.  Grace does not mean casual worship.  God is still an all-holy God.  We need to still listen to His Word, and not ignore His Voice.  We need to consider where we will be spending eternity and prepare for it.

Our Help In Times Of Trouble

Psalm 46

Massive earthquakes, category five hurricanes and tornadoes, extensive wildfires, rivers flooding way beyond their banks.  These are some of nature’s fury.  Then we have the destruction and death caused by wars, crime-ridden cities where people are afraid to even leave their homes, economic collapses causing great depressions, loss of jobs, and hunger.  These are disasters caused by man.  Either one can bring us to our knees in fear and despair.  Where can we turn for sure help when these events happen in our world?  Where can we go for refuge when we see such an event looming in the near future?  Our psalm for today gives us the answer.

Every so often we hear of some disaster that has happened somewhere on the globe.  You wake up and are browsing the news headlines and read of a strong, possibly massive earthquake somewhere.  There are hurricane warnings throughout the summer and early fall in the Caribbean and eastern coast of North America.  Wildfires throughout western North America.  You read of torrential rains that bring flooding rivers around the world, and read of ongoing war and death in various parts of the world.  There is so much trouble everywhere!  Is there any place we can turn to for help?  The Sons of Korah, the author of today’s psalm, had the answer.  The very first sentence of our psalm tells us - “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

There are some religious beliefs that hold that God is a distant God who does not get involved in the lives of mankind.  Whatever happens here on earth happens, and He just sits out there in the universe, impassively observing everything that happens.  That is not the truth, as we read in nearly every page of the Bible.  God is near, and is our Protector.  He is intimately involved in our life.  Even if the earth shakes or the mountains fall, we do not need to fear (vs. 1-3).

The psalmist then gives a picture of a river that flows through the City of God (vs. 4-6).  This is not a raging river which is overflowing its banks and flooding everyone out of their homes.  Instead, this is a calm, peaceful river, prophetically pointing to the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1), which symbolizes life, peace, and divine provision.  As we read throughout the Bible, God dwells with His people, not as an uninvolved deity out somewhere in the universe.

When the “nations rage” (vs. 6), and there are wars and political upheavals, we can turn to the Lord as our refuge.  People question where God is in all of this.  He is right there in the midst.  He is not passive.  God will actively judge all nations and will bring peace, if not soon, then definitely when Jesus returns (vs. 8-9).

The psalm continues with the Lord telling us to be still and trust in Him, knowing that He is God, all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-caring (vs. 10).  Practice being silent in God’s presence.  Not with New Age meditating practices of emptying the mind of thoughts and connecting with one's “inner self”, which can allow demonic powers to enter, but instead with quiet reflection on Jesus and His Word.  God wants us to be quiet, stop arguing or crying, and listen to what He has to say.  Let Jesus calm your mind and heart.  Like Jesus told the storm and waves to be quiet and be still (Mark 4:39), He tells us, as well.

When we hear about volcanoes and earthquakes, remember that God is in control.  He is always in control.  God is our refuge, a safe place to hide.  He is a refuge when war breaks or terrorists attack.  He is our help when the bridge falls, the tunnel caves in, or the plane crashes.  The Lord, who sent His Son to save us, is not going to leave us or forsake us.  He will always, because of the Savior’s sacrifice, do what is right and best for us.

As we look back over Psalm 46, we are reassured that God is both near and involved in our life.  Nothing that happens on earth ever takes Him by surprise, as He rules over nature and nations.  When anything happens, we can trust in Jesus, and take refuge in Him.  Jesus is a fortress for His people.  We can have faith and confidence in God that whatever happens in our life, He is in the midst of it all.

A False Security

Isaiah 28:14-22

Our Old Testament Scripture this week from the Lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer is a short, relatively obscure passage from the Book of Isaiah.  Though written over 2,700 years ago, and referring to events from back then, there are still lessons that we can apply to our own lives here today.  Let’s take a look and see what God’s Word can teach us.

When we read our Bible, it is always helpful to have the historical context, to know what was going on at the time.  Isaiah was a prophet who ministered to the people of the Southern Kingdom of Judah between 740 BC - 686 BC.  His ministry was during the reigns of four of Judah’s kings, including that of King Hezekiah.  It was during Hezekiah’s reign that the Northern Kingdom of Israel fell and was conquered by the Assyrian Empire.  The Assyrian emperor, Sennacherib, then set his eyes on Judah, and prepared to attack them.  It is with this background that our Scripture passage takes place.

The Northern Kingdom of Israel, Judah’s “sister” country, had recently been conquered by Assyria.  That empire was rapidly taking over and conquering nation after nation in the Middle East, and it was now perched and ready to begin its assault on Judah.  Naturally the people, including King Hezekiah and his political counsellors and leaders, were very nervous.  They were much smaller, and militarily no match for Assyria.  Who could or would help them?  There was talk by the political counsellors of the king to make an alliance with Egypt, and get their help, as they had a bigger and stronger army.  Where or who do you turn to when big, insurmountable troubles come your way?

The prophet Isaiah stepped in when he saw that the political and religious leaders were talking about turning to Egypt, to fellow humans for help rather than to God (vs. 14-15).  He called this a “covenant with death”, a metaphor for trusting in worldly alliances instead of God.  They may have thought that a political alliance with such a powerful nation as Egypt was a good idea, however Isaiah told them that it was a false security.  Egypt may help them this time, but they would be burdened with an alliance that may exact a heavy financial burden in money, grain, etc., and may turn on them themselves.  Plus, they were a pagan nation that worshiped a myriad of false idols.  Instead, they should turn to God who would bring them divine protection from their enemies.  Do we trust in worldly systems such as in our government, what wealth we can amass, or in human wisdom?  God wants our faithful love and trust to be in Him.  We must reject compromise and instead stand on Biblical truth.

Next Isaiah gives one of the many prophecies he made about the forthcoming Messiah (vs. 16).  The Lord Jesus is that precious Cornerstone, and our sure Foundation.  Both the apostles Peter and Paul make mention of this verse in their epistles (I Peter 2:6; Romans 9:33).  The actual physical salvation that the people of Judah needed from Assyria could only be found in God.  Today, our spiritual and eternal salvation is found only in the Lord Jesus.  He is the foundation of righteousness and justice, and we need to build our lives on Him alone, not on shifting cultural philosophies or political ideologies.

Isaiah used the word-picture of a builder to show how God measures truth and exposes the lies of false teachers and leaders (vs. 17).  These false doctrines and deceitful leaders, both then and now, will be swept away by God’s judgment.  How can we know false teachings from the truth?  We do so by testing all teaching with what is said in the Bible (Acts 17:11).  God’s Word is the true plumb line.

King Hezekiah did turn to the Lord for His help, and the Assyrian army turned away.  However, the people would continue to resist God’s truth, turning instead to false idols, and the nation of Judah would later be overthrown by the Babylonians (vs. 18-19).  When we reject God’s truth, we invite confusion and destruction.  Only repentance and faith in Jesus will bring peace.

Human wisdom is inadequate (vs. 20-22).  It cannot provide rest or protection.  God’s Word warns us to repent before judgment becomes irreversible.  Trusting in the Lord God is the only way we can find security, rest, and salvation, both now and in eternity.

Are you trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, or on worldly wisdom and philosophies?  Jesus is the only true foundation for salvation and righteousness, while everything else you may trust in is a false security.  Be vigilant against all false leaders and their words.  Measure everything that you are taught by the Bible.  Finally, don't delay in repentance.  Judah listened that time, but later they failed to listen and repent, and their judgment fell.  God’s warnings are His acts of mercy.  Turn to Him before the coming judgment falls.

Division

Luke 12:49-56

One description that many people like about Jesus is that of a peaceful Man.  They like to picture Him as Someone peaceful, perhaps as a Shepherd cradling a little lamb in His arms, or perhaps sitting with little children gathered around Him.  We like to picture Him in peaceful terms, and there is nothing wrong with that.  However, that would not be a complete picture of the Lord Jesus.  In today’s Scripture passage we see a facet of Jesus that many people might not know about, or one that they might like to ignore, or even perhaps eliminate.  Let’s see what this could be.

As we look into today’s reading from the Gospel of Luke we see Jesus say a statement that might surprise, shock, or even disturb some people, and that is His statement that He came not to give peace on earth, but rather division (vs. 51).   Also that Jesus said that He came to “send fire on the earth” (vs. 49).   This is quite different from the calm, placid, peace-loving Jesus that most people likes to see!

Jesus declared that He came to bring fire (vs. 49).  This fire is symbolic of divine judgment and purification.  The Old Testament prophet Malachi spoke of this as a refiner’s fire and an oven burning up stubble (Malachi 3:2-3, 4:1).  A refiner uses fire to heat up precious metals in order to separate the good from the bad, thus making the gold or silver pure.  Jesus will come again, and when He does this time, it will be with judgment, with a righteous and holy fire to confront sin and call for repentance.  This will not be a gentle or placid Jesus.

The baptism that Jesus spoke about in verse 50 was not a water baptism, like what He had with John the Baptist.  Instead, He was referring to His coming crucifixion, which was a baptism, an immersion into suffering and death.  His immense suffering and cruel death shows us just what the cost of our redemption was.  Jesus’ suffering was necessary to satisfy God’s justice and redeem sinners.

Next we come to some verses that many do not like to hear, and that is that Jesus said that He did not come to bring peace, but rather division, sometimes even within families (vs. 51-53).  This is not a contradiction of Jesus’ title of the Prince of Peace, which we read of in Isaiah 9:6, nor of what Jesus said when He promised His followers to give them peace (John 14:27).  The peace Jesus spoke of in the Gospel of John is a peace the Holy Spirit brings to a Christian’s heart despite what may be going on in their life or what is happening in the world.  These verses in today’s Scripture are showing us that the truth that Jesus brings will bring division between a believer and a non-believer.

The message that Jesus brings, the Words of truth in the Bible, are offensive to the unsaved and to the world.  They do not want to hear it, and the world continues to try and stamp it out.  Following Jesus Christ often means rejection by family members who resist the truth.  Unsaved parents do not like it when their children decide to follow the Savior instead of the paths they would want them to.  Unsaved children reject the Bible and its truth that their parents tried to teach them.  And when a believer marries into an unsaved family, that will often stir up strife.  Jesus is telling us that if we are going to stand firmly and loyally with Him and His Word, it may cost us some earthly relationships, including those in our own family.

The final segment of Scripture in this passage is a rebuke by the Lord to those who are able to interpret the weather by the clouds and the wind, but who fail to recognize the spiritual signs of the times (vs. 54-56).  Their eyes were blinded to the fact that the long-awaited Messiah was right there standing in their midst, and to their need to repent.  Multitudes today are just as blind to the signs of the end times.

In closing, Jesus is giving us word today at just what faithfully following Him might cost us, just as it cost Him when He was crucified for our sins.  Are we willing to make that sacrifice to follow Him, no matter the cost, including family?  He also stressed the importance of being spiritually alert, by being well-grounded in the Scriptures, and ready for His return.  Let us stay rooted in the Scriptures so as to be able to discern spiritual realities, preparing our hearts daily for Jesus’ return, and also be bold in proclaiming the truth, even when it causes division.

Running the Race

Hebrews 12:1-3

Some people like to go jogging on a regular basis for sport and exercise.  There are others who are part of the track and field teams in high school or college, trying to run as fast as they can for certain distance or around the race track.  Then there are those who are long distance runners, marathon runners, pacing themselves for a race of many, many miles.  Several cities around the world host annual marathon races.  Chicago, where I used to live, hosts a marathon race every October.  Perhaps you like to jog or take part in marathons, or perhaps you are like me, and would only run if your life depended upon it.  However, there is a race that we all take part in, one that we are in right now.  We read about this race in our brief Bible passage today.  Let’s see which race the Scriptures are talking about.

As we read our Scripture today from the Book of Hebrews, we see that we are in a race.  This is a race that we began the day that we were saved.  It is a marathon race, a long distance one, as it will last till the day we die or until Jesus returns.  God has marked a spiritual race for us to run.  The finish line is eternity with Jesus.  How well are we running this race?  There are some important things an actual athletic runner needs to know and follow when running an actual marathon, and likewise there are some important things that we, in our spiritual race, need to know and follow, as well.

The author of Hebrews, when writing this passage, first mentions that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses (vs. 1).   If you’ve ever seen news clips of a city marathon, one thing you will notice is that there are crowds of people all along the route, and they are cheering the runners on as they pass by.  That’s important for a runner, as the encouragement they hear helps them keep on going.  The author here is referring to fellow believers who have gone on before.  Some of them are those mentioned in the previous chapter.  Others would be believers from the early days of the church until today, even some that we may have known, who are now with the Lord.  They are an active testimony to God’s faithfulness, and are “cheering” us on.  Other believers who are still with us today can help “cheer” us on to keep going with their encouragement and prayers.

Another thing that a long-distance marathon runner needs to know is to not carry any heavy weights or anything that might entangle him (vs. 1).  A runner certainly doesn’t want to be carrying a backpack filled with rocks or bricks, nor does he want to be wearing any bulky clothes.  Do we have any sinful habits that are hindering our spiritual progress?  Or perhaps some things that aren’t inherently sinful, but their presence in our life is slowing us down?  Get rid of them.  It is essential in our race to confess and forsake sin, and get rid of habits and distractions that slow our spiritual growth.  This race is lifelong and the finish line is eternity.

When running a race, it is important for the runner to keep his eyes and his mind on the finish line.  That is important, too, in our spiritual race.  We need to keep our eyes on Jesus (vs. 2).  When we take our eyes off of Him to focus on other runners around us, or on the world and its lures, that’s when we can trip, get hurt, or throw ourselves off course.  When driving, it is safest to focus our gaze farther down the road, not just 1’ in front of the car.  The same with our spiritual walk.  We need to focus our eyes on Jesus.

Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith (vs. 2).  He initiates and completes our faith.  He is both the Source and the Goal.  Sometimes our race may become difficult to keep going, but we need to remember what He went through.  Jesus endured the cross.  His suffering was real and voluntary, and now He is exalted and in authority.  Keep looking at Jesus, as He is both our example and our strength.  Meditating on Him and what He went through will be an encouragement for our weariness (vs. 3).

In a race, what’s most important is not how one begins, but how one finishes.  Prizes are awarded for crossing the finish line, not for great starts.  We can look at two contrasting Biblical examples, Mark (John Mark) and Demas.  Mark had gone with Paul and Barnabas, but got discouraged and left early (Acts 13:13).  Paul was upset with John Mark for that, but later, when he was about to be executed, Paul acknowledged that John Mark was useful for the ministry (II Timothy 4:11).  He later wrote the Gospel of Mark.  He had a bumpy start, but a very good finish.  Demas was called a fellow worker by Paul (Philemon 1:23-24), which indicates a good start.  However, later he deserted Paul for worldly things (II Timothy 4:10).  He had a bad finish.

You may have had a bumpy start.  Perhaps you are still stumbling along the path.  Toss off all of the unnecessary weight of sin and distractions, and keep your eyes focused on Jesus.  Listen to the crowds cheering you on.  Let’s continue our race, living with an eternal perspective, spiritual discipline, and an unwavering focus on Jesus.

Corrupt Leaders Held Accountable

Psalm 82

For as long as I can remember, and that is going back numerous decades, people have not had too favorable an opinion about politicians.  At least that is the case here in the U.S., and I’m guessing that is the case in many other countries, as well.  Whether right or left wing, people believe they are corrupt, dishonest, and rarely keep their promises.  People’s opinions about lawyers and judges aren't much better.  Yet, ideally, these are two groups of people that we really ought to be able to trust the most, as one group is to lead our country or state, and the other to defend us when we need the most help.  Since both politicians and those in the legal profession are in very powerful positions, it is more than just sad that they have a reputation for dishonesty and corruption.  In our psalm for today, the psalmist Asaph speaks of what God has to say when the powerful and mighty have become corrupt.  Let’s take a look.

Asaph is not a very familiar person from the Old Testament, so let’s take a quick look at who he was.  Asaph was a Levite who lived during the time of King David.  He was one of three men that the king commissioned to be in charge of singing in the house of the Lord.  He was also there when David’s son Solomon built and dedicated the Temple, and he performed at that ceremony.  Asaph wrote twelve of the psalms in the Bible, one of them being our psalm for today.

Corrupt leaders have been a problem throughout all of history, and here we see God rebuking these rulers for their failure to uphold justice for the people they are to be helping.  Asaph used a courtroom setting for the psalm, where God indicts the unjust judges and political leaders, and calls for righteous judgment for the people.

Many leaders, both in the political and legal professions, as they climb to greater and greater positions, start to think that they are all-powerful.  They feel that they make the rules, and everyone else better follow them.  They bend and twist the laws to be favorable to themselves and their friends and colleagues.  Asaph calls them here “gods”, with a small-case “g” (vs. 1, 6).  He is not speaking of any divine deity, but instead of mortal men who have been entrusted with divine responsibilities.  There are other professions  where people sometimes start to feel like they are god-like, such as in education or the medical fields.  These are people who are appointed human authorities, those who are expected to reflect God’s justice, His wisdom, kindness, and mercy, but who so often fail to do so.  Though many may suffer under the oppression of corrupt leaders, God will hold them accountable, condemning their partiality for themselves and friends, and their dishonesty (vs. 1-2).

Asaph then instructs these leaders in what they should have been doing all along, in what God expects from them in these leadership positions (vs. 3-4).  Instead of amassing wealth for themselves, and heartlessly taking advantage of others, they are to defend and bring justice to those who are the most vulnerable in society - the poor, the fatherless, and the needy.  All too often, though, these leaders are completely ignorant of the needs of the poor, which leads to instability and unrest in society (vs. 5).

Asaph then reminds these rulers that their power is only temporary, as they are all subject to God’s judgment (vs. 6-7).  Most of them never even think about their mortality, and that one day all the power they hold will one day end.  However, that day is coming, and they need to remember that God’s judgment will follow.  That is something that we all need to remember.  We may hold some position or another, and enjoy the perks and benefits that come with that, but one day that will end, and God will hold us accountable for how we used that position.  Did we think of others, and use whatever position or abilities we have to help the less fortunate?

As the psalm closes, Asaph prays for the day when God will judge the earth, and will rule over all nations (vs. 8).  That day will happen when the Lord Jesus returns to earth, which could be at any time.  He alone is the righteous Judge over all the earth, and leaders from all professions are answerable to Him for how they treat the poor and oppressed.  

God's Warning for False Prophets

Jeremiah 23:23-29

I can be fairly certain that nobody wants to be lied to.  We all want to hear the truth.   Advertising companies know how to make an item sound really good with their slick advertising commercials.  Are they telling us the truth?  Perhaps sometimes, but often we believe what they say, buy the item, and find out it is a piece of junk.  We all know about used car salesmen.  Some are good and honest, but far too many will smoothly tell their lies, trying to get us to believe them and buy from them.  They are not the only ones who will tell their lies with a smile on their face.  The prophet Jeremiah tells us of another group, ones who spread their false words, and who are far more dangerous to us than any used car salesman.  Let’s look into God’s Word to find out.

As we read this brief Scripture passage found in the middle of the Book of Jeremiah, we see that the group of people that God is warning us about are false prophets.  These are false religious leaders, who preach messages that they claim are from God, but which He tells us are not.  There were some back in the days of Jeremiah, who wanted the people to believe they were sent by God.  Unfortunately there are plenty today, preachers in the pulpits and often on television, who claim they are giving us God’s message, but who are just as much a false prophet as the one’s warned about in today’s Scripture.

Why would a preacher want to give a false message to people?  For one, if they preach a message that everyone likes to hear, one that “tickles the ears” of the congregation, he will become popular, and his congregation will grow.  A growing congregation means more money in the offering.  There are some TV preachers that only preach positive, fluffy, feel-good messages, ones that tell them how good they are, how they were born to win, to be a champion, be their best self, but never mention the reality that we are all sinners and in need of salvation through Jesus Christ.

Another lying message false prophets of today say is that if you give money, particularly to their ministry, you will become rich.  They want you to believe that they are concerned with your being blessed and get rich, but in reality they are only concerned with getting and staying rich themselves, and with buying their next private jet or giant mansion.

Other false prophets or preachers preach messages saying that we are all “little gods”, which is a false twisting of Scriptures to boost their own egos.  They claim that they have a “special” message from God, that He spoke directly to them, or gave them a special dream or vision.  Other false teachings that some spread is that Jesus is not God, but just a good teacher, like so many other teachers.  They preach that the Bible is not God’s inspired Word, but that it “contains” some of God’s words, or that only parts of the Bible can be believed.  One could go on and on, listing untruthful teachings these false prophets are spreading.

One thing that is common among the false prophets of today and in Jeremiah’s day is that they are not afraid of what God has to say.  They do not think that He hears their words, that He is far off, far away in heaven or someplace, but that He certainly doesn’t know or bother to care what is going on here on earth.  However, God has news for them.  His true messenger Jeremiah gave us His Words, saying that God is omnipresent and omniscient.  He is everywhere and knows everything (vs. 23-24), nor is He confined to one location.  There is no place one can hide from Him.  We need to be aware that nothing is hidden from God, and knowing this should produce reverence and accountability in us.

God condemned these false prophets, those who claimed divine revelations but instead were speaking lies from their own imagination (vs. 25-27).  He condemns the false prophets today who are also leading people away from God, from His message of salvation through Jesus Christ.  Before we accept anyone’s message or teaching, we must test all that they say against Scripture (Acts 17:10-11).  Nothing that is preached or taught can be authoritative unless it aligns solidly with God’s Word, the Bible.

God’s Word purifies, like fire does, and also breaks hardened hearts like a hammer (vs. 29).  It is powerful, transformative, and authoritative.  God’s true Word is nourishing and life-giving, such as wheat, while false teachings are empty and worthless, like chaff (vs. 28).  We must be able to discern substance from fluff, as not all religious speech is spiritually profitable.  In some cases it is outright dangerous, as it can lure us away from the truth and bring spiritual damnation to our souls.

Only God’s Word carries divine authority.  Christians must reject teachings that contradict the Bible, no matter how popular or emotionally appealing they may be, or what society is saying.  A true prophet or preacher will speak God’s Word faithfully, not their own message.  To keep from falling victim to false teaching, take your Bible out, read and study it, and then test the message of the preacher against what God’s Word actually says.

Be Ready And Alert

Luke 12:32-40

At the risk of sounding like a home security commercial, there is a home burglary happening somewhere on the earth at every moment.  Perhaps you have been the unfortunate victim of such a crime.  They may take your expensive jewelry, or jewelry that might not be expensive, but which has sentimental value, as it belonged to your mother or grandmother.  They may take valuable artwork, or expensive computers or computer gaming equipment.  You come home and all of your treasures have been stolen.  In our Gospel reading for today, the Lord Jesus speaks to us about what we hold as treasured items, and how to avoid having our treasures stolen.

As our Scripture passage begins, the Lord Jesus calls His followers here “little flock” (vs. 32).  We are like a small group of sheep, seeking to follow our Good Shepherd (John 10:11-16), as He lovingly cares and protects us.  He tells us that it is God’s pleasure to give His children, His “little flock” the Kingdom.  It is His gift, not something that we earn.  It is something that God is happy to bestow upon us.

Jesus proceeds to give us some instructions on how we, His little flock, should live (vs. 33-34).  He wants us to be making eternal investments instead of storing up temporal or earthly wealth.  This is not teaching us socialism or communal living.  Instead it is a call to personal sacrifice and having generosity which is rooted in our faith in Him.  Instead of having a house filled with treasures that would break our hearts if they were stolen, or things we watch grow old and break down, Jesus suggests we might be more happy if we sell them and give the money to the poor.  That way they won’t grow old and gather dust in our homes, or be at risk of getting stolen.  Then we can begin gathering treasures in heaven.

What we invest our time and money in, what we talk about, what we keep returning to in our mind reveals what is really in our heart, and what is truly our “treasure”.  Jesus asks us whether our treasure is the “stuff” we have in our homes, or is our treasure what we have laid up in heaven?  If it is an earthly treasure, then it can be stolen, broken, or taken away.  However if we have been working on building a heavenly treasure, we can relax, knowing that type of treasure is eternally safe and sound.

The Lord then proceeds to tell us about the good servant (vs. 35-40).  The good servant is going about his tasks while the master is out, so that when he returns home, the master finds him hard at work, doing what he is supposed to.  He is ready and prepared for when the master returns.  This pictures how we, as Christians need to be as we wait for the return of the Lord Jesus.  Are we ready, just like the good servant is for his master’s return?  Having one’s waist girded and lamp burning show a picture of one being prepared and vigilant.  They are ready at all times, as the master may come early, or he may be delayed.  We don’t know when Jesus is returning, so we must be ever vigilant and ready.  We need to be spiritually alert and morally pure at all times.

If an earthly master will reward the servant who is ready and doing what he should be when the master returns, how much more will the Lord reward His children who are ready and doing what they should when He returns? (vs. 37-38).   Jesus will honor and reward faithful believers.  When we serve Him wholeheartedly now, we can know that He will reward us in eternity.

The Lord then returns to the thought of a thief breaking in and stealing our belongings (vs. 39-40).  If we knew ahead of time exactly what time that thief would come, we would be there ready and waiting, preventing him from breaking in.  What gives the thief the upper hand is the element of surprise.  He picks a time when we’re away, when we’re asleep, or otherwise not paying attention.  Jesus’ warning is to be alert, ready, and prepared.  We do not know when He will return.  It might be soon, or it might be a number of years away.  However, it could be this afternoon!

Knowing that, we should be spiritually prepared at all times.  Don’t delay in repenting of sins, or in obeying His Word, the Bible.  Don’t be like the lazy servant or unprepared homeowner, and slumbering when we should be vigilant and alert.  We can rest in the promises Jesus gives us.  Remember, we are His little flock!

Faith and Hope

Hebrews 11:1-6

Around the world there are various Halls of Fame.  Some are officially titled a hall of fame, such as the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and various sports Halls of Fame.  Then there are places where many very famous people from all different backgrounds are buried, such as Westminster Abbey.  Although a grand church, since so many famous people are buried there, it is like a hall of fame.  Here in the 11th chapter of Hebrews we find what has often been called “Faith’s Hall of Fame”.  Here we find listed many of the great people of faith whose accounts are recorded in the Old Testament.  The first several verses of this great chapter describe what faith and hope are, as an encouragement for us to grow in these virtues.  Let’s see what our Scripture has to say.

As chapter 11 begins, we read that “faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (vs. 1).  When we have faith, we have confidence in things that we have not yet experienced or seen, but believe based on God’s promises.  Faith has full trust in God and His Word.  It is not merely intellectual assent, but a spiritual conviction rooted in God’s Word.  When you have faith, you have the assurance that what God has said will come to pass.  It is not blind, but is based on the reliability of God’s Word.

The word “hope” in the New Testament does not mean wishing for something, as it is often used in a secular context.  It is the Greek word “elpis”, which is expectation, trust, or confidence.  Whatever trials and tribulations we are asked to endure, we have hope or trust that if not in this life, then in the next we will be better off.  We hope or trust that God’s promises are sure and that He is with us through all things.  Biblical hope is a certainty that our ultimate future rests in God’s capable, loving hands.  It is an assurance that the invisible God is faithful and has a good plan in my visible life.  Our testimony before others is strengthened by having unwavering faith and hope in God’s promises, just as these Old Testament believers listed in this chapter were (vs. 2).

The author of Hebrews next lists three examples of faith before he goes into the whole “hall of faith”.  The first is having faith in Creation (vs. 3).  The world mocks Christians and the Biblical account of Creation, instead pushing their theory of evolution, which is contrary to what God has stated in His Word.  This verse in Hebrews refutes evolution and affirms a literal, divine creation as taught in Genesis 1.  Christians accept Creation by faith, not because we saw it, but because God declared it.  This is an example of having faith, and believing in what God says.

Next we look at Abel, the second child born to Adam and Eve (vs. 4).  Abel grew up to be a sheep herder, while his older brother Cain was a farmer.  When the two came to bring a sacrifice to God, Abel’s offering was accepted because it was given in faith, unlike Cain’s (Genesis 4:1-5).  God had prescribed a blood sacrifice, which we see earlier when God sacrificed a lamb to make clothing for Adam and Eve, to cover and atone for their sin (Genesis 3:21).  Without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness (Hebrews 9:22).  Abel knew this, and brought the proper sacrifice.  Cain could have traded some of his good crops to his brother for a lamb.  Trading of goods has been historically accepted throughout all of history, and he could have done that.  Abel’s sacrifice pointed to the necessity of blood atonement, which was fulfilled in the Lord Jesus.  Faith like Abel’s leads to obedience and the type of worship that pleases God.

Next we read about Enoch, (vs. 5), a godly man who is only briefly mentioned in the Book of Genesis (Genesis 5:21-24).  Enoch lived a life so filled with faith and godliness that one day God just decided to take him to heaven without him dying.  There have only been two people that God did that for, Enoch here, and then the prophet Elijah.  It will happen again one day when Jesus returns and brings all believers to heaven.  Enoch’s life was marked by walking with God in a daily, faithful relationship.  Faith isn’t just for crisis moments.  It is a lifestyle of communion with God, which Enoch had.

As this segment of Scripture closes, the author reminds us that faith is necessary in order to please God (vs. 6).  Faith is not optional, it is essential.  The very foundation of our relationship to God is our faith in Him.  We must choose to have faith in God despite what our outward circumstances might be saying.  We also should declare God’s greatness and His love over our life, whether we feel like it or not.  Our feelings are not always accurate.  They can deceive us at times.  Salvation, sanctification, and service all hinge on faith.  Works without faith are dead, and faith without works is incomplete (James 2:17-18).

Do you have faith in God?  Do you believe that He will answer your prayers and will provide for your needs?  Faith goes beyond just saying that God exists.  Faith is following Him all the days of our life.  Faith is trusting Him, even in the worst situations, and remembering Him in the best.  God honors those who seek Him in faith - not casually, but diligently like Abel and Enoch.

Who Do We Trust In Challenging Times?

Psalm 33:12-22

Looking back over the long expanse of history, there has not been any consistent time where all of the nations of the world were at peace between each other.  You might ask “What about during the Pax Romana” a period of peace from roughly 27 BC - 180 AD.  That involved the Roman Empire, and though that empire was large and powerful, it did not encompass the whole world.  There very likely were conflicts and even wars in other parts of the world then, such as among the indigenous tribes in North and South America, or perhaps among the different kingdoms of eastern Asia, or elsewhere.  There has never been a time where there was not some type of hostility or war between two or more groups of people.  Looking around the globe today, I can pick out several places where there are armed conflicts of various degrees.  When such conflicts arise close to home, or we fear may begin to include our country or territory, we may begin to fear.  “Can my country protect me and my family?  Will our leader keep us safe?  Is our military strong enough to defeat the enemy?”  In our Scripture for today we will read the answer that the Lord God gives to those questions and fears.

Our psalmist today, in the second half of Psalm 33, can answer these questions, and hopefully put to rest the fears that many may have in these challenging days, where the fears of war and hopes for peace seem to dominate.  As we read, we see that the Lord is watching over all the world (vs. 13-15).  He is not oblivious to what is going on.  He sees all of mankind, and He understands the hearts and actions of everyone, from the lowliest person on the streets to the richest or most powerful leaders.  Contrary to what some religions teach, God is omniscient and He is personally involved in all that happens.  Nothing escapes His notice.  No action, person, or situation - past, present, or future - is hidden from Him.  Not only does He see everyone’s actions, He also knows the motives behind those actions.  We can only guess at someone’s motives, including world leaders, but God knows their true motives.

Who are we trusting in to keep us, our families, our friends, and ultimately our nation safe?  Our psalmist speaks the truth when he says that no king (or president, or prime minister) is saved by his army (vs. 16-17).  Without getting into the technicalities of military theory, in every battle or war, there have always been two or more armies (of varying sizes) involved.  One side ultimately defeats the other.  God tells us that we should not put our trust in an army, nor in the war horse (today we could say military aircraft, tanks, missiles, etc.).  Trusting in our political leaders, military might, or personal strength is vain.  Our hope must be in God’s power, not worldly solutions.

So if we can’t trust in our political leaders to help us, neither our military, nor in multi-national organizations (United Nations, EU, etc.), who can we turn to for help when the drums of war are sounding louder and louder?  Or who can we turn to for help when our country’s economy is falling apart, and basic necessities like food and housing are becoming too expensive?  Or when we can’t afford the medical care that we need?  Our psalmist here tells us that we should turn to the Lord God, and trust in Him, not in any human agency (vs. 18-19).  God watches over those who fear Him, and who hope in His mercy.  Salvation and deliverance comes through God’s grace, not through someone else, or even our own ability.  When we fear the Lord, giving Him His due honor and respect, and trust in His mercy, He will deliver us.

Our psalmist reminds us that we need to wait upon the Lord, trusting in His timing and plan, even when there are frightening challenges (vs. 20-22).  We can rejoice in all that He has done, and has promised that He will do for us, and hope in His mercy, because He is a faithful God.

As the portion of our psalm began, blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord (vs. 12).  Though there possibly were some nations in the past who genuinely trusted in the Lord Jesus, there really aren’t any today where we could say that both their leader and the vast majority of the people put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.  Though God is concerned with nations, He is also especially concerned with individuals.  Each of us as individuals can and should turn to the Lord Jesus and claim Him as our Lord and God.  Believers today form a spiritual nation (I Peter 2:9).  Our allegiance must be to the Lord above all.  God’s blessing is tied to submission to His lordship.  Nations that reject the Lord Jesus cannot expect His favor.

Knowing this, we need to pray that our nation, whatever one you may live in, will come (or return) to the Lord Jesus, acknowledging Him as their Lord and God.  For ourselves, for our own peace of mind in challenging times, we need to trust in God’s mercy, not in our own or anyone else’s strength.  Remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God’s eye is upon us.

A Delayed Promise

Genesis 15:1-6

If someone made a promise to you back in the year 2000, and you were still waiting for that promise to be kept, it’s possible that you might give up hope that they will ever follow through and keep that promise.  Twenty-five years is a long time to wait, yet that is exactly how long the gentleman in our Scripture today, Abraham, had to wait for the fulfillment of a promise made to him.  Today’s Scripture passage, though, takes place about half way through that time period, and he’s still waiting.  Let’s see what is happening with Abraham, or Abram as he was called then.

Back in Genesis 12:1-4, we read of God’s call of Abram and His initial promise of him having descendants, “make you a great nation”.   At this time Abram was 75, and his wife Sarai (later known as Sarah) was 65.  The oldest verifiable age where a woman gave birth naturally, without any type of fertility treatments, is 59 back in 1997.  Sarai was several years past that age.  Now, as we enter Chapter 15, we are possibly ten or so years later, and Abram is still childless.

Just prior to the beginning of Chapter 15, Abram had rescued his nephew Lot, along with his fellow townspeople, from marauding kings and their armies, set on eliminating neighboring cities.  Abram returned to his own camp settlement, but was probably fearful that those armies he had routed might return with a vengeance against him.  The Lord came and spoke to Abram, though, in his time of fear, and reassured him that He would protect him from all harm.  He told Abram that He was his shield and his great reward (vs. 1).  A shield protects soldiers from arrows and spears.  God promised to be that protection for him.  After his rescue of Lot and his neighbors, Abram had refused any share of the spoils of that battle (Genesis 14:22-23).  God, though, affirmed that He was Abram’s reward, a reward that was greater than any earthly gain he could get.  When we are following the Lord, and obeying His Word, He will be our shield of protection in trials.  When we forsake worldly gain to follow His righteousness, God becomes our portion and reward.

Though undoubtedly Abram was very grateful to the Lord for His protection and mercies, he opened up and honestly prayed to God with the disappointment in his heart that after all these years he was still childless.  He told God what good would any reward be if he had no children, and his only heir was a servant in his household (vs. 2-3).  He was basically telling the Lord that He had yet to fulfill His promises of many years ago.  Abram might have felt ignored, or even abandoned.  He felt that God’s promise of an heir had gone unheeded.  However, he never gave up his faith in Yahweh.  Faith doesn’t mean the absence of questions.  Abram’s honesty shows that God welcomes our doubts when they come, not with pride or unbelief, but instead with honest humility.

The Lord responded with a renewal of the promise He had originally made with Abram.  He stated that Abram’s heir would not be his servant Eliezer, but would be a child of his own (vs. 4).  Yahweh proceeded to reaffirm this promise by giving Abram a visual illustration.  He brought Abram outside of his tent at night, away from any lights from the lanterns or fire pits, out where it was very dark and pointed out the millions of stars (vs 5).  There were way too many to begin counting.  God promised Abram that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars.  Astronomers have calculated that there are trillions of stars just in our own galaxy, the Milky Way, let alone the estimated trillions of other galaxies out there.  His descendants would be just as numerous, but as yet he didn’t have even one.  God’s promises often require patience.  He doesn’t share our urgency or our wanting things immediately.

How could God make the statement that Abram’s descendants would be as the stars in the heavens or the dust on the earth? (Genesis 13:16)  God was referring not only to the physical descendants he would have, the Jewish people, but also to the countless spiritual descendants Abraham would have.  The Bible tells us that everyone who has accepted Jesus as their Savior is now a descendant of Abraham through faith.  We read that in Galatians 3:7-9, and also Galatians 3:29.

Our Scripture passage closes with a very important verse.  Verse 6 is a foundational verse for the doctrine of justification by faith.  Paul quotes this in both Romans 4:3 and Galatians 3:6, along with James quoting it in James 2:23.  Abram was declared righteous, not because of any good works that he did, but by believing God’s promise.  Salvation has always been by faith.  Abram’s belief in God’s Word was credited as righteousness, just as we are justified by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and His death on the Cross for our sins.

In closing, we see that Abram waited for years before he and his wife had their son Isaac.  God’s promises are sure, even when there is a delay.  Abram believed despite not seeing the fulfilment right then.  Faith rests on God’s character, not on the circumstances.  Just as Abram was justified by faith, so are we through Jesus Christ alone, not by any good deeds we may do.  And like Abram, we can trust that Yahweh is our shield and reward, greater than any earthly possession.

Building Bigger Barns

Luke 12:13-21

Have you ever known someone who thinks only of money, making or obtaining more and more of it.  They never seem to be satisfied, always wanting a bit more, and then again a little bit more.  Maybe you are like that.  We all know that we need enough to put a roof over our head, food on the table, and clothes on our back.  We need to provide for our family.  There is nothing wrong with desiring enough money to provide for that.  However when wanting more and more seems to take over, there is a problem.  The Lord Jesus told a parable about just such a man.  Let’s see what He has to tell us today.

One day, as Luke recounts in his Gospel, a man came up to Jesus and asked Him to tell his brother to split the inheritance with him (vs. 13-15).  He wanted his share of what their deceased father left to the family.  In a Jewish family during Biblical times the eldest son inherited a double portion.  Perhaps this man was a younger son, and wanted more than he was entitled to under Jewish law.  Whatever the specific situation was, this man was impatient and wanted as much money as he could get, and wanted it right then.  He thought Jesus might resolve his dispute in his favor, but he was wrong.

This man’s heart was focused on worldly gain rather than spiritual truth.  If he had ever really listened to what Jesus had to say throughout His ministry, he would know that this was not a request one would make to the Lord.    Jesus’ mission was spiritual, not political or economic.  Maybe this man had mounting bills and was worried.  The extra money would help, if only his brother would give it.  There is such a thing as “greed based worry” which Jesus is referring to when he spoke to this man.  It is being greedy over security to where we worry about it.  We continually want a little bit more so that we don’t have to worry.  God will give us what we need in order to live for Him each day.  Wanting more than that is a type of greed.

Jesus warned His listeners, and us today as well, to beware of being covetous, desiring to have what someone else has.  Being covetous is breaking one of the Ten Commandments, and the Bible also says it is a form of idolatry (Colossians 3:5).  It replaces trust in God with trust in material wealth.  A fulfilled life is found in Jesus Christ, not in possessions.

The Lord then proceeded to tell the crowds a parable about greed and covetousness (vs. 16-21).  A wealthy landowner’s ground was producing an exceptionally large and abundant harvest, possibly for multiple years, and he had become rather wealthy.  His barns and storage facilities were not large enough, so he decided to tear them down and build bigger barns.  With his immense wealth, he planned on living well, living “the good life”.  This man repeatedly used the words “I” and “my”, showing very self-centered thinking.  He wanted to control his future, ignoring God’s sovereignty, equating material security with peace and satisfaction.

However, little did this rich man know that God was going to give His verdict on his life that very night.  He died that night, and then who got all of the riches he had so greedily accumulated?  The man was a fool, not because he was rich, but because he was not rich towards God.  He had provided for himself but not for others.  He provided for his body but not his spirit, and he provided for this life but not the one to come.  The man was wealthy in this world, but he died with a bankrupt soul.  He tried so hard to keep all that he had, and yet ended up with nothing of eternal value.

The antidote for greed is being rich towards God.  This means investing in eternal things such as faith, obedience to God’s Word, and generosity to others (I Timothy 6:17-19).  We do this by pursuing, appreciating, and loving God above all, where He remains our chief delight.

Covetousness is a sin.  It reflects a heart that is not submitted to God.  Wealth is not evil, but hoarding it selfishly is.  Jesus notices what we keep, as well as what we give.  Our real values in life are revealed by what we keep and what we give to others, whether it be time, money, or devotion.  Jesus watched when the widow gave her last pennies (Mark 12:41-44), and He saw when the rich man hoarded his wealth into bigger barns.

What about you?  Are you more concerned with earthly gain or with your eternal reward?  We need to trust in God to provide for our daily needs, and resist the pull of materialism.  As Jesus taught us here, be rich towards God. Invest in heavenly treasures and not in earthly ones.

Take Off the Old and Put On the New

Colossians 3:5-17

After a long day working in your garden under a hot sun, or perhaps working in a hot garage for many hours underneath your car, and then you come into your home, you will likely get out of your dirty clothes, take a shower, and then put on nice, clean clothes.  If a street urchin is adopted into a well-to-do family, like we see in the Dickens’ novel Oliver Twist, the child doesn’t remain in his ragged clothes.  Instead, he is given a closet full of nice clothes.  In our Scripture, the Apostle Paul tells the Colossian Christians that they need to take some things off, and put on something else.  Let’s take a look at what he is referring to.

As our Scripture reading begins, the Apostle Paul begins with a rather strong exhortation, that we are to put some behaviors to death (vs. 5-9).  In many of Paul’s epistles, he has told believers that their old, sinful nature has been crucified with Christ (Galatians 2:20).  It is put to death.  When the old, sinful behavior starts to crop up in our life, we are not to indulge in those actions any more, but instead Paul says to put them to death.  There must be an active, deliberate rejection of these sinful behaviors.  Many of these sins listed are not just external acts, but they are also internal attitudes which must also be put to death.  Our unsaved, flesh nature cannot be reformed.  It must be actively rejected.  Sanctification, the act of living the righteous life we have received through the Lord Jesus, is not optional.  It is the fruit of genuine salvation.

We also need to take special care with what we say, and eliminate all corruption of speech and emotion (vs. 8-9).  Our words are like a bell that has been rung.  Once it is rung, it cannot be un-rung, nor can the words which we say later be unsaid.  We need to be sure to eliminate all filthy talk, and also be careful to speak truthfully to each other.  All of these offensive behaviors are the dirty, filthy, smelly clothes that we are to take off.  No one wants to walk around in dirty, stinky clothes!

Now Paul tells us to put on the new man, the new clothing, which is in the image of the Lord Jesus (vs. 10).  When a new baby is born into a family, the relatives all look for some resemblance the baby might have to parents or grandparents.  We should expect to see some family resemblance between God and those who claim to be His children.  This resemblance is not automatic, it is intentional.  We must first accept Jesus as Savior, and then actively “take off the dirty clothes” and “put on the new clothes” if we are to become more like Him.  If you’ve been invited to an elegant banquet, you want to make sure you look appropriate.  Paul proceeds to list the godly behaviors and virtues that the Holy Spirit gives us when we are saved (vs. 12-14), virtues that we are to “put on” as we have “taken off” those sinful or worldly behaviors listed earlier.

One virtue that the apostle specifically mentions is forgiveness (vs. 13).  When we genuinely forgive, we give up all claims to punish or exact a penalty for an offense that was done to us.  God granted us forgiveness which we did not deserve and could not earn.  Unforgiveness is an emotional bondage that consumes the minds with offenses done to us, it distorts our emotions with thoughts of revenge, and it fills our hearts with churning unrest.  If we have an unforgiving heart, and we look to God to excuse that, we will hear Him answer for us to look to the cross.  There we will discover the price that was paid for our own forgiveness.

The Apostle Paul wraps up this Scripture with a call for God’s peace to rule in our hearts, and for grateful worship (vs. 15-17).  God’s peace should be like the umpire of our heart, guiding all of our decisions and relationships.  God’s Word is to dwell in us.  This is done by spending some time each day reading and studying the Bible.  Our worship should include the Scripture, along with singing of hymns and spiritual songs. Our worship services should not be an entertainment event, which is unfortunately the case in many churches today.  Many churches have become more like a rock concert than a worship of God!  Our worship should be doctrinal, reverent, and rooted in truth.

All of our actions should be done in the Name of Jesus, and because of this, we should be careful with what we do.  It is also very important that we are continually giving thanks to God.  The cure for many of our problems and even some illnesses is in frequent gratitude and praise to God.  Paul saw every activity and every endeavor as something for which we should thank God, and that we should do for His glory.

Let’s put off the old, dirty, filthy clothes of sin in our life, and put on the righteousness and virtues that we have received through our union with the Lord Jesus.  As we do that, we renew our mind through His Word, the Bible, and by forgiving and loving others as Jesus did for us, giving Him thanks and reverent worship.