You are One of a Kind

Pastor and author James Merritt once joked about his wife’s infatuation with the actor Patrick Swayze. He said that she owns all his movies, and whenever he is on TV, she stops what she is doing and watches. Merritt said he knows when Swayze is on TV because his wife gets that glazed over look in her eyes and she doesn’t hear anything he is saying to her. He asked her one day, “If you were to take away Patrick Swayze’s face and hair and body, what would you be left with?”

“You,” she teased. 

Merritt took that as a compliment, knowing he is one of a kind. The truth is, we are each unique individuals, and while there may be things about us that we would prefer to change if we were able, we are exactly who we are supposed to be. The best part is, God loves that about us because He chose to make us that way. He is the creator of all life, and the Bible says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). In another psalm we read that the God of the universe cares for us. 

Psalm 8:4 says, “What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him?” It is mind boggling to realize that someone as big as God cares about people, and out of the billions of people currently on this planet, God knows and cares for each and every one. It is especially humbling to realize God’s care for people when we compare ourselves to things that we might think as the pinnacle of God’s creation. In verse three of the same psalm David contemplates the “heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained.”

Surely the moon and stars would be God’s great masterpiece. If not them, maybe the heavens themselves are His piece de resistance. But no, people are actually the highlight of God’s creation. We are His magnum opus. God didn’t become a star and save stars. He didn’t become a moon and save the moon. He became a man to save mankind. 

When we consider all that He has made, it makes us wonder along with the psalmist, “What is man, that you are mindful of him?” God not only creates people, He cares about people. You are a unique individual, and God cares for you. You may not be Patrick Swayze, but that is OK. You are you, and you are the best you there is.   

Give Me the Bad News

We always want the bad news first, right? Whenever someone says, “I’ve got good news, and I’ve got bad news; which do you want first?” we take the bad news first. It isn’t that we like bad news so much that we can’t wait to hear it, we just prefer to get the bad news out of the way and get to the good news. Hearing the bad news is hard, but knowing that some good news is coming right behind it can help to soften the blow of the bad news. 

It reminds me of the man who got a call from his landlord. “I’ve got good news and bad news. The bad news is your rental house burned down and all your possessions are gone. The good news is you are finally out of the lease.” 

Bad news is a part of life, so it is nice when a little good news helps to offset some of the bad. There is a verse in the Bible that begins with really bad news, but quickly shifts gears and gives us the good news. Romans 6:23 begins by saying, “For the wages of sin is death…” That is very bad news since we are all sinners; just three chapters earlier it says “all have sinned,” and “there is none righteous, no, not one.” So we are all sinners, and the earned payment of our sin is death—both physical and spiritual. 

But there is good news! The verse continues, “…but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” That is an amazing turnaround in just a few words. We are all sinners by birth; we are all facing a death of our own deserving; but now we learn that we can avoid death and receive eternal life. While death is the earned payment for our sin, eternal life is an unearned free gift because of the amazing grace of God. 

This verse doesn’t mean that Christians will drink from the fountain of youth and find immortality. The Bible teaches that we pass from death to life when we trust in Christ (John 5:24). When my heart stops beating here and my time on earth is over, I’ll continue living in heaven. In that sense I will never truly die. Conversely, Revelation 20:14 and 21:8 teach that the unsaved will experience a second death when they are condemned to the lake of fire. We can avoid this death because of the gift of God. 

God said, “I have good news and I have bad news. The bad news is your sin will lead to your death. The good news is I love you so much that I sent my only Son to die your death in your place. And if you trust in what Jesus did, you won’t face that death you deserve, but instead will have eternal life with me.” 

Christmas Peace

Waiting is hard, isn’t it? In our fast food society with instant gratification and next day shipping, we are not used to having to wait for anything. The more serious the event, the harder the wait. As a child waiting for Christmas was hard because it seemed like December 25^th would never get here (and as parents we can’t believe how quickly it comes back). But think about how hard it is to wait to see if you got the job you applied for, or to see if the cancer has spread. While we wait it is hard to be still or comfortable because there is something major hanging over us. We need to realize that is how people lived throughout the Old Testament, waiting for God’s Messiah to come. 

From the day that God told Eve her seed would crush the serpent, humans had waited with baited breath for the Promised One. There could be no real peace until He came. That is why in Luke 2 a multitude of the heavenly hosts joined in singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good will toward men.” Peace on earth is available because God finally came in the flesh. 

Like the Psalmist who said, “I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry (40:1)” the world waited in a profound way for the Messiah to come be the Deliverer. The Jews wanted primarily peace from their enemies—whether the Babylonians, Assyrians, Egyptians, or Philistines in the Old Testament, or the Romans in the New Testament. We need to understand that peace is more than just the absence of conflict. Peace is more than just national tranquility. As Americans we have not had a real threat of being defeated since World War II, so we might not fully appreciate their desire for national peace. 

But the bigger idea is about us being at peace with God, with fellow man, and with ourselves. Philippians 4:7 says the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We need this peace of God in our hearts and minds. 

First, we need peace with ourselves. So many people walk around feeling bad about themselves because of their faults or mistakes that they render themselves useless in the kingdom work. We need to appreciate the beauty of forgiveness. Hebrews 10:22 says we can have our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience. God wipes the slate clean when we confess and repent. We need to do our best to live right, but we can walk upright knowing we are clean. 

We also need to be at peace with others. Leviticus 3 describes the peace offering as part of the law. This was also known as fellowship offerings because they were designed to keep peace with God and others through fellowshipping together. This offering was unique in that the family bringing the sacrifice got to take home most of the meat (normally the priest kept most of the meat). The idea is that the family takes the meat home and have a fellowship meal with other people. The New Testament is filled with commands to be unified with fellow believers, and reconciled if the relationships have gone south. Christmas is a great time to heal hurts. 

Finally, we need to be at peace with God. This is mankind’s greatest need. 2 Corinthians 5:18 says God has reconciled us to Himself. He fills the God-shaped void. We have real peace when we are at peace with God because we were created to be in a right relationship Him. Maybe this Christmas season you need to make peace with God or someone else. 

Christmas Joy

As we inch closer to Christmas we often hear the word joy thrown around, and there certainly should be joy at Christmas. But our secular society has hijacked this word. I did a simple online search using the word joy in Christmas advertising, and among other things I found a Starbucks ad that said “Share Joy With Buy One-Get One” drinks. Gadbury had an ad that said “Unwrap Joy.” GameStop’s ad touted “Joy to the Players.” Dollar Tree invited shoppers to “Spread the Joy” in their stores. Big Lots promised “Joy is in Store.” I don’t blame the advertisers for these tactics; they are doing business. But they operate from a dishonest premise, telling customers that their products will bring joy. They may bring a minute or more of happiness as we drink the coffee, eat the chocolate, or play the games, but that is not real joy. 

Joy should be associated with Christmas because the birth of Christ brought the real reason for joy. In Luke 2:10 the angel told the shepherds, “Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.” Why? “For unto you a child is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” We can have real joy at Christmas because of Christmas. The great joy of which the angel spoke is that Jesus was born into the world to be our Lord and Savior. 

I believe it is important for us to have a good definition of real joy. John Piper has defined it as “a good feeling in the soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, as He causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the Word and in the world.” A simpler definition would just be a good feeling deep down that has nothing to do with circumstances. The world can’t give joy, and neither can it take it away. Starbucks, Gadbury, Big Lots, and the others cannot give us joy, no matter how good their products may be. 

If joy doesn’t come from a store, then where can we find it? Piper said it comes from the Holy Spirit, and he is right. Galatians 5:22 lists joy as being fruit that the Spirit produces in the life of a believer. It is possible to be sick, sad, or tired, and still have joy because Jesus is still Lord and Savior. If your sins have been forgiven, if Jesus is preparing you a home in heaven, then you can have real and abiding joy. 

We get joy from the Holy Spirit, but also by being connected to Jesus the Vine. In John 15:11 He told the disciples, “These things I have spoken unto you that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” This was in reference to the disciples being the branches and Jesus being the vine. So long as we stay connected to Him, we can have joy even in difficult times. 

The shepherds had joy at that first Christmas, and so did Mary. In the Magnificat of Luke 1, Mary sang, “My spirit rejoices (has joy in) in God my Savior (v.47).” Even if our circumstances are not what we want them to be (remember, Mary was unmarried and pregnant), we can still have joy at Christmas because of Christmas—because God broke into our world to bring salvation to all who call upon Him. That is plenty of reason to have joy this Christmas! 

Da Vinci’s Models

I recently read about the process Leonardo da Vinci undertook when he was painting The Last Supper. It was a twenty-five year project that involved the artist bringing in models one at a time while they were painted. Da Vinci spent a lot of time trying to find the perfect models to sit for the characters in the painting, but he spent the most time trying to find the ones to portray Jesus and Judas Iscariot. He began with Jesus, and a quarter century later, he found the man to sit for the betrayer. 

The man da Vinci found captured what he imagined in his mind’s eye. His shoulders were slumped, he looked like he had a cold heart, and he had evil in his face. He agreed to sit while he was painted, and upon entering the room he remarked to da Vinci, “I was here twenty-five years ago. I sat for Jesus.” 

How had this same man once had the look of Jesus? What happened to him over those years to change him into the villain? How did he go from protagonist to antagonist? We do not know, and if da Vinci asked, it isn’t recorded. That sad transformation reminds me of the one Israel undertook over a longer period of time. At Sinai they willingly entered into a covenant with God, stating, “All that the Lord has spoken, we will do (Exodus 19:8).” By the time of the prophetic letters, Israel was a million miles from that promise. 

They agreed to have no other gods besides Yahweh, and yet they were worshipping the Baals and Asherah, and engaged in all the fornication that went with it. They agreed to observe sabbatical years and years of Jubilee, but they were oppressing the poor so that the rich could richer. They were supposed to look like Jesus, but instead they looked like Judas. They looked like Judas because they lived like Judas. 

The way we live has a similar impact on us. When we live the way we are supposed to —in accordance with God’s Word—we have joy in our face that the world sees. If da Vinci saw us, he might ask us to sit for Jesus. When we choose to live opposed to God’s Word, we forfeit our our joy and end up looking like Judas. When we live God’s way we have an extra bounce in our step, but when we live like the world we find ourselves with slumped shoulders, a cold heart, and evil on our face. 

Do you look more like Jesus, or more like Judas?  

Forever Homes

Everywhere we look we see people who are focused on taking care of their bodies. Many New Year’s resolutions include eating better, working out, or losing weight. And so we join gyms and start diet plans; we buy creams to smooth our wrinkles, and dyes to color our hair; we lift weights to build muscle, and get braces to help our smile. If there is a flaw, we fix it. The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery noted a 173% increase of cosmetic surgery between the years 1997 and 2000, with more than ten million cosmetic medical procedures now being performed annually in this country. I’m not saying that any of that is right or wrong, but we certainly put an emphasis on taking care of our bodies.  

These bodies, though, are only temporary. On those reality shows where people buy houses or renovate their existing ones, they often speak of getting that “forever home,” that place that meets all their needs, and from which they will never have to move again. I like to think of our bodies that way. The ones we have now are good and serve their purpose, but we are in the market for a forever home—a perfect body.

Paul compares the body to a house that is only temporary. Remember, he was a leather worker and tent maker by trade, so he was very familiar with this concept. These tents were intentionally temporary, and were used by soldiers and nomads (most famously by the wandering Israelites during the Exodus). One day, though, these tents will be exchanged for a house with a foundation. These bodies will be exchanged for perfect ones. In II Corinthians 5:1 Paul wrote, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”  

These reality shows always ask, “What are your must haves in a house?” Some need a fourth bedroom, an office, proximity to work, a mother-in-law suite, or a finished basement. What are your must haves for a body? One that never gets sick? One that will never slow down or wear out? One that will never die? No problem. God can give you that forever home, and once you move in, you will never be on the hunt for anything else ever again. 

In the meantime, that does not mean that we throw up our hands in futility. Just because we cannot be perfect here does not mean that we are not supposed to use our bodies for the glory of God while we wait for our perfect ones. In verses nine and ten of the same chapter Paul says, “For whether we are home or away (meaning in these bodies on earth or absent from them in heaven), we make it our aim to please the Lord. For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of things done in the body…” 

In the twin passage where Paul discussed this same concept—I Corinthians 15–he gave this conclusion: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain (v.58).” 

It is great that we can look forward to living in our forever home—our glorified bodies. But we must never do so at the expense of the present. We must make it our aim to please the Lord, and be always abounding in this great work.

Stone Wall

In the famous Civil War battle at Bull Run the Confederate army found themselves in full retreat. The retreat ended, however, when the general of the Virginia army, Thomas Jackson, suddenly stopped in his tracks in full range of canon and gunfire. Standing firm instead of retreating, Jackson yelled for his men to do the same. General Barnard Bee ordered his South Carolina army to follow Jackson’s lead, yelling, “Form! Form! There stands Jackson like a stone wall. Rally ‘round the Virginians!” This event gave Jackson his famous nickname Stonewall. 

General Bee would not survive that battle, but the South rallied to win at Bull Run. Two years later Jackson would die from friendly fire, and the Confederates obviously lost the Civil War, but Jackson’s act of bravery in the face of fire became one of the highlights of an otherwise awful time in history. Instead of retreating away from the pursuing Union army, Jackson ordered his men to stand firm and hold the line. 

In Philippians 4 Paul gave a similar command. He told the church to, “Stand firm thus in the Lord, my brothers (v.1).” We are in a spiritual war, and our adversary the devil is looking for people to devour. He wants to divide churches by creating a wedge, just as he did with the two ladies Paul mentioned in the next verse. Satan also wants to neutralize Christians by getting them to stop focusing on God and focus on their problems. 

That is why Paul told them not to be anxious about one single thing (v.6), but to be thankful and make everything a matter of prayer. When we focus on the things in life that aren’t going our way, we will get ourselves down in the dumps; we get angry with God, we stop praying and reading the Word, and then stop fulfilling the Great Commission. This is exactly what Satan wants us to do. Paul said the opposite of anxiety is thanksgiving. We have to choose to be thankful. We have to determine to look on the bright side and appreciate the millions of blessings God gives us. 

When we choose thanksgiving over anxiety God will guard our hearts. Last week I wrote about how Philippi was a Roman colony and that Paul used that analogy to make his point (about their citizenship being in heaven). He does the same thing here. Rome sent soldiers to patrol the streets of Philippi to protect their interests there. In v.7 Paul wrote, “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” It was as if Paul was saying, “Look out the window. You see those soldiers guarding you? That is what God does for your heart when you choose thanksgiving over anxiety.”

We have the ability to stand firm like a stone wall even though Satan is opposing us. We get our strength from Christ Jesus, who guards our hearts, giving us peace. We have much to be thankful for!

Citizenship

Where is your citizenship? As Americans we know we are citizens of this great country, and that entitles us to the full rights that all Americans enjoy. The Constitution and Bill of Rights recognize that we are all created equal, and we are endowed with these inalienable rights by our sovereign God, and those rights have been protected by every person who has worn the uniform over the years. We are also residents of our state and most local municipalities. 

For the Christian, though, we have dual citizenship. We are very much American citizens, and yet our citizenship is simultaneously in heaven. In Philippians 3:20-21 Paul wrote, ““But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.”

The Greek word for citizenship (conversation in the KJV) is unique and appears only hear in the Bible. The word refers to the locality where one’s name is listed among the official register of citizens. In other words, there is a place somewhere where each person’s vital records are on file; birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses are stored in a building somewhere, and that place is where the person is an official citizen. This was a great analogy for Paul to use for the Philippians for one important reason: Rome had adopted Philippi as an official Roman province. 

Because of its location Philippi was prime real estate, and it generated a lot of tax revenue for the Roman Empire. The famous Roman Road called the Ignation Way ran through Philippi, and traders from around the world came through to do business. Rome was so grateful for the profits that they made the Philippians official Roman citizens, giving them the full rights of those born in Rome, and they didn’t even have to pay taxes. 

So go back to Paul’s analogy. The Philippians lived in Philippi, but their names were written down in Rome. They lived in one place, but their citizenship was in another. The same is true for Christians. We live here, but our names are written down in heaven (Luke 10:20). We live on earth, but we have the full rights of those who already live in heaven. We are just strangers and pilgrims passing through this land on our way to heaven. In the meantime, we can go boldly before the throne of the King of Heaven while our mansion is being prepared just over the hilltop. When we get there, Paul said, we will get to exchange these earthly bodies for ones that match our new heavenly residence. 

I am proud to be an American, and am thankful for the ones who died to give these rights to me. But I am ecstatic that I am a Christian, and am thankful for the one who died—my Lord Jesus Christ—to make my salvation possible. Where is your citizenship? Is your name written down in heaven? 

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

Back in December of 2001 the world-famous “Leaning Tower of Pisa” was finally reopened to the public. The landmark had been closed for close to a dozen years while major repairs were made. During that time a construction crew completed a 25 million dollar renovation project that was designed specifically to stabilize the tower. Part of the project called for the removal of 110 tons of dirt, and they reduced its famous “lean” by around sixteen inches. Why did they have to do that? The reason is the tower had been tilting further and further away from vertical for centuries, to the point that the top of the 185-foot tower had become an incredible seventeen feet further south than the bottom, and authorities in Italy were concerned that if nothing was done, the tower would soon collapse. 

What was the problem with the tower? Was it poor design? Was it faulty workmanship? Was it built using an inferior grade of marble? No. The problem was what was underneath. The sandy soil on which the city of Pisa was built was just not stable enough to support this monument; it had no firm foundation.

A strong foundation is imperative for any structure, and Jesus used that concept as an analogy for the believer’s life. In His conclusion to the Sermon on the Mount Jesus spoke of the wise and foolish believers. In context, Jesus was saying that a wise person would hear what He just said—the Beatitudes, His teaching on anger, lust, honesty, revenge, love, prayer, fasting, and the Golden Rule—and then apply that to his life. A person who does that is building his life on a firm foundation, and when the storms come, he will be able to stand firm.  

Some people hear the truth, but instead of heeding it, they choose to reject it. That is like building a house on shifting sand instead of a reliable rock. That is what foolish people do. John MacArthur defined the sand as the “self-will, self-fulfillment, self-purpose, self-sufficiency, self-satisfaction, and self-righteousness,” which is insufficient as a foundation. When the storms come, the person who builds his life on himself will crumble. 

What are the storms? Some see them as the storms of life: you get sick, you lose your job, your marriage falls apart, you become an empty-nester. We all face these storms, and a firm foundation is the only way we can withstand them. We have to build our lives on the teachings of Jesus. The storms may also refer to the judgment at the end of a person’s life. The wise person who is obedient to the teachings of Jesus will be just fine, but the one who lived in opposition to Christ will see his fate sealed. 

Maybe, like with the Leaning Tower of Pisa, your foundation is shaky and you are headed for a collapse. Maybe today you need to begin a renovation and start building your life on the Word of God.  

That's too Easy

Do you use those store bought mixes to make your cakes or cookies? Sometimes I bake desserts from scratch, but the majority of the time, if I baked it, I used a mix. We use those because of the convenience factor; it is much easier to buy the box and add water or vegetable oil, eggs, or butter than to measure and mix all of the other ingredients. 

Several years ago one of cake mix companies developed a product they thought was going to be a big hit: a cake mix that said just add water. To the surprise of the company, their new product was a big flop. No one was buying it. It seemed like a good thing, but it wasn’t selling. After doing some internal polling they realized that the buying public was skeptical of a cake that only needed water. It seemed too easy. That company went back to the drawing board and tweaked their recipe; the new box said, “Just add water and one egg!” Sales immediately picked up, even though the new recipe required more work and more money for the costumer. 

Many people view salvation that way. We tell people it is a free gift, and all they have to do is trust in what Jesus has already done. That seems too easy. It seems too good to be true. We feel like we have to do more. I have to earn it. I have to work hard, or give more money, or get baptized, or say enough prayers, or read the Bible through in a year. But the Bible teaches salvation cannot be earned because it is a free gift, “not of works, lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9).” 

In Philippians 3 Paul gives many reasons he could have boasted if salvation were earned: he was an Israelite from the tribe of Benjamin, circumcised on the eighth day in accordance with the law, a Pharisee who was zealous for the law, a persecutor of those deemed as heretics, and one who was blameless. In his younger days Paul was banking on those things getting him God’s favor and a spot in heaven. However, after he learned that Jesus is the only way, he came to look down on the very things he once gloried in. “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord (v.7-8).” He went on to say he viewed all his accomplishments as “rubbish,” which was a strong word for excrement. 

Paul hated the things which he once trusted in because they would deem the cross of Christ as worthless. If our accomplishments could save us, then Jesus died in vain. It really is that easy. Like Paul, we need to despise anything that we could trust in instead of Jesus because our righteous deeds are but filthy rags in the sight of a holy God. There is no need to add anything because Jesus Himself has done all the work. 

Living Skeletons

Q: Who is the most famous French skeleton?

A: Napoleon Bone-apart

Q: Why can’t skeletons be church musicians?

A: The don’t have any organs

Q: Why are skeletons so relaxed?

A: Nothing gets under their skin

Q: What do you call a skeleton who stays in the snow too long?

A: A numbskull

Q: Who is the most famous skeleton detective?

A: Sherlock Bones

This time of year we see skeletons used in decorating, advertising, or coming to our door looking for candy. Part of the appeal of skeletons is knowing they are not real in that they are not living things. Seeing a skeleton walking around is fantasy, not reality. However, in the Old Testament book of Ezekiel, walking skeletons were a reality, not a fantasy.

To be fair, in Ezekiel 37:1 the prophet said the Spirit of the Lord brought him into the valley of dry bones, so this was most likely a vision he saw. The Lord told Ezekiel to look around and see the bones of a slain army, and notice that they were very dry. These brittle bones were not going to be making a comeback on their own, but God told His prophet to prophesy to the bones and the wind; once he did, the brittle bones were brought back together, connected by sinews, and covered with skin. Then they were filled with the breath of life and became a standing army ready for orders.

This vision was about ancient Israel, which had split during a civil war. God told the prophet to take two sticks to symbolize the two kingdoms, and like a magic trick, he joined them together. Taken together, the valley of dry bones and the two sticks showed that Israel, though divided and defeated, would be brought back to life, so to speak, and reunited into one kingdom again (this will be fully accomplished during the Millennial Kingdom).

We are like those skeletons in that we were dead in our sins and trespasses (Ephesians 2:1), but through the power of God are brought to life. Those skeletons were not alive until the wind blew the breath of life into them, and we are not alive spiritually until the Spirit of God enters us (breath, wind, and spirit are the same word in both Hebrew and Greek). Are you a walking skeleton with no life, or have you been given eternal life by the Spirit of God? 

Absorbing the Bible

LifeWay Research recently conducted a survey that found only thirty-seven percent of regular churchgoers said reading the Bible has made a significant impact on their lives. This was not a survey of people who merely identified as being Christian and attend church on Easter and Christmas; by regular churchgoers they mean people who attend multiple times a month. In other words, two-thirds of the people who attend on an average Sunday morning are reading their Bible, but they do not see a benefit from it. 

That number is troubling. It isn’t the Bible’s fault if people are reading it and not gaining from it. The Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than a double-edged sword; it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. It contains the answers to life’s dilemmas; it introduces us to God, and like a mirror, it reflects who we really are. The Bible should be read, but those who read it should find that it is always making a difference in the lives of the readers. 

I believe the problem is that many people merely read the Bible. That is important, but it is not enough. Reading gives us exposure. That which we have not been exposed to cannot impact us. However, I propose that we need to move from exposure to absorption. We do this through meditation, not just reading. 

I could give you a paper with the words to something familiar, like the pledge of allegiance, and you can read the words in your head while your mind wanders. If we can do that with the pledge, can we not do that with the Twenty-third Psalm? In some cases we have the “problem” of over-exposure, so we need to force our minds to engage the text through meditation. Ask questions: Who said that? Who is he talking to? How can I avoid that mistake? Am I guilty of that same sin? Is that a promise for me too, or just that person? These types of questions move us from mundane reading to beneficial meditation. We must continue to read God’s Word, but we should also take a verse, thought, or phrase and meditate on it throughout the day. Chew on it. Mull it over. Become intimately familiar with the idea, and you will find that reading the Bible does make a significant impact because you remember it longer, understand it better, and apply it properly. 

The Bible never says to read it, but we often see the idea of meditation:

“Blessed is the man…[whose] delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night (Psalm 1:1-2).”

“I will also meditate on all your work, and talk of your deeds (Psalm 77:12).”

“I will meditate on your precepts, and contemplate your ways…for your testimonies are my meditation (Psalm 119:15, 99).”

If you want the Bible to impact your life, then don’t just read it, but absorb it. 

The Big Picture

A college freshman wanted to please his father by following in his steps. His father had been a star on the track team, so even though the son had no athletic ability, he tried out for track. At the tryout that freshman was put in a two-man race against the fastest returning runner from the previous season. The poor boy got smoked, but when he sat down to write his father a note about the experience, he said, “Dad, you will be happy to know that I was in a race with the fastest guy in school. He came in next to last, and I finished in second place.”

Much of life is about perspective. We can see the glass as half empty or half full. We can view ourselves as losing a two-man race, or as finishing second place. Paul had his ups and downs in life, but he was always able to keep the big picture in mind. We frequently see him beaten and imprisoned for his faithfulness to the Gospel, but he was always able to rejoice because people were being saved, and he knew that was more important than his own comfort in life. In the first chapter of Philippians Paul wrote a classic paragraph, saying he was determined to honor Christ, whether through his life or by his death. He concluded, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (v.21).” Paul said he was hard pressed between the two, having a desire to live his life and share the gospel, but acknowledging that it is “far better” to die and be with the Lord in heaven. 

As Christians we find ourselves in that same position. We want to live. We want to watch our grandchildren grow up, and we want to be there for our children. We want to serve in our church and pursue our hobbies. But when this life comes to an end we understand that it is far better for us to be with the Lord. That is why Christians are able to stare down death and never flinch: we have the right perspective. We see the big picture. 

In verse nineteen of the same chapter Paul says something that seems a little odd. He said he knew that, “this will turn out for my deliverance.” Many people miss this as an Old Testament quotation because that phrase does not appear in the Hebrew Bible. However, Paul was quoting the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) verbatim, so the Philippians would have understood the reference. The quote comes from Job 13:16, and Paul was identifying with Job.  

We know that Job’s suffering was for the glory of God, and Job seemed to have a knowledge of that as well. Although he maintained his innocence, Job’s friends tried to convince him that God was punishing him. His friend Zophar had the nerve to tell Job he was getting off easy, and he actually deserved worse that what he was enduring. In 13:16 Job told Zophar that he knew his suffering would turn out for his deliverance. He knew that God would either deliver him from his suffering by healing his body, or else God would deliver him by taking his spirit to Paradise. Either way, Job was good because he trusted in God. 

In the previous verse (v.15) Job seemed to realize that God was behind Job’s suffering, so he said, “Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him.” Even if God took Job’s life, Job was going to rejoice because he would go to heaven. Similarly, Paul knew that he may lose his life for the Gospel (he would soon lose his head for the 

Gospel), but he was still going to serve God with what time he had left. 

That is a good perspective. Paul and Job had the big picture in mind. Many think that death is the worst thing that can ever happen to someone, but when we keep eternity in mind we understand that death has no sting. We do not need to worry or stress about the temporary because we know what is in store in eternity. In the meantime, as long as we are here, there is work for us to do, so let’s keep working for the Lord until He calls us home. 

The Most Expensive Meal

In October of 1971 the Shah of Iran hosted a banquet for sixty kings, queens, and heads of state. The purpose of the event was to celebrate the 2,500^thyear of the Persian Empire, and the price tag for the celebration was an estimated $100 million. It has been suggested that this was perhaps the costliest table ever spread.

I would disagree with that assessment, however. I believe the Lord’s Supper is the costliest table ever spread. No, the ingredients do not surpass the $100 million that the Iranian shah spent; we only spend a few bucks on grape juice and crackers. The Lord’s Supper is the costliest table ever spread because the meal cost Jesus His life. The greatest Man who ever lived had to lay down His life. The only perfect Person in history would have to pour out His life’s blood so that we may have a seat at the table. 

When we gather together to take communion we share in one of the richest rites in history. Our Lord took the bread and cup from the Passover Seder and greatly changed the meaning that had stood for centuries. The bread was called the Affikomen,which means “The Coming One.” It was eaten each year at Passover in anticipation of the coming Messiah, and all who ate it did so in hopes that soon God would send the Rescuer. Jesus told them the bread represented His body. The Coming One had arrived. In other words Jesus was saying, “The Messiah you have been looking for is now before your very eyes. I am He.”

The cup He took was the third cup of the Passover, called the Cup of Redemption, and it followed the Affikomen.This cup was about looking back to the Exodus, when God redeemed Israel out of Egyptian slavery. In Exodus 6:6 God said to Moses, “Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.’”

Jesus changed the meaning of this cup to the redemption that would be made available through the new covenant cut in His blood. Peter, who was in the Upper Room that night, would later write, “You were not redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold, …but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish or without spot (I Peter 1:18-19).” 

In other words Jesus was saying, “No longer drink this third cup simply looking back to redemption from Egypt. From now on drink this cup thinking about the redemption of your souls made possible by my shed blood.” 

When we sit down to the Lord’s table we partake of simple ingredients available at any grocery store, but it is a costly meal in that it required the body of Jesus to be broken, and the blood of Jesus to be shed. As often as we eat it, we pause and give thanks to Jesus for the redemption that only He could make possible. 

Unfaithfulness

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Grapes on a Thorn Bush

After telling the disciples to “Beware of false prophets,” Jesus said something that may sound peculiar to us. He asked, “Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles (Matthew 7:15-16)?” One needs not be a gardener to know the answer: of course grapes do not grow on thorn bushes, and figs do not grow on thistles. But that doesn’t mean that we never see grapes or figs on thorns. 

Just imagine a gardener going out to pick his grapes or figs. He may have a basket or a satchel near his waste where he drops in his recently-picked fruit, and as he worked, he could easily drop a few along the way. If he dropped a grape, it could fall and be impaled on a thorn or thistle. From a distance it may look as if the thorn bush is a producer of fruit, when it reality it is only fool’s gold. If we were to observe the thorn bush over time, we would realize that the fruit we saw was not a sign that it was a genuine fruit producer, but was just a fluke. 

This is what makes some false teachers so hard to identify. While some are obvious frauds—like the ones selling miracles, asking for large donations as a “seed gift,”—others may look like they are producing the fruit of righteousness. The pastor who stands up in a nice suit, opens a Bible, and preaches the cross seems on the surface like he is a man of God. Just because someone has a large congregation, reaches the best-seller list, or wins a Dove Music award is not proof that their ministries are solid and their messages are sound. We need to evaluate them by their fruit, yes, but we also need to evaluate their fruit over time. Just because they said something good doesn’t mean they are from God. It may just be that their fruit was only a grape on a thorn bush.    

We need to beware because this is so important. Jesus said the end for these false prophets is to be cut down and cast off, and that goes for their followers as well. We need to evaluate what we hear against the Word of God, not what is popular or what we have always heard. 

These false teachers will be the ones on Judgment Day saying, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we do great things in your name?” They preached, taught, wrote, sang, and did many other things, but they were not doing the will of the Father in Heaven. The most tragic part is the ones who follow these ravenous wolves will suffer a similar fate. Each person must enter by the narrow gate, making sure they are basing their salvation on the words of Jesus in the Bible. There is too much at stake to listen to the wrong people. 

Scorpions, Snakes, and Stones

Jesus used a bit of humor in His preaching when He spoke of the Father’s ability to give good gifts to His children. In Matthew 7 He is recorded as saying, “Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent (v.10)?” In Luke’s account there is a third rhetorical question: “Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion (11:11)?” If earthly fathers know how to give their children what they need, He asked, how much more does our good Heavenly Father know how to give us what we need? 

Those may sound like outlandish comparisons to us. Who in their right mind would mistake a scorpion for an egg, a snake for a fish, or a stone for bread? As odd as it may sound, it was possible in their culture. When we hear “loaf of bread,” we may picture what we pick up on the bread aisle at the grocery store, but their loaf looked nothing like ours; their bread looked more like our biscuits, so we can understand how a young child may think a stone is bread. He could chip a tooth or hurt himself in some way by making that mistake. 

Scorpions in Jerusalem curl into balls when they sleep, and the color of their exoskeleton made them look like an egg. We can understand how a child may reach for what he thought was an egg, only to learn that it was a harmful scorpion. Serpents do not look like fish, but their meat does. Since fish were in high demand, a person could easily serve snake and call it fish in order to rip off customers. 

Notice what Jesus is saying here. No good father would allow his child to hurt himself with a stone or scorpion because he was looking out for the child’s physical wellbeing. And since eating snakes was against God’s dietary laws, no father would allow his child to defile himself before God because he was looking out for his child’s spiritual wellbeing. 

Jesus said this in the context of prayer. There are going to be times when we pray for something that seems good to us, and yet God will tell us no. We have to put ourselves into the sandals of those children asking their father for something good—like eggs, fish, and bread. It looks good to us, but in our limited understanding we do not realize that we are really reaching for scorpions, snakes, and stones. It may be tempting to get upset with God for denying us what we wanted, but we need to trust that He knows what is best for our physical and spiritual wellbeing. When God says no to your prayer, He may have just been keeping you from grabbing a scorpion. 

Before and After Sin

I had wanted to visit the Ark Encounter since it opened in 2016, and we finally had the opportunity to go. The life-sized recreation of Noah’s ark is located in Williamstown, Kentucky, with its sister attraction, the Creation Museum, just down the road in nearby Petersburg. We bought combo passes and went to both places in one day. 

To drive home the idea of how the world was in its infancy, both places had beautiful gardens as part of the attractions. Visitors get a Garden of Eden feel as they meander through parks, and they are constantly reminded of how things were before sin. In the Bible’s first book it tells us that sin led to the fall, and ultimately to the flood recorded in Genesis 6-8. The landscaping was breathtaking, and as someone who wishes his thumb were greener, I enjoyed the detail in each square foot. After a little bit of enjoying, however, I began to sneeze. Then my eyes began to water. Then my nose was running. Soon my face broke out and I was a mess, forced to buy Claritin before my trip was ruined. 

That experience hit me in more ways than one. I was struck by a powerful object lesson. There I was trying to picture the world before sin, and ultimately what it will look like after sin, but I couldn’t fully enjoy it because of my allergies. The wonderful irony is that allergies are a result of sin and the curse, so I couldn’t enjoy those thoughts for long before I was brought back to the reality of this fallen world. Every thing that ever goes wrong has sin as it root. We have not God to blame, but Adam. But hallelujah, we have the Last Adam, Christ Jesus, to thank for giving us victory over sin, and in the future victory over its full effect! 

Instead of trying to think back to how nice it would have been before sin, we can look forward to how nice it will be after sin. In the Bible’s last book it gives us a glimpse of this anticipated state: heaven comes to earth, Jesus sits on the throne, and we live with Him in bliss for eternity. Whenever things don’t go your way, just remind yourself of what you have to look forward to if you belong to the Lord.

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man the things that God has in store for those who love Him.”

I Corinthians 2:9

What Can That Boy Tell Me?

When H.B. Charles, Jr. was just seventeen years old his Los Angeles church called him to succeed his father as the senior pastor. The younger Charles had been called into the ministry and been preaching locally for several years, but when his father died unexpectedly, he was little prepared for the task at hand. To be sure, the church wasn’t exactly unanimous on handing the reins to this boy so wet behind the ears. He was, in fact, too young to even cast a vote for himself since only members at least eighteen years of age could vote.

At his installation service the man who brought the message titled his sermon, “What can that boy tell me?” He said he had heard whispers around town and around the church that Charles was too young to be able to tell them anything about marriage, parenting, or a host of things he had not personally experienced. In his book On Pastoring, Charles describes the message that night, and how it laid a solid foundation for his future in the ministry. Here is how he describes that landmark morning: 

“Pastor Hill methodically worked through several passages of Scripture, arguing for authority from God’s Word for each one. After preaching for an hour, he climactically stated, ‘So what can that boy tell me? He can tell you whatever the Word of God tells him to tell you!’” 

There is so much truth in that statement. When I spoke at my first marriage conference I had only been married for two years. I jokingly told the attendees that if they put what I said into practice, maybe they could make it as long as we had. But the reality is that I was not there to speak on the authority of my experiences and successes, but to speak from the authority of the Word of God. I haven’t yet had the joy of raising teenagers, but that doesn’t mean that I cannot give biblical advice to those parents who are. We need to have a high view of the supremacy and inerrancy of Scripture, and that will lead us to find God’s truth, not man’s opinion. 

I want to be clear: we can absolutely gain help and insight by listening to the testimony of others. Part of our story involves sharing what God has done through us, or how we have learned from our mistakes and triumphs. At the end of the day, though, our experiences are only that. One does not need to be a licensed counselor or ordained minister to be able to learn and apply the Bible, and to be able to pass that truth along to others.  We must always be people of the Good Book, letting its timeless truths govern our modern problems. It isn’t about you or me, or who has the most recognizable name; if a person is rightly dividing the Word of Truth, we should all listen. 

A Strange Haircut

In the book of Ezekiel God commanded his prophet to give himself an unusual shave and haircut. The Lord said, “And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber’s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair(5:1).” 

This was a strange shave and haircut because a sword was not commonly used as a barber’s razor. In fact, the law given to Moses has precise instructions about the way a beard should be trimmed and the hair cut, and for priests like Ezekiel, there was a second warning to follow the law in this regard. Ezekiel was told to use a sword because it symbolized the coming invasion from the Babylonian army, and the swords they would use to bring judgment on the idolatrous Jews. But the haircut becomes even stranger when we see what God told him to do with the hair. Using scales, Ezekiel was told to carefully divide the hair into three equal parts. 

One third of the hair was to be burned in fire, one third was to be attacked with the sword, and the final third was to be scattered in the wind. These actions symbolized the fact that some of the Israelites would die when Jerusalem was sieged, some would die at the hands of the Babylonians, and some would be taken into captivity and scattered. This was a grim prophecy, but it was the end result of 390 years of national rebellion against God. In this dark prophecy there is still a glimmer of hope at the end. 

Ezekiel was told to hold back a small part of his hair and “bind them in the edge of your garment (v.3).” The edge of the garment referred to the tassels that Jewish men wore at the bottom of their cloaks. Some translations say he tied the hair into the hem of his garment. These few pieces of hair were a picture of the few Jews who would repent of their sin and put their trust in the Lord, and they would eventually return home from captivity. 

Because of this picture in Ezekiel Jews believed that when the Messiah came, there would be healing and protection in the hem of His garment. That is why the woman with the bleeding disorder in Matthew 9 reached out touched the hem of Jesus garment—the tassels at the bottom of His cloak. This act of faith showed that she believed Jesus was God’s Messiah, the promised Deliverer who had healing in the hem of His garment. She stretched out a feeble hand and Jesus did the rest. She was healed immediately, but more importantly, her sins were forgiven. If you are still separated from God under the weight of your sin, reach out your hand to Jesus, and He will do the rest. 

Judging Your Neighbor

A young couple moved into a new neighborhood. On their first morning in the new house, while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the laundry outside. “That laundry is not very clean,” she observed. “She doesn’t know how to wash clothes correctly. Maybe she needs better detergent.” Her husband looked on, but remained silent. 

Every time her neighbor would hang her laundry to dry, the young woman would make the same comments. About a month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean load of laundry on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she has finally learned how do laundry. I wonder who taught her?” The husband said, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

It is easy for us to see fault in other people, but it seems a little more difficult to see fault in ourselves. That is part of why we often become guilty of improperly judging people. When we judge, we often use hypocritical judgment, holding people to a standard that we do not meet ourselves. We may even be guilty of judging people for something we are secretly involved in. When we judge, we need to use righteous, not hypocritical, judgment. 

I’ve lost count of the number of times I have heard people remind Christians that they are supposed to “judge not,” but that sadly misses the point of what Jesus was saying. His point was that we will be judged in the same way that we judge others, so we better judge properly. To say judge not and then stop short of the rest of Jesus’ message is to fail to understand that Jesus actually does want us to judge, so long as we do it His way. 

He continued: “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye;’ and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye (Matthew 7:3-5).”

Did you notice the hypocrisy He condemns? Calling out someone for sin in their life (a speck—which was like a twig), while you have even more sin in your own life (a plank) is hypocrisy. But do not miss the last part: once you have removed the plank of sin from your eye, Jesus expects you to help your brother or sister remove the speck of sin in their lives. This necessarily involves judging the person to assess the speck. 

The key is learning how to judge without being judgmental. We must never look down our nose or point accusing fingers, and this is a passage about helping those inside the church, not yelling at the unsaved. Jesus went on to say in John 7:24, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” Let us be righteous judges for Jesus. 

Priorities

I heard a story about a group of four friends that went out deer hunting. They paired off in twos and split up for the day. Later that night one of the hunters returned alone, staggering under the weight of an eight-point buck.

"Where's Larry?" he was asked by someone in the other group.

"Larry had a stroke or something. He's a couple of miles back up the trail."

"Wait! You left Larry laying there, and carried the deer back?"

"Well," said the hunter, "I figured no one was going to steal Larry."

That hunter knew his top priority, and it wasn’t Larry. I wonder, read, what your top priorities are. We have a tendency to stress over things that should not be our top priority, and we often ignore what should be. 

In a very familiar verse, Jesus said to seek “first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33).” Jesus was telling the disciples what ought to be their top priority, and that is God’s kingdom and righteousness. In the verses preceding that one, He told them a few things that should not be at the top of their list, namely what they would eat, drink, and wear. This is admittedly difficult because those are crucial items—it isn’t like Jesus said not to stress over mansions and filet mignon. We cannot survive without food and water, and we probably would not want to survive without clothing, and yet Jesus reminded us that these are only temporary, and therefore, of lesser importance than those things which are eternal. Our Heavenly Father knows our material needs, and we need to trust—not stress—that He will supply our needs according to His riches in glory. 

Our top priority, then, should be to live in light of God’s kingdom. His kingdom will one day come to earth and be fully realized in the Millennial Kingdom, but until then, when we live by His standard of righteousness we are bringing a glimpse of His kingdom to earth now. When we put others before ourselves and love our neighbor, we are giving people a foretaste of when Jesus comes to make all things right. 

When we make righteous living our top priority then “all these things will be added” to us. The “all these things,” in context, refers back to what we eat, drink, and wear. In other words, if we live for Jesus above anything else, He will take care of the temporary and the eternal; if we focus on the temporary, we may miss out on eternal blessings.  

Grieving the Spirit

I heard about a man who, while touring of a large manufacturing plant, noticed a man using a fiery torch of high intensity to work on huge slabs of steel. There were times, however, when the flame would not make any impression and the steel seemed completely resistant to the heat. When this happened, a worker applied a chemical substance to the stubborn area, and immediately the cutting could be resumed. The visitor inquired about what was happening, and his tour guide explained that although the torch was able to go through clean steel eight inches thick, if it encountered the slightest film of rust on the surface, the flame would not penetrate it. The visitor, who was a Christian, later remarked, “It struck me forcefully that this is a picture of the Christian. The Holy Spirit is seeking to produce in us God’s perfect design. If the life is unblemished, He is able to continue His efforts; but if we become carnal or backslidden, His work of shaping us is hindered until the area in question has been thoroughly cleansed.”

Part of the reason God has placed His Holy Spirit into the life of believers is to help mold them into the people He wants them to be. We are not spectators in this process; we can either work with the Spirit or against Him. God’s Spirit is a powerful force, but when He encounters the slightest resistance on our end, He cannot produce His fruit in our lives. When we tell him no or stubbornly refuse to repent of sin or follow His leading, we create an environment in which He cannot work. I believe this grieves the Holy Spirit. 

In Ephesians 4:30 Paul said, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” In his book Forgotten God: Reversing our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit, Francis Chan wrote “The Spirit is grieved when there is a breach in relationship, whether it be relationship with God or relationship with other people. When we are disunified, unloving, hateful, jealous, gossipy, etc., that is when we grieve the Spirit of God. And since He is the creator of emotions, I believe that the Spirit grieves more deeply than we can even understand.” 

The choice is simple. If we want God to continue making us into the people He wants us to be, we need to live in unity with each other and love our neighbor as ourselves. If we want to stifle His sanctifying work, we can live at odds with others, grieve the Spirit, and fail to grow into maturity. Don’t grieve the Spirit. Let Him work in you and through you so that you may be conformed into the image of Jesus.