Life is a highway, I want to drive it all night long…or so the song goes.
Life is an adventure…
Life is a game…
Life is pointless…
Life is doing your best…
Life is believing in yourself…
Life is purely material…
Life is just chance…
Life is unpredictable…
Life is hard…
Life is carpe diem…
Life is embracing nature…
Life is family…
Life is love…
Life is humanitarian work…
Life is advancing…
Life is an evolutionary process…
Life is knowing who you are…
Life is confidence…
Life is accumulating wealth…
Life is a bucket list…
Life is eating, drinking and being merry…
Life is leisure…
Life is a journey…
Life is having fun…
Life is a beach so go buy yourself a ball…
Life is like a box of chocolate…
Life is a mystery…
Life is living it up…
Life is a trip…
Life is sweet…
Life is rather like a tin of sardines - we're all of us looking for the key.
Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.
Life is a process. We are a process. The universe is a process.
Life is like an onion: You peel it off one layer at a time, and sometimes you weep.
Life is so constructed that an event does not, cannot, will not, match the expectation.
Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed.
Life is a quest and love a quarrel ...
Life is something to do when you can't get to sleep.
Life is relationships; the rest is just details.
Life is not a spectacle or a feast; it is a predicament.
Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind.
Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.
Life is to be lived, not controlled, and humanity is won by continuing to play in face of certain defeat.
Life is a train of moods like a string of beads; and as we pass through them they prove to be many colored lenses, which paint the world their own hue, and each shows us only what lies in its own focus.
Life is a succession of lessons, which must be lived to be understood.
Life is a progress, and not a station.
Life is "trying things to see if they work."
Life is like a sewer. What you get out of it depends on what you put into it.
Life is the flower for which love is the honey.
Quiz Time
Which of the above are true?
A) All of the above
B) Some of the above
C) None of the above
D) Life is Christ
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Gospel for Life by Jerry Bridges addition (who do I think that I am?)
Bridges is correct in pointing out that the riches of Christ are most clearly seen upon the back drop of our sin, just as a diamond is most beautiful upon a black cloth, but I feel that he left out an important aspect of our sin, perhaps even more important than what he pointed out. He told us how we are born with sin natures which make us guilty from conception, and how these natures pollute even our best and most noble deeds, but it seems to me that he left out another point of our sin that needs to be considered first, before even beginning the book; namely that sin blinds us and makes us ignorant. Blindness and ignorance are both referring to the same thing but the words paint different pictures. Blindness is obviously not physical and ignorance is not in reference to intelligence but both are in relation to spiritual things. Why do I think that these points are more important than the points he made? Mainly because blindness and ignorance will keep you from seeing and understanding the points that Bridges has made.
“Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see…”we all sing the song but do we understand what it was that John Newton was saying. Do we understand that implications of this blindness and ignorance partially removed in salvation. The bible calls this blindness many things, perhaps the most familiar verse would be, “the heart is deceitful about all things.” It is a deceitful blindness. Eph 4:17 says that all gentiles (i.e.: lost people) walk in the futility of their minds, have darkened understandings, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…
Sin makes us blind and ignorant to Truth and God. We have no understanding of how things really are. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them for they are spiritually discerned (I Cor 2:14). Sin makes us think we are wise when if we saw our selves in the light of the knowledge and wisdom of God we would realize our own complete inadequacy and insufficiency. The wise of our day have agreed that there is no god, yet, we know that only the fool says there is no god.
What must be understood is that because of our sin we are ignorant, not seeing things the way they are, even after salvation we are only mildly cured. We remain weak and fallible and even our greatest wisdom is finite. We do not know what tomorrow brings, nor can we know. Even our best deduction and reasoning is limited by our very being of dust. Any wisdom and sight we may have is only from God (I cor 4:7) and even this is quickly tainted by our sin.
Why is this so important to understand? Because until we really start not trusting our selves we exalt ourselves over and against God. We doubt His way and His word when we do not distrust self at every turn. As long as we trust self even a little we set ourselves up to fall. For it is pride that thinks more of self than is written. The wisest thing we can do is trust the scripture that we are blind and ignorant for when we start here we start where God begins. With truth.
Jerry Bridges wants us to see what we posses in Christ, but the biggest obstacle is our blindness and ignorance. We can only be told but not forced to believe, but where does our disbelief lie except in our “wisdom.” We don’t really believe these things or we would live in light of them. We will hear nothing new in this book. He even says his book is 101. Yet, if we believe just the 101, our lives will be radically impacted for Jesus. We would never live vainly or in futility if we thought that God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, had come as man and lived a perfect life in subjection to law, died a perfect death in obedience to law, and had done it specifically for you. But we don’t fully believe because we are still partially blind and still partially ignorant. But if we start here, with our known ignorance and seeable blindness, if we truly except scripture above our understanding, then we may see what it is that we have been given in Christ. Then we may know what we have been given in Christ.
“Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see…”we all sing the song but do we understand what it was that John Newton was saying. Do we understand that implications of this blindness and ignorance partially removed in salvation. The bible calls this blindness many things, perhaps the most familiar verse would be, “the heart is deceitful about all things.” It is a deceitful blindness. Eph 4:17 says that all gentiles (i.e.: lost people) walk in the futility of their minds, have darkened understandings, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart…
Sin makes us blind and ignorant to Truth and God. We have no understanding of how things really are. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them for they are spiritually discerned (I Cor 2:14). Sin makes us think we are wise when if we saw our selves in the light of the knowledge and wisdom of God we would realize our own complete inadequacy and insufficiency. The wise of our day have agreed that there is no god, yet, we know that only the fool says there is no god.
What must be understood is that because of our sin we are ignorant, not seeing things the way they are, even after salvation we are only mildly cured. We remain weak and fallible and even our greatest wisdom is finite. We do not know what tomorrow brings, nor can we know. Even our best deduction and reasoning is limited by our very being of dust. Any wisdom and sight we may have is only from God (I cor 4:7) and even this is quickly tainted by our sin.
Why is this so important to understand? Because until we really start not trusting our selves we exalt ourselves over and against God. We doubt His way and His word when we do not distrust self at every turn. As long as we trust self even a little we set ourselves up to fall. For it is pride that thinks more of self than is written. The wisest thing we can do is trust the scripture that we are blind and ignorant for when we start here we start where God begins. With truth.
Jerry Bridges wants us to see what we posses in Christ, but the biggest obstacle is our blindness and ignorance. We can only be told but not forced to believe, but where does our disbelief lie except in our “wisdom.” We don’t really believe these things or we would live in light of them. We will hear nothing new in this book. He even says his book is 101. Yet, if we believe just the 101, our lives will be radically impacted for Jesus. We would never live vainly or in futility if we thought that God, the Creator and Sustainer of all things, had come as man and lived a perfect life in subjection to law, died a perfect death in obedience to law, and had done it specifically for you. But we don’t fully believe because we are still partially blind and still partially ignorant. But if we start here, with our known ignorance and seeable blindness, if we truly except scripture above our understanding, then we may see what it is that we have been given in Christ. Then we may know what we have been given in Christ.
To spank or not to spank, that is the question
The sky seemed so blue from the top of the mountain. The wind and the birds seem to sing a song of similar refrain, almost an overly peaceful song considering the circumstances, but of course the birds weren’t aware of what was going on. The clouds seemed to stand still as if waiting for the next moment. It just didn’t make sense, the wood, the knife, the fire, but how did this happen?
The wood was sharp and rough against his skin and the rope was tighter than seemed necessary, he hadn’t fought or argued or even protested, just trusted his father. Yet, though he trusted his father, how had he ended up bound upon a pile of wood. He had asked on the way up the mountain, and he knew what his father had told him, even reassured him, that everything was going to be ok. But he never imagined that this was going to be the outcome.
The three day journey had been filled with much talking and learning and he remembered that his father promised they would come back…but, perhaps something had changed, what if his dad was wrong? what if dad misheard? or worse what if this had always been the plan? It didn’t really matter now, the birds were singing, the wind was blowing, the clouds were passing overhead. His father raised the knife…everything seemed to stand still, everything went silent, he closed his eyes…
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We spank our children. Sometimes it feels that we spank all day long. We spank because the Word of God tells us to spank our children.
The world of modern medicine and psychology tells us that spanking is bad for our children. Our doctor told us that we will lower our children’s IQ and cause them to become violent criminals if we continue to spank; we still spank.
We had to choose whom to believe. Do we believe our doctor or do we believe God? There is an unending opposition between this world and God. We must choose where our allegiance lies.
Where does your trust ultimately rest? Is it in the wisdom of men or the wisdom of God? Does the final and ultimate authority finally end in God or is man the final authority in all things?
We must decide whom we are going to trust. Man or God.
If God calls you and your family to the mission of the Gospel in a country that persecutes Christians you must decide whom you will trust. Will you listen to this world and not go because of the “well-being” of your family, or will you listen to God knowing that He knows not only perfectly but governs perfectly? Where does your allegiance rest?
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The knife hovered in the air, gripped by a determined hand…“Abraham, Abraham! Do not lay your hand on the child, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have not withheld your son, your only son--blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall posses the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.
The wood was sharp and rough against his skin and the rope was tighter than seemed necessary, he hadn’t fought or argued or even protested, just trusted his father. Yet, though he trusted his father, how had he ended up bound upon a pile of wood. He had asked on the way up the mountain, and he knew what his father had told him, even reassured him, that everything was going to be ok. But he never imagined that this was going to be the outcome.
The three day journey had been filled with much talking and learning and he remembered that his father promised they would come back…but, perhaps something had changed, what if his dad was wrong? what if dad misheard? or worse what if this had always been the plan? It didn’t really matter now, the birds were singing, the wind was blowing, the clouds were passing overhead. His father raised the knife…everything seemed to stand still, everything went silent, he closed his eyes…
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We spank our children. Sometimes it feels that we spank all day long. We spank because the Word of God tells us to spank our children.
The world of modern medicine and psychology tells us that spanking is bad for our children. Our doctor told us that we will lower our children’s IQ and cause them to become violent criminals if we continue to spank; we still spank.
We had to choose whom to believe. Do we believe our doctor or do we believe God? There is an unending opposition between this world and God. We must choose where our allegiance lies.
Where does your trust ultimately rest? Is it in the wisdom of men or the wisdom of God? Does the final and ultimate authority finally end in God or is man the final authority in all things?
We must decide whom we are going to trust. Man or God.
If God calls you and your family to the mission of the Gospel in a country that persecutes Christians you must decide whom you will trust. Will you listen to this world and not go because of the “well-being” of your family, or will you listen to God knowing that He knows not only perfectly but governs perfectly? Where does your allegiance rest?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The knife hovered in the air, gripped by a determined hand…“Abraham, Abraham! Do not lay your hand on the child, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”
Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said to this day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”
By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have not withheld your son, your only son--blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall posses the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.
Friday, October 9, 2009
the narrow way (short thought 2)
The Narrow Way. (Matt 7:13-14)
There are two paths in this life: narrow and wide. That is not a lot of options, and not choosing is the same as choosing the wide (Matt 12:30). Christ tells us to enter by the narrow gate. First, what are the “gates”? The gates are the entrances (assumed) to lead to heaven. People have many theories as to these “gates”, what they are, and how many there are, and how to access them? We know that our modern times tell us all roads and paths lead to heaven, that sincerity and effort are what matter. We have all heard somebody say that Jesus is Buddha is Muhammad is God. I think that it is safe to say that the majority of people that I know believe that all roads lead to god, sincerity and effort matter most and that when we get to heaven we will all be surprised by how many people will be there that we never expected, everybody from Muslims to Buddhists to well meaning philanthropists. I tend to agree that we will be very surprised, for this verse tells us the very opposite is true.
Our times tell us most people go to heaven; Jesus tells us “few” go to heaven and that “many” are on the road to destruction. How ever many “few” is we are not told but we can be certain that it is less than “many”. Again, our times tell us there are many ways paved with sincerity to heaven. Christ tells us there is a (one) way, one narrow, difficult way. Far from being many easily accessed ways, there is one difficult way that is hard to find and hard to enter by. In fact so hard to enter by that Jesus tells us that “many will seek to enter and will not be able,” (Lk 13:24).
We are told that if we want to go to heaven we must find the narrow gate and the difficult way and then we must strive to enter by it. This is not the gospel that you or I am familiar with and yet the words are unmistakably clear. So what is the gate and way that we need to be striving to find and enter by? Christ Jesus. Not a thing but a person, not an event but a person, not us but Him. Jesus tells us that He is the way (Jn 14:6) and he is the gate or door (Jn 10:7-9). So if we are to go to heaven then we must go to Jesus.
Jesus is the narrow difficult confined way, and it has to be His way. This is not selfish, nor unreasonable. It is simply right. It seems so unfair and maybe even harsh but that is nothing more than our sinful natures rearing their ugly heads. We hate that it is God’s way or no way and the bible has plenty to say about this. This has been man’s problem since man fell. We see it in Adam and Eve eating the one thing God said don’t eat. We see it with Cain, when God warns him of sin waiting for him and he ignores God and kills his brother. We see it in everybody that wants to have it their way and not God’s. We think that our way is more just, kinder, and loving. We scoff at Christ for even offering a single way. But why do we think that we know better than God, why is it that we think our way is the better way? Because of our natures, we are so selfish and arrogant as to think that we could ever know better than the One that created us. But if you look around our world, what do you see? Religions and Cults and sects and philosophies, everything saying they are right, or that everyone is right.
Proverbs 16:25 tells us that there is a way that seems right unto man but the end is death. It is interesting because the way seems right. It does not seem wrong, man is not on this path because he is willfully intentionally seeking to be destroyed. The way seems right, this should let us know that we can not trust our hearts (Jer 11:8, 16:12, 17:9). The way that appears right is good intention and sincerity. The problem is that good intention and sincerity are nothing but works. It is relying on your own merit to get you to heaven. You have not yet come to the place of utter hopelessness and desperation, your are not poor in spirit(Matt 5:3) You have not realized that this way that appears right only appears right because you are spiritually blind (Matt 15:14, notice that both the leaders and the ones being led are blind; Jn 9:39-41). We will notice this pattern in each group of people we examine. They are trusting in the wrong thing. They are trusting in their sincerity in following Christ, they are trusting in their good intention towards Christ, rather than trusting in Christ himself. As Spurgeon said, “Never make a Christ out of your faith.”
The way is narrow, confined, tight. There is no room for anything extra. If we are trying to bring anything with us through the narrow way we will not fit. When we come to the narrow way we most be emptied of everything. There is no room for works, there is no room for pride, there is no room for good intention. To enter by the narrow way we can not do in our own strength. I think of the apostles asking Christ, “who then can be saved?” and Christ response, “With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible” (Matt19:25-26). It is only by Christ, in Christ, that we can enter. And this is not easy. It is difficult, it is striving. “How does one do it,” is a good question? And the answer may be a little confusing. For the answer is, “by not doing”. For Jesus has done it all.
Entering by the narrow gate is only possible when we cry out to Jesus, but the crying is not what does it. It is not repeating a prayer, or saying your own prayer, though it could be, it is in realizing that Jesus must save you and that he is not obligated to do so. Today we often think Christ is obligated to save us, we see this as justice. But truly, justice would be wrath. Salvation is mercy and grace. And we should be careful not to presume upon either, for we are not entitled to either! Again, let me say, it is not the crying out for salvation that saves us, that is works; it is the mercy and grace that applies the blood of Jesus that saves us. It is not faith in faith that saves (!); but faith in Christ, which is better understood: not so much that faith saves but that Christ saves through faith. (which is my paraphrase of B.B. Warfield.)
There are two paths in this life: narrow and wide. That is not a lot of options, and not choosing is the same as choosing the wide (Matt 12:30). Christ tells us to enter by the narrow gate. First, what are the “gates”? The gates are the entrances (assumed) to lead to heaven. People have many theories as to these “gates”, what they are, and how many there are, and how to access them? We know that our modern times tell us all roads and paths lead to heaven, that sincerity and effort are what matter. We have all heard somebody say that Jesus is Buddha is Muhammad is God. I think that it is safe to say that the majority of people that I know believe that all roads lead to god, sincerity and effort matter most and that when we get to heaven we will all be surprised by how many people will be there that we never expected, everybody from Muslims to Buddhists to well meaning philanthropists. I tend to agree that we will be very surprised, for this verse tells us the very opposite is true.
Our times tell us most people go to heaven; Jesus tells us “few” go to heaven and that “many” are on the road to destruction. How ever many “few” is we are not told but we can be certain that it is less than “many”. Again, our times tell us there are many ways paved with sincerity to heaven. Christ tells us there is a (one) way, one narrow, difficult way. Far from being many easily accessed ways, there is one difficult way that is hard to find and hard to enter by. In fact so hard to enter by that Jesus tells us that “many will seek to enter and will not be able,” (Lk 13:24).
We are told that if we want to go to heaven we must find the narrow gate and the difficult way and then we must strive to enter by it. This is not the gospel that you or I am familiar with and yet the words are unmistakably clear. So what is the gate and way that we need to be striving to find and enter by? Christ Jesus. Not a thing but a person, not an event but a person, not us but Him. Jesus tells us that He is the way (Jn 14:6) and he is the gate or door (Jn 10:7-9). So if we are to go to heaven then we must go to Jesus.
Jesus is the narrow difficult confined way, and it has to be His way. This is not selfish, nor unreasonable. It is simply right. It seems so unfair and maybe even harsh but that is nothing more than our sinful natures rearing their ugly heads. We hate that it is God’s way or no way and the bible has plenty to say about this. This has been man’s problem since man fell. We see it in Adam and Eve eating the one thing God said don’t eat. We see it with Cain, when God warns him of sin waiting for him and he ignores God and kills his brother. We see it in everybody that wants to have it their way and not God’s. We think that our way is more just, kinder, and loving. We scoff at Christ for even offering a single way. But why do we think that we know better than God, why is it that we think our way is the better way? Because of our natures, we are so selfish and arrogant as to think that we could ever know better than the One that created us. But if you look around our world, what do you see? Religions and Cults and sects and philosophies, everything saying they are right, or that everyone is right.
Proverbs 16:25 tells us that there is a way that seems right unto man but the end is death. It is interesting because the way seems right. It does not seem wrong, man is not on this path because he is willfully intentionally seeking to be destroyed. The way seems right, this should let us know that we can not trust our hearts (Jer 11:8, 16:12, 17:9). The way that appears right is good intention and sincerity. The problem is that good intention and sincerity are nothing but works. It is relying on your own merit to get you to heaven. You have not yet come to the place of utter hopelessness and desperation, your are not poor in spirit(Matt 5:3) You have not realized that this way that appears right only appears right because you are spiritually blind (Matt 15:14, notice that both the leaders and the ones being led are blind; Jn 9:39-41). We will notice this pattern in each group of people we examine. They are trusting in the wrong thing. They are trusting in their sincerity in following Christ, they are trusting in their good intention towards Christ, rather than trusting in Christ himself. As Spurgeon said, “Never make a Christ out of your faith.”
The way is narrow, confined, tight. There is no room for anything extra. If we are trying to bring anything with us through the narrow way we will not fit. When we come to the narrow way we most be emptied of everything. There is no room for works, there is no room for pride, there is no room for good intention. To enter by the narrow way we can not do in our own strength. I think of the apostles asking Christ, “who then can be saved?” and Christ response, “With men this is impossible but with God all things are possible” (Matt19:25-26). It is only by Christ, in Christ, that we can enter. And this is not easy. It is difficult, it is striving. “How does one do it,” is a good question? And the answer may be a little confusing. For the answer is, “by not doing”. For Jesus has done it all.
Entering by the narrow gate is only possible when we cry out to Jesus, but the crying is not what does it. It is not repeating a prayer, or saying your own prayer, though it could be, it is in realizing that Jesus must save you and that he is not obligated to do so. Today we often think Christ is obligated to save us, we see this as justice. But truly, justice would be wrath. Salvation is mercy and grace. And we should be careful not to presume upon either, for we are not entitled to either! Again, let me say, it is not the crying out for salvation that saves us, that is works; it is the mercy and grace that applies the blood of Jesus that saves us. It is not faith in faith that saves (!); but faith in Christ, which is better understood: not so much that faith saves but that Christ saves through faith. (which is my paraphrase of B.B. Warfield.)
a right faith (short thought)
A right understanding of faith is essential to every Christian. In times past, the church gave great emphasis to teaching on the character of genuine faith, but in our modern world, we tend to shy away from casting doubt upon some one else’s supposed faith. We live in a time of relativism. We see it in how the bible is studied (everyone is allowed their own interpretation), we see it on our stance on sin (who are we to judge another), and we see it in our acceptance of every profession (I can’t know his heart). We ignore the black and white lines that the bible draws, and we tend to just want to keep everybody happy. Don’t rock the boat!
This attitude is horrifying. False conversion has always been a real threat and Jesus spoke so much on it (Matt 7:13-27; Matt 13:1-9, 18-50; etc) because the possibility is real. We must open our eyes to what is happening around us, the righteousness of God is revealed to faith: genuine faith not just a said faith. It is not enough to say “I am a Christian,” it is not enough to believe that you are saved. Conversion is not about doing something or saying something; that is works, and oh how many people trust in their works to get them to heaven. It is not in getting baptized, it is not in saying a prayer, it is not in joining a church. It is in trusting Jesus Christ to save you, and this is truly, truly, an amazing thing.
We take for granted faith in Christ because we don’t understand what it really is. Faith in Jesus Christ presupposes that we understand our sinfulness and God’s holiness and righteousness, faith presupposes that we understand that we are rightly deserving of eternal damnation, faith in Christ accepts that there is nothing that we can do to save ourselves. And then, faced with despair and hopelessness, faith looks to that Holy Righteous Judge and asks Him to save us. This is madness. We are saying that we are not going to trust in anything else, not even a little, but only in the work of Jesus to save us from eternal torment. We will not look to our intentions, our best efforts, our good deeds, we will do nothing to aid in salvation, just hope and trust that this Judge will pardon us on behalf of His son. And when we are tempted to trust, just a little, in how good we are now, how much we love God now, how well we keep His commandments now, how we long to serve Him now, we will shun those thoughts as the sinfulness that they are. We know that we can never, ever, be obedient enough, good enough, love enough to get us to heaven. True faith knows that there is no hope but Jesus and true faith will seek Christ as its only hope. True faith will always produce a godly repentance and a godly way of life. True faith is what Paul looks like, a man deeply humble and deeply grateful, serving out of gratitude and love, despairing of ever living for himself again, longing to be with Jesus and to worship Him forever! We would do very well to heed Paul’s warning/advice in II Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” And think often on the words of Jesus, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” And also Peter, “be even more diligent to make you call and election sure…(II Peter 1:10).”
This attitude is horrifying. False conversion has always been a real threat and Jesus spoke so much on it (Matt 7:13-27; Matt 13:1-9, 18-50; etc) because the possibility is real. We must open our eyes to what is happening around us, the righteousness of God is revealed to faith: genuine faith not just a said faith. It is not enough to say “I am a Christian,” it is not enough to believe that you are saved. Conversion is not about doing something or saying something; that is works, and oh how many people trust in their works to get them to heaven. It is not in getting baptized, it is not in saying a prayer, it is not in joining a church. It is in trusting Jesus Christ to save you, and this is truly, truly, an amazing thing.
We take for granted faith in Christ because we don’t understand what it really is. Faith in Jesus Christ presupposes that we understand our sinfulness and God’s holiness and righteousness, faith presupposes that we understand that we are rightly deserving of eternal damnation, faith in Christ accepts that there is nothing that we can do to save ourselves. And then, faced with despair and hopelessness, faith looks to that Holy Righteous Judge and asks Him to save us. This is madness. We are saying that we are not going to trust in anything else, not even a little, but only in the work of Jesus to save us from eternal torment. We will not look to our intentions, our best efforts, our good deeds, we will do nothing to aid in salvation, just hope and trust that this Judge will pardon us on behalf of His son. And when we are tempted to trust, just a little, in how good we are now, how much we love God now, how well we keep His commandments now, how we long to serve Him now, we will shun those thoughts as the sinfulness that they are. We know that we can never, ever, be obedient enough, good enough, love enough to get us to heaven. True faith knows that there is no hope but Jesus and true faith will seek Christ as its only hope. True faith will always produce a godly repentance and a godly way of life. True faith is what Paul looks like, a man deeply humble and deeply grateful, serving out of gratitude and love, despairing of ever living for himself again, longing to be with Jesus and to worship Him forever! We would do very well to heed Paul’s warning/advice in II Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” And think often on the words of Jesus, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” And also Peter, “be even more diligent to make you call and election sure…(II Peter 1:10).”
Saturday, October 3, 2009
heaven
Have you ever wondered about the next life, the afterlife, the forever here after? Have you wondered what you will think about for all of eternity? I am certain of the positive answer. I want to explore the negative answer or what you won’t think about. You won’t think about the color of your living room. You won’t think about wood verses tile floors. You won’t think about trim and doors. You won’t think about television, HD, DVR. You won’t think about You tube, Myspace, Facebook, or blogs. You won’t think about the market or commerce. You won’t think about stocks, bonds, investments and portfolios. You won’t think about debt. You won’t think about savings, checkings, or taxes. You won’t think about soccer practice. You won’t think about band practice. You won’t think about clothes. You won’t think about politics. You won’t think about appearance. You won’t think about leisure. You won’t think about books. You won’t think about fashion, style, in or out. You won’t think about tomorrow or yesterday. You won’t think about cars, trucks, SUVs, or motorcycles. You won’t think about new computers, Macs or PC. You won’t think about high school, college, or beyond. You won’t think about food. You won’t think about work. You won’t think about positive self image. You won’t think about drugs or alcohol. You won’t think about dessert. You won’t think about bills. You won’t think about money. You won’t think about that new guitar, drums or keyboard. You won’t think about technology. You won’t think about vacations. You won’t think about success. You won’t think about planning. You won’t think about concerts. You won’t think about coffee. You won’t think about laundry, mowing the lawn, raking the leaves or cleaning the gutters. You won’t think about the economy. You won’t think about retirement. You won’t think about disease. You won’t think about sickness. You won’t think about gas prices. You won’t think about appliances. You won’t think about warranties. You won’t think about mortgages, second mortgages, ARMs, or balloons. You won’t think about pets. You won’t think about travel. You won’t think about landscaping. You won’t think about Blackberries, Iphones, Ipods, or I anything. You won’t think about movies, music, shows. You won’t think about exercise, yoga, or pilates. You won’t think about long walks, fast runs or jogging. You won’t think about hiking. You won’t think about boats, canoes, or yachts. You won’t think about organizing. You won’t think about business. You won’t think about playing catch up. You won’t think about so much of what seems so very important and pressing and urgent. You will think about Jesus. For all of eternity, Jesus. Heaven or Hell, Jesus. Don’t you think you should start thinking about Jesus today? If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things that are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2
money
Everything takes money.
Good objectives and well as bad objectives take money. It takes money to flush your toilet, to take a drink, or turn on a light. It takes money to start your car and keep it running. It takes money to eat. It takes money to have a roof over your head. It takes money to get an education. It takes money to raise children, start a family, provide for a wife, and take care of your parents when they are old. It takes money to pay bills and taxes and taxes and taxes. It takes money to have clothes. It takes money to be clean and smell good. It takes money to run business. It takes money to run governments. It takes money to watch TV, movies, or plays. It takes money. It takes money to buy illegal drugs. It takes money to buy guns. It takes money to get a prostitute. It takes money to go to strip clubs and bars. It takes money to run crime.
Prostitutes prostitute for money. Pimps pimp for money. Drug dealers are making money. Celebrities are making money. Politicians are making money. Thieves are looking for money. If you work at Wal-Mart or McDonalds it is for money. If you work it is for money. Products make money. Commercials make money. Governments make money. You make money. I make money. Our children will make money. Our great great grandparents made money.
This world runs on money, poor third world countries run on money, large industrial nations run on money. Every organization, for profit or not, runs on money.
It would seem that money runs this world. Yet it doesn’t. It would seem the one thing necessary is money, yet it isn’t. It appears money meets every need, scratches every itch and satisfies every longing. It doesn’t. Money calls out to us, “serve me! I will make everything alright! I will fix every problem! With me there is nothing you cannot do! Me! Money! I can make you happy! I can lift your burdens! Think of the freedom I give, just serve me! Bow before me and surrender your life and I will bless you”
How money seems to be what we need, the answer we long for, yet, its promise is empty. For we were not made for money, but money was made for us. We were made, created, for one purpose, and that is God and His glory. And in this purpose we have failed. And though this world tells us the one thing necessary is money, the truth is the one thing necessary isn’t a thing, but a Person, Jesus Christ. He alone can restore man to His Creator. Jesus alone can heal the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, set at liberty those that are oppressed. Your greatest need is not money, it is Jesus. Your greatest need is not food, shelter, or water. Your greatest need is forgiveness from God and reconciliation with God. Money cannot do this. Money can do nothing. Jesus, offering Himself as a sacrifice in the place of sinners, is everything. We cannot have two masters, and woe is us if we neglect so great a salvation and so great a Savior.
Good objectives and well as bad objectives take money. It takes money to flush your toilet, to take a drink, or turn on a light. It takes money to start your car and keep it running. It takes money to eat. It takes money to have a roof over your head. It takes money to get an education. It takes money to raise children, start a family, provide for a wife, and take care of your parents when they are old. It takes money to pay bills and taxes and taxes and taxes. It takes money to have clothes. It takes money to be clean and smell good. It takes money to run business. It takes money to run governments. It takes money to watch TV, movies, or plays. It takes money. It takes money to buy illegal drugs. It takes money to buy guns. It takes money to get a prostitute. It takes money to go to strip clubs and bars. It takes money to run crime.
Prostitutes prostitute for money. Pimps pimp for money. Drug dealers are making money. Celebrities are making money. Politicians are making money. Thieves are looking for money. If you work at Wal-Mart or McDonalds it is for money. If you work it is for money. Products make money. Commercials make money. Governments make money. You make money. I make money. Our children will make money. Our great great grandparents made money.
This world runs on money, poor third world countries run on money, large industrial nations run on money. Every organization, for profit or not, runs on money.
It would seem that money runs this world. Yet it doesn’t. It would seem the one thing necessary is money, yet it isn’t. It appears money meets every need, scratches every itch and satisfies every longing. It doesn’t. Money calls out to us, “serve me! I will make everything alright! I will fix every problem! With me there is nothing you cannot do! Me! Money! I can make you happy! I can lift your burdens! Think of the freedom I give, just serve me! Bow before me and surrender your life and I will bless you”
How money seems to be what we need, the answer we long for, yet, its promise is empty. For we were not made for money, but money was made for us. We were made, created, for one purpose, and that is God and His glory. And in this purpose we have failed. And though this world tells us the one thing necessary is money, the truth is the one thing necessary isn’t a thing, but a Person, Jesus Christ. He alone can restore man to His Creator. Jesus alone can heal the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, set at liberty those that are oppressed. Your greatest need is not money, it is Jesus. Your greatest need is not food, shelter, or water. Your greatest need is forgiveness from God and reconciliation with God. Money cannot do this. Money can do nothing. Jesus, offering Himself as a sacrifice in the place of sinners, is everything. We cannot have two masters, and woe is us if we neglect so great a salvation and so great a Savior.
Friday, October 2, 2009
slaves
Romans 1:1, Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ or a bond-servant (NKJV; NASB)
Nearly all of the Apostles and thereby authors of the Epistles identified themselves as servants: John (Rev 1:1); Jude (Jude 1:1); Peter (II Peter 1:1); James (James 1:1); and Paul’s young minister friend Timothy (Phil 1:1). The greatest men in the history of Christianity, the men God most used to spread His gospel and establish His Church were men that were servants (Matt 23:11). These men saw themselves for what they were, slaves to Christ, servants to the Most High God. These were men that knew that they had been slaves of unrighteousness and now had been bought with the blood of Christ and had a new master (I Peter 1:18; Rom 6:22; a theme that Paul will develop quit fully later in Romans). The Christian life is always to be defined by that of self-denying service. We are to set ourselves a side (die to self) that we may serve: First, Christ; and Secondly, man.
First, we are to serve God, and we serve God by keeping His commandments, and His commandment is to love (Matt 22:37; Rom 13:10). And when we love God we keep His commandments (see I Jn, especially chpt 5). Service to God is love to God, love to God is keeping the commandments; anyone that says they love God and does not keep the commandments “is a liar and the truth is not in him” (I Jn 2:3-4).
Second, we are to serve all men. This is keeping the commandment of God (Matt 22:39-40). To not love man is to not love God (I Jn 4:20-21). Love to man flows from our love to Christ (ie; obedience). He washed their feet (Jn 13:14-16) and commanded them (and us) to do the same. As Paul would later say in II Cor 4:5, we are your bondservants for Jesus sake!
The Christian life is the most free life and the most indebted life or to quote Luther, “A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one.” John 8:32-36 teaches us that Christ came to give us freedom, and that when He sets free we are free indeed! And yet; Christ, the most free God, the one that holds the “key of Hades and death” (Rev 1:18), the one that spoke and it was (Gen 1), the one true God, sovereign and omnipotent, the only one deserving of all service and servitude, (Phil 2:5-11), did not come to be served(!) but to serve (Matt 20:28, Mk 10:45)!! He has left us the ultimate example. He has set a standard that we are to strive after (I Jn 2:6). If our Lord and Savior and Creator and God has stooped so low as to enter our finite world, how much more humbled and obedient should we be to His call of servanthood. We are to submit to all men, see I Peter 2:13-3:6, especially 2:15. (I Cor 9:19-23)
The servants of God are not burdened with service but rejoice in service. It is not out of obligation that we serve but out of gratitude. And though we may go through difficult times in serving, Jesus’ “yoke is easy and (His) burden light.”(Matt 11:30) Paul did not start his letters with this title of servant as something that should be shamed but as some thing that should be rejoiced in. I think it quite interesting that “servant of Jesus Christ” proceeds “apostle,” in his title. Though none of us would consider Paul prideful, I think we can safely say that he had deep joy and satisfaction (at the very least) in this title.
I think the question for us would be: Do we understand the servant hood that we all have been called to? Are we ready to serve? Anywhere? Anytime? Anyone? Will we humble ourselves and wash feet? Remember the words of our Lord, “A servant is not greater than His master…If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” See also Matt 25:31-46, great illustration!
Nearly all of the Apostles and thereby authors of the Epistles identified themselves as servants: John (Rev 1:1); Jude (Jude 1:1); Peter (II Peter 1:1); James (James 1:1); and Paul’s young minister friend Timothy (Phil 1:1). The greatest men in the history of Christianity, the men God most used to spread His gospel and establish His Church were men that were servants (Matt 23:11). These men saw themselves for what they were, slaves to Christ, servants to the Most High God. These were men that knew that they had been slaves of unrighteousness and now had been bought with the blood of Christ and had a new master (I Peter 1:18; Rom 6:22; a theme that Paul will develop quit fully later in Romans). The Christian life is always to be defined by that of self-denying service. We are to set ourselves a side (die to self) that we may serve: First, Christ; and Secondly, man.
First, we are to serve God, and we serve God by keeping His commandments, and His commandment is to love (Matt 22:37; Rom 13:10). And when we love God we keep His commandments (see I Jn, especially chpt 5). Service to God is love to God, love to God is keeping the commandments; anyone that says they love God and does not keep the commandments “is a liar and the truth is not in him” (I Jn 2:3-4).
Second, we are to serve all men. This is keeping the commandment of God (Matt 22:39-40). To not love man is to not love God (I Jn 4:20-21). Love to man flows from our love to Christ (ie; obedience). He washed their feet (Jn 13:14-16) and commanded them (and us) to do the same. As Paul would later say in II Cor 4:5, we are your bondservants for Jesus sake!
The Christian life is the most free life and the most indebted life or to quote Luther, “A Christian man is the most free lord of all, and subject to none; a Christian man is the most dutiful servant of all, and subject to every one.” John 8:32-36 teaches us that Christ came to give us freedom, and that when He sets free we are free indeed! And yet; Christ, the most free God, the one that holds the “key of Hades and death” (Rev 1:18), the one that spoke and it was (Gen 1), the one true God, sovereign and omnipotent, the only one deserving of all service and servitude, (Phil 2:5-11), did not come to be served(!) but to serve (Matt 20:28, Mk 10:45)!! He has left us the ultimate example. He has set a standard that we are to strive after (I Jn 2:6). If our Lord and Savior and Creator and God has stooped so low as to enter our finite world, how much more humbled and obedient should we be to His call of servanthood. We are to submit to all men, see I Peter 2:13-3:6, especially 2:15. (I Cor 9:19-23)
The servants of God are not burdened with service but rejoice in service. It is not out of obligation that we serve but out of gratitude. And though we may go through difficult times in serving, Jesus’ “yoke is easy and (His) burden light.”(Matt 11:30) Paul did not start his letters with this title of servant as something that should be shamed but as some thing that should be rejoiced in. I think it quite interesting that “servant of Jesus Christ” proceeds “apostle,” in his title. Though none of us would consider Paul prideful, I think we can safely say that he had deep joy and satisfaction (at the very least) in this title.
I think the question for us would be: Do we understand the servant hood that we all have been called to? Are we ready to serve? Anywhere? Anytime? Anyone? Will we humble ourselves and wash feet? Remember the words of our Lord, “A servant is not greater than His master…If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” See also Matt 25:31-46, great illustration!
pilgrims
I Peter 1:1 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,”
Martin Luther in writing about meditation says, “But I cannot worthily and fully set forth the gracious meaning and force of the word; for this “meditating” consists first in an intent observing of the words of the law, and then a comparing of the different Scriptures; which is a certain delightful hunting, nay, rather a playing with stags in a forest, where the Lord furnishes us with the stags, and opens to us their secret coverts.” Though the imagery might be dated, for I do not know any that enjoy hunting or playing with stags, the intent is perfect. As we begin studying a verse, the very thing that Martin Luther wrote about happens. The verse comes alive and leads us on an adventure through the scriptures.
This is what has happened as I began my study of I Peter. My intent was only to lightly refresh my mind with the content of the book, but off one word my study has centered. The word is “pilgrim,” and it simply has taken control of my thinking for the last week. I have chased the word through books and chapters and have become nearly mesmerized by the image the word paints for us. When studying Romans, the word “bond-slave” grabbed a hold of me and seemed to spell out the greatest definition of Christianity in one word, but now, “pilgrim” seems to contain such a fullness that if I were to be asked to give a brief summary of Christian living it would be “pilgrim.”
The perspective of a pilgrim seems to be of utmost importance in living a victorious Christian life, for how we see ourselves will directly effect how we live. Right believing always produces right living. Webster defines pilgrim, “one who journeys in foreign lands,” and that is the crux of the matter. Do we know that we are in a foreign land, that this is not our home? Some other versions of the Bible use the similar words, “exile, sojourner, strangers” all that carry the same meaning, this is not our home. We are merely passing through. A little later in the first chapter of Peter, he tells us to conduct ourselves in fear throughout the time of our stay here. Isn’t that beautiful language? “Our stay here,” because we are only temporarily here, we are just passing through, we are wayfaring strangers.
The Bible speaks so highly of those that knew this about themselves; that knew they were merely pilgrims heading home. David writes in I Chron 29: 15, “For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope.” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob also carry this testimony. In Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16, we read, “8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God…13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly country: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Did you hear verse 14, “they that say such things (what things? Confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth!) declare plainly that they seek a homeland.” Why are they seeking a homeland, because they have no home upon the earth. And what is it that they were seeking? They were seeking a heavenly country. These men made no provision for this life, they did not store up treasures, they were merely passing through.
Oh that we would desire to be like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David, men that carry the testimony of God, men of whom God is not ashamed to be called their God!
Jesus tells us so plainly that we are of another world, that this is not our home in John 15, saying, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” And again in John 17, that great priestly prayer, Jesus stands believers in contrast, as those not of the world; praying, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom you have given me out of the world…I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, they are Yours…I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world…they are not of the world, just as I am not the world…as You sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world…”
Do you hear the words of Christ, we are no longer of this world because he has chosen us out of the world, we have been adopted into God’s family and our true home, our eternal home is with Him, is that not what Christ prayed? “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with me where I am…(John 17:24). Oh how this knowledge can set us free from so much sin, so many burdens, so many troubles and tribulations. This was Peter’s original point in writing to the pilgrims, he was writing to remind them and encourage them and help them through a trial, and their hope began with this word, pilgrim! How that word carries such temporariness, we are just passing through! How this world tries to get its hooks into us, how our flesh fights against our spirits, how our sinfulness strives against our new natures, is it any wonder that in order to be His disciples we must deny our selves and take up our crosses and follow Him, Him our example, the One that was not of this world!
Martin Luther in writing about meditation says, “But I cannot worthily and fully set forth the gracious meaning and force of the word; for this “meditating” consists first in an intent observing of the words of the law, and then a comparing of the different Scriptures; which is a certain delightful hunting, nay, rather a playing with stags in a forest, where the Lord furnishes us with the stags, and opens to us their secret coverts.” Though the imagery might be dated, for I do not know any that enjoy hunting or playing with stags, the intent is perfect. As we begin studying a verse, the very thing that Martin Luther wrote about happens. The verse comes alive and leads us on an adventure through the scriptures.
This is what has happened as I began my study of I Peter. My intent was only to lightly refresh my mind with the content of the book, but off one word my study has centered. The word is “pilgrim,” and it simply has taken control of my thinking for the last week. I have chased the word through books and chapters and have become nearly mesmerized by the image the word paints for us. When studying Romans, the word “bond-slave” grabbed a hold of me and seemed to spell out the greatest definition of Christianity in one word, but now, “pilgrim” seems to contain such a fullness that if I were to be asked to give a brief summary of Christian living it would be “pilgrim.”
The perspective of a pilgrim seems to be of utmost importance in living a victorious Christian life, for how we see ourselves will directly effect how we live. Right believing always produces right living. Webster defines pilgrim, “one who journeys in foreign lands,” and that is the crux of the matter. Do we know that we are in a foreign land, that this is not our home? Some other versions of the Bible use the similar words, “exile, sojourner, strangers” all that carry the same meaning, this is not our home. We are merely passing through. A little later in the first chapter of Peter, he tells us to conduct ourselves in fear throughout the time of our stay here. Isn’t that beautiful language? “Our stay here,” because we are only temporarily here, we are just passing through, we are wayfaring strangers.
The Bible speaks so highly of those that knew this about themselves; that knew they were merely pilgrims heading home. David writes in I Chron 29: 15, “For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, as were all our fathers; Our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope.” Abraham, Isaac and Jacob also carry this testimony. In Hebrews 11:8-10, 13-16, we read, “8By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God…13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly country: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” Did you hear verse 14, “they that say such things (what things? Confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth!) declare plainly that they seek a homeland.” Why are they seeking a homeland, because they have no home upon the earth. And what is it that they were seeking? They were seeking a heavenly country. These men made no provision for this life, they did not store up treasures, they were merely passing through.
Oh that we would desire to be like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David, men that carry the testimony of God, men of whom God is not ashamed to be called their God!
Jesus tells us so plainly that we are of another world, that this is not our home in John 15, saying, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” And again in John 17, that great priestly prayer, Jesus stands believers in contrast, as those not of the world; praying, “I have manifested Your name to the men whom you have given me out of the world…I pray for them. I do not pray for the world, but for those whom You have given Me, they are Yours…I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world…they are not of the world, just as I am not the world…as You sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world…”
Do you hear the words of Christ, we are no longer of this world because he has chosen us out of the world, we have been adopted into God’s family and our true home, our eternal home is with Him, is that not what Christ prayed? “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with me where I am…(John 17:24). Oh how this knowledge can set us free from so much sin, so many burdens, so many troubles and tribulations. This was Peter’s original point in writing to the pilgrims, he was writing to remind them and encourage them and help them through a trial, and their hope began with this word, pilgrim! How that word carries such temporariness, we are just passing through! How this world tries to get its hooks into us, how our flesh fights against our spirits, how our sinfulness strives against our new natures, is it any wonder that in order to be His disciples we must deny our selves and take up our crosses and follow Him, Him our example, the One that was not of this world!
health care reform
Health care reform is everywhere. TV, radio, internet, every medium is streaming the ongoing debate. So the last thing you want is to hear more about it. So I don’t want to offer my opinion on the subject, instead I want to look at the issue from a different perspective, not considering the opposing sides or even other’s ideas, instead I want to think about the importance of the issue of health care reform as a whole.
In the Bible there is a parable from Jesus about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man lived in luxury, wearing purple and fine linen, one translation says he “fared sumptuously.” The poor man was very poor, he was a beggar, he ate what fell from the table, he was covered in sores which were licked by dogs.
This is a good point to start talking about the right of everyone to health care, but I don’t want to, that is beside the point. The story continues that both men died, this is the wonderful part of the story because we can all relate to it, poor or rich, republican or democrat, liberal or conservative; death comes for us all, we are all united on this plain. After death we are told that the poor man went to Heaven and the rich man went to Hades. What I want us to see follows next. The rich man could see Lazarus in the heaven and begged that he might be sent to him to relieve his torment but he was told this was not possible. Since nothing could be done for the rich man he begged that Lazarus might be sent to his brothers that were still living, that Lazarus might warn them of what was to come, this to was not a possibility.
What does this have to do with health care reform, well, nothing really, like I said, I want to look at the issue from a different perspective. What was it that the rich man wanted Lazarus to tell his brothers, was it that they should take better care of the poor or renounce their riches or live more socially aware, was it that one political party was superior to another? No, the rich man wanted one thing and that was to warn his brothers of what was to come.
Living in the technological age, the information age, we are bombarded by a constant barrage of everything; entertainment, news, sports, twitter, we are connected 24/7. Everything is vying for our attention and our focus, we are consumed by so much, and yet, by so very little. The things that consume our lives are empty pointless things in the face of death. No one will wish they watched more TV or read more tweets or surfed the web more or even fought harder for a political party or social reform, no, in the face of death that which really matters becomes quite evident.
The rich man wanted one thing, to warn his family of what is to come. The last words from the rich man in this story, referring to his brothers, is that if one came from the dead to warn them of the reality of eternity they would repent. And that is the last word to us also. If we would be ready for eternity it is not is social reform (though that is good), it is not in party affiliation (though that can be good) but it is in repenting. Simply put, it is turning from ourselves and to Jesus.
So as I said, I want to consider the importance of health care reform as a whole, and my consideration is this: as important as the issue may be, it pales in comparison to the significance of your soul. For what does it gain a man to win the whole world and lose his soul?
In the Bible there is a parable from Jesus about a rich man and a poor man named Lazarus. The rich man lived in luxury, wearing purple and fine linen, one translation says he “fared sumptuously.” The poor man was very poor, he was a beggar, he ate what fell from the table, he was covered in sores which were licked by dogs.
This is a good point to start talking about the right of everyone to health care, but I don’t want to, that is beside the point. The story continues that both men died, this is the wonderful part of the story because we can all relate to it, poor or rich, republican or democrat, liberal or conservative; death comes for us all, we are all united on this plain. After death we are told that the poor man went to Heaven and the rich man went to Hades. What I want us to see follows next. The rich man could see Lazarus in the heaven and begged that he might be sent to him to relieve his torment but he was told this was not possible. Since nothing could be done for the rich man he begged that Lazarus might be sent to his brothers that were still living, that Lazarus might warn them of what was to come, this to was not a possibility.
What does this have to do with health care reform, well, nothing really, like I said, I want to look at the issue from a different perspective. What was it that the rich man wanted Lazarus to tell his brothers, was it that they should take better care of the poor or renounce their riches or live more socially aware, was it that one political party was superior to another? No, the rich man wanted one thing and that was to warn his brothers of what was to come.
Living in the technological age, the information age, we are bombarded by a constant barrage of everything; entertainment, news, sports, twitter, we are connected 24/7. Everything is vying for our attention and our focus, we are consumed by so much, and yet, by so very little. The things that consume our lives are empty pointless things in the face of death. No one will wish they watched more TV or read more tweets or surfed the web more or even fought harder for a political party or social reform, no, in the face of death that which really matters becomes quite evident.
The rich man wanted one thing, to warn his family of what is to come. The last words from the rich man in this story, referring to his brothers, is that if one came from the dead to warn them of the reality of eternity they would repent. And that is the last word to us also. If we would be ready for eternity it is not is social reform (though that is good), it is not in party affiliation (though that can be good) but it is in repenting. Simply put, it is turning from ourselves and to Jesus.
So as I said, I want to consider the importance of health care reform as a whole, and my consideration is this: as important as the issue may be, it pales in comparison to the significance of your soul. For what does it gain a man to win the whole world and lose his soul?
higher education
Education is very important. I don’t think that anyone would deny that. I fight for all our foster girls to go to college. They are given an opportunity that very few people are given. They are given the option to attend a private four year college for free, no loans, no debt. This is amazing. Yet, most of our kids have been uncertain about college, I was. Looking back, I would love the opportunity to go to college for free, I wouldn’t have appreciated it then, but now, the worth of that education is huge. I push and encourage our girls to go even if they are uncertain, because, even if they don’t want to be there initially, I do not think that when they are thirty they will regret having been given a free college education. I know many people who regret not going to college, I can’t think of any that regret going.
An education will provide for you and your family. In this culture, education is everything. We will always hear of underdog stories, of businesses built by unschooled men, of the high school dropout that later invented something that amassed him a fortune, and we like those stories, they give us hope. But the reality is that those stories are great because they aren’t the norm. They make great movies because they are atypical. If that was the experience of the common person, colleges would be obsolete. And the stories we would be fascinated by would be about the guy that stayed in school and worked hard and got the job he was working hard to get. No, in our culture, those that work hard and get a good education are more likely to “succeed” in our culture, and really, in every culture around the world. This is why I fight for our girls to go to college.
An education will improve your “quality” of life. No doubt about it. Are there formerly successful CEOs living on the streets? Sure, especially in the current economic crisis. Are there highly educated people looking for jobs with out success? Yes. But the other side of the story is that there are high school dropouts looking for jobs and high school dropouts living on the streets, and without doing any research, I doubt the ratio is 1:1. Again, we hear the story of the successful lawyer or politician that has lost it all and we enjoy hearing it, mainly because it makes us feel better about ourselves. Those movies are entertaining because they level the playing field and give us hope. But the reality is that when someone with an education is applying for a job against someone without an education, who do you think will get the job? An education definitely has the very real potential to improve your quality of life.
An education will most likely make you more money. Not guaranteed but likely. There is an add running on the radio for a university in my area that states over a lifetime people with a college education will make almost a quarter million more dollars. That is a lot of money. Again, are there those that defy that, sure.
An education is very important. I don’t have to tell you that. I urge all our girls to go to college.
Yet, an education by itself is useless. Perhaps it is worst than useless. Perhaps, like Leo Tolstoy, an education will only make you wiser to what life is. Tolstoy of coarse wrote “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina,” he was brilliant. But his brilliance led him to understand what most of us don’t understand today, namely, that life (without God) is pointless and vain and worthless. He attempted suicide several times and removed his children from school to save them the despair of having to understand the pointlessness of life. He thought that if he could keep his children from learning and education they would never realize what it was that he realized, life was futile. But that is not the end of his story.
Leo Tolstoy became a Christian. The thinking man, the brilliant man, the author of one of the most famous volumes ever, became a Christian. He put his children back in school. He understood now the value of an education. He was still brilliant and thinking and fully convinced of Christ.
An education is important but an education not to the glory of God is pointless. You see a great education in the perspective of eternity is of no value apart from Jesus. It may serve you well here but it can never give you right standing before God. An education can never deal with your sins. Only Jesus, dying in your place, to cover your sins, can prepare for eternity.
I urge all our girls to go to college, if not here somewhere, but go. I also urge, with greater stress and importance, to trust Jesus. Because an education \may serve you well in this life, but without Jesus, there is no hope for this life… or the next.
An education will provide for you and your family. In this culture, education is everything. We will always hear of underdog stories, of businesses built by unschooled men, of the high school dropout that later invented something that amassed him a fortune, and we like those stories, they give us hope. But the reality is that those stories are great because they aren’t the norm. They make great movies because they are atypical. If that was the experience of the common person, colleges would be obsolete. And the stories we would be fascinated by would be about the guy that stayed in school and worked hard and got the job he was working hard to get. No, in our culture, those that work hard and get a good education are more likely to “succeed” in our culture, and really, in every culture around the world. This is why I fight for our girls to go to college.
An education will improve your “quality” of life. No doubt about it. Are there formerly successful CEOs living on the streets? Sure, especially in the current economic crisis. Are there highly educated people looking for jobs with out success? Yes. But the other side of the story is that there are high school dropouts looking for jobs and high school dropouts living on the streets, and without doing any research, I doubt the ratio is 1:1. Again, we hear the story of the successful lawyer or politician that has lost it all and we enjoy hearing it, mainly because it makes us feel better about ourselves. Those movies are entertaining because they level the playing field and give us hope. But the reality is that when someone with an education is applying for a job against someone without an education, who do you think will get the job? An education definitely has the very real potential to improve your quality of life.
An education will most likely make you more money. Not guaranteed but likely. There is an add running on the radio for a university in my area that states over a lifetime people with a college education will make almost a quarter million more dollars. That is a lot of money. Again, are there those that defy that, sure.
An education is very important. I don’t have to tell you that. I urge all our girls to go to college.
Yet, an education by itself is useless. Perhaps it is worst than useless. Perhaps, like Leo Tolstoy, an education will only make you wiser to what life is. Tolstoy of coarse wrote “War and Peace” and “Anna Karenina,” he was brilliant. But his brilliance led him to understand what most of us don’t understand today, namely, that life (without God) is pointless and vain and worthless. He attempted suicide several times and removed his children from school to save them the despair of having to understand the pointlessness of life. He thought that if he could keep his children from learning and education they would never realize what it was that he realized, life was futile. But that is not the end of his story.
Leo Tolstoy became a Christian. The thinking man, the brilliant man, the author of one of the most famous volumes ever, became a Christian. He put his children back in school. He understood now the value of an education. He was still brilliant and thinking and fully convinced of Christ.
An education is important but an education not to the glory of God is pointless. You see a great education in the perspective of eternity is of no value apart from Jesus. It may serve you well here but it can never give you right standing before God. An education can never deal with your sins. Only Jesus, dying in your place, to cover your sins, can prepare for eternity.
I urge all our girls to go to college, if not here somewhere, but go. I also urge, with greater stress and importance, to trust Jesus. Because an education \may serve you well in this life, but without Jesus, there is no hope for this life… or the next.
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