God's Beauty - Pt 3

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. (Proverbs 16:1-4 ESV).

Our reading is taken from the chapter in Proverbs that speaks to idleness. It is a key issue especially in our culture today. We value our time more now than ever before. Because of that, we tend to seek idleness. And, truly, it is a good thing to simple sit quietly beside a mountain stream, or lounge beside the gentle waves of the ocean. However, there is a real danger spiritually to boredom, even if it is a good thing for a time. Just as God’s beauty confronts our anxieties and our temptations, so also it confronts the spiritual hazards of our boredom. Someone has said, “Sin is the enchanting allure of what is going to kill you.” In 2013, ESPN reported the tragic story of Christopher Lane, a college baseball player who was jogging down a street in Duncan, Oklahoma. Three teens drove up behind him in a car and shot him in the back, senselessly killing the athlete. When the teens were later arrested and asked to explain their actions, they said they did it because they were “bored.” As Martyn Lloyd-Jones said it: “Sin is always, in some sense, a life of boredom. That’s where sin takes us. Among other reasons, hell is hell because it’s so boring.” Yes, boring, because hell is being stuck eternally in self-centeredness that is blind to all external beauty, unsatisfied within and unhappy without. But on the other hand, the Christian life is to be fun. Holiness ought to be playful, clean, and bright. Because we have been swept up into the love of our heavenly Father, because we have been justified and sanctified, we have become human again. That ought to bring great happiness. I know that sounds counterintuitive as a picture of holiness. What typically leaps to our mind when we think of holiness is austerity, coldness, or a grim-faced jaw-set that can only result in unhappiness. Jonathon Edwards, as puritan as he was, said in one of his early sermons, “Holiness is a most beautiful, lovely thing. Men are apt to drink in strange notions of holiness from their childhood as if it were a melancholy, morose, sour thing.” But Edwards goes on to say there is nothing in holiness but what is sweet and ravishingly lovely. Sin is mire and filth. Holiness is sweet, lovely, delightful, serene, and calm. That should correct us. Holiness is calming. It is the only route by which I can actually enjoy my life, because I am not delighting in the world’s fraudulent offers of happiness. God’s beauty protects us from such frau

God's Beauty - Pt 2

For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. (Romans 7:15-20 ESV).

I have been using a “heart-healthy” diet for the past few weeks since the doctors have informed me that I need to both lose weight and reduce the amount of plaque building in my arteries. And, since the angioplasty to restore flow of blood in two of my arteries, I suppose they are correct. However, can I simply say it is a lot harder to resist those cookies now than it ever was before! The temptation to “cheat” just a little on the diet is not lessened by the threat of more heart trouble. I need a different motivator. That seems to be the truth the apostle is expressing in our reading today. The good news is that God’s beauty can fill the affections of our heart, which is essential if we are going to meet our foes of sin and temptation with success. Jonathon Edwards was often heard speaking about quietly enjoying the beauty of God, and communing with him in his Son, who was the mighty and radiant friend in times of great temptation. Edwards delightfully used a wonderful phrase when he said, “Enjoying God happifies me.” One of the crucial battles of the Christian life is discovering the true ugliness of sin and exposing its destructiveness. Sin is the enchanting allure of what is going to kill you. You simply can’t help but jump into the water of sin and get slammed against the rocks of judgment and hell and death. We do not have the willpower to stop. We must rely on a higher loveliness, a more compelling beauty. We will only do what we love to do, and we will be that way forever. We cannot function any other way. Edwards said, “We have a beauty-thirst that must be quenched, no matter what.” We all do. The sixty year old who leaves his wife for a younger woman, the teen looking at porn, the banker checking his personal accounts every hour, the pastor feeding his soul on the drug of congregational approval, all of these are taking a mere mannequin and treating it like a spouse, we expect it to love us like a spouse. The great tragedy is that the real person is in the next room wanting to love us. Seeing the beauty of God leads us to recognize the truth and discard the emptiness of the world in favor of the vast beauty of God. That is real motivation!

God's Beauty - Pt 1

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. (Psalm 96:1-6 ESV).

When we moved into our home in Texas we faced the daunting task of landscaping. I say “daunting” simply because you must pay attention to the requirements of the shrubs and trees that you plant according to the amount of tolerance each has to the drought and heat indexes we face in our area. The last two weeks has been quite a test of some of the plants we chose. We have had almost no rain and temperatures over 1000 with little relief in sight. I must say that I am very pleased with our Texas Sage. It has doubled in size since planting last year and produces the most beautiful purple flowers throughout the heat. It reminds me again of the incredible diversity within the bounds of God’s beauty. Our reading today reminds us that we are to develop a desire for God’s beauty. This is a part of how we experience real joy in our lives. In the next few days we’re going to explore some of the ways this truth is developed in our daily lives. The basic truth for us to remember is that we must have God’s beauty to have joy. Each of us experience varying degrees of busyness, temptations, boredom, and spiritual dryness throughout our lives. God’s beauty provides an antidote for those things replacing them with joy. There is no doubt that God’s beauty soothes my busy and anxious heart. When I look into the distance and see what seems to be an endless horizon, I force myself to refocus closer to where I am. It is then that the beauty of God’s tender mercy calms me down, and lets me breathe again. When I become more microscopic, instead of panoramic, then my frantic scurrying about seems to slow to a tolerant point of reference. Haven’t you noticed how the “big things” in your life seem to eclipse those small moments of beauty and peace that God surrounds you with each day? If I’m not careful I find myself simply moving from one crisis to another. That simply is not God’s desire for us. The immediate crisis seems to grow dim when I am intentional in looking toward the beauty of God. If God can create a heat and drought tolerant plant that not only survives but blooms, I think he can give me that same strength and character. As tough as my circumstance might appear, it’s not much of a challenge for Him! Remember, “…splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.”

Howdy! Pt 6

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” or as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ESV).

Century-old roots provide the basis for “Muster” as Aggies know it today. It has changed, yet the Spirit in which it was established remains the same. Since the founding of Texas A&M, every Aggie has lived and become a part of the Aggie Spirit. What we feel today is not just the camaraderie of fellow Aggies, it is the Spirit of hundreds of thousands of Aggies who have gone before us, and who will come after us. Muster is how that Spirit is remembered and celebrated, and it will always continue to unite Texas A&M and the Aggie family. A&M may change, but the Spirit never will. Aggies gathered together on June 26, 1883, to live over again their college days, the victories and defeats won and lost upon the drill field and in the classroom. By April 21, 1903, this annual gathering evolved into a celebration of Texas Independence on San Jacinto Day. These early meetings included field games and banquets for Aggies to reflect and celebrate their memories of Aggieland. “Let every alumni answer a roll call,” wrote the Former Students. It was not until 1922, however, that April 21 became the official day of events for all Aggies; thus, the annual tradition of Muster was born. Still remembering and honoring the time spent in Aggieland, the tradition of Muster has grown in strength, in meaning, and in spirit. By 1929, the meetings had spread worldwide, and in 1942 Aggie Muster gained international recognition. Twenty-five men, led by General George Moore ’08, Mustered during the Japanese siege of the Philippine island of Corregidor. Knowing that Muster might soon be called for them, these Aggies embodied the commitment, dedication, and friendship that is the essence of the Aggie Spirit. They risked their lives to honor their beliefs and values. That small group of Aggies on an outpost during World War II inspired what has developed into one of our greatest traditions. Even greater is the memorial we celebrate as believers. Our reading focuses on that which we often hear called “The Lord’s Supper.” It should be a reminder of the great sacrifice made on our behalf. We cannot forget this incredible sacrifice Jesus has made on our behalf. He died that we might live!

Howdy! - Pt 5

Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:4-9 ESV).

The annual bonfire has been an Aggie tradition since 1909 and lasted 90 years on campus. In my freshman year at A&M we built a stack that measured over 100 feet high. We cut and stacked logs to be lit in preparation of the annual football game with the University of Texas. Bonfire symbolized the Aggies' "burning desire" to beat their rival. It was a singular experience that symbolized our passion for victory. Today the tradition has been altered somewhat. On November 18, 1999, tragedy struck when the stack collapsed at 2:42 a.m. Twelve Aggies were killed and 27 were injured. As a result of that tragedy, the university disbanded the formal activity; however, the tradition continues off campus without formal sanction of the university. I am taken back to a principle found in our reading today. James calls the believer to develop a sense of passionate repentance and consistent behavior centered in the will of God for our lives. He uses the strongest of words. I wonder how passionate we are about our lives. I wonder how strongly we are determined to alter our lifestyle in favor of the pleasure and will of God. It was hard work to hand cut every log. It required incredible organization and team work to transport and stack each log. Remember, these were logs ranging in size from 15 to 20 feet long. Some of them were as much as two feet in diameter! It was a formidable task. Yet, together we did it. The lesson translates to our behavior today. We must desire such a change in our lives. We must pursue a sanctified life with the same fervor we would any good thing. The Apostle Paul talked about how he trained for the race of life. He uses words describing intense effort and sacrifice. That is the calling to all of us. Like a blazing fire we ought to seek out those things that prevent us from being centered in God’s will and exercise passion concerning God’s will for our lives.

Howdy! - Pt 4

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. Only let us hold true to what we have attained. (Philippians 3:12-16 ESV).

One of the great traditions is the Corps of Cadets. It might be somewhat of a surprise to know that in each world war, A&M has provided more officers than any other college or service academy. A&M has been called the "West Point of the Southwest." In fact, one of our relatives, Norman G. Crocker, for whom the former Crocker Dorm was named, was the first known Aggie to have given his life in World War I. There are eight Aggies who have been awarded the Medal of Honor, thousands of others have served with distinction and valor. The truth is if not for the Corps of Cadets, Texas A&M would not exist. Military training was the reason for the campus' creation and symbolizes the university's foundation for traditions and pride. As the university has evolved along with society, the Corps, known as "The Keepers of the Spirit of Aggieland," continues to be known for its values and leadership. Values and leadership is a key phrase. It is the embodiment of all that is good about A&M. Remember as I began this little series, I really didn’t know the impact of becoming an Aggie would have in my life. I chose A&M because it was the least expensive of my options. When I was awarded a partial scholarship from the Galveston County Aggie Club, and saw that much of my education could be paid through membership in the Corps of Cadets and a military commission, I simply chose A&M. So much happened that first year, we simply don’t have the time to tell here. That which is crucial, and I hope inspirational to you is found embedded in our reading today. Paul could have said a great deal about his adventuresome past; some of it would have been said with pride and others of it would have whispered with regret. No one of us, no matter how accomplished or successful can truly look back without some sense of failure or regret. All of us have those kinds of moments where the past haunts us and the future terrifies us. So, let me embed this principle before you. It has served me well, especially in these latter decades of my life: Never let past failures or future fears rob you of present joy. Remember how Paul put it… But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. That was a principle that I learned from the Corps and has been undergirded with my faith. Perhaps you are at a place like the apostle in your life. Press on! The goal of the higher calling of Christ is being perfected in your life. He will not let go!

Howdy! - Pt 3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV).

Aggies are “the 12th Man.” A&M students stand throughout football games in reference to E. King Gill in 1922. Before he became the first 12th Man, an Aggie by the name of E. King Gill was simply a squad player for Texas A&M’s football team — and little did he know that his willingness to serve would become his legacy, one that lives on more than 90 years later as 38,000 students stand for every Texas A&M home game. On Jan. 2, 1922, the heavily outgunned Aggies were facing the top-ranked Centre College Praying Colonels on the gridiron in the Dixie Classic in Dallas. Gill was up in the press box helping reporters identify players on the field below — and what was happening on the field wasn't pretty. The Aggies found themselves plagued by injuries, with their reserves seemingly dwindling with every play. As Texas A&M Coach Dana X. Bible looked across his rapidly emptying bench, he suddenly remembered Gill's presence in the stands. Bible waved Gill down to the sideline and told him to suit up. Gill ran under the bleachers and put on the uniform of injured running back Heine Weir, who had been knocked out of the game in the first quarter. Gill returned to the sideline, where he stood ready to play for the entirety of the game. When the last play was run, the Aggies found that they had pulled off one of the greatest upsets in college football history, winning the game 22-14. And Gill remained standing, the only player left on the team's bench. Today, we stand, ready to help our team win. I find it more than of a passing interest that there is a similar truth found in our reading today. It is important for believers to recognize we are being encouraged and “cheered” to persevere in our lives by a great multitude of men and women who have already fought and won their battles. Many of their stories are written for us in the Scripture; and, there are many more we learn from the history of the Church. However, the real “12th Man” is Jesus who became our substitute in death to pay the debt we could not pay and live the life we cannot live. We look to Him and know every battle’s end is already determined. We have won! Get rid of all that which keeps you from running like a winner and run!

Howdy! - Pt 2

When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once. Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:31-35 ESV). Yesterday I ended with a comment about the nature of the student body at Texas A&M. Whether presently a student or a former student, the Aggie network is very strong. A part of the benefit of being an Aggie is that we tend to look out for one another very closely. I remember that lesson well from my freshman year. We were taught that anytime another Aggie called out, “Old Army Fight!” that it was a call for help. My first corps trip to Ft. Worth proved the worth of that commitment. Walking with several others from my outfit in downtown before midnight yell practice in the stockyards, we heard the cry. It seems some other students about a half block away had run afoul of some members of the rival school and a scuffle erupted. Aggies began to our out of every establishment for blocks. Outnumbered and outmanned the other rival group made a hasty retreat without a punch being thrown. It’s what a family would do. It’s what Aggies do.

I don’t recall ever yelling that cry for help personally; however, I have been recognized by other former students many times simply by the ring I wear. It is perhaps the most recognizable symbol of the Aggie family and network. It dates back to the beginning of the school. The ring is traditionally ordered in gold, and the design has remained mostly unchanged for the past 100 years. Some of them, as we have them for a while (I’ve had mine for 50 years), may show a bit of wear; however, there is no mistaking it for any other school’s symbol. The early Christ-followers (they weren’t called “Christians” until the second century) didn’t have such a symbol; however, there is a strong reason to believe that they identified one another with the drawing of one half of the fish while the other person completed it. The way Jesus wanted His followers to be recognized is clear in our reading today. It was to be by the love we show for one another. I’m afraid we have not done as well there as we could have. Make it your commitment “to love one another as Christ has loved you” today!

Howdy! - Pt 1

Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’ A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:33-35 ESV).

HOWDY! That is the first part of any address to Aggies. Later this week it will be my honor and privilege to be a part of the Parker County Aggie Club. I will be speaking to the group. Some of those in attendance will be former students, parents of present students, and others who hold a special place for all things Aggie. Those of you who know me at all also know that my affinity for Texas A&M goes well beyond having graduated from there. I’ve always thought it a bit interesting that other colleges and universities classify their graduates as “alumni”; and, we are “former students.” It speaks to the tradition and loyalty that is forever ours as we join the ranks of thousands who bear the name of “Aggie.” Little did I know when I first began in 1967 that it would be the beginning of a life-long love; in fact, my first two weeks in the corps might have communicated just the opposite! I had no idea I could be called so many things, none of them my given name in such a short period of time, while learning how to drill. However, I learned something else in those early days. It was embodied in our school song, The Spirit of Aggieland. It was originally written as a poem by Marvin H. Mimms while he was a student at Texas A&M in 1925. Richard J. Dunn, the director of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band at the time, composed the music. The first stanza goes: Some may boast of prowess bold Of the school they think so grand But there's a spirit can ne'er be told It's the Spirit of Aggieland. Many people describe Texas A&M University as having a unique school spirit that "From the outside looking in, you can't understand it. And from the inside looking out, you can't explain it." I can personally relate to the truth of that. As I think more about it, I can also say there ought to be at least an equal amount of unique love and loyalty within the church. For the next few days we’ll look at some of the Aggie traditions and use them as a means of reminding us to do that which we are called as believers. Today the reminder comes in the familiar Aggie greeting, “Howdy.” It is much more than a greeting within the Aggie family. It is a pledge of love, honor, and respect. Should we do any less for our spiritual family?

The Two Wolves - Pt 8

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 ESV). Our reading today shares Paul’s view of hope. It comes on the heels of his explanation of how God dealt with Abraham (cf. Romans 4:18-22). So the faith which justified Abraham was faith in the future work of God. Verse 21 makes this crystal clear: he was “fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.” In other words he had what the writer of Hebrews called the “full assurance of hope” (Hebrews 6:11). Verse 18 describes how faith and hope worked together: “In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations.” “Wherever there is full assurance of hope, there is faith. Faith is the full assurance of hope.” “Against hope” means that from the ordinary human standpoint there was no hope: Abraham was too old to have a child, and his wife was barren. But biblical hope is never based on what is possible with man. Biblical hope looks away from man to the promise of God. And when it does, it becomes the “full assurance of hope” — the expectation of great things from God. It is not easy to describe exactly what Paul means in verse 18 when he says, “In hope Abraham believed … that he should become the father of many nations.” But from the whole context I think it is fair to say that Abraham’s faith was his strong confidence in the reliability of God’s word, and Abraham’s hope was his strong confidence in the fulfillment of God’s promise. In other words, whenever faith in God looks to the future, it can be called hope. And whenever hope rests on the word of God, it can be called faith. Hope in a Biblical sense is not the ordinary concept we use in everyday speech. It does not imply uncertainty or lack of assurance. Instead biblical hope is a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. There is moral certainty in it. I count it a great privilege and delight to explore that even further as the next few weeks unfold. We will look at some of the different topics that impact our daily lives, however, it is this great hope we possess that allows us to function. This means at it means to say that our God is a “God of hope”; (Romans 15:13) and that the central exhortation of our Christian life is very simply and very profoundly, Hope in God! That’s the wolf we m must feed!

The Two Wolves - Pt 7

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV).

Yesterday I said “hope is faith in the future tense.” In our reading today, the writer says it is more than that. It is also the “conviction of things not seen.” It is true that some of these things are not future. He uses the reference to creation to remind us of this truth (v. 3). Faith can look back (to creation) as well as forward. So faith is the larger idea. It includes hope, but is more than hope. You might put it this way: faith is our confidence in the word of God, and whenever that word has reference to the future, you can call our confidence in it hope. Hope is faith in the future tense. There are some important principles at work in this truth. First, as we understand this we can better possess the true nature of biblical hope. Most of us know that biblical faith is a strong confidence. Doubt is the enemy of biblical faith. But if hope is faith in the future tense, then we can see more clearly that hope, too, is a strong confidence and not just wishful thinking. Second, it is important to see this relationship between faith and hope in that it shows how indispensable hope is. We all know that we are saved by grace through faith. Faith is necessary for our salvation. But we don’t as often speak of hope in those terms. But we should. Hope is an essential part of faith. Take away hope and the definition of faith in our reading is destroyed. We are not merely saved by grace through faith. We are saved by grace through hope. Sometimes we can find ourselves stuck in a conversation, trying to explain why God did this, or why He allows that. You know the usual arguments, ‘if God is so loving why is there so much pain and suffering in the world?’, and all the variations to that one sentiment. Usually when those kinds of questions start being asked the conversation can devolve to a point where you finally realize that it doesn’t matter what you say or evidence you present, the person refuses to be convinced, that by faith we believe in God, that He is full of loving-kindness, but more than that He IS love. The impact of this truth is that God is much more than someone who shows love toward His children. His very nature and character is love. He can do nothing less than love. Because He is perfect in every way, this love is also perfect. We never need wonder “why?” He is love, and all that occurs is rooted and founded in that love. This makes all things work together for our good!

The Two Wolves - Pt 6

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1-3 ESV).

Yesterday’s reading (cf. Hebrews 6:9-12) used the phrase “the full assurance of hope.” It means hope which is fully assured; hope which is confident; and, hope that has moral certainty in it. It is not finger-crossing hope. There is a firm connection between faith and hope. The term “full assurance,” is plerophorian in the original language. It is also found in one other place in Hebrews (cf. Hebrews 10:22). However, there it is “full assurance of faith” instead of “full assurance of hope.” It says, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” Then in the next verse it says, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Notice, hope is something that should not waver, because it is rooted in the faithfulness of God. There should be moral certainty in it because the will and purpose of God are like iron, not chalk. We cannot help but wonder about the relationship between full assurance of faith and full assurance of hope. Faith is the larger idea and hope is a necessary part of biblical faith. Hope is that part of faith that focuses on the future. In biblical terms, when faith is directed to the future, you can call it hope. But faith can focus on the past and the present too, so faith is the larger term. You can see this in our reading today. These verses are the closest thing we have to a definition of faith in all the New Testament. Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Here’s how I would paraphrase this verse. Wherever there is full assurance of hope, there is faith. Faith is the full assurance of hope. Biblical faith is a confident expectation and desire for good things in the future. But faith is more than that. It is also the “conviction of things not seen,” and some of these are not future. For example, he says “By faith we understand that the world was created by the word of God” (v. 3). Faith can look back (to creation) as well as forward. So faith is the larger idea. It includes hope, but is more than hope. You might put it this way: faith is our confidence in the word of God, and whenever that word has reference to the future, you can call our confidence in it hope. Hope is faith in the future tense. We’ll look more at this tomorrow. Today, recognize the important of just believing what you have already seen in others and yourself. Trust in the consistently good will of God at work in your life!

The Two Wolves - Pt 5

Though we speak in this way, yet in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things—things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:9-12 ESV).

Our reading today gives a particularly important insight in our understanding of biblical hope. After warning his readers that it is possible for people who have had remarkable religious experiences to commit apostasy and go beyond the point of no return, he declares his confidence that is not the case for them. The reason is the kind of faith they have shown in the past and continue to show in their present perseverance. Faith is the key element that takes you on to live your big life. The Lord didn’t create us to live a life of mediocrity. I have heard it said that we were created to live life in the “faith-lane.” The faith-lane is not to be mistaken as the “fast lane” because often it is just the opposite. The reason the writer of Hebrews is so sure that his readers will not be among the apostates is that they have not only been loving servants for God’s sake in the past but are still loving servants. It is the emphasis on perseverance that comes to the forefront. They showed love in serving the saints in the past, and they still do. Their religious experience was not a temporary decision at camp or at a concert or an evangelistic crusade. It was continuing. Perseverance in godliness is the proof of the genuineness of a person’s salvation. That’s why the writer feels so sure of the people: they had served the saints, and they still do. He does give them a warning to press on and not become sluggish. But now the battle is described in terms of hope, not just in terms of love and service: “And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness in realizing the full assurance of hope until the end.” In other words, with all the zeal of the past that enabled us to work and love in the name of Christ, with all that zeal, we can keep on pursuing the full assurance of hope to the end. There is no fight, no quest, no challenge, no war more urgent than this. I suppose the best example of this is what is commonly known as “the scenic route.” I am often amazed how easily we miss the real beauty of our surroundings simply because we don’t slow down. The scenic route often insures that we slow down and really look at God’s work in our present circumstance. That requires us to strengthen our hope. Feed that wolf!

The Two Wolves - Pt 4

Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 9:23-24 ESV).

The hope we have is a moral certainty. That is different from, say mathematical or merely logical certainty. Mathematical or strictly logical certainty results from the necessity of non-moral laws. If we have two apples and add two more, we may be “mathematically” certain that we now have four apples. That is mathematical certainty. If all men are mortal and if Plato was a man, then we may be “logically” certain that Plato was mortal. That is logical certainty. That kind of thinking is important. In fact, it is indispensable in biblical studies as well as all other areas of life. But most of our experience is not like that. There is a kind of legitimate certainty and confidence that does not come from mathematical calculations or merely logical laws. I call it “moral certainty.” I call it moral because it is rooted in the commitment of the will of persons. And the will is the seat of morality. That is, we can only speak of moral right and wrong in relationship to acts of will. So whatever has to do with the will is an issue of morality. And moral certainty is a certainty that is based on acts of will. For example, I have a strong moral certainty that Mary and I are going to stay married to each other as long as we live. This is based not on mathematical laws or merely logical thoughts. It is based on the character of our wills and the promises of God which are just expressions of the character of his will. We have almost fifty years of evidence about the nature and commitments of our wills and the graciousness of God’s will. When we speak of our future, we do not speak in the ordinary terms of hope. We speak in terms of confidence and certainty, because the character of a God-centered will is like iron. Biblical hope is not a mere desire for something good to happen. It is a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. Biblical hope has moral certainty in it. When the word says, “Hope in God!” it does not mean, “Cross your fingers.” It means, to use the words of William Carey, “Expect great things from God.” After all, he is the God who declares “I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth” (v. 24). There is no sudden change in his character or will according to circumstance. He is indeed the same today and every day. That certainty gives us the basis for real, undeniable hope. For millennia he has proven that steadfastness. Feed that wolf!

The Two Wolves - Pt 3

And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:12-13 ESV).

As we continue the most basic question of all is the definition of hope. We must know what the Scripture has to say about hope if we are to truly grasp these great truths about biblical hope. We use the word hope in at least three different ways. First, hope is the desire for something good in the future. Second, hope is the good thing in the future that we are desiring; we focus on some future event “hoping” it will come to pass. And, third, hope is the reason why our hope might indeed come to pass. The focus becomes the “hope” of something good; it is the basis or reason for thinking that our desire may indeed be fulfilled. All three of these uses are found in the Bible. But the most important feature of biblical hope is not present in any of these ordinary uses of the word hope. In fact the distinctive meaning of hope in Scripture is almost the opposite of our ordinary usage. I don’t mean that in Scripture hope is a desire for something bad instead of something good. And I don’t mean that in Scripture hope is rejection of good instead of desire for it. It is not the opposite in those senses. It is the opposite in that when we use the word hope, we express uncertainty rather than certainty. When we say, “I hope I get home early tonight,” we actually mean we have no certainly of getting home early, we merely “hope so.” Ordinarily, when we express hope, we are expressing uncertainty. But this is not the distinctive biblical meaning of hope. And the main thing I want to do the next few days is show you from Scripture that biblical hope is not just a desire for something good in the future; but, rather, biblical hope is a confident expectation and desire for something good in the future. Biblical hope not only desires something good for the future, it expects it to happen. And it not only expects it to happen, it is confident that it will happen. There is a moral certainty that the good we expect and desire will be done. This is the impact of our meme today. The quote is from the prophet Isaiah. During the years of his ministry there was great turmoil in the nation. The invasion from the north had left the people of Israel conquered and enslaved. Yet, he declares that those who keep their minds focused on the Lord will have, present tense, “perfect peace.” It seems to me that this is the real need of our lives. I am glad for a secure future; however, I also want a secure present. God gives that kind of hope to us! Feed that wolf!

The Two Wolves - Pt 2

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:5-6 ESV).

We saw yesterday that the key in fighting off the discouragement is in developing our means of hope. That seems to be a new thought to many. It certainly sounds too simplistic and easy. I was told by one client that it couldn’t be that easy. However, it simply is that easy. Let me define this hope for us here in the beginning of our exploration: Biblical hope not only desires something good for the future — it expects it to happen. Recently, while being unable to really do very much, I was able to make some notes for the future. I hope to be a little more intentional in the progression of the topics we look into. As a basic means of discovery I decided to look back through the archives. I discovered that the most encouraging and well received devotionals always dealt with holding on to hope. And, that made perfect sense to me when I recall that the reason of logic and analysis rarely brings me comfort. Holding on to the promise of Scripture and the memory of God’s gracious activity on my behalf does so much more! My message could be crystallized into three words: Hope in God! I love the way the psalmists wrestle and fight and struggle to maintain their hope in God. This is normal Christian experience while we are still just saved sinners. And we better own up to it, or else we may grow sluggish and negligent in our fight for hope. Let me illustrate a bit. As I began to think about personal forgiveness, I also began to think of what it felt like when you forgive someone. The first feeling is one of hope. If you can’t imagine a restored relationship, then it is nearly impossible to make any effort to seek forgiveness, or grant it. If there was no hope, my only choice would be retaliation. Hope is like a reservoir of emotional strength. If I am put down, I look to the emotional reservoir of hope for the strength to return good for evil. Without hope I have no power to absorb the wrong and walk in love, and I sink into self-pity or self-justification. If I experience a setback in my planning, when I get sick, or things don’t go the way I’d hoped, I look to the emotional reservoir of hope for the strength to keep going and not give up. If I face a temptation to be disobedient, stubborn, or recalcitrant, I look to the emotional reservoir of hope for the strength to hold fast to the way of righteousness, and deny myself some brief, unsatisfying pleasure. That is the way it works for me. That is the way I struggle forward through every challenging situation and circumstance. The amazing thing is how it always makes me think and feel better. Today, make a list of the things that are hard in your life. Then return to the list and simply write “heaven” beside each one. That brings me peace! It will for you as well!

The Two Wolves - Pt 1

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:5-6 ESV).

There is a wonderful parable called “The Two Wolves Within” that has been attributed to Native Americans. It is possibly from the Cherokees, though no positive authentication can be made. The story begins with a wise old grandfather talking with his grandson. He tells his grandson there are two wolves inside of all of us which are always at battle. One is a good wolf which represents things like kindness, bravery, and love. The other is a bad wolf, which represents things like greed, hatred, and fear. The grandson stops and thinks about it for a second then he looks up at his grandfather and says, “Grandfather, which one wins?” The grandfather quietly replies, “The one you feed.” I find it more than just a passing interest that so many people fail to recognize the truth that there is a war raging within us. It is one in which there has not been any lasting peace since the beginning when Adam and Eve first decided that the knowledge of this good and evil was to be preferred over a simple knowledge of God. We have seen the battles range from the relatively benign to the destruction akin to a nuclear explosion. Futures have been irrevocably altered, marriages and families destroyed, and individuals changed forever as a result of someone feeding the wrong wolf. Our next few Morning Devotionals will deal with the process of feeding the right wolf within us. The psalmist says our beginning is found in hope. Richard Sibbes, one of the great old Puritan preachers of Cambridge who died in 1635, wrote a whole book (175 pages) on the first verse of our reading today. He was called “the sweet dropper” because of how much confidence and joy his sermons caused. He titled his book The Soul’s Conflict with Itself. This is certainly an accurate picture of the inner struggle the paslmist was experiencing in Psalm 42. The soul was arguing with itself, preaching to itself. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God!” Hoping in God does not come naturally for us. We must tell it to ourselves, and preach diligently and forcefully, or we will give way to a downcast and disquieted spirit. Is it easy? No. Is it possible? Yes. Does it make a difference in what we do? Yes. So, today, begin with a clear intention to begin the journey and feed the right wolf.

The Widow Maker - Pt 3

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4-5 ESV).

The clarity of the Scripture is that only the Gospel will suffice. Have you ever noticed that virtually everyone in scripture could have been introduced in some kind of recovery group? The introductions might go something like this: “Hi. My name is Noah and I am a drunk.” “Hi. My name is Abraham. I am a coward and a liar. I would tell a lie to put my wife’s life at risk, to save my own skin.” “Hi. We are Isaac and Rebecca and we’re dysfunctional parents.” “Hi. My name is Jacob and I’m a cheater and a scoundrel.” “Hi. My name is Aaron. I’m a religious leader; but I cave in to peer pressure.” “Hi. My name is Moses and I’m a hot-head and a murderer.” “Hi. My name is Samson and I struggle with lust.” “Hi. My name is David. I am an adulterer and a murderer.” “Hi. My name is Thomas. I struggle with doubts.” “Hi. My name is Peter and I let down my best friend when he needed me most.” “Hi. My name is Paul. I am a Christian serial-killer and I am very difficult to work with.” All of these, and more, were certainly flawed and yet each was a hero of the faith. I do not believe they were rewarded for their flaws, nor do I believe their flaws were unrelated to the good that eventually occurred in their lives. Awareness of their flaws preceded real humility and unmasked their fears. They came to acknowledge in progressively deeper ways their need of God’s love and mercy. At the place of specific need, God met them with unconditional love and grace. Clearly, His love is not conditioned by our performance. The gospel can be found here. The words are very powerful. Again, God’s love is not conditioned by performance and, perhaps, all the folks listed above went on to accomplish their greatest work after their hour of crisis because they came to understand more deeply than they might have otherwise known that God’s love was deeper, richer, wider, and mightier than they ever could have imagined. Furthermore, His forgiveness goes ever deeper as well. The Bible says the antidote to fear is the love of God. Imperfect love breeds anxiety. As great as human love may be, it is never enough. Only God, from whom we can hide nothing, fully knows us, and He loves us unconditionally, with a love that casts out fear. The true Kingdom of God is made up of broken men and women mended by the love and mercy of God. In that position we will find the absence of fear. Come on… join me in being free of fear!

The Widow Maker - Pt 2

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:18-19 ESV).

We return to a portion of yesterday’s reading to continue our exploration of the “casting out” of fear from our lives. Sometimes it is an internal condition that prompts our fear. It may be your guilt over some habitual sin that has driven you to fear rather than trust in the finished work of Christ. If that’s where you find yourself, please know that it is not a matter of the strength you have to hold on to Jesus; but, it is His strength that holds on to you. At other times it is an external event or circumstance that causes your fear. For those of us who find these things bringing our anxiety to the forefront, there are some very important truths to learn from the Scripture. First, we should look at the truth that there are many times in the Scripture when we are told that we should fear. That may cause some confusion. The problem is not so much a disagreement between the authors of the Bible, but rather the problem is how the same author can say on the one hand, “Fear!” and on the other hand, “Have no fear! Be confident.” The solution will, I think, be found in the suggestion that a sober fear of God will motivate us to trust his mercy shown in Christ and this “trembling trust” will then gradually remove the fear that drove us to it as we see more clearly what our Lord has done for us. The Anthology of George MacDonald give us some helpful insights. He points out that absolutely nothing less than perfect love (both from God toward man and man toward God) should cast out fear. We are prone to want to be rid of fear at any cost, by any means. John says there is and should be only one means, perfect love for God should cast out fear. We think we will be better Christians when we stop fearing. That may be false. We will be better Christians when we love God the more for his perfect love. The perfecting of love necessarily drives out fear, but the driving out of fear does not necessarily mean that love is being perfected. We may wish to be rid of fear in the same way we wants to be rid of a bad conscience and we may use all the same deceptive means to do this (ie. alcohol, drugs, or immoral pleasure). The key then becomes God’s undeniable love for us; not our vacillating love for Him. I have often said, and mean to say, that I do not fear death. I fear dying. However, when I grasp the truth that dying is merely the conduit to life it allows an entirely different perspective. Let’s say you suffer unspeakably for a hundred years; what is that compared to eternity? With every day that passes, we are one day closer! God loves you. Let that simmer in your heart. Fear is cast out by His love.

The Widow Maker - Pt 1

So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (1 John 4:16-18 ESV).

First, let me be very clear. My health is as good as it has been in many years… now. Being a week or so away from the events leading to my heart catheterization and ultimate angioplasty and placement of two stents, I both feel great and have the doctors’ diagnoses that I am doing very well. That wasn’t the case in early May. Having dealt with a chronic disease for over twenty years, cancer, and other heart related problems I am not unfamiliar with the inner voice of my body. Two months ago I knew something was drastically different and wrong. I knew it was wrong enough I needed to get to a doctor; and, for me, that is serious. Thus began the tedious and time consuming process of tests and procedures to determine what was wrong. No one doubted there was an issue; however, no one really suspected that it might be as serious as it was. Because initial test showed no serious abnormality and nothing indicated I had (or was having) a heart attack, we plodded along. The final result was the placement of two stents and the discovery of 40-60% blockage in the left anterior descending artery, also known as the “widow maker.” No one knows exactly who came up with the term, but the reason they did is that if that artery is blocked right at the beginning of its course, then the whole artery after it goes down. This essentially means that the whole front wall of the heart goes down. As far as heart attacks go, this is a big one, and, only two percent of these cases survive. Since I had no real indicators of a serious problem like that before I went into the procedure, I expected something to be done, just not to the extent it was done. The good news is that the serious blockages have been easily repaired and the other is being treated with medication, diet, and exercise. Apparently we now have confirmation that I can no longer follow the example of the Cookie Monster! Here’s the point. After I learned about the blockage in that main artery not being repaired, and until I spoke with the doctors, I was “concerned” [Of course you know me well enough that I would not use the word “afraid”]. After getting the good news of treatment and procedure, the fear was alleviated. That’s what the gospel does. It “casts out fear”! For the next few days we’re going to explore that. Today, as you abide in the love of God, know beyond any doubt that you have nothing to fear!

Essentials of the Faith - Pt 14

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:11-14 ESV).

We began two weeks ago with the declaration that the deity of Christ, the centrality of the cross, the necessity of faith, the necessity of a transformed life by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the sovereignty of God over all things are right at the center of our faith. These are the essentials of the faith. There are many of things of our faith like the nature of spiritual gifts or the timing of certain eschatological events that we could have explored, however, these things are not essentials. We may explore them at another time; however, we cannot build our community of faith around these things. So, I conclude therefore with the words of Paul in our reading today: “God works all things according to the counsel of his will.” All things … from the roll of the dice, to the circuits of stars, to the rise of presidents, to the death of Jesus, to the gift of repentance and faith. Many have been tempted to put the sovereignty of God into the category of non-essentials simply because of its complexity. However, that is a grave mistake. This doctrine should be precious to us. Here are just a few reasons why I believe this. I do apologize for the brevity of their treatment; but, unless we want to go another month on this topic, I must be satisfied with a simple list. It allows us to truly stand in awe of the sovereign authority with an absolute position of peace at the freedom and wisdom and power of God. It pushes us toward a commitment that we can never trifle with life as though it were a small or light affair. It opens us to marvel at our own salvation. We are awestruck with the truth that God bought it and wrought it with sovereign power, and we are not our own. It convinces us of the tragic state of our God-belittling man-centeredness in our culture and much of the church. At this we can be grief stricken and moved to action. It moves us to be bold at the throne of grace knowing that our prayers for the most difficult things can be answered. Nothing is too hard for God. It prompts us to rejoice that our evangelism will not be in vain because there is no sinner so hard that the sovereign grace of God cannot break through. And, last, but not least, we can be thrilled and calm in these days of great upheaval because victory belongs to God, and no purposes that he wills to accomplish can be stopped.

Essentials of the Faith - Pt 13

Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. (Genesis 50:17-21 ESV).

Today we turn to the last principle in our series. It will take me two days to “fit it in,” but my prayer is that it will give you encouragement as you face the difficult situations often coming from human actions. I suppose this year gives us as good a barometer as any since we find ourselves in the last lap of political campaigning for mid-term elections. I should be very clear at this point. We cannot adopt any illusion that we will be the decisive cause in any victory or loss. God alone will have that supreme role. That hasn’t changed since the time of Daniel. There the prophet says, “He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; …the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will” (Daniel 2:21; 4:17). Whoever is elected in any position, they will not be sovereign. They will be governed. We should pray for them that they would know this. And we should pray that when they engage in decisive actions that affect our lives and the lives of others that they would not be without a complete dependence on the will and purpose of God. We should remember the clear revelation of this principle in the death of Jesus. When nations came to do their absolute worst, namely the murder of Jesus, they had not slipped out of God’s control, but were doing his will at their worst moment (cf. Acts 4:27-28). The worst sin that ever happened was in God’s plan, and by that sin, sin died. The reason for this is so that boasting is always excluded. Our salvation was secured on Calvary under the sovereign hand of God. And, if you are a believer in Jesus, if you love him, you are a walking miracle. God granted you repentance (2 Timothy 2:24-25). God drew you to Christ (John 6:44). God revealed himself to you (Matthew 11:27). God gave you the gift of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). The sovereignty of God in our salvation excludes boasting. There may have been a hundred horrible things in your life. But if today you are moved to treasure Christ as your Lord and Savior, you can write over every one of those horrors the words of our reading today: Satan, “you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” That’s the first part of our encouragement! Take it into your heart and use it to cement your hope in His promise and grace!

Essentials of the Faith - Pt 12

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 ESV).

It couldn’t be better timing in this series for today to be my oldest son’s birthday. Kyle is forty-four today. I remember that day as if it were yesterday. Of course it is significant simply because it is his birthday; however, it is also had great impact on my understanding of God’s hand over my life. Without belaboring the story, let me simply say that there were a great many lessons learned. When Mary and I learned she was pregnant, I began to pray for the baby and her. I prayed for their health, an easy birth, wisdom to do what would be good and right for our expanding family, and every detail of who this child would be. After all, Jesus told us to ask. I asked. I asked for even the simplest of details. I wanted the first child to be a male, even to the point of describing all of his physical characteristics. We had his name picked long before he was born. “Kyle” came from the namesake of the football field at A&M. Before you become too judgmental, I did promise God to give my other children Biblical names (insert a good laugh here). Well, it was a tumultuous nine months, but the day finally arrived. We did not know the gender. This was before the ability to safely and easily determine that. However, I simply knew that God would give me what I requested. You can imagine my surprise when just before he was born, the nurse attending Mary said, “You are having a beautiful baby girl.” I was ushered out to wait for the final birth. While waiting in the empty room, somewhat darkened to conserve energy, I began to pray again. This time I was praying for God’s will to be done in my life. If indeed our first child was to be a girl, I needed Him to reset my mind and work in my life to assure she would be all that God wanted her to be. I learned the destination always belongs to the prerogative of God. A bit after that prayer, I was informed of the birth. Mary was fine. And, our son was also well! Everything is the work of God. The roll of the dice, the fall of a bird, the crawl of a worm, the movement of stars, the falling of snow, the blowing of wind, the loss of sight, the suffering of saints, and the death of all, these are included in the word of God: “I will accomplish all my purpose” from the smallest of things to the greatest. However, we are not without power. Because Jesus has overcome the world, sin and death no longer hold any power over us. Now we can “take heart”! So often we chafe at the thought of God being in control; however, who else has the power or desire to work it for our good! Happy Birthday, Kyle! I am grateful for every lesson God has taught me through your life and know you are just what He determined was best!

Essentials of the Faith - Pt 11

The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. (Proverbs 16:33 ESV).

When I am finished with this topic you may be overwhelmed at the extent of God’s sovereignty. I certainly am. And we will face a choice: Will we turn from our objections and praise his power and grace, and bow with glad submission to the absolute sovereignty of God? Or will we stiffen our neck and resist him? Will we see in the sovereignty of God our only hope for life in our deadness, our only hope for answers to our prayers, our only hope for success in our service, our only hope for meaning in our suffering? Or will we insist that there is a better hope, or no hope? Those are the questions that will nip at our heels. Those are the questions we will face. I want to be very clear as I say that nothing you are about to read, as paradoxical as it may seem to our finite minds, contradicts the real moral responsibility that humans and angels and demons have to do what God commands. God has given us a will. How we use it makes our eternal difference. Tomorrow I will have an illustration of that concerning the birth of my oldest son, Kyle. Today, I want to introduce the direction we must travel. So, I want to divide God’s sovereignty into his governing natural events on the one hand and human events on the other. In the first case he is governing physical processes. And in the second case he is governing human choices. He is sovereign over what appears the most random acts in the world. Our reading today says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” In more contemporary language we would say, “The dice are rolled on the table and every play is decided by God.” There are no events so small that he does not rule for his purposes. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?” Jesus said, “And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:29-30). Every seemingly chance event, every tiny bird that falls dead in the thousand forests, all of this is God’s command. God governs the natural world. Remember Jonah? God commands a fish to swallow him (1:17); God commands a plant to grow (4:6); and, commands a worm to kill it (4:7). And far above the life of worms the stars take their place and hold their place at God’s command (cf. Isaiah 40:26). All of it, all of nature is at the beck and call of God. So when Jesus finds himself in the middle of a raging storm, he merely speaks, “Peace! Be still!” And as the text says, “the wind ceased, and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). There is no wind, no storm, no hurricane, no cyclone, no typhoon, no monsoon, no tornado over which Jesus can say “Be still,” and it will not obey; which also means, that if it blows, he intends for it to blow. Do not fail to remember there is purpose in this. It is His purpose; and, it is designed and carried out for our good. It often doesn’t feel like that; but, His word, His promise is that it does! Trust that power and that word!

Essentials of the Faith - Pt 10

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. (Romans 8:28-30 ESV).

As we expand our discussion of this last of the essentials of the faith we come to my favorite and most often quoted verses of Scripture. Our reading today is so important. If you haven’t memorized them yet, I urge you to do so, especially verse 28. It is the clearest declaration of the truth that God purposes all things. And, he purposes these things for our good! God is not a fortuneteller, a soothsayer, a mere predictor. He doesn’t have a crystal ball. He knows what’s coming because he plans what’s coming and he performs what he plans. Remember yesterday’s passage (Isaiah 46). In this reading the Lord declares, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose” (v. 10). He does not form purposes and wonder if someone else will take responsibility to make them happen. He accomplishes His purpose in our lives. So, based on this text, here’s what I mean by the sovereignty of God: God has the rightful authority, the freedom, the wisdom, and the power to bring about everything that he intends to happen. And therefore, everything he intends to come about does come about; which means, God plans and governs all things. When he says, “I will accomplish all my purpose,” he means, “Nothing happens except what is my purpose.” If something happened that God did not purpose to happen, he would say, “That’s not what I purposed to happen.” And we would ask, “What did you purpose to happen?” And he would say, “I purposed this other thing to happen which didn’t happen.” To which we would all say, then, “But you said in Isaiah 46:10, ‘I will accomplish all my purpose.’” And he would say, “That’s right.” Therefore, what God means in Isaiah 46:10 is that nothing has ever happened, or will ever happen that God did not purpose to happen. Or to put it positively: Everything that happened or will happen is purposed by God to happen. I know that seems a bit too complicated. In the next few days I will expand this principle. Today, reflect a bit on the life of Jonah. God’s purpose was for him to go to Ninevah and preach. He had no choice about that. He was given the power (free will) to choose how to get there. As is true with all of us, he chose poorly. He did end up in Ninevah preaching; however, the trip could have been much easier. God wanted his good; however, he also wanted him to go to Ninevah. Sometimes we find ourselves at odds with God’s purpose. It is imperative that we recognize that His way is always the best way. And, regardless of what we choose along the way, he will bring good from it. I like the painless way better though. Don’t you?

Essentials of the Faith - Pt 9

Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose, calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.” (Isaiah 46:8-11 ESV).

It will take us a few days to get some of the detail of Scripture in this brief format concerning the last of our essentials of the faith. That principle is the sovereignty of God. In our reading today God says, “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me.” So the issue in this text is the uniqueness of God among all the beings of the universe. He is in a class by himself. No one is like him. The issue is what it means to be God. When something is happening, or something is being said or thought, and God responds, “I am God!” (which is what he does here), the point is: You’re acting like you don’t know what it means for me to be God. We must not be guilty of this mistake. The essential point is the discovery of what it means to by God. There are two statements. One, I declare how things turn out long before they ever happen. Second, I declare not just natural events but human events — doings, things that are not yet done. Verse 10 says: “I declare from ancient times things not yet done.” I know what these doings will be long before they are done. Now at this point you might say that what we have here is the doctrine of God’s foreknowledge, not the doctrine of his sovereignty. And that is right, so far. But in the next half of the verse God tells us how he foreknows the end and how he foreknows the things not yet done. Verse 10b: “I declare the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” When he “declares” ahead of time what will be, here’s how he “declares” it, or “says” it: “saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’” In other words, the way he declares his foreknowledge is by declaring his fore-counsel and his fore-purposing. When God declares the end long before it happens, what he says is, “My counsel shall stand.” And when God declares things not yet done long before they are done, what he says is, “I will accomplish all my purpose.” Which means that the reason God knows the future is because he plans the future and accomplishes it. The future is the counsel of God being established. The future is the purpose of God being accomplished by God. Then, the next verse, verse 11b, gives a clear confirmation that this is what he means: “I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass.

Essentials of the Faith - Pt 8

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 ESV).

Another essential in our faith is the transformational power of the Holy Spirit by the renewal of our minds. We are perfectly useless as Christians if all we do is conform to the world around us. And the key to not wasting our lives with this kind of success and prosperity, Paul says, is being transformed. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed.” That word is used one time in all the gospels, namely, about Jesus on the mountain of transfiguration (the mountain of “transformation” — same word, metemorphōthē): “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light” (cf. Matthew 17:2; Mark 9:2). I point this out for one reason: to make the point that the nonconformity to the world does not primarily mean the external avoidance of worldly behaviors. That’s included. But you can avoid all kinds of worldly behaviors and not be transformed. “His face shown like the sun, and his clothes became white as light!” Something like that happens to us spiritually and morally; it happens mentally, first on the inside, and then, later at the resurrection on the outside. So Jesus says of us, at the resurrection: “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:43). Transformation is not switching from the to-do list of the flesh to the to-do list of the law. When Paul replaces the list — the works — of the flesh, he does not replace it with the works of the law, but the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-22). The Christian alternative to immoral behaviors is not a new list of moral behaviors. It is the triumphant power and transformation of the Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ — our Savior, our Lord, our Treasure. “[God] has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). So transformation is a profound, blood-bought, Spirit-wrought change from the inside out. This is why the Christian life, though it is utterly submitted (Romans 8:7; 10:3), even enslaved (Romans 6:18, 22) to the revealed will of God, is described in the New Testament as radically free. “When you are transformed in Christ you love to do what you ought to do.” The Law has been fulfilled; and, now we are obedient out of a gratefully full heart. Our minds have now been renewed!

Essentials of the Faith - Pt 7

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you. (Luke 17:5-6 ESV).

In our reading today the apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. The way he responds shows us that faith comes by hearing; and, knowing certain things should increase our faith. First, he says that the crucial issue in accomplishing great things to advance the kingdom of God is not the quantity of our faith, but the power of God. By referring to the tiny mustard seed after being asked about increased faith, he deflects attention away from the quantity of faith to the object of faith. It is God who moves mulberry trees. And it does not depend decisively on the quantity of our faith, but on his power and wisdom and love. In knowing this we are helped not to worry about our faith and are inspired to trust God’s free initiative and power. Second, he helps our faith to grow by showing the relationship between what we do and dependence on grace. In the next few verse Jesus gives an illustration (vv. 7-10). The gist of it is that the owner of a slave does not become a debtor to the slave no matter how much work the slave does. The meaning is that God is never our debtor. We are always his debtor. And we will never be able to pay this debt, nor are we ever meant to. We will always be dependent on grace. We will never work our way up out of debt to a place where God is in our debt (cf. Romans 11:35). We should also note that the idiom for “thank” is provocative in this verse. I think the idea is that “thanks” is a response to grace. The reason the owner does not thank the slave is that the servant is not giving the owner more than what the owner deserves. He is not treating the owner with grace. Grace is being treated better than you deserve. So it is with us in relation to God. We never treat God with grace. We never give him more than he deserves, which means that he never owes us thanks. God never says “Thank you” to us. Instead he is always giving us more than what we deserve, and we always owe him more than we can thank him for. This is a great encouragement to faith. It is clear that God is just as free to bless us before we get our act together as he is after. Since we are “unworthy” slaves before we have done what we should, and “unworthy” slaves afterwards as well, it is only grace that would prompt God to help us. Therefore he is free to help us before and after. This is a great incentive to trust him for help when we feel like our act is not together. For me that’s most of the time!

Essentials of the Faith - Pt 6

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4 ESV). The Cross Event is essential to our faith. Our reading today is one of the many passages that form a foundation for our correct understanding of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Paul points directly to the events of the cross and resurrection of Christ; and, he is not concerned with just any gospel, but with the only gospel that saves. This is “the gospel I preached to you,” Paul reminds the Corinthians. The same Paul who so forcefully warned the Galatians against accepting any false gospel reminds the church at Corinth that the very “gospel I preached to you” is the gospel “by which you are being saved.” Their stewardship of the gospel is underlined in Paul’s words, “if you hold fast to the word I preached to you.” All revealed truth is vital, invaluable, life-changing truth to which every disciple of Christ is fully accountable. But certain truths are of highest importance, and that is the language Paul uses without qualification. This truth is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Without these, there is no good news — no salvation. The Gospel is at the center of our faith, and the cross and the empty tomb are at the center of the Gospel. The reason is simply because there can be no redemption, no atonement, no restoration of relationship between a holy God and sinful people without these things. Later in the chapter, the Apostle Paul says: The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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. (1 Corinthians 15:56-58 ESV). Whatever confusion might exist between various denominations, we cannot be confused or disjointed about the absolute essential nature of the vicarious death of Jesus. He became our substitute and settled our debt in full. There was never another way; nor is there another way now. You may have a perfect interpretation of the apocalyptic passages in Scripture; however, if you don’t have a correct understanding of the death of Christ, you are lost indeed. Trust in His work! It is the only thing that will do.