"A Living God"

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! (Luke 24:1-6 NLT).

I know it’s not Easter, but a very important thought occurred to me as I was driving to work earlier this week. It began with a statement I heard a theologian who observed: When God is dead anything is possible. That is a very powerful statement. Sadly it is true. When God is dead, the fences of morality are easily plowed over. Think for a moment about the Holocaust and the men who carried out its murderous plan. These were not monsters, but ordinary men; they were not crazed psychopaths, but mere men who had gone far astray of the plan and purpose of God. They were men to whom God was dead. And, when God is dead, anything is possible.

I read recently a man in his middle years once approached Ravi Zacharias after he had finished speaking and said, “If I told you all the horrible things I have done in my life you wouldn’t even want to be seen standing next to me. There is almost nothing I haven’t done. I am not sure even God can forgive me.” Zacharias said at the time he had to wonder what all was couched beneath those words. Still, the verse which came to mind were words spoken by the prophet Isaiah: Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him, and to our God, for He will freely pardon. (Isaiah 55:6-7).

When God is dead, the possibilities are unfathomable. But another question must be answered: If anything is possible when God is dead, what then is possible if God is alive? C.S. Lewis was a man who saw the beauty of the prodigal son worked out in his life. Describing his own quite reluctant conversion, he exclaims, “Who can duly adore that Love which will open the high gates to a prodigal who is brought in kicking, struggling, resentful, and darting his eyes in every direction for a chance to escape? The hardness of God is kinder than the softness of men, and His compulsion is our liberation.” 1 So, I can say with absolute confidence when God is alive, nothing is impossible! Absolutely nothing can separate you from God’s love, not even God’s seeming “death.” Don’t let anything convince you that God is dead! He is alive forever! And His love for you is unchanged. The Father is fully with you, waiting for you to come home. Come on back today!

1. C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy. New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1955, p. 237

"From Ruin to Glory"

How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave. Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are upon her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is none to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies. After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress. (Lamentations 1:1-3 NIV).

These and the verses following are among some of the most tragic in the Bible. The mighty city, Jerusalem! Zion, the city of God, the spiritual center of the earth, lies in rubble and ruin, crushed underfoot by the sword of pagan warriors. What makes this scene truly tragic is remembering what led to these circumstances. The people of Israel were the pride of God, his treasured possession. He promised safety and protection if they would follow him and be obedient to his commands. He promised judgment if they turned aside to pagan ways.

We know the story all too well. The Israelites turned away from God. With much patience and many warnings God called the people to repent and return to faithful living. The people responded by plunging deeper into sin. The end result was judgment and downfall, a picture of desolation beginning with the words of our reading today. But the writer of Lamentations continues to write. As he reflects on the destruction of Jerusalem and the sin of the people he also remembers the mercy and faithfulness of God. In the third chapter we emerge from the darkness of despair to the light of God’s hope:

The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, says my soul, therefore I will hope in him. (Lamentations 3:22-24 NIV).

This ought to give all of us great hope. Often when we remember our past we can feel as though we are looking over our shoulder and looking at the rubble we have left behind us. I have counseled with many people who have realized their bad living, bad witness, bad examples, and terrible mistakes have only left a desolate future. But God is faithful with his people. He does not excuse or smooth over our sins, he nails them to the cross. He calls us to live in the forgiveness of sin, and to go and sin no more.
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. No matter what ruins lie behind you, the Lord’s mercies for you are new every morning. From the rubble of your forgiven past God will build an edifice of his glory. Your past is not an issue with the Lord when you have asked for His forgiveness. You may still have a “city” to rebuild, but He will help you do that. Are you ready to rebuild? Let’s get started today!

"The Unsearchable Riches of Christ" (Part 3)

Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:8-12 NIV).

A second truth is that we have found the riches in the WONDER OF THE CHURCH (verses 10-13). There are three singular principles Paul outlines in this section:

1. One of the greatest treasures is the Church, the body of Christ (verse 10). I know that there are many who would argue with that statement. If we look at the church merely as an institution there is a basis for such an argument. The church has had a checkered past with its sins and wars. Yet when we truly look within the marvelous nature of the church cannot be exaggerated. At the heart of the church’s existence is a covenant, a “testament” as the familiar title pages of our Bibles clearly tell us. To create heaven and earth was a wonder in itself. It was a further marvel to create man as a rational being, a being free to turn into a rebel against his Creator. But then to woo him back to a relationship of love and obedience, to create a people who live emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually in a similar relationship of grace and forgiveness is a wonder indeed!

2. The apostle then says it was according to his eternal purpose (verse 11). The emphatic nature of Paul’s argument is clearly shown here. We have gained this great gift through no accident nor work of our own doing. It is through the eternal will and purpose of the almighty Creator, Lord of all creation!

3. Then Paul places a capstone on this truth as he writes: In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence (verse 12). These three concepts of access, freedom, and confidence are bound together. The word translated “approach” is a word that would be used in the phrase “freedom of speech.” It means we can come to Him and say whatever is on our heart and mind. In fact, he emphasizes that truth with the next descriptor of “freedom.” It speaks of the notion that there is no need for fear of rejection. We won’t be turned away from His presence for any reason. And, last he uses the word “confidence.” It really indicates assurance. The three words together form one complete idea that through faith we have free, unrestricted, confident access to God!

But wouldn’t you expect that? Surely that’s what Jesus meant when He used the comparison of God as our Heavenly Father and said:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11 NIV).

"The Unsearchable Riches of Christ" (Part 2)

Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:8-12 NIV).

Today we return to the series of the treasure that is ours in Christ. First, we have found the riches in the FELLOWSHIP OF THE MYSTERY. Various translations have used different words to convey the meaning of the word “administration.” The Revised Standard Version uses “dispensation”; The King James Version uses “fellowship”; and The Message simply says “things that are way over my head”! The emphasis ought to be on the word “mystery.” One of the great riches of Christ is found in the “mystery” that “while we were yet sinners” He would come and die for us (cf. Romans 5:6-8). That’s what captivated Paul! He had found this great treasure and become a steward in the worldwide distribution of God’s message of grace.

It is not a trifling matter. To think of the lengths that God went to in order to redeem us is incredible. I have heard others explain away this mysterious blessing by charging that God had no other choice. Somehow He had to save man from the consequences of his sin. His nature demanded that He send Jesus. How dare we cheapen the great gift of God’s only begotten Son with such a declaration! As if the almighty Creator and Sustainer of the universe had no other choice! He had a choice and He chose grace!

Since the very beginning when Adam and Eve chose to live in opposition to God, He has been working this great mystery of grace on our behalf. Surely you remember the story. God comes to the garden to walk with them as was His custom. He calls out to them, knowing well they were hiding in their shame and guilt, “Adam, where are you?” do you believe for a moment that God did not know where Adam was? Can you not see the impact of his gentle compassion for Adam and Eve? Adam finally answers, “We’re over here.” He’s hiding behind some bushes because he is ashamed of his nakedness. I’ve always found that a little humorous! Like God did not know what they looked like! But still God is patient. He asks, “What happened?” And the blame game begins. Adam blames Eve; Eve blames the serpent; and God speaks. He allowed the curse of death to fall on them. He allowed them to reap what they had sown even though it must have broken His heart. But God also told them of the promise of the Savior. He spoke the promise to them with clarity as He said their “seed” would “bruise the head of the tempter’s “seed.” Through humanity God would allow Himself to become the perfect sacrifice to pay the full and final price for our redemption. But He didn’t stop there. God’s plan would take thousands of years to unfold and finalize their redemption. God also ministered to their immediate need. He made garments for them to go out into the world from the “skins of animals.” Even then God was showing them the tremendous price that would be paid for their choice. That’s the treasure! God reached across the vast separation between He and man with the life of His Son as eternal payment in full for our sin and brought us home! Who can probe the depths of such grace!

"The Face of Favor" (Part 2)

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. (Mark 15:21-24 NIV).

Today we’ll continue with out look at “The Face of Favor.” As I said yesterday, there is no better place to see the grace and love of God than at the cross. However, it is impossible to fully comprehend that event. It is indeed the greatest of mysteries in the Scripture. Oh, sure, we can understand some of the historical significance of the cross, but that won’t allow us to experience tis reality. We can theorize about its theological importance and still be untouched by its power. Christians and non-believers alike can be moved by the idea of the substitutionary suffering of a man for the love of his friends, but miss entirely the cosmic implications of what happened at Golgotha. The reason for that is in the nature of Calvary. It is eternal in its impact, power, and grace.

Lloyd J. Ogilvie tells of an experience he had one Easter, when he conducted a survey of one hundred members of various Christian churches about the difference the Cross made to them. The specific questions was: Would it have made any difference in your life as you are now living if Christ had not died on the cross? Forty-five said they didn’t think so! Twenty-five said they thought so, but didn’t know what that difference would be. Twenty indicated it made all the difference in both what they believed and how they lived. And ten said they didn’t even understand what the cross was all about!

It’s easy to look at “them” and not at ourselves. The real question in trying to know what God looks like is this question. What difference does the Cross make in our lives? If we were really honest with ourselves, we would be able to say that it has made a difference in our lives verbally, though our actions tell a different tale. The real meaning of the Cross must be captured in our lives in such a way as to make them truly different. This is the story of Simon of Cyrene.

That’s where we’re going in the next few days. Today I Hope you will acknowledge the need in your life to make Jesus and the relationship you have with Him through the atoning work of grace in the Cross the single most determining factor of your life. Forget all the slogans like WWJD (old I know, but you get the idea) and focus on the face of Jesus who smiles in forgiveness and welcome to give you eternal life! That, after all, is really what God looks like!

"the Face of Favor" (Part 1)

A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. (Mark 15:21-24 NIV).

The July 17th issue of Morning Devotionals, “What Does God Look Like?” (http://www.gracerestoration.org/site/?p=439) ended with my assertion that God has a “yes face.” The more I began to think about that statement, the more I began to ponder how others must have seen Jesus during His earthly ministry. What better place to see the reaction of those who “saw” Jesus than at the cross? As you imagine being there, seeing the people gathered, there are many faces in the crowd. Some of them were friendly, some antagonistic, others indifferent; however, each tells a specific story. One of those was Simon of Cyrene. At first you may say he was there unwillingly, conscripted by the Roman soldiers to merely carry the cross of Jesus to Golgotha. But, as time passes and we learn more about him from the Scripture, we see he was grateful to have been elected for this honor.

Simon was born into a dedicated Jewish home in the North African city of Cyrene. His parents expressed their faith by giving him the name Simon at birth. Simon was a prominent son of Jacob. Being such a faithful family Simon must have dreamed of the day when he would be able to make his pilgrimage to Jerusalem at Passover. When he first entered the city he must have been agog at the sight of the Temple. He must ave felt something else though. There was a great disturbance in the city. The rumor was that a teacher from Galilee had arrived. There was sharp division among the Jews as to the purpose and identity of this man. Some felt certain he was the long awaited messiah, while others argued he was no more than a charlatan, a false prophet. It was widely rumored that the religious leaders were plotting his death.

This was the setting for Simon’s introduction to Jesus. On the day of the great Passover Feast, Simon came upon this strange spectacle. He saw a noisy crowd clustered around a small group of Roman soldiers. In their midst was a very weary, weakened, bloodied man. He was carrying a cross to his execution. Undoubtedly the crowds were shouting, the soldiers were prodding the man along. The man falls, not once, but three times under the strain. Just then, as the soldiers tired of this parade, wanting nothing but to be finished with their grisly assignment, their eyes fell on Simon. Seizing him, as was within their power, they ordered him to carry the cross. For the first time, Simon saw Jesus. From that moment on his life would never be the same. That’s the way it is with Jesus. Once you have seen Him you can never be the same. The Face of Favor demands a decision. Simon decided then this man was no ordinary man. The events that would follow would prove it for him. We’ll look more closely at those events and the challenge it has for us today in the next few days. However, can I ask you if you have seen Jesus? How has that changed your life? Stay tuned!

"What Does God Look Like?"

Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Then Jesus told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:1-7 NIV).

I heard a great story the other day of the mother who notices her four-year-old daughter creeping into her baby brother’s room where he lies sleeping. Curious, the mother watches as the girl whispers to her baby brother, “What does God look like? I forgot.” It’s easy to forget sometimes. Jesus had a solution to that. We call them parables. They really are pictures of his heavenly Father. They are earthly stories with heavenly meanings, each one a snapshot to remind us what God is like. One such snapshot is called “the Parable of the Lost Sheep.” I have recorded it for you in our reading today.

The parable is really humorous in some ways. Jesus was like that. He would tell the story in such a way as to teach a significant principle about the character of the Heaven Father, but it would always both inspire and inform. I always come away from the parables with a smile in my heart and on my face. Here’s the story. “This man receives sinners,” the Pharisees grumped, “and eats with them.” By the way, most legalists are grumpy! He uses this fact to answer a very important question. After all, why did Jesus hang around with sinners? Well, the truth was pretty simple. Just like a doctor cannot fix a broken leg from across the street. God cannot fix human sinfulness from across the sky. You have to go where the need is.

The first message of grace is the incarnation of Jesus Christ. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us,” writes John (1:14). We are lost, and God comes to find us in the person of his Son. The Creator stoops to our level in order to redeem us. In the same way Jesus eats with sinners in order to redeem them. This parable ends on a joyous note. Everyone is happy except the Pharisees, who grumble: “This man receives sinners, and eats with them.” Of course he does. Where else would He be? That’s why He came!

Today, if you’re wondering what God looks like, let me remind you that he has a “yes face” and a beaming smile when he finds you. To find Him again whisper His name and He’ll show up right next to you with His arms open wide to gather you to Himself!