The Last Day of the Month

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. (Psalm 19:1-4 ESV). Every month I seem to get to the end of it and not realize where it all went! It appears the older I get the more time passes more quickly than before. I find it both disconcerting and convicting. I wonder if I have really squandered such a precious gift as time. I always seem to have unfinished projects and plans yet to be executed. I have a wonderful stack of lumber that was given to me over the winter. It is red cedar, poplar, and walnut. I can see within that stack some beautiful pieces of furniture; but, I have yet to make the first cut. I have another project constructed, but not stained or finished. I know it wouldn’t take long; however, another month has passed! I sometimes am reminded that my relationship with the Lord does that too. It is not that I don’t want to read the Bible or pray; it just becomes too easy to procrastinate. The psalmist of our reading today must have felt some of that frustration. He looks to the heavens and finds a declaration of His glory. He sees the work of God in everything created. All of this reminds him of the incredible glory of God. I suppose that this last day of April ought to do the same for each of us. We have seen a change of seasons; the beginning of new life all around us in the natural world ought to call us to renew our wonder at the work of Christ in our life. C. S. Lewis wrote: “Nature never taught me that there exists a God of glory and of infinite majesty. I had to learn that in other ways. But nature gave the word glory a meaning for me.” Nature is not the last word, but it is a word about the majesty of our God. The last word was spoken in the Cross. That is the word that has gone to the very ends of the earth. It speaks of a love that poured out mercy on those who in no way deserved such. It speaks of a grace that was completely undeserved. It calls to the center of our soul for a response. My response today is to sit in awe as I am left speechless in wonder. When I think of that I am always drawn to read the Psalms. Over and over again these hymns are written to give us words to express our gratitude. Perhaps you are struggling with that today. Your circumstances have shrouded the glory of your heavenly Father. Take a moment and read a few of these wonderful expressions of glory. Let the words seep into your mind and heart. It is a good way to end this month and begin a new one. Maybe it will even motivate you to finish one of your projects!

A Lick and a Promise

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:21-25 ESV). I have a confession to make. While I clean the house a little, I don't like to really clean. In fact, Mary always does a more thorough job of cleaning. She says I clean “with a lick and a promise.” I guess the “lick” is a quick swipe of a damp cloth; and, the promise is “I’ll do it better later. Of course, later never really seems to come. That is sort of the way I clean things. I know that’s not very good, but I really don’t like to really clean. In the Old Testament, God established that the sins of individuals would be symbolically transferred to an animal that would die in his or her place (cf. Leviticus 1–8). This atoning sacrifice was necessary to meet the righteous demands of a holy and just God. In the Old Testament, the word atonement can be translated to say, "a covering" or "to cover over something." While this atonement provided covering, it didn't get to the root of the problem. But Jesus Christ's death on the cross did. His atoning sacrifice washed away, eliminated, and wiped out all of our sins. Jesus was the fulfillment of all that the Old Testament pointed toward. He became the final sacrifice. Jesus was "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (cf. John 1:29). When Jesus uttered the words, "It is finished," it could also be translated, "It is made an end of." Or, "It is paid." Or, "It is performed." Or, "It is accomplished." Our sins and the guilt that accompanied them were made an end of. The price of our redemption was paid in full. The righteous requirements of the law were fully met. The work the Father had given Him to do was completely done. Jesus didn’t clean us with a lick and a promise. His work fully cleansed us from every sin, past, present, and future. As Peter wrote, “By his wounds have we been healed.” Did you notice there are no limits on that healing? He did not say we are healed if we do something to help. We can do nothing that can help. Clean yourself all you want and you will still be dirty with sin and guilt. Be washed by the blood of Christ and you will be completely clean! Isn’t it time for you to really clean? Trust in him alone!

Wrestling with God

The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” (Genesis 32:22-30 ESV). It's interesting to look through the pages of Scripture and note how God came to various people in the way they needed Him to come. To Abraham the pilgrim, God came as a traveler. Remember those three visitors who came to his tent before the judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah? One of them was the Lord himself. To Joshua the general, Jesus came as the Commander of the Lord's army, telling him to take off his sandals because he was standing on holy ground. Jacob, in turn, was a wrestler. Figuratively speaking, he was always wrestling with people: he wrestled with his father Isaac; he wrestled with his brother Esau; and, he wrestled with his father-in-law, Laban. As we see in our reading today, the Lord came to Jacob as a wrestler. Jacob had been left alone with God. He was always conniving, always scheming, always plotting, and always had an idea. So the Lord stripped everything away and said, "OK, I want you alone with Me." C. H. McIntosh said, "To be left alone with God is the only true way of arriving at a just knowledge of ourselves and our ways." The conniving, plotting, scheming Jacob was all alone with God, and they began to wrestle. What God wanted from Jacob was his surrender. But that wasn't going to happen until Jacob came to the end of his strength. So on it went throughout the night. Then a life-changing moment transpired for the scheming Jacob. Instead of fighting with God, He was clinging to Him. The Lord said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." Jacob responded, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" It was a valid response on Jacob's part in asking for this blessing, because in surrender to God's plan, he would find what he always wanted. Maybe you’re wrestling with God. Surrender! You won’t be disappointed with the victory you will receive.

Kept to the End

But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 1:17-25 ESV). Jude tells us to “build ourselves us” and then that God will “keep us.” It sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it? Yet, these verses serve to complement each other in a very important part of our spiritual lives. We don't keep ourselves saved, but do have some responsibility in the life we live. God's love is unconditional. And fortunately for us, Jesus Christ loves, preserves, and intercedes for us before the Father. But we can do things that will get us out of harmony with His love. That's why we are reminded to keep ourselves in the love of God, which means that we are to keep away from all that is unlike Him. We are to keep away from any influence that would violate God's love and bring sorrow to His heart. We are loved by God, and He will protect us. Those of us who are parents know the care which we take keeping our children safe. None of us would knowingly allow them to do anything that would endanger them in any way. In the same way, we are preserved, we are protected, and we are being kept by the power of God. The unfortunate truth is that sometimes, like our children, we run off and do things that will result in difficulty. A 1990 Subaru car commercial shows a Volvo heading toward a wall, and then, in slow motion, crashing into the wall. The Volvo is built so sturdily that the passengers are not hurt, in spite of the severe nature of the crash. Then a Subaru is shown heading at a high rate of speed toward a wall. At the last possible moment the driver slams on the brakes and the Subaru stops inches from the wall. The announcer then cuts in and asks what you would prefer: to live through wrecks, or not to get in wrecks in the first place? Our part in sanctification is to avoid the wrecks! God’s part is to put us in a “vehicle” that can withstand the wrecks when they come. We are indeed kept to the end!

A New York Minute

As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. (John 9:1-7 ESV). There is a wonderful quote from Billy Graham’s autobiography. He wrote that while he was at a university speaking, after the message, a student asked the question, “What is the greatest surprise you have found about life?” He answered quickly, “The brevity of it. Time moves so quickly, and no matter who we are or what we have done, the time will come when our lives will be over.” That is so true. Time passes quickly, and we don't want to squander this precious thing that God has given to us called life. I have often heard the idiom “as quick as a New York minute.” I suppose the fast pace of New York City makes time seem shorter. What I have noticed is that no matter where you live, time often slips away from us. Over the years there have been some surprises as I look back. I have been surprised by some people that I thought were going to do great things for God, but actually fell away from Him. I have also been surprised by people that I thought would never make it as a Christian, but are now serving the Lord with great effectiveness. We sometimes think we have nothing to do with the way we finish. However, we must know we are not mere victims without any ability to determine whether or not we are going to do well spiritually. Spiritual failure usually isn't a result of a deliberate decision to sin; rather, it's the result of wrong choices made in life that lead to a spiritual breakdown. It is never too late to change. As quickly as you fall, you may also be picked up to get back on your way. Peter certainly experienced that on several occasions. When he stepped out of the boat to walk to Jesus on the water, it looked great for a moment before he began to sink. Jesus was there, immediately extending his hand to lift him to safety. Whatever difficulties you are facing today as a believer, whether due to your choice or circumstance, you are preserved in Christ. He is going to keep you; he will lift you up and allow you to keep going.

A Bad Haircut

When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him. (Judges 16:18-20 ESV). It’s been a long time since I have played tennis with any regularity. However, when I was a BSU Director at Tyler Junior College, one of the young men I was trying to reach was on the college team. Needless to say he was much better than I was. The first time I went to play a set against him, I truly thought I might be able to stay in the game and make it somewhat of a challenge. After all, I had played through high school and did have some success. I was badly mistaken. He took the serve first. I bounced on the balls of my feet waiting for the serve and before I knew what happened, it had already come and gone by me for the ace! He won in straight sets while I didn’t score a point! We both had a good laugh and I promised myself to never do that again. We spent a lot of time talking and sharing with one another. After some time, I asked him how he could be beaten. He said, “Really my only weakness is to lob the ball to the far court and my backhand.” I was never able to do that consistently, but when I did, I was able to get to the net and score a few points. Have you noticed that is what the devil does with us. He looks for our weaknesses, and when he finds them, where do you think he starts lobbing the temptations? This was Samson's problem. Because he was such a formidable adversary, he thought no one could ever take him down. So his enemies were clever and found Samson's vulnerability. Every time Delilah asked him the question of the source of his strength, she got a little closer to the truth until one day. Finally, he told her the secret of his strength. So what do you think happened? He fell asleep in her lap. Talk about sleeping with the enemy. He took a one-way trip to Delilah's Barber Shop. He woke up with a bad haircut and no strength. He didn’t even know it was gone until he went to fight the Philistines. Funny how pride blinds us to the absence of the Lord in our lives; we become so sure of ourselves, we abandon the only real Source of strength. If that’s where you find yourself today, turn back to him. Like Samson you can be restored!

The Mask of the Lone Ranger

In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops. (Luke 12:1-3 ESV). When I was younger I remember both listening to the radio show and later watching the television show of The Lone Ranger. It was based on a series of books by Zane Grey, one of the most prolific of Western writers. He, and his faithful friend and companion, Tonto, would always arrive in the nick of time to save the day. He wore a mask to hide his identity, which would lead to the famous question, “Who was that masked man?” as he rode off into the sunset as he shouted to his horse "Hi ho, Silver… away!" It was a great show. A mask was necessary for the Lone Ranger to protect his identity. However, Jesus warned us about hiding behind a mask, or pretending to be someone we are really not. In our reading today he uses a word which means "to hide behind a mask." It is “hypocrisy.” In Greek theater of that day, actors would hold masks in front of their faces when they were playing a part. Hypocrisy was simply trying to be someone you're really not. Perhaps Jesus gave this warning at this time, because the disciples might have been tempted either to gain popularity by pleasing the crowds or to avoid trouble by pleasing the scribes and Pharisees. This is a part of our human nature. We want to be accepted. We want to fit in. So Jesus said, "Be careful. Don't be a hypocrite." Notice that Jesus said, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Leaven is yeast, which is a rising agent. It is something that works in secret with penetrating power, starting small and working its way through our lives. That is why we must carefully guard against it. Little things inevitably lead to big things. Often we will rationalize a sinful act, telling ourselves it's just one time. But that one thing ultimately leads to other things. Today, can the question be asked of you, "Who was that masked man?" or "Who was that masked woman?" Fear may cause us to back down on what we believe, especially in the presence of others who don't hold the same views. It might cause us to put on a mask, so to speak. But remember what Jesus said. Be real. And don't be a hypocrite. Be gentle and kind, but stand firm in the faith you have been called to live out each day. Be real and there will never be a need for a mask!