Encountering God: Paying the Price of Usefulness

She had all the reason in the world to hate him, but she loved him, and here is how it started - - forgiveness.   I doubt we can truly understand the brand of forgiveness and love and grace this little slave girl gathered and extended to such a man.  We have spoken of his evil already in earlier posts – he was a monster who wronged her and her family and her people  – yet she forgave him!  She loved him!  She sought his healing and comfort and well-being!  “Oh – if only my master….“ she said pleadingly.  She loved her enemy.  She desired that Naaman would be made well

When we are hurt we are confronted with some options in how we might respond.  One way that we might respond is to make those who have hurt us pay by hurting them until we have extracted the payment due for the harm they have caused us.  Another way we might respond is to forgive and to love.

Again – if we are carefully observant, we see how this girl is like our Jesus – she reminds us that forgiveness is costly – she willingly paid the price of forgiveness.   But look at what the cost she paid made of her, it turned her in to a vessel most useful to purposes of God.  This servant of the LORD paid the cost of usefulness, she died to her anger and desires for vengeance – and God used her!  There is no way we may be useful to the purposes of God until we have died to all our wishes, prerogatives and rights. She deserved to see vengeance exacted upon the man – bust she gave that up – she paid the price, and thus - she was useful!  This little slave girl was used powerfully in the cause of the Gospel in Naaman’s life.  This little slave girl willingly shared in the suffering of her own savior as she forgave Naaman just as Jesus forgives sinners.

Oh how beautiful this little slave girl was!  And how powerfully useful to the purposes of her God!  And does this little suffering servant not point us to the ultimate Suffering Servant who accomplished the grand purposes of God to encounter and redeem a sin-sick, diseased people, healing and restoring and blessing people who deserve no such graciousness?

Encountering God: "...only if..."

II Kings 5:2: The Syrians, on one of their raids, had carried off a little girl from the land of Israel and she worked in the service of Naaman’s wife.  She said to her mistress, “If only my master would go to see the prophet who is in Samaria.  He would cure him of leprosy.”

We return to the beginning of the narrative concerning Naaman to visit again these words spoken by a little Jewish girl - - “If only….” 
The profundity of these words are understood best with the realization of who she is, and who Naaman was.  Let us begin with Naaman.  He was the military and political leader who assaulted Israel.  He was a vicious – terrible man – an evil man who committed great atrocities against the people of God.  He was certainly a man who deserved not a single good thing from God ,  rather he was a man who deserved punishment, suffering, death.  It seems right and just that such a man should contract leprosy and slowly suffer the indignities of that disease until finally and painfully, he is dead.

And then there is the girl, a slave girl.  She is a girl that likely saw the brutal attack on her people and the murder of her family.  She is a girl that suffered the fate of becoming a slave to the very monster who was responsible for all that was inflicted upon her.   It would have made more psychological sense to me if upon hearing and seeing the effects of Leprosy upon this ogre, that she would have said not “only if….” but “let him suffer and die.” 

The man who deserved nothing but her vitriol is the object of her compassion.  She loves him, she loves her enemy!  And oh how precious, and beautiful - - -  and - like my Jesus she is – because when I was a flagrant, murderous sinner – when I was the great enemy of the LORD – Jesus loved me!  Had this little girl not loved Naaman, none of the narrative of his saving encounter with God would never have happened.  Had Jesus not loved you and I sinful enemies of God, the narrative of our saving encounter with God, likewise, would not have happened.  Though I was an enemy of God – still – Jesus loved me!

As Naaman was a representative of a sinful humanity, receiving grace and forgiveness and healing by the sheer grace of GOD, so is this little slave girl is a type of Jesus – extending grace and mercy and healing to a sin stained wretch that did not deserve what he received.

Encountering God: Redeeming Our Employment (And Everythng Else) For the Glory of GOD.

“Could I have some earth?”  In II Kings 19 verse 17, Naaman makes a rather bazaar request, he says, “Let there be given your servant two mules load of earth, for from now on your  servant will not offer burnt offering or sacrifice to any God but the LORD.”

To understand the meaning behind this request, let us remember the official capacity in which Naaman served his own nation; he was what we would today understand to be the Prime Minister.  As a part of that official capacity, he would participate in ceremonies of state that included worship of the false Gods of Syria.  This placed Naaman in a rather difficult quandary, how can he remain faithful to the God he has encountered, the God who has saved him and restored him and still continue in his employment for the state?  The answer lies in that dirt that he asked for.  Those two mule loads contained the soil of Israel.  Every time Naaman would be called to attend his official functions of state, and when those functions were accompanied by deference to the false Gods of Syria, Naaman would pour some soil in that place, and kneel upon the soil of Israel, so that all around would know that he worships the Only True God – the God of the Jews – The LORD God of Israel. 

The God of Israel is now central to everything Naaman would now do.  Naaman integrated his faith with his secular employment.  This is important for we who work in secular employments.  We can make – even secular places – a holy place, by honoring God.  We can redeem our jobs for the glory of Christ!  And not only our jobs, but every place in which we live and serve and play and learn, can be a place where we integrate our faith and become a witness for God.

It may be a difficult place, with difficult challenges, but you are there as an influence for God and as a demonstration of HIS holiness before others.  Separation from the world does not mean to remove ourselves from it, it means to live separated unto God in all holiness and righteousness within it, testifying that God is central to everything you do.

Encountering God: A Changed Attitude Toward Position, Prestige, Power and Possessions

Naaman is thankful, and he offers a gift, II Kings 19:15; “So now accept a gift from your servant.”  Naaman no longer sees his items as leverage with God, or as items to buy his miracle or earn his healing.  His view of position, power, possessions has changed.  A mark of a genuine encounter with God is evidenced by what it is that you place your hope in.  Before such an encounter, it is you power, your prestige, your position, your possessions that you look to for security and assurance, but after such an encounter, it is only God.  How amazing it is when you have realized there is no God in all the earth like the God of Israel.  Worldly things offer only band-aids for the wounds resulting from the Leprosy of our souls, but God heals perfectly and entirely, restoring to the uttermost.

The true health and wealth gospel is to possess, not things or titles, but God Himself through Jesus!  Our only true hope is that God loves us and that we will worship and glorify and enjoy Him forever!  And the only true security is that He loves me and that I am going to live with Him forever.  And the only real significance is that God loves me and I am going to live with Him forever.  And suddenly all the procurements of this world pale in  comparison to all that we have in Christ!

A sign of a genuine encounter with God is a change of attitude toward things.  Now God is your hope, your security, your worth - - not money, not possessions, not titles, but God!

Encountering God: A New Grasp on Truth

Naaman says, in II Kings 5:15; “Now I know there is no God in all the earth but in Israel.”  That statement indicates a major change in Naaman’s world-view, it is a truth he did not believe before.  A changed mind is evidence of a genuine encounter with God.

Naaman has a new set of beliefs – he now believes there is One God.  God is not one among many, but is altogether “other.”  “I Am the LORD your God . . . . I AM holy . . . I Am the LORD  . . . .  I Am holy” (Leviticus 11:44-45 and 19:2)  Contrary to all Naaman’s instinctive preconceptions about God and the ways of God, Naaman (and we) can know nothing of God, or His character or attributes, or ways – apart from the self-revelation of the One who is holy like no other (Exodus 15:11).  By the loving and gracious self-revelation of God, the unknowable is now known, and Naaman’s response to this new glorious truth was to confess – with awe and wonder – the unqualified singularity of God – “there is no God in all the earth but in Israel!”

Naaman, who was distant from God because of sin and disease is now brought near to God because of sheer grace.  Unhindered by the ruinous consequences of sin and its effect upon a fallen world lies the eternally potent purposes of God to redeem a people unto Himself and bless them.  And it is in His establishing such a blessed fellowship with sin-sick, diseased, rebellious persons like Naaman, and like me, and like you, that God is revealed in all his glory!

Moses asked to see the Glory of God and God told Moses of His own goodness and kindness – The glory of God is seen in the great measures He has taken to overcome the infinite distance between Himself and us.  And that is exactly what Naaman’s healing is a picture of, it is an illustration of God’s remedying our incapacity to stand in His presence because of sins appalling consequence by cleaning us, purifying us, and making us to know Him and His holiness and glory.   Now Naaman can sing!

There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel’s veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains.

The dying thief rejoiced to see
That fountain in His day;
And there have I, though vile as he,
Washed all my sins away.

Dear dying Lamb, Thy precious blood
Shall never lose its pow’r,
Till all the ransomed church of God
Are safe, to sin no more.

E’er since by faith I saw the stream
Thy flowing wounds supply,
Redeeming love has been my theme,
And shall be till I die.

Encountering God - You Are Not First Class Part Two

Encountering God - You're Not First Class! Christian, You Are not Even Middle Class!

"So he went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing."

The Gospel of Jesus Christ goes like this: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God."  Naaman must learn what this means, and so too must we.  You may wonder, "What do you mean when you say 'you must be poor to receive the kingdom?'"  Here is a Christian, A Christian is poor in spirit - "blessed are the poor. . ." That is the fist beatitude in the Sermon on the Mount.  It means literally "bankrupt."  It implies a debt so great that you have no hope of paying it - no way at all.

Naaman was not poor, at least not at first.  In fact most people are not poor in spirit, most people are middle class in spirit.  The middle class in spirit says, "I am not perfect, I certainly need a bit of help from God, to get through the hard stuff.  But I need only a little.  I am a good person and I do this good and that; and so far I have lived a pretty good life. But I do need a bit of help every now and then.  Just enough of God to get me through - please - thank you."

But this is not a Christian.  A Christian is poor - desperately poor!  A Christian has nothing, no leverage with God at all.  They are poor, bankrupt, and without hope.  A Christian must rely on charity, on grace; a Christian cries out, "Oh God! Is there mercy for me? is there mercy for me?

Naaman must have learned that an encounter with God happens in exactly the same manner for everyone - no matter who they are; it happens on God's terms!  His silver and gold were useless, God cannot be bought!  But this is unacceptable to the self-made--middle-class-man, and that is why Naaman was initially so angry, so insulted.  Anybody can take a bath!  Naaman wanted the expensive and difficult task to prove his worthiness, but he was not worthy, he needed grace.

Sometimes we want the hard thing so that we can earn our healing, or reward.  But in reality, the hardest thing in the world is to admit there is absolutely nothing you can do and nothing you can offer to earn anything from God  It will be by the sheer grace of God if Naaman is to encounter God and be healed.

Encountering God: God Does Not Accommodate Our Expectations

What is driving Naaman to God is suffering; he is literally falling apart.  He has leprosy and he is desperate.  What is also driving Naaman are some very bad misconceptions about God. What Naaman expects is that because of his position, his prestige, his power, his possessions, he will have his miracle - he will deserve it - but God will not accommodate his expectations.

When Naaman arrives before the King of Israel, the king cried out, "Am I God?" and then proceeded to tear off his clothes.  II Kings 5, verse 8 continues:  "Elisha - the man of God heard that the  king of Israel had torn his clothes and he said, 'why have you torn your clothes?  Let him (Naaman) come to me now that he may know.....'" what? "that there is a miracle worker in Israel?" No, "that there is a prophet in Israel." 

A Prophet is a preacher.  He is one who has heard the Word of God and faithfully proclaims that Word.  And the Word God has prepared in the heart of His Prophet is not at all what Naaman expected.  First, Naaman comes to Elisha and Elisha does not greet him, rather he sends his servant.  Secondly the servant gave Naaman a very strange command to go to the Jordon and wash.  Naaman is angry and leaves in a rage - why?  Because Naaman is insulted - this God of the Jews does not operate at all like Naaman expected.

Had the Prophet come out personally and greeted Naaman and waved his hands and said "achieve this nearly impossible task and you will have your healing,"  Naaman would have understood that and he would have mustered all that was left of him to accomplish it.  Then Elisha could have waved his hands, made some invocation and Naaman would be healed.  That would have made sense to Naaman - that is religion he would have understood - a grace that is earned, but that is not the way of God.

Encountering God: Realizing The World Cannot Help You

“He (Naaman) takes with him ten talents of silver, ten thousand shekels of gold, ten changes of clothing, And he brought a letter from the king of Syria to the king of Israel.”  (II Kings 5:5,6)

What is Naaman doing?  Naaman is bringing his credentials, his money, all the evidences of his power and worthiness,  and he is going to the King of Israel to do - - what?  To buy his miracle!

In every other culture in the world at that time, the priests and the prophets all worked for the king because religion in every other society besides Israel supported the state.  And so Naaman thought by going to the king of Israel he was going to the one who could compel the Prophet of God to grant his healing!  But that was a lousy plan!  Because the God of Israel does not work for the King!

Our God is a transcendent God.  Our God is not a projection of culture.  Our God sits in judgment over all cultures.  He’s not just the God of Israel; He’s the God of the world.  He is not subject to a king.  Our God serves no man!

And look at what the king of Israel says - “Am I God?”  Am I God?”  The King of Israel was concerned, because he knows he can place no requirements upon the God of Israel to do his bidding.  And Oh that our kings and presidents and representatives and governors had the wisdom to ask such a question – Am I GOD! If we’re going to deal with our problems, if we’re going to deal with poverty, if we’re going to deal with racism, violence, and injustice – our political leaders would be so very wise to say, “I can do a lot of good but I can’t give you what only God can give you.  The solution to most of our problems is a new heart! And only God can give you a new heart.”  And that is exactly what The God of Israel will soon give to Naaman; but for now, there is a lesson for us at this point of the Narrative.

We want a fresh encounter with God, what might we do?  In order that we may encounter God - we must realize the world has no lasting solutions to our ills. We must come to see the limits of what books and politicians and preachers and lawyers can do.  Yes – they can do much good, but we must come to the realization that only God can provide us with what we truly need!  We must go prayerfully to the Only One who can give us a new heart - - and that is our God, through Christ, by the recreating work of the Holy Spirit.  Do you want to experience an encounter with God?  Realize the World cannot help you and humbly approach the Throne of Grace where sits the Only One who can!

Encountering God: Getting Rid of the Illusion of Self-Sufficiency

“Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.”  If we are to have an encounter with God, we must be rid of the illusion of self-sufficiency.  And guess what?  It is inevitably going to happen.  Here’s what you have with Naaman. He’s got everything.  Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Syria; Naaman was an important political authority; Naaman was a mighty man of valor.  Naaman was a conquering military hero - - Naaman - - -  became a leper.  BOOM!  The illusion of self sufficiency was decimated by a terrible disease.

And this will ultimately happen to all of us.  I do not care how powerful you are, how smart you are, I don’t care how much money you have – you are bound at some point to be confronted with something bigger than you are, something you cannot scheme out of, something you have no control over , and that something is going to demonstrate that you are truly not sufficient in and of yourself.  Chronic illness, personal betrayal, financial reversals - no amount of power or money can stop those things from happening.  Life is so fragile, so easily broken, so prone to come crashing down all around!

Naaman, was brought to that truth by a terrible disease, Leprosy, and that disease was in fact the blessing that started him along with his very first step toward an encounter with God.  And it is a first step for you and I today – we must be getting rid of the illusion of self-sufficiency.

Encountering God

Naaman was a Syrian general.  He was essentially the Prime Minister of Syria.  He was the commander in chief of the army.  He was a man who was extremely wealthy, he was extremely successful, he was extremely sophisticated, and he was an accomplished politician.  II Kings 5 tells us about this great man – it says, ““Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the Lord had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but . . . . ”  But there was a great problem, Naaman was a leper.

Leprosy is a terrible disease, it is tragic, debilitating, it makes its victims exiles, social outcasts – leprosy is a terrible thing to happen to a person.  But leprosy was the bane that God used as a blessing – Naaman, needed an encounter with God, and God used leprosy to make that happen.

It has been the hard things of my life that has taught me the best lessons..  It was the hard thngs of my life that taught me the foolishness of putting my hope in things that are not God. It has been the hard things in life that has brought me to a place where I have encountered God  As I said in an earlier post, when all else is purged away, I have God!

These next few posts I want to think more deeply about the means and blessings of a true encounter with God.  To do that, we will unpack the narrative centering around this man Naaman, and as we do – I am hoping that we will see in his story the things that pave the way to an encounter with God.

May I give you an assignment?  Why not read II Kings 5:1-19 and then follow along as we glean from this rich story insight for our learning so that we will know how we may be positioned to encounter God.

Are You Religious?

I am a bit leery of those who speak badly of religion, so I approach that subject gingerly, and respectfully.  I am not convinced religion is the evil it seems by so many to be.  Having said that - I confess there are certainly elements of "religion" that are troubling.  Most troubling is religion that focuses on the idea that you must live a life that is pleasing to God so that you may win His favor.  This idea is a fundamental error in all religions around the world.  Earning favor is not a tenet of the Christian religion, it is a false religion.

Jesus says the opposite: The blessing of God belongs to those who know they cannot win His favor; Matthew 5:3: "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."  Poverty of spirit brings a surprising blessing - a place in the Kingdom of God.

The Gospel turns religion on its head.  Many religions, including those in the Christian faith say, "Live a life that earns the favor of God."  That is not the attitude that gains such favor, that is not the true Christian faith, that is not the way of the Gospel.  The Gospel says "receive God's favor through Christ crucified, so you may begin and pursue a life in the power of the Spirit that is pleasing to God." 

The key is that we must see that we are not righteous, the Bible says there is none who are righteous, "no not one!"  So then, where is our hope?  Our hope is Christ, He alone is our righteousness, he alone is our sanctification, He alone is our Hope!

Do you want a place in the Kingdom of God - then be poor in spirit - understand your poverty - know that there is nothing about you that merits such a blessing, and you will have been properly positioned to receive the blessing of the Kingdom.  This is the brand of heart that gains the favor of the Father, "Blessed are the meek. . . Blessed are the Poor . . . . "

What the Holy Spirit Does

Did you know the Holy Spirit is given to you so that you may have wisdom to apply the Word of God?  As the Word of God is being faithfully taught and preached, the Holy Spirit provides unique application that fits exactly your need.  Immature Christians often want to be spoon fed, they want the bottom line, they want the take away, they want a list of things to do. When the preacher reduces the application to a list of things to do, it obscures the unique way in which God speaks to us as individuals.  Only God can do that by the Holy Spirit.  God is not in the franchise business, he is in the business of raising sons and daughters with unique needs and concerns.  God desires that we learn to hear the Word and develop a capacity to apply it and to respond to it according to the direction and power of the Holy Spirit.

Preaching the Word of God is an act of faith that flows from the conviction that God speaks best and most clearly through His Word.  I would dare not preach if I did not believe the Holy Spirit is able to apply The Word in the hearts of His people in ways I have never thought of. 

Hearing the Word of God is also an act of faith in which you ask the Holy Spirit to show you how the Word applies to the circumstances and needs of your life.

Do you want to understand the Bible better?  Do you want to know how to live a life most pleasing to the Father?  Do you wish to be conformed more and more and more to the image and character of Jesus?  Then you must come to the Word; You must read and study it; You must listen to the Word as it is faithfully taught and proclaimed each Sunday; You must come in faith and your faith will be increased as the indwelling Holy Spirit open your heart to the precepts of the Word and directs your paths in obedience to the Word.

Love One Another.

Our love for one another - in the context of the church - is the telltale sign of our salvation, it is the evidence of our being disciples of Jesus Christ.  John said in I John 3:14, "We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers.  Whoever does not love abides in death.

The love of the early church for one another provided a sweet, inner self-authentication that  that gave assurance to their standing before God.  Their love also announced to the world that their faith was real as noted in John 13:35, "By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Christians are to practice brotherly love.  Inwardly, this requires that we consider the implications of our shared adoption; we truly are brothers and sisters in Christ, and those terms are more than sentimental notions.  They are objective facts demonstrated by active watch-care over each other and by serving needs within our faith community as they arise.

It is a cliché to many, but to those truly in the faith, the saying "we are family" is a genuine reality.  We are family and we will remain brothers and sisters even after the earth melts away and the sun is no more.  So let us please The Father by dwelling together now - in unity and love.  Our status as family in Christ is truly an eternal bond to be treasured and protected.  We must will to say and to do only those things that enhance our love for one another for the sake of the Gospel.

Christian love is not an option - Jesus said, "This is my commandment, that you love one another, that your joy may be full."  

Monday Morning Thoughts about Church

The mystery of God's grace is that through the humble proclamation of the Gospel, God shines saving light into the human heart.  Paul said in Romans 10:14: "How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?"  Jesus said in John 12:32, "As I am lifted up, I will draw people to myself." 

As much as I enjoy singing and praying and serving and fellowship, I am convinced that it is the faithful preaching of The Bible that defines a gospel-centered church; a gospel centered church is where the unique glory of Christ is held up before the eyes of sinful man through the faithful exposition of all the council of Scripture. 
It troubles me that churches are described, not by faithfulness to the text and meaning of the scriptures, but to the style of the "worship."  In fact, it troubles me that we do not seem to believe that the preaching of the Word of God is worship.  But it is!  In fact, it is the centerpiece of worship! 

John Piper said this, and I can say it no better so I quote him at length:  "In the same way that a melody can awaken us to the true beauty of God in the lyrics of a worship song, so the spiritual music of the preacher's soul can awaken the people to the glory of the preached truth of God. When the Word comes worshiping, it will beget worship. When preaching is not just expository but expository exultation-that's my definition of preaching-it will move the hearers, and it will engage the heart with the presence and glory of God."

To me (Aaron) - preaching that glorifies God by glorifying His son; preaching that speaks of the truth of our sin; preaching that highlights the redemptive measures of the gracious offering of Christ on the cross to pay the debt of our sin; that is the kind of preaching that  will engender thankfulness and Christ exalting worship in its hearers!

Have you heard the joyful sound?  Jesus saves! Jesus saves! Does that not make your heart sing! 

A Bruised Reed He Will not Break - - Why Would We?

Jesus said in Matthew 12:20:  "A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out."  Do you hear the gentleness of Jesus in those words?  This Jesus says of those who have little faith, and His words deal gently with their struggle.  Since Jesus deals gently with those with weak faith, should we not also?  Romans 14:1 says "Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters."  And now I Thessalonians 5:14: "Warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone."  There is none without sin, without moments of doubt and faithlessness and distrust - however much we grow in the Christian life, such struggles remain.

Young Christians, immature Christians, erring Christians, they really need our gentleness to correct, direct and encourage them in their spiritual journey so they may grow to maturity in Christ.  Jesus said He would not snuff out such weal and struggling Christians - so why would we.  Let us be sure that we are building up one another in the faith, encouraging one another ever onward toward Christ-likeness.

Shout for Joy!

I wonder what shift would occur if our quest for happiness became a quest for joy; deep, lasting, joy.  Often the search for joy is masqueraded by relentless acts of happiness, one after another after another.  Is there a difference between happiness and joy?  Yes.  To dig deeply into the desires of the heart, one will soon find that happiness just is not enough.  Happiness comes and happiness goes.  Happiness never seems to rise to the anticipated level of satisfaction.  Happiness is an unfaithful companion.

I wonder, if in our relentless pursuit of happiness, we are selling out for something less-than-wholly-true.  The American dream is not all that we expect.  That perfect person has some annoying traits.  The hot car just does not deliver all the thrill the salesman promised.  Can we truly know Joy?  I hope so!  And this is why Psalm 33 is so compelling.  There is absolutely no mistaking the joy of the Psalmist as he proclaims loudly, "Shout for joy in the Lord, O you righteous!"  This joy is wholly true, and it is a brand of joy for which we all long.  But how?

The answer is found in verse 21 of Psalm 33:  "For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name."  This is Joy!  Joy is to trust in His holy name - He who simply is.  This is Joy!  That He, the Great I Am, will finish all that He began in His great, wise plan of redemption.  This is Joy! That He, in Christ, will graciously transform our feeble attempts at happiness by lavishing upon us so much more of Himself - - His grace, His Truth, His Love - - forever!  "Shout for Joy in the Lord, O you Righteous!"

Bright Hope For Tomorrow

God has made a promise, and that promise is the basis of all our hope, and that hope is this, in the end, we win!  I suppose that is actually an incorrect statement, because we need not wait for the end, for the victory that Jesus won is already given us; we have already won!  It matters little what happens here, we win, Jesus is coming, and when he comes, He will come as victor and judge and as the Lord of all.

I remember a story of a young shoe shine boy.  He was shining a well known preachers shoes one day.  And the boy had his Bible open, and the preacher took note of it and asked the boy, "Son, what are you reading there?"  The boy answered, "The Bible."  The conversation progressed like this:

Preacher: What are you reading in your Bible?

Boy: Revelation

Preacher: Really, Revelation huh?  That is very rigorous, do you understand it?

Boy: Yes-sir

Preacher: Oh son, what a presumptuous young man you are.  Do you not realize that scholars have been seeking to understand that book and there is much debate as to what it means, and you say you have it all figured out?

Boy:  I think it is simple sir.

Preacher: What then does it mean young man?

Boy:  WE WIN!

That boy humbled a haughty preacher, because he is exactly correct!  We win, that is what the book of Revelation means.  Our Bright Hope for Tomorrow is that Christ has secured a victory over every foe, every trial, every disappointment and every sin.

We win!

Blessings All Mine, and Ten Thousand Beside!

We have these past several posts gleaned much hope from the Hymnist Thomas Chisholm and his song "Great is Thy Faithfulness," and we conclude today with the last words of that third stanza: "Blessings all mine, and ten thousand beside."  Chisholm's song reminds us of five great privilege's that give us hope and comfort and cause to praise God for His faithfulness, and you know what?  We can name ten thousand more!

Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!

Morning by morning new mercies I see:

Al I have needed Thy hand hath provided,

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Strength for Today

What does Paul pray for believers in Ephesians 1? "That you would be strengthened according to the power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead."

 

The power that is at work in you, strengthening you, is the same power that raised Jesus Christ from out of that tomb. When you begin asking yourself "Lord, is there a power that can subdue my sin?" "Father, is there strength for me to endure this trial?"  "Lord is there hope for me as I face this health crisis?" Is there hope for my failing marriage, my erring children, is there mercy for me, Oh, Lord!?" Paul's answer is ‘The power that is at work in believers is the same power which raised Jesus Christ from the dead.' It is a sin conquering, trial conquering, even a death-conquering power! Therefore believers can be confident that the One who is at work in us is greater than anything in this world, because that One who is at work in us has already raised our Savior from the dead.

There is no opposing force in the universe over which Christ has not conquered.  There is no trial or temptation through which the Spirit of God is not sufficient to guide us through.  But let us be careful, this is not a strength that is innate, rather it is a strength from which we draw - we draw it by means of prayer.  It was a matter of prayer for Paul on behalf of the readers of his epistle, and it thus must be a matter of prayer by believers.  "Oh what peace we often forfeit.  Oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer."  By prayer we know the Presence and Power that we may have strength for all that we face.

Presence to Cheer and to Guide

David said, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."  How was David able to sense the nearness of God in the midst of his dark night of the soul?  The secret was that David remembered and thought deeply about the character of God.  Jeremiah does this as well.  Lamentations 3:23 says, "This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope."  and what follows is a list of attributes that describe the character and faithfulness of God.

We cannot know God unless God reveals Himself.  An attribute of God is a characteristic of God that He has chosen to reveal about Himself.  And God reveals His attributes in two manners; first, and most faithfully, in His word.  Secondly, by every way He guides us through trial and temptation.

How do we know the presence of God? Only through His word and through His faithfulness in the midst of trial and temptation.  William Cowper addresses this well in his hymn, "God Moves in Mysterious Ways."

“God moves in a mysterious way

His wonders to perform;

He plants His footsteps in the sea

And rides upon the storm 

Deep in unfathomable mines

of never failing skill

He treasures up His bright designs

and works His sovereign will.

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,

but trust Him for His grace;

behind a frowning providence

He hides a smiling face.”

The providence of God is often surprising, often unfathomable; yet that same providence is always utterly reliable and sure. The Promise of Gods Own Dear Presence to Cheer and to Guide is a vital truth that we need to get a firm and clear grasp of because hard trials are inevitable in our Christian lives.

A Peace that Endures

Peace is a gift of God and the peace which flows from God surpasses all understanding.  It transcends every trial and hurt and abuse and abandonment; it is a peace, as Chisholm says, "that endureth."  The Peace that we receive from the gracious mercies of the Father is the Son Himself - it is Christ who is our peace.  Paul said of Jesus, "For he himself is our peace. . . . "  Jesus said, in Johns Gospel, on the very night of His betrayal, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world."

Take careful note however of what exactly Jesus said.  This peace is not based upon the absence of trial and tribulation in the world.  These we will have, even in our redemption and salvation.  But it is a peace that rises above every dark night and fiery trial, because Jesus Himself has arisen out of and above the greatest of threats to our peace, death itself! 

So we can have this peace.  In the midst of our greatest difficulty and hurt, it is present.  It is present, because our Peace is Christ, and Christ abides with every Child of God, called and saved according to His will and purposes.  It IS a peace that endures.  It IS a peace that passes understanding.