Faith Comes By Hearing

His name is "Bill" and I met him while on vacation recently. Like a reptile seeking a warm rock in the sun, I had purposefully gone outside of the place where we were staying to sit in the warm southern sun where I was going to spend some time with the Lord. I arranged my chair on the narrow sidewalk facing east on this beautiful morning. I had my Bible in hand and was reading away when a screen door next door opened up and out walked a man that I guessed to be in his late sixties or early seventies. He had a full head of frosty white hair and an equally white beard. He had come to find out who I was since he did not recognize me as part of the family that owned the place next to him. When I explained how it is that I had come to stay there he seemed satisfied enough with my answer. Evidently I knew enough about the owners to convince him that I wasn't a "squatter" or a transient. I introduced myself and he extended his hand and said, "My name is "Bill"." Bill" had the gift of gab and I learned quite a bit about his life. He'd had a medical issue when in his 50's and had retired early. To my surprise "Bill" is 80 years old. For the past thirty years he has been traveling south for the winter, running errands with buddies in the mornings and spending the afternoons drinking at the local lodge. He knew what day it was based upon what "beer and wings" specials were offered that day. We chatted about many subjects except the one subject that I knew I should be talking about--"Bill's" spiritual condition. I could sense the nudging of the Spirit to touch on the subject of spiritual matters, but I rationalized them away. "Others were waiting on me inside and we had plans for the day and I had been talking for quite some time and I didn't want the others to blame me for getting a late start on our day's activities." It didn't take long for my cowardice to convince me that it was time to leave. I politely excused myself and went inside still battling on the inside with my failure to speak the truth in love, to take the opportunity to share of Christ and His love with someone who appeared to me to be a very lost soul. I felt miserable, confessed my sin and asked the Lord for one more chance to speak with "Bill" so I could share the gospel with Him. The next day we would be leaving so the window of opportunity for me to see and then speak with "Bill" was very narrow. I kept praying off and on through the day for a chance tomorrow. Tomorrow arrived and God graciously answered my prayer. I saw it as a divine appointment that "Bill" came out onto the sidewalk the next day. I tried to speak with sensitivity and yet with boldness (Eph.6:18-20) of the hope that is within me. I was sowing the seed of the Gospel ignorant of what sort of soil it was falling on. But mine is only to sow the seed (Matthew 13)and let God take care of soil types. "Bill" wasn't overly receptive, but other people's responses is not something I can control. I was just rejoicing in God's mercy, grace, and goodness in giving me another opportunity. I may never see "Bill" again in my life, but by God's grace He has heard of man's sinfulness, Christ's perfect sacrifice on our behalf and our need to repent and trust Him. Paul reminds us in Romans 10:10-17 that right standing before God comes through faith in Christ and that faith comes by Hearing the Word of Christ. Unless we speak the word people will not believe.

Winter

Not sure why, but these words came to my mind a few days ago. I woke up this morning all ready to go. When I stepped outside it was 12 below. I decided it was a good day for some hot coco. I watched the sunlight glisten on the freshly fallen snow And then the wind began to blow. It's not pleasant outside, but two things I know, Spring is coming and God is in control.

God is In Charge

I've been reading the familiar story of Joseph's journey into Egypt (Genesis 37-50)and marveling at the work of God in the history of men. God gave Joseph as a gift to Isaac and Rebekah, a special son that Jacob Loved very much--remember the coat of many colors that caused his brothers to be jealous because they knew he was the favored son? The jealousy of his brothers caused them to sell Joseph into Slavery where he was purchased by the captain of Pharaoh's body guard in Egypt. In that home Joseph was blessed by God. The text actually says, "God was with him." Joseph was put in charge of everything in the captain's household. There Joseph was powerful, influential,and special. God is in Charge of Prosperity (Genesis 39). But things took a turn for the worse as Joseph was framed by Potiphar's wife and accused of making advances towards her when, in fact,it was she who repeatedly tempted Joseph to sin, but he refused. Next thing we know Joseph is "in the slammer." Went from being a hero to a heel instantaneously. Guess what? God is in Charge of Sad circumstances. While in prison "God was with Joseph" and he was put in charge of the other prisoners. You probably remember what happens next. The cup bearer and the baker for Pharaoh offended their master and were thrown in prison where they each had a dream and God revealed the interpretation of those dreams to Joseph. When the cup bearer was restored to Pharaoh he did not make mention of Joseph to the ruler and Joseph remained in prison 2 years. God is in charge of disappointments. Finally Pharaoh had a dream and God brought Joseph to Pharaoh. Joseph gave God credit for being able to interpret the dream and then Joseph was put in charge of Pharaoh's kingdom--God is in charge of prosperity. Later when Joseph encounters his brothers it is Joseph who states, "God sent me before you to preserve life" (Gen.45:5). God indeed used the circumstances to preserve Joseph and so many others, especially the line of Jacob. Pretty hard when we are blessed and when we are struggling to keep perspective that God is in Charge. He is in charge when things are going well and when we are really challenged. Joseph knew many times when he could have felt that God abandoned him, but through it all we see God's sovereign hand. A good lesson for us to learn as well. God is in Charge. When we don't understand and we can't trace His hand, trust His heart.

The State of the Union

The President gave the annual "State of the Union" address and most people have their opinions about what was said. My intent here is not to comment on what the President said, but share my own assessment of the "State of the Union." I see the State of the Union much as Paul described the Roman world in which he lived-- "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness...For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish hear was darkened...For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever Amen." (Ro.1:18,21,25). Just think about it for a moment. Paul's description fits America today--men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness and exchange the truth of God for a lie. If I were to use one word to describe the "State of the Union" I would use a word like "corrupt", "decadent", "ungodly", or "perverse." Deception, corruption, extortion, and exploitation abound in the lives of people personally and especially in the workings of our government. Justice is merely a buzz word and no longer an ideal. Perversion is celebrated. Murder of innocent children is sanctioned, supported, and defended as a "choice". Lack of personal responsibility is promoted and "entitlement" is encouraged. Laziness is encouraged and exceptionalism is discouraged. Robbery is government policy. At every turn attempts are made to "suppress the truth in unrighteousness" whether it is doping by professional athletes or what really happened in Benghazi. Now when I hold these realities up to the ideals of Scripture there is a serious disconnect. Much of what permeates the culture in America offends a Holy God and yet we press ahead in our perversion oblivious to God's displeasure. Romans 1:18 speaks of "the wrath of God...against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men..." Our country as a whole seems to me to be in a desperate state whereby we deserve God's wrath. In fact, the text of Romans 1:18-32 declares that those who live ungodly lives and exchange the truth of God for a lie are "given over to even greater perversions and ungodliness." It could very well be that as a country we have been "given over" (Ro.1:24,26,28)to increasing decadence, debauchery, and depravity. It could be that we have reached a point of no return, that we will continue to spiral downward into the cesspool of sin only to receive the full fury of God's wrath. I only know that God cannot be pleased with the deception, perversion, corruption, and wickedness that He sees in America. I recently finished Stephen Mansfield's book, "Lincoln's Battle with God" in which the author comes to the conclusion that at some point near the end of the civil war that Lincoln came to the understanding that God is in control of the affairs of men and that what happens in history is under the control of the Almighty. He also believes that Lincoln had an acute awareness that mankind is answerable to a holy and righteous God. Lincoln saw the Civil War as God's punishment on the nation for her evils (among which slavery ranked near the top). Finally, Mansfield believes that Lincoln grasped that God uses men in His working out of History. Lincoln came to believe that the real issue in the Civil War then was the need for America's Reconciliation with God...her Righteousness. That America was in the throws of a devastating Civil War as part of God's punishment for her national sins and only in repentance could the "ship of state" be righted again. Oh, that the wisdom of Lincoln would prevail again in America. I pray that we will see ourselves in the throws of sin and in desperate need of repentance and the Lord's compassionate forgiveness. The answer for America lies not with a particular candidate, or political party, but in our soon, serious, and contrite return to the Almighty seeking His forgiveness. I hope the words of Isaiah 30:15 will not be uttered of us "...but you were not willing." For indeed, in repentance and rest we shall be saved and in quietness and trust is our strength.

God's Mercy

Just came off of a difficult wrestling match. No, I'm not in mid-life crisis trying to relive my youth by joining a wrestling club. My match was with the Lord. I'm not just getting older, I'm getting more foolish. Wrestling with the Lord??? Of course, I was wrestling with the Lord--my fallen nature wrestling with my new nature as redeemed in Christ. I had sinned and felt rather justified in my behavior. I reasoned that I had a right to be angry and to deal with the situation as I had in light of someone else's activity. It is the very kind of thing that Paul describes in Romans 7:14-25 when he says, "For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish" (7:19). If you are truly a child of God by grace through faith in Christ and if you are really honest you have also engaged in this futile wrestling match with the Lord. After a couple of days of fuming and feeling very self-righteous about it all, the Lord began to chip away at the wall of pride that I had erected to protect myself from having to admit that I really had sinned, that I was not in communion with the Lord, that I could continue in my current state to my own detriment. Pride is a very stubborn guest and does not leave without being thrown out of our lives. As I confessed and repented of my sin I felt as if I were dying and it was excruciatingly painful to let go of all of my rationalizations and justifications and focus on the reality of my own depravity in isolation from any other person involved in the situation. As the Lord did His surgery to extract my pride and refusal to acknowledge my own sinfulness before Him, a burden was lifted (See Psalm 32). Once I went to the offended party, confessed my sin and asked for forgiveness I was restored to fellowship with the Lord. This incident gave me a window into the depth of wickedness still present within me. I did see a wretched man longing to be delivered from "this body of death" (Romans 7) but was also reminded of God's mercy. "..You our God have requited us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us an escaped remnant" (Ezra 9:13). As Ezra leads a group of former exiles back to Jerusalem to re-establish the worship of God he is made aware of the wickedness of those left in Jerusalem who have intermarried. Ezra's statement in 9:13 and in 9:15 speak of God's mercy that does not give us what we fully deserve. God often treats us much better than our sinful lives deserve. Lord, help us to see more fully the extent of our depravity and appreciate more completely your great mercy. Lord help me to treat others with the same sort of mercy that you have extended to me.

Solid Foundations.

The conclusion to Jesus' "Sermon on the Mount" (Matthew 5-7)reminds us of the importance of not merely hearing the Word of God, but actually doing what God says."Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house upon a rock" (Mt.7:24). Jesus tells us that the wise person will listen to and do what He says. Lord help us to be doers of the word and not just hearers.

Facing Persecution

God's work has always met with opposition and we certainly live in a day where that opposition seems to be increasing. The apostles Peter and John provide us with a great example in Acts 4:19-20. After being told to not to speak or teach any more in the name of Jesus they told ruling Council, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking what we have seen and heard." They were committed to obey God rather than men regardless of the consequences. We can't know our response in any given situation, but we can pray for God's grace to respond with this same kind of devotion.