According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary this word is obsolete, but the definition is, “the quality or state of being clear to the understanding : lucidity in expression or development of ideas.”
Today’s version of perspicuity would be “full transparency.” So, when I was prompted to write today on the question: “What’s the best advice you’d give to someone younger than you?” I would tell them to live a life of Perspicuity. They wouldn’t get it, because nobody uses this word anymore. They would look at me in their youthful way and say, “What are you talking about old man?” In the same way in which smart phones have replaced landlines, the English language has evolved. And don’t even get me started on the texting shorthand in usage today on all the “smart” devices. Even that sentence is absurd to me. Texting in shorthand? Really?
Everyone knows “LOL” means “Laughing out loud.” That’s an easy one. For everyone over 55 see if you can figure out these common shorthand abbreviations the “youths” (Yutes?) are using to communicate today…
NVM
SMH
TMI
ICYMI
RN
FOMO
YOLO
BFF
DM
BRB
OMG
LMK
TTYL
TBH
I think the last abbreviation in this list is the most appropriate to discuss under today’s topic. TBH- “to be honest.”
Think about the phrase itself. “To be honest.” Does that mean everything up to this point in the conversation has been something less than honest? Have you been telling the truth so far? The ambiguity of the phrase itself boggles the mind. Which leads me back to my advice to those younger than myself.
My advice? Be authentically you. Be transparent. Live in perspicuity! Don’t use phrases like “to be honest.” Just be truthful in all your ways. Do the next right thing. Own your mistakes. Make lots of mistakes, so you can learn what not to do. Do not fear failure. Mistakes and failures are God’s way of shaping us and forming us into what He wants us to become. None of us are perfect. Own this too.
My second piece of advice is to seek help for living from the life giver Himself. God has created you uniquely you. You don’t have to be someone else, you just have to be you. And God’s WORD is another great example of Perspicuity. In every way possible the Bible is forthcoming with the Truth of what God wants you to know about Him. From the very beginning statement all the way to the last, God tells humanity His thoughts about life. He reveals Himself in His attributes and activities. He defines what love looks like on a grand scale. The Book, which includes 66 different works by different authors, explains with complete transparency, everything we humans need to know to live honestly, humbly, and lovingly among the other human companions who cross our paths.
Finally, the thing I love about the Word of God is that God never begins any statement with “To be honest…”
He doesn’t because He isn’t holding anything back. He gives it to us straight!
What if the myth purported by atheist around the world was in fact not a myth at all? What if the story of a creature so resplendent with beauty, so powerful in stature, so gifted in speech, became so self-possessed that he and a third of the heavenly angels rebelled against their Creator? What if there was a being known as the DayStar, Son of the Dawn?
As the story goes DayStar decided to ascend to the heavens and raise his own throne above the stars of God. He decided to sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north. He said to himself, “I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High!” What if the story is true?
Well, boys and girls, that would mean two things. Bad news, and good news. Let’s talk about the bad news first and get that out of the way.
Bad News
DayStar was punished for these self-aggrandizing decisions. The Creator brought him down. Literally. The Creator responded this way:
“But you will be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit. Those who see you will stare; they will ponder your fate: Is this the man who shook the earth and made the kingdoms tremble, who turned the world into a desert and destroyed its cities, who refused to let the captives return to their homes?“
DayStar, Son of the Dawn, is none other than the serpent walking through the same Garden in Eden where God the Creator had placed the first couple. While he is described as a serpent which means snake to modern thinkers, the name indicates more his character than the attributes of physical appearance. We know this because only after the Creator judges the events that transpired there do we see Daystar no longer able to walk among humans but slithering along the ground forever. Once a renowned angel of light, Satan has been reduced to eat the dust of the earth which he now inhabits.
Remember what he said to the woman in the Garden? “Did God really say, You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” Read this question filtered through a modernist lens and you hear, “What if you wouldn’t die? What if it isn’t true?”
See, this is the crux of human history in a nutshell. God’s Sovereignty is always on display all around us. The universe itself and all of nature scream at us to understand the concept of a Creator. But the LIAR, the Daystar, Son of the Dawn, Satan himself never yells. He whispers in that insipid conspiratorial tone, barely breathing into our minds, and causes us to say it with our voices, “What if…?”
In fact, this vile creature attempts to do the same thing with his own Creator that he does with us. One day he waltzes into the very throne room of heaven, him and his henchmen who followed him in rebellion against the Creator. The LORD of heaven says, “Where have you come from?”
The quick reply, “From roaming through the earth, and walking back and forth in it.” Funny isn’t it, even after being cursed to slither, he still thinks he’s walking.
The Creator wants to make a point, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one on earth like him, a man who is blameless and upright, who fears God and shuns evil.”
Satan smirks. “You’ve placed a hedge on every side around him… you bless his work… give him everything. But what if you stretch out your hand and take it all away… surely he will curse You to Your face?
The point here is that Satan’s MO never changes. He lies. His sole purpose for existence seems to be deluding those who doubt God’s existence, while causing God’s true followers to doubt that God means what He says. The DayStar’s sole, deeply entrenched strategy is two words, “What if?”
Good News
Way back in the Garden, when God watched the events unfold between the Serpent and the First Couple, as Creator, He made good on the instructions He had given the man, Adam. However, in hindsight, given to us by the Author of Truth, we understand that God tempered his anger at their disobedience, offering Grace and Mercy in letting them live. Yet, His judgment was still brutal in that they would no longer walk and talk with their Creator in the Garden. They were cast into a world where it would become survival of the fittest. At least this is how most historians view the history of mankind. In reality, it is the story of survival of those who will continually place their trust in the Creators direction and provision for their lives.
The Old Testament becomes a historical record of God choosing individuals, then a nation to serve Him as His representatives of grace, mercy, and light. God calls Light-bearers to serve him and bless the nations. The Creator told the DayStar, “Because you have done this, cursed are you… on your belly will you go… eating dust forever… you and the woman will always be at war until… her seed crushes your head.“
Daystar thought the Creator a fool when the Bright Morning Star hung on the cross. Not to be confused with Daystar who sought to usurp God’s authority, The Bright Morning Star emptied Himself, “…, having taken the form of a servant, having been made in the likeness of men… humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Oh how the DayStar laughed in that moment. Then something changed.
Word came to DayStar of an event so shocking it wreaked terror throughout every fiber of his being. Bright Morning Star was not dead… He is ALIVE! Satan and his minions shrieked in agony at the truth of it all. The course of all human history had been reshaped by the obedience of the Bright Morning Star. Now DayStar’s destiny was determined for all eternity. Bright Morning Star had battled for the souls of mankind and became victorious through death, by coming back to life.
The Good NEWS is that every human being has the opportunity right now to decide which to believe. DayStar or the Bright Morning Star. DayStar is a liar, deceiver, tempter whose only message is “What if all the Morning Star says is a lie? What if the Creator is holding out on you? What if you’re really all alone in this God-less world? Trust me, I can help you navigate the pit.”
On the other hand, the Bright Morning Star’s message is always the same. “Come to me, and I will give you life.”Not a life of materialism. Not a life with no problems. Not a life with no pain or suffering. The life I offer you is peace and joy now, and eternal everlasting life in my own home… heaven.”
Atheist of note have all said they know the truth, and there is no Creator. There is no God.
What if they are all wrong?
Read the stories for yourself. Allow God the Holy Spirit to speak truth into your heart and mind as you read the words. Ponder the truths you find there. Then decide for yourself, don’t let others decide for you. Especially not the DayStar!
Go get a Bible. Do it now. Here are the locations of the stories:
DayStar: Isaiah 14:12-14
The Serpent: Genesis 3:1-7
Job: Job 1:6-12
Morning Star: Revelation 22:16; John 10:10
I am happy to chat with you offline about these truths. Just email me.
Does God’s ability to use someone mean God approves of everything that person does?
Are Spiritual gifting and spiritual maturity not the same thing?
Can God have a purpose for a person long before that person understands or fulfills it?
No, no, and yes.
God’s using someone specific or some specific action to accomplish His Sovereign Will is not tied in anyway to His blanket approval of all that person does. How do I know this? Because every human being that has ever lived or will ever live is flawed. We sin. We make mistakes. We make poor or bad choices. And while God allows us the freewill to make these choices, He does not negate or cancel the consequences of our choices. When He uses us in spite of ourselves to accomplish some portion of His will either for us, for someone else, or for the world, this demonstrates God’s sovereignty to control the events directly related to His will on earth.
Spiritual gifts and spiritual maturity are definitely not the same thing. Just a quick read of the letters the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians should help us see this. In reality spiritual maturity is directly related to how closely aligned our will is to God’s will. Spiritual gifts is a whole other discussion. People often think gifts of the Holy Spirit relate only to vocational choices like preaching, teaching, singing, playing musical instruments etc. However, as it relates to the correlation of spiritual gifts to spiritual maturity, I would turn your attention to Paul’s list in Galatians.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ~Galatians 5:22-23
When the Holy Spirit of God transforms a human heart to exhibit all of these attributes of God into an individual life, then spiritual maturity is the by-product of that transformation.
And finally…
There is a little pamphlet that I used in college as a tool to have spiritual discussions with my classmates. It began with “God loves you, and has a wonderful plan for your life…”
The truth of God’s Sovereignty is that not one single person alive now, has ever lived, or will live, is on the planet by a random act of procreation. God has placed you here for a reason. We often don’t even get to know what the reason is. Sometimes we do. Most often we don’t. However, there are things we can know about the “why are we here question” though. The first is that you are here as a creation of God, to know Him and His great love for you. Exhibited in God the Son’s coming to reveal God the Father’s nature to humanity, the Son gave His own life, so that we might not just know who God is, but actually become part of His family forever.
The Control aspect of God’s Sovereignty is that He creates every human with the capacity to know Him, choose Him, love Him and serve Him. The Freewill aspect is that He doesn’t force you to choose Him or His will for you. Understanding this also brings spiritual maturity or spiritual immaturity. For those who are transformed by God the Holy Spirit when they accept Jesus the Son as their Savior, a lifetime of learning, growing, trusting and serving can take place. For those who shake their fist at God’s love and refuse His mercy, grace, and love often spend a large portion of their existence continually asking a “why” question that can only be answered, “Because He chose you, but you didn’t choose Him.”
If you want to know more about how to say yes to God’s mercy, grace, and love, I would like it if you would email me, and we can chat offline about these truths.
I was having a conversation this week with a friend about God’s Sovereignty. The idea in question was “Do I choose Jesus, or does Jesus choose me?” These are exactly the kind of questions which tickle my mind with excitement. Here’s my short, one-word answer. “Yes”. The Scripture to support this answer is Ephesians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.”
The wording of this verse is extremely rich with nuance which some eyes never see. People just read the words. But look closely at verse 3. There we find:
the Blessed ONE which is God the Father
who is also the ONE which sends the blessings
then the blessed ones, all Christ-followers
the blessings, all things spiritual
the location of the blessing, heaven
and the Agent of the blessing, Jesus the LORD
Wow! All that in one verse. Talk about word-smithing, the apostle Paul knew how to communicate! But a true Christ-follower needs to nail down all this information solidly in their hearts and minds for verse 4 to have full impact.
God created mankind with freewill, beginning with Adam and Eve. God the Father, the Creator, gave the first couple only one command. HE told them not to eat the fruit of a certain tree in the Garden (was it really an apple? how do you know?) God the Father expected them to choose to obey Him. He also told them what would happen if they didn’t. “…for on the day that you eat it you will certainly die.” There was a blessing in obedience, and a curse associated with choosing to disobey. But both of the first humans had the free will to choose.
Did that change when they left the Garden?
No. Here are just a few verses to demonstrate God the Father continues giving people a choice to serve Him, or serve themselves.
Deuteronomy 30:19 (Moses speaking for God to the Israelites) I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have placed before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants…
Joshua 24:15 (at the end of his life) If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served, which were beyond the Euphrates River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Matthew 23:37 (implies the people in Jerusalem had a choice) Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings… and you were unwilling.
Acts 4:11-12 (Peter talking to the people in Jerusalem at Pentecost 50 days later) He is the STONE which was rejected by you, the Builders, but which became the Chief Cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among mankind by which we must be saved.
YES! You really are free… to CHOOSE for Yourself
However, you should also know, the choice you make comes with ramifications. Making the wrong choice doesn’t free you from the unexpected consequences or the unintended results of your own choice. While making the right choice brings ultimate freedom which Jesus defined this way.
John 8:31-32 So, Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly My disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
So… does God choose us, or do we choose God?
Yes! From eternity past God has intended all along to give you the choice to believe in Him and become part of God’s family right here, and right now. The added benefit being eternal life and never being separated from God again. He chooses you! Now it’s up to you.
If you choose to believe in the claims of Jesus… that He gave His life for yours so that you could say yes to God’s grace, then you can become a part of God’s family today! He’s made His choice, now it’s up to you!
Want to know more?
If you want to know more about how to choose God, send me an email and we can chat privately about it. I’d love to hear from you!
Agreeing with the title of this article takes a certain amount of perspective. Which is sometimes hard to have when a person finds themselves in the throes of uncertainty, pain, or loss. When a loved one is lying in a hospital bed, when your sports season is over because you have a torn ACL, when the money runs out, when you hear those words you thought you’d never hear, “we’re finished”… it is hard to believe from any context, that there’s a “good” reason.
And yet, believing that there is a good reason depends mostly on which foundations a person builds their life. If there are no absolutes, if everything is relative and subjective, a person may wander in and out of happiness like some meandering river that follows the contours of the earth on a path of least resistance, making its way ever so slowly to a lake or the ocean. Sea level is the farthest the river can go. Its existence will be swallowed up by the vastness of the ocean. Where the waves are endlessly pulled and pushed, governed by the moon’s gravitation producing low tides and high tides.
There’s a good reason for these tides.
The power of the moon results in the oceans bulging on the side of the earth that faces this orb in our sky, as well on the opposite side. Then as the earth rotates different land masses pass through these ocean bulges resulting in the cycle of low tides and high tides. These tides shape coastal ecosystems creating habitats for species both under and above the water. They are also instrumental in nutrient distribution and the movement of sediment which support marine food networks. These tides drive breeding patterns, life cycles and migrations, not just for fish, but for birds and mammals as well.
Even in this description we see good reasons for events that might otherwise seem indiscriminate and meaningless. Simply sitting on a beach watching the endless repetitions of wave after wave while peaceful to some, may be senseless to others.
Some perspective.
The apostle Paul tells us that if we are “in” Christ Jesus, we are no longer condemned. Condemned to what? We are bound as humans to be negative, sinful people. God says do it one way, and we say, “I’ll do it my own way.” Doing things the human way often leads to bad choices, resulting in unexpected results, and unintended consequences.
However, in Romans 8 Paul gives us the definitive discourse of what happens when we build out lives on the solid foundation of the promises of Jesus. As adopted sons and daughters we are able to know God the Father and can actually call out to him “Abba! Father!” when life seems so uncertain. Paul says that whatever situations we face, whatever trouble or sense of loss, whatever suffering, that all combined over a lifetime the sum total cannot be compared with the glory of Jesus revealed in us. In Christ we have God the Holy Spirit who intercedes when we can’t even utter the words, “Father…”
So What’s the Good Reason?
Paul asks that same question, “What then shall we say to these things?” It’s a rhetorical question. The apostle’s question says, “You should know this answer by now. But since you don’t I’ll tell you again.” Then he follows with three more rhetorical questions.
“If God is for us, who is against us?” “Who will bring charges against God’s elect?” “Who will separate us from the love of Christ?”
As if to hammer this whole foundational truth “There’s a Good Reason” into our hearts by sheer force of words, Paul concludes chapter 8 of his letter to the church in Rome this way.
Romans 8:35-39
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or doubt, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? … But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor another created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The good reason, the best reason perhaps, is knowing that whatever situation we face, whatever loss or persecution for our faith, not one single event or person will ever separate us from God’s love. We are His children. He sees our pain and suffering and He is moved by it. He delights in our joyful celebration of life. He desires for us to know He is still in control of all that happens to us, and He isn’t going anywhere. He will see us through it all.
Knowing this frees me from the condemnation of always wanting to know “Why?” Knowing this allows me to live freely in the midst of my human limitations, failures, pain, and losses. Knowing this brings joy in the midst of sadness, smiles instead of frowns of despair. Knowing this allows me to love those who would kill me, and pray for them urgently. Knowing this and living on this foundational truth, brings great glory to Jesus. By glorifying Jesus, I bring glory to God.
Psalm 68:19-20 Blessed be the LORD, who daily bears our burden, the God who is our salvation. Selah. God is to us a God of salvation; and to God the LORD belong ways of escape from death.
This is Ben & Spencer. When they arrived at church yesterday, I noticed them immediately. It wasn’t difficult because Ben is a big man. But that wasn’t what drew my attention. The moment they arrived in this spot, just to the front and right of us, Ben opened his arms and Spencer practically jumped into his arms. For the entire time of the music and singing portion of Worship, Ben held Spencer the whole time.
He was singing in Spencer’s ear. Ben was kissing his son’s face. He was smiling and holding on to his son for dear life. Nothing could have separated them.
Ready for the rest of the story?
Ben took Spencer out to the foyer about half way through the sermon time. Kid’s have their limits after all. So moved by the photo I had captured, I made my way to the foyer ten minutes later to talk to this loving dad. After introducing myself, I asked Ben’s permission to use the photo, showing him the image on my iPhone. Ben was very open and after agreeing, asked if I would like to know why that picture is so special. Sure, how could I not.
Ben shared with me that his son had been in the hospital for several days this past week. He wasn’t doing well and getting worse the doctors were baffled and could not isolate what had caused him to become sick. Tests were run, and the waiting begun. Then suddenly, without explanation or medications to explain it, Spencer was completely healed. Whole. Well. Smiling. Laughing. You should see this face! Such a beautiful little boy.
God is our Father
The Sovereign God of the Universe has made a way for us to know Him just like Spencer knows his dad. God the Son, Jesus of Nazareth, The Messiah, our Deliverer, came to earth to live and die so that all humanity would have a way to be a part of God’s family. In fact the apostle John said it this way, “But as many as received Him, to the them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” What name? Jesus.
Today Jesus invites you too. You can become part of God’s family. Believe in the claims of Jesus. He came to give His life for yours. Believe in the name of Jesus, He is Jehovah Rapha, the ONE who heals. Allow the healing power of Jesus to flood your body, your mind, your soul, and become a child of God today.
Trust me when I say, there is no greater feeling on earth than to know and sense the presence of the loving arms of God the Father, wrapping you up, lifting your up, smiling at you, and singing in your ear! Trust Him today.
It’s an iconic song. It describes a large portion of my life. It has never been far from the fingertips of my brain. In 1968 Harry Nilsson released an album titled Aerial Ballet. On this album was a top hit song written and sung by Nilsson. ONE.
”One is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do Two can be as bad as one It’s the loneliest number since the number one”
Most of my life, while I had friends who hung out with, and mostly included me, they all would probably still reflect on our time together and describe me as a loner. For the most part I lived alone while attending college . When I became “two” and got married, even from the get go it seemed the two of us lived separate existences and often passed like ships in the night. For 13 years in the high tech industry I flew around the county going to meetings, then was stuck by myself in a hotel room waiting to travel again or for the following day to start, which held yet another series of meetings.
When I left the secular world and went into ministry, The first church I pastored was essentially a one person office at the church, with me as the sole staff member. We had part time people who helped with music, and custodial work, and secretarial duties, but mostly for all those endless hours I spent in the office I was alone. The second church was a little better. It was a three person staff, with a secretary we all shared. There was some camaraderie there, but most of that time was alone time as well. The third church was one a friend of mine and I planted. Just two guys out knocking on doors, meeting people and gaining a foothold in a 55+ gated community. It was hard work, and much of it was done in my office, which was in my home, alone.
Some might read these words and see them as describing a truly depressing world. However, the complete opposite is true. The song lyrics stuck with me because by the time I hit the road traveling, I was used to being alone. By the time I started pastoring I had even more experience with aloneness, and often found comfort in knowing it was just me and God.
Weren’t you sad?
Well, that would be an easy deduction wouldn’t it? And I would never say all that time alone didn’t take a toll, on me and my family. The solace of it all was knowing that I was in fact never alone. It was indeed just one human person, me, but there was always another person present though unseen. I happen to believe that God’s Word is without error. I also believe that when God says something, that I can take whatever He says is as an absolute fact, and always true. Which brings me to…
A Second Song lyric that has stuck with me
As a small child I grew up learning to sing in church. The song “Jesus Loves Me,” has always been the anchor song from my childhood, when I turned blue and sang Harry Nilsson’s One.
Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to him belong; they are weak, but he is strong
Even as an adult man I love this song for its simplicity, its foundational truth-telling, and its comforting message. “I will never leave you nor forsake you” is a promise from God found in the Bible, specifically in Hebrews 13:5 and Deuteronomy 31:6. Whether you are a young child, with child-like faith, an adolescent straining for maturity, a young adult making your own way for the first time, or a seasoned veteran life-liver with wisdom just oozing from your presence… Harry Nilsson’s “One” doesn’t have to define you or your existence. There is ONE who is greater than Nilsson and all the others would-be philosophers of life. His Name is Jesus. He loves you, and is near to you now. Call His name, come to Him for strength and salvation.
El Shaddai (God Almighty) — Focuses on God’s all-sufficiency and strength (Genesis 17:1).
Jehovah Jireh (The LORD Will Provide) — God as provider Genesis 22:14).
Jehovah Rapha (The LORD Who Heals) — God as healer (Exodus 15:26).
El Elyon (Most High God) — God’s supreme sovereignty (Genesis 14:18).
Abba (Father) — Intimate, personal name used by Jesus for God (Mark 14:36).
There is another name however I stumbled upon in those ancient days of Seminary where I studied the works of great evangelists, preachers, and teachers from the past. Charles Haddon Spurgeon as an English Particular Baptist preacher from England, preached a sermon in 1863 with the title “The Jealous God.” It’s worth a read, and you can probably find it online. That day at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in Elephant and Castle, London, which opened for worship in 1650 and originally seated 6,000 people, Spurgeon’s text was Exodus 34:14.
“-for you shall not worship any other god, because the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
Does this verse take your breath away. It should.
Jealousy
Today this word carries a lot of baggage with it. Often used in a negative connotation, it refers to thoughts or feelings of insecurity or fear. It implies a concern over the lack of certain possessions or relationships. It may present itself in demonstrations such as fits of anger, resentment, inadequacy, helplessness or disgust.
However, there is a second way to see the word, not conforming to most of current societies thoughts. Jealousy also means “close vigilance.” Seen in biblical text with the Greek word (zelos) it means “tolerating no unfaithfulness.” See where I’m going with this?
The Jealous God
Exodus 34 discusses the replacing of the original stone tables which God had carved with His own finger (Exodus 31:18) which Moses broke in Exodus 32:19 as a burst of outrage at the people’s sin. What’s interesting in chapter 34 is that God is speaking these actual words, they are not original to Moses own thoughts and recollections.
Imagine it. God has descended from the cloud at the top of Mount Sinai. He passes in front of Moses and began speaking in verse 6 and didn’t stop until verse 26, then told Moses to write it all down. It took 40 days and 40 nights where Moses worked the stones to restore the Ten Commandments.
What exactly is God Jealous of?
God is Jealous of His deity.
God is Jealous of His Sovereignty.
God is Jealous of His Glory.
It’s clear His name should rightly be called Jealous, because He says “You shall have no other god except me. I alone am God.” All other would-be deities are fake news. They mean nothing, they are nothing.
It is also clear His name should rightly be called Jealous, because just as Joshua warned the Israelites, “You will not be able to serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your wrongdoing or your sins iIf you abandon the LORD and serve foreign gods, then He will turn and do you harm and destroy you after He has done good to you.” Joshua 24:19-20.
And finally, it is clear His name should rightly be called Jealous, because He says, “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to idols.”
Today
Oh, that’s just ancient Old Testament history stuff. The year is 2026, and things have changed. Right? Wrong! Scripture teaches that “Jesus Christ (GOD the Son) is “the same yesterday and today and forever.” The irrefutable truth is that God is still Jealous today. Jealous that we revere Him as God, the ONLY God. Jealous that we align our wills with His Sovereignty. Jealous that we not try to rob God of the glory He alone deserves, by attributing the things of God as outdated, or irrelevant today.
The Sovereignty of God can be seen in all of the names listed at the beginning of this article. We’ll examine this more in a future article.
Next Time…
Have you ever wondered why good things, prosperity, success, and wealth come to evil people while true believers lack many of these same things? Do bad things happen to Good people and good things happen for Evil people? How does God’s Sovereignty fit into all this?
Buckle up. We are diving deeper into the pool by discussing God’s absolute authority over…. well, you’ll see!
Last time I ended with a question: “How does the image above reflect the sovereignty of God? Then I closed the article with this statement: “Having the Mind of Christ will help us see this image differently…”
Symbols & Types
In the Gospel accounts of Jesus life the recorded stories describe for the reader a Messiah so committed to His people that He walks among them, eats with them, talks with them, shares a room in their homes, and essentially insinuates Himself into every fiber of the Hebrew existence in the 1st century. I wonder sometimes. Why do people find it such a bizarre thought that Jesus probably wants to do that exact same thing with us?
One of His methods of teaching spiritual principles to people who lived in a dark fog spiritually was to use an introductory phrase. He would often say, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like…” or “The Kingdom of God is like…” Matthew’s gospel describes the first version and Luke’s gospel describes the second. However, they are called “Parallel Gospels” because Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many overlapping stories each from their own viewpoint. Luke obviously got his material from someone else, but let’s not get bogged down with that detail just now. Let’s focus.
How many times in a day do you hear the word “Like?” Better still as you walk through the next week listen to your own words and see how often you use the word “Like.” To me, as a septuagenarian, it seems anyone under the age of 40 uses the word like a million times a day. See what I did there? For those of a certain age “like” seems to be used as a filler word while the speaker tries to figure out what to say or where to go with the conversation.
Jesus didn’t use the word this way. Jesus was a master storyteller and spoke to common, everyday Hebrews about things they could readily recognize from the everyday existence. He pointed to objects or things or situations out of real life, then showed them how that related to the kingdom of God. Most of the time we call these stories Parables. In this way he spoke in symbols and types so that only those who really understood the story could understand the underlying spiritual message being presented. Some got it, some didn’t. That’s how it goes with parables. You can’t overthink it. You either get it, or you don’t.
The Umbrella of God’s Sovereignty
In the image above God’s Sovereignty is LIKE an umbrella covering the earth. The umbrella covers time (in our construct of human time) from the creation of the universe until the end of time when Jesus returns. And make no mistake here, He is returning! He is fast like peanut butter! Again, that’s a discussion for another time.
The umbrella covers all of time. God is Sovereign and in Control of all things from eternity past to eternity future. This means that God’s authority over mankind is based in the fact that He created us, and all that we see. I know there is someone out there who is going to say something like, “God didn’t create my Tesla, Elon Musk did.” Oh, but you see, God created Elon Musk, gave him the genius mind to dream and create and make a difference in the world. So every time you press the button to start your electric vehicle you give glory to God not Elon Musk!
And now we’re back to it. It’s simple really. Unless you have the Mind of Christ, none of this makes any sense to you. It’s just so much gibberish from an aging hack who thinks he can tell you how to think, and what to believe. Oh, but if you have the Mind of Christ, you might just feel a tingle in your toes, that feeling of excitement when you begin the first step in a journey towards the truth!
Under this umbrella of God’s Sovereignty all of human history and all of human future exists.
In what way?
There has always been the constant struggle between the concept of God’s Sovereignty vs. Human Free Will. I’m not going to lie, this is pretty deep stuff. And it is not a topic easily handled in a three to five minute blog post. So, I won’t even try. However, I will offer a starting point for you to think about and process until next time.
Under the umbrella of God’s Sovereignty, God “allows” some things to happen, and God “designs and intends” some things to happen. This is very much like a sticky wicket, so go slowly here. Remember the Apostle Paul’s words, “Who has known the mind of the LORD, that he should instruct Him?” Since we are not God, do not see what He sees, or know what He knows, we do not get to decide whether something happening, whether good or bad, is by God’s allowance or His design. That understanding is reserved for God.
When bad things happen, I’ve known Christ-followers who immediately ask, “Why is God punishing me?” When good things happen that same group of people begin raising their hands and saying “thank You Jesus!” For example, a deadly disease that begins with the letter “C” strikes and the first question gets asked. But, what if God isn’t punishing the person at all? What if this awful malady has attacked the person’s body simply because they are human and live on planet earth? In this case at worst, God’s Sovereignty allowed this to happen, for some reason known only to Him. Does this in any way diminish His love for that person? No, certainly not.
Or, suppose it’s a hot summer day in the heat of the noonday sun, and the person drives to get groceries, hoping beyond hope to get a parking spot close to the front door of the supermarket so they don’t have to walk too far in the heat. Low, and behold, a spot opens up right near the front door! This is when the second thing happens, “Praise God!” But, what if God simply “allowed” the person to find the parking spot open, and remain open until they found it? Does the parking spot mean that God loves them “More” than other people? No, certainly not.
It all seems so confusing unless you are a true Christ-follower, and have the mind of Christ. A Christ-follower in either situation described above will say, “All I want Father, is to know you like you know me. I want to be a part of your kingdom. And I want your will to permeate every aspect of my life, right here, right now. Because this is where I am.”
In this way, and in this prayer, the true Christ-follower brings great glory to Jesus, and thereby to God the Father.
Next Time…
One of the ways we discover the true nature of God is by looking at his attributes described in His many names recorded in Scripture. For instance, Jehovah Jireh, means “the LORD who Provides!” I wonder what you favorite name of God is from Scripture?
Next time, I want to introduce to you a name directly related to God’s Sovereignty that I wager none of you has thought about…
Knowing God’s will seems a daunting task to say the least. Paul the apostle said to the good folks at Corinth, “Who has known the mind of the LORD, that he will instruct Him? (I’m leaving off the good part of that verse for a moment, but we will come back to it). 1 Corinthians 2:16
I’ve known some folks during my life who thought they knew what was best for me. They often told me what clothes to wear, how to cut my hair (I wish I now had some hair to cut). Well-wishers I’m sure, they would suggest I change the way I think, or feel, or behave, to match their own preferences about the human existence. I even had a good friend who would intentionally, but playfully say, “Speaking officially for God…” then proceed to correct my mistakes according to the good Dr. S.P.H.
Perhaps as we begin this journey it would be good to remind one another, me to you, and you to me, what Jesus spoke to the crowds one day about how we should pray. But first, let’s remember the specific words he used, “Pray, then, in this way.” Many teachers and preachers have ascribed to the idea that this is some kind of magical or mystical prayer, which when recited verbatim obligates God in some way to hear their prayers for anything else they might desire. I am not so naive, and I don’t want you to be either. He spoke this introduction as a way to clarify his previous maxim. Listen again to what he said before this instruction.
“And when you are praying, do not use thoughtless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:7-8) In such a simplistic way the Master is telling the crowd, God is all-knowing, all-seeing, all-aware of everything about you. Meaningless repetitions does not sway Him or His will.
So Jesus, the Master, gives us a MODEL of how to pray.
Acknowledge Him, revere His name. Ask for His kingdom, and His will right now, right here, wherever here is. Ask only for what we need today. Forgive people. Keep us from temptation.
Five simple thoughts of how true Christ-Followers are supposed to order their lives. But let’s just focus on the one critical verse in the model, verse 10 in Matthew chapter 6.
“… (Father)…Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
In it’s essence, the one praying must understand the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-aware attributes of God’s nature in order to align the prayer’s will with the will of God. You see, Jesus knew something these early listeners didn’t, so He was breaking new ground with them. He was teaching them to think outside the box of their normal conventional Hebraic thinking that had been compromised by local pagan practices. Pray it loud, and use as many words as you can possibly utter, and maybe God will hear you. Jesus was telling them that God was tired of His own people not really understanding the nature of dialogue with their own Father.
They all knew the ancient scriptures passed down in both oral and written ways. For instance these are just a few things they already knew about God their Father.
Ancient Teachings
Nehemiah 9:6 You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; besides ME there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known ME.
Isaiah 40:26 Raise your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the ONE who brings out their multitude by number, He calls them by name. Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing.
Yes, all those Jewish listeners knew the scriptures by heart. They heard these truths from the rabbis teaching endlessly in schools and synagogues, “Beit Kneset” or “house of gathering.” They were so familiar with the words that when God the Son came right up next to them on the hillside that day, they still didn’t recognize Him as Messiah.
Where do we go from here?
The Master went slowly with those who should have recognized Him but didn’t. He taught them what the elders of the Hebrew faith should have been teaching but weren’t. How to have a meaningful dialogue with the Creator of the Universe. So, I’m going to take this lesson to heart for this study. I’m going to go slowly. I may suggest you examine some things that may be uncomfortable. I long for and hope to make these truths, perhaps revelations to some, interesting and not boring.
I started this introduction with the Apostle Paul addressing the Church in Corinth. “”Who has known the mind of the LORD, that he will instruct Him?” Now let’s look at the good part. The last part of this verse says:
“But we have the mind of Christ.”
What Jesus was communicating to the Hebrew people on the mountain that day is, “I’m right here, let’s talk about what is important to you.” He didn’t say it that way, that’s my own interpretation. I truly believe He was suggesting to those who really needed to hear it that God cared about them more than they could possibly imagine. The same message is true today.
The beauty of God the Father’s plan, in sending God the Son to earth, was to open an endless communication agency for all mankind to the Creator. In Jesus’ actions, His death and resurrection, His teachings, His healings, His forgiveness and His grace, God the Father was saying “See, I’m right here. And I care more than you could possibly ever understand.”
The Mind of Christ
The “understanding” of what Jesus was teaching then and now is for those who are “In Christ.” The “world” referred to in Scripture, are those folks who have never believed nor trusted in the free gift of Grace offered in Jesus. These folks often go on about their lives not believing there is a God, or if there is, that He doesn’t care about them personally. It is for certain a sad and miserable existence.
“But God…”, I love those words.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
But God… in fact, does want us to know exactly how to communicate with him. That’s why Jesus gave this model prayer to the Hebrews… but also to us. NOT as a mantra. Not as a magical incantation. Not as some mystical process of existentialism. What a great word huh? No, Jesus gave us this prayer as a model because this is how Jesus always prayed, and always lived while on earth.
Think about it. Remember it. Do it.
Acknowledge Him, revere His name. Ask for His kingdom, and His will right now, right here, wherever here is. Ask only for what we need today. Forgive people. Keep us from temptation.
This is the Mind of Christ. This is the Will of God… to align my will to His. Not His will to mine.
Next time…
How does the image above reflect the Sovereignty of God? Having the Mind of Christ will help us see this image differently….
Since I can remember my life has been a jumble of activities, pursuits, goals, dreams, aspirations, projects, relationships, responsibilities, disappointments, failures, triumphs, emotional highs and lows of indescribable proportions, and much much more.
Most of these different aspects of my life have to come a pause, or an end. And I’m ok with that.
I’ve spent the best past of my life wanting to excel, wanting to please others, or have them at least like me. I’ve also spent a great deal of time pursuing what God would have me speak or teach in the next bible lesson, sermon, devotion, funeral, wedding, or prayer. And at times my spiritual life looked exactly like this picture as well.
About 4 weeks ago as I embarked on the garage storage project I’ve written about recently (see the blog if you don’t know what I’m talking about), I was also finishing up a 13 Week Bible Study on Getting Back to Basics. The study was a conglomeration of many different studies I’ve done over the years. And in the process I very clearly heard God’s Spirit urging me to do my best because this would be the last series of lessons I would teach.
I didn’t really know how freeing that message could be. But it was. It is time for me to “Be still and KNOW that God is God.”
The message also included a very clear path to understanding that my garage project would be my last major pursuit in woodworking. Having held tools and worked with wood since my early 20’s this too was something of a shock… in a good way.
Anyone who has ever worked with wood knows how it takes strong hands to hold the piece that you are working on properly so that the cuts are straight, and for safety so that you don’t hurt yourself or someone else nearby. My hands have aged well. I can still hold the wood firmly. But when I finished every day’s tasks, I realized how my hands ached. And how it took me longer to recover than when I was 20,30,40, 50… well you get it.
Some relationships over the years have slowly dwindled away. Since I retired in 2016 the staff work at a church has gone away. Some of my friends have died, some have gone incognito. And it is all good. I married my best friend, so I’m good.
What I look forward to these days is the uncluttered life. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I know exactly which two people will be on this journey with me. My loving wife, and my blessed Savior-Jesus. So, I’m good. And getting more uncluttered day by day…
“What if?” is a game played in the darkest recesses of your thought processes. Even though this “game” is not real, it almost always seems real. For example, “What if I contract the COVID-19 virus and die? What will happen to my family? What if I’m not ready to die!”
This game is essentially based in the emotion of fear. Fear that something bad will happen, something that I don’t want to happen, and as a result I will suffer great loss.
On the other hand “Even if?” is a game played in the brightest well-lit areas of your consciousness. And in fact, unlike the “what if?” game that is not real, the “even if” game is the ultimate reality. For example, “Even if I contract the COVID-19 VIRUS and die, I am not afraid of death. I know the ONE who has conquered death, WHO will lead me through this dark shadow into the light of His presence on the other side (and it isn’t the World Health Organization). And my family will be fine. Because He – the LORD JESUS CHRIST – has them too, in the palm of His hand.”
Any given individual in our USA culture today is daily given the opportunity to choose one of these options in response to the “Wuhan pandemic.” In the news this week there were more than enough stories to continue feeding the fear-frenzy that defines the psychological manifestation in many Americans across our land. There were also many stories, although you had to look for them, that should at least turn some people’s heads away from all the fear-mongering.
So, let’s flip the script.
Let’s reverse the “what if?” portion of the game.
What if everything you’ve heard so far… number of people tested, number of people identified as having the virus, number of people who have died from ACTUAL complications of the virus (and not some other factor – like gunshot or alcohol poisoning) … what if these numbers have been over-inflated and are completely misleading? What if the numbers were deliberately massaged this way to increase the “fear factor” so that the American public would be easier to control? What if our economy was shut down, based on models that said 1-2 million people would die directly from actual effects of the virus.? When that clearly hasn’t happened, has it? What if the very people who are controlling the models, and manipulating all the data, are also motivated to support ideas like population control and euthanasia of the elderly?
To truly reverse the script we have to respond to these questions with the “even if?” answer.
Even if everything is a lie… could God use the events of a well-strung disaster in our economy and government to bring about GOOD for those who love Him and are called by His name? Even if there is a group of well-placed, highly powerful individuals who are designing all this modeling to create fear and panic, is GOD totally unaware of their actions and evil purposes and goals? Even if these ideas of population control and euthanasia of the elderly are being talked about as a potential reality in dark rooms where no-one can see, does the LORD JESUS CHRIST Himself not see and know exactly what is going on?
I know you see what I’m suggesting. You understand what I’m saying. Intellectually and cognitively if you are a Christ-follower you know Jesus is in Control, and that He has Sole Authority over all things, and has still promised the POWER of His presence with you individually, in all things.
Seeing it, understanding it, and believing it are one thing.
Living it out… without fear of the “what if?” is something else entirely.
Choose today to leave the fear behind.
Begin each moment with “Even if” and whatever comes after those words – then say, “God is in control,” – only then will you begin the journey of a fearless life that Jesus calls us to. It is a life of abundant joy, and peace. It is a less-confused life, a life of logic and reason. It is a life where God’s own Spirit brings comfort, and direction for our path, and our choices.
People talk about faith a lot. Especially people of faith. True Christ-followers understand the concept of faith better than anyone else, yet find it difficult at times to exercise that faith in certain situations. James said it would happen [James 1:2-3].
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Recently I had the chance to exercise my faith in a real life experience, and I gained some valuable insight into the concept of faith. Here is a little history of the Capilano Suspension Bridge, in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada:
In 1888, George Grant Mackay, a Scottish civil engineer and land developer, arrived in the young city of Vancouver in Canada. Mackay purchased 6,000 acres of dense forest on either side of Capilano River and built a cabin on the very edge of the canyon wall. In 1889 he suspended a footbridge made of hemp rope and cedar planks across the canyon with the help of August Jack Khahtsahlano and a team of horses who swam the ropes across the river. The ropes were then pulled up the other side and anchored to huge buried cedar logs.
This 153 yard bridge took me to the other side of the river, where we walked on other bridges up into the tops of the trees and looked down at the river flowing below. I’m not a big fan of suspension bridges, holding at any given point more than one hundred people going back and forth. The only bad thing about going all the way over to the other side… you have to cross the bridge again to come back.
Placing my faith in the cabling, wood, and design of this bridge was very challenging for me.
I suspect that for people far from God, who always want to believe they can handle everything on their own, they might have some difficulty believing Jesus really is the only BRIDGE worth taking. They probably doubt His ability to be the Savior He claims to be. They dispute His authority and claim to be the ONLY means (way, truth, life) of right relationship with God.
Nevertheless, it is true.
What it takes to act on this truth… is to take a step of faith into Jesus.
Hebrews helps us here [11:1]:
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
If I wanted to see the river from the tops of the trees… there was only one way to get there… stepping out in faith.
If you want to know the joy of eternal life with the Creator of the Universe, there is only one way to get there… taking that step of faith into Jesus.
This morning I slept in. I didn’t set an alarm last night, intentionally. But then again, I don’t ever set an alarm as though I need one to get up in the morning. My internal body clock just gets me up. I can’t just lie there in bed. It’s virtually impossible for me to force myself to stay in that prone position after I awaken. Life has been this way for me as long as I can remember. As a result, just after 7:00 am on a Saturday morning, (an hour later than average), here I am, sitting at my desk, writing.
Everyone has their routines. But I can honestly say I didn’t wake up full of moxie this morning. I didn’t have a lot of pep in my step, or energy coursing through my veins. Mostly it seemed I was on auto pilot until my reading routine brought me to this word –Moxie – from the Daily Post. It wasn’t like a shot of adrenalin, or enlightening like an epiphany, really. My coffee hadn’t even finished brewing at that point. Something in my brain just clicked, and it was time to write.
This word, moxie, reminds me of Abram. Most people know him as Abraham. He’s pretty famous for his role in becoming the patriarch of the nation of Israel. Yet, most people don’t even understand that when God spoke to Abram, it wasn’t because he was Jewish. There was no “Jewish” at the time of Abram. In fact many of the nations of the world came from Abram’s loins. Additionally, Abram didn’t even live in the land that would become Israel at the time God found him. Abram lived in the area of southern Mesopotamia along the Persian Gulf, in the land of Ur (see map above). Through archaeological discoveries this area extols evidence of elaborate wealth, skilled craftsmanship, and advanced technologies and science (for that ancient time).
Now imagine you are Abram. God’s voice comes to you and you hear these words: [Genesis 12:1] Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives And from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.”
What kind of pluck, what kind of courage, what kind of MOXIE would it have taken for Abram to act on these words at face value? It wasn’t like he had been to the middle east territories and said, “that sounds good, I’ll go live there.” Abram hadn’t seen it, couldn’t see it, and wouldn’t even know how to get there, except God shows him the way. Talk about a pioneer, this guy has something most of us can’t even comprehend. Abram has to leave the only home he has ever known, all his relatives will stay behind, and he’ll never return to his country. Call it what you want, that takes moxie.
Theologians, Pastors, Teachers and the Church at large tend to quantify Abram’s actions by the word Faith. Clearly, this is what Scripture teaches in Hebrews 11:8. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going.
So here’s the thing, perhaps we’ve heard this word so frequently that today we need to find some context of its meaning for us personally. Hence, I offer you here, Abram’s moxie as a bench mark of faith. All of Abram’s actions were based in an active belief, resulting in behaviors which were evidence of his faith. This takes moxie: courage, and determination. Abram determined in his heart that God would do exactly as He said. Abram then courageously acted in accordance with God’s commands. I don’t know a better definition of faith.
After all, remember what Abram left behind in Ur… a culture of wealth, craftsmanship, technology… to become a pioneer of something greater. When someone suggests walking in God’s will and way is easy, mostly they have no idea what they’re talking about. It takes great courage and determination to believe God’s promises and act accordingly. To pull up roots, to travel to an unknown land, takes moxie.
Faith today then should be expressed in Abrahamic style… with moxie. Today I urge you to live courageously and determinedly, walking with God toward that land that you have not seen. Step and in moxie-like faith, and become the person God intended you to be.
2 Corinthians 5:7 … for we walk by faith, not by sight.
≠
If you liked this blog post feel free to share it on your Facebook page. Send me a “friend” invite on my FB account or sign up by email to follow my blog!
Discover a new Lifestyle/Health Monitor, click: INTRODUCING HELO
An obituary typically consists of a brief biographical sketch of the deceased person from the vantage point of a friend or relative. The view received from this information is still an earthly view. While it may have a spiritual synopsis of the person’s life, often it is more about the nature of their character, the sum of past achievements, genealogy, etc. I know a few folks who still read the newspapers, whose favorite section is the Obituaries, because they like reading these short biographies of those who have passed.
Some people might even see this tribute as the “scorecard” for a life. However, keeping score this way may not necessarily be the healthiest approach to life here or the hereafter. If we are going to keep score, we might want to think more along the lines of what God keeps recorded in our eternal dossier. Of course, this assumes you know that God does keep records of some things, and those things are defined for us in the Bible. Allow me to give you a list of ten things God records, or has recorded over time; and will record until human history is over.
God records and stores all the tears we shed. Psalm 56:8 You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records?
God records my birth, my life, my death in days – before it happens. Psalm 139:16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.
God records the number of the stars and keeps record of their names. Psalm 147:4 He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.
God keeps a Book of Remembrance of those who regard His name. Malachi 3:16 At that time those who feared the LORD spoke to one another. The LORD took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name.
God keeps track of people’s heavenly investments. Matthew 6:20 But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.
God records the number of hairs on an individual human head. Matthew 10:30 But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
God records every idle word a person speaks. Matthew 12:36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.
God records every Godly work of a person. Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints–and you continue to serve them.
God records the general life of all humans. Revelation 20:12 I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.
God records the name of every person who ever stepped over the line of faith into Christ. Revelation 20:15 And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.
An obituary is the record to be read by those who remain behind in this life, here on this earth. God’s records are for the person who has just passed. Specifically, God keeps a Book of Life where He records all those who have trusted Jesus as their savior. By definition this means there are those who haven’t, and what awaits them is not imaginable or desirable as an eternal destination. Does this give you pause? Because maybe it should. Maybe this is the moment of reflection and contemplation your whole life has been leading up to. In these ten simple statements you may recognize that all of life has meaning and purpose, but will your’s measure up to God’s standard?
The mind bending alternate universe of The Matrix has always intrigued me. Great movies like these sometimes challenge us to question everything we believe. Is the keyboard I’m typing on real, or just an illusion? Morpheus says to Neo, “I’m trying to free your mind, Neo. But I can only show you the door. You’re the one that has to walk through it.”
Life for people of faith is exactly like this. Doubt is a part of our existence, and Jesus knew this. This knowledge is what originated the final part of the plan, whereby God’s Holy Spirit would indwell those who have stepped over the line of FAITH into Christ. It’s as though Jesus says to every new believer, “I’m trying to free your mind. But I can only show you the door. You’re the one that has to walk through it.” When God’s Spirit leads us, we follow. When God’s Spirit inspires us, we write or speak. When God’s Spirit motivates us, we act in ways that benefit others and bring glory to God. That’s what it means to walk in the Spirit. We live out our existence in this world, believing that there is another unseen world more real than the one we inhabit.
Paul said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight-” 2 Corinthians 5:7
However, consider a few other verses which shed light on our doubt.
Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
Psalms 25:4 Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths.
James 1:6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.
Jesus was constantly asking those 12 men who followed him most closely, “Why did you doubt?” Yet, remarkable as it may seem, Jesus fully anticipated that not only they, but we too would live a life filled with doubt. So Jesus said to them, and to us, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” John 14:1
There are days when I feel more like the man who watched his son, writhing on the ground, foaming at the mouth, at the mercy of a demon attacking the boy. The man just wants his boy to be free and sane again. Follow this conversation… Mark 9:14-29
Jesus: “How long has this been happening to him?”
Dad: “From childhood. It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”
Jesus: “IF … You can? All things are possible to him who believes.”
Dad: “I DO … believe!! Help my unbelief!”
Many times in my past, in my present, and I expect in my future, I have or will look to heaven and cry out… “help my unbelief!” Why? Because I can’t see the Matrix that is God’s perfect will. Because not only can I not see the Matrix, I can’t sometimes make sense even out of what I do see. It causes me to doubt. Not in a vacillating way trying to decide if I still believe it all. But in a much deeper way than mere words can describe. I’m like this dad… I just want help.
The Holy Spirit often speaks to me in moments like these with these words of wisdom…
Isaiah 64:4 For from days of old they have not heard or perceived by ear, Nor has the eye seen a God besides You, Who acts in behalf of the one who waits for Him.
Paul quoted this exact passage when he wrote to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 2:9-12):
but just as it is written, “THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God.
Seeing is not believing. Believing is seeing. Do not doubt. Do not be afraid. Open the door to God’s Holy Spirit.
As I was saying... 