Why do we believe what we believe? It is important for each of us to ask that question. Why do we believe what we believe? For me the answer to that question is rooted in my belief in God, but it goes even further than that. I believe what I believe because I believe the Bible. God gave man a series of books. Today we call those books the Bible.
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Understanding how we ended up with the Bible can help us to have a greater confidence in the inspired Word of God. Many have heard the phrase “inspired word of God” without really knowing what it means. The Bible itself claims to be inspired, but that claim has little significance if a person does not know what it means. Webster tells us that inspire means “to breathe; to infuse by or as if by breathing; to instill; to communicate divine instructions to the mind of.” This is why Scripture is often referred to as God breathed or as coming directly from the mouth of God. Remember the holy words of the Bible are not just ordinary words, but the words of God.
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If these divine words came directly from the mouth of God, how did they get to the pages of the Bible? Let us allow God to answer that Himself through His word:
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“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” Ps 68:11.
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“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” II Peter 1:21.
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“Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:” Isaiah 30:8.
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In the above verses, the Psalmist tells us that the words came from the Lord. Peter wrote about how the Holy Spirit of God gave the words to those who He wanted to deliver His message. Isaiah tells us how He was specifically commanded to write down the words that were spoken to him. These were not just ordinary words, they were the words of Scripture given by God. Notice what the Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy concerning these words from God:
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“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” II Tim 3:16.
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All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. That means every verse of the Bible came from God. Each jot and tittle was written by His intent. Yes, He used men like Isaiah, Peter, and Paul, yet as Isaiah testifies, God told them what to write. These men were moved by God. The Bible is not a bunch of ideas made up by these men. These men were guided specifically by a Holy God to write a message down so that we might know what God has for us to learn.
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We must guard against the idea that certain parts of the Bible are reliable and other parts are not. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God. If we pick and choose what we want to believe, we can make it look like it says whatever we want it to say. That is why it is so important to read it in context. Sometimes folks will try tell us that the Bible has things in it that are not “Christian”. Before you get upset at your Bible, read it and find out if they are taking a verse out of context. It is God’s word, let us make sure God is not taken out of context.
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Jesus Christ Himself testified to the importance of the Word of God: “But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. The Proverbs also testify of God’s Word: “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Proverbs 2:6.
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These last few verses are not only a continued testimony of the importance of Scripture, but as well a testimony that it comes from God. There are also many verses throughout the Bible that have phrases like “thus saith the Lord” or “hear ye the word of the Lord”. The Bible claims to be God’s word, and thus is worthy of the title “The Word of God. That is why I believe it, and that is why it is to guide all that I believe.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
The Truth Like No Other
I was recently made aware of an article where patrons were able to write in and give their experiences with customer service at various retail store chains. Some of the experiences were heart warming as store employees went beyond the call of duty to help their customers. It was interesting to note, however, that one of the store chains to receive a complaint, was called “Friendly’s”. Now I have never even heard of such a store and do not know if this was an isolated incident or not, but I found it interesting that a store with a friendly name had unfriendly customer service.
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The experience of this particular customer reminds us that things are not always as they seem. It also reminds us that we cannot always trust those we are told we should be able to trust. I grew up believing that I could trust the Bible. That belief has not changed. There were some people that I thought I could trust, but I later found out I could not. The Bible is different. The more I study it, the more I realize I can trust it. I cannot accuse the Bible of false advertising or clever gimmicks that do not hold true. It is just what it claims to be. It can be trusted. It is truth like no other.
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The reason we can trust the Bible is because it comes from God. It was not made up by a bunch of men, it came to us be the inspiration of God. When God does something, it is perfect. It can be trusted. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
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Our perfect God has given us a perfect book. There are no errors in the Bible. His word assures us that it can be trusted. There may be a few things which we do not understand. Things which seem to our human minds to be impossible, but we must remember, we are only men, He is God. He is the one who parted the waters and walked on them. Because we are only human, we cannot expect to have ALL the answers. Instead, we must accept what He tells us as truth. For example, before the days of Columbus, folks could have known that the world was round if they had just read the Bible. Sadly, many laughed at the reference to the circle of the earth in Isaiah 40:22. Today we know the earth is not flat, God’s Word once again proves itself to be true.
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God’s Word itself makes a claim of trustworthiness. Consider Psalm 18:30-31, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?” II Samuel 22:31-32 actually has the same words as the above verses. Please read Psalm 33:4 as well, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.” Christ Himself testified of the truth of God’s word as He prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
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These verses provide a foundation for the doctrine of the inerrancy of the Scriptures. There are other verses that also support this important teaching. “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” Psalms 119:140. “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalms 119:160. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Psalms 12:6. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5.
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As you can see, the claim that we can trust God’s Word, is not just a claim that is made by a country preacher, it a claim that is made by the Bible itself.
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The experience of this particular customer reminds us that things are not always as they seem. It also reminds us that we cannot always trust those we are told we should be able to trust. I grew up believing that I could trust the Bible. That belief has not changed. There were some people that I thought I could trust, but I later found out I could not. The Bible is different. The more I study it, the more I realize I can trust it. I cannot accuse the Bible of false advertising or clever gimmicks that do not hold true. It is just what it claims to be. It can be trusted. It is truth like no other.
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The reason we can trust the Bible is because it comes from God. It was not made up by a bunch of men, it came to us be the inspiration of God. When God does something, it is perfect. It can be trusted. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”
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Our perfect God has given us a perfect book. There are no errors in the Bible. His word assures us that it can be trusted. There may be a few things which we do not understand. Things which seem to our human minds to be impossible, but we must remember, we are only men, He is God. He is the one who parted the waters and walked on them. Because we are only human, we cannot expect to have ALL the answers. Instead, we must accept what He tells us as truth. For example, before the days of Columbus, folks could have known that the world was round if they had just read the Bible. Sadly, many laughed at the reference to the circle of the earth in Isaiah 40:22. Today we know the earth is not flat, God’s Word once again proves itself to be true.
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God’s Word itself makes a claim of trustworthiness. Consider Psalm 18:30-31, “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God?” II Samuel 22:31-32 actually has the same words as the above verses. Please read Psalm 33:4 as well, “For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth.” Christ Himself testified of the truth of God’s word as He prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
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These verses provide a foundation for the doctrine of the inerrancy of the Scriptures. There are other verses that also support this important teaching. “Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.” Psalms 119:140. “Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.” Psalms 119:160. “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.” Psalms 12:6. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12. “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.” Proverbs 30:5.
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As you can see, the claim that we can trust God’s Word, is not just a claim that is made by a country preacher, it a claim that is made by the Bible itself.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Burrr Cold
You know it is cold when the gas meter locks up. Wednesday January 14, 2009 was a very cold day. If the cold itself were not bad enough, the wind chill was life threatening. Of all days for a furnace to quit. God gets your attention when He allows it to happen on such a day. What made the problem really serious was that ALL the furnaces in the church, not just one of them had quit. Not only the furnaces, but the gas water heater as well. Fortunately the problem was discovered before the temperature inside dropped enough to freeze any pipes. The gas company sent a man out to fix the problem and we had heat again within a few hours.
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Reflecting on what happened, I am reminded of all the challenges that the cold brings. I recall how much more difficult the cold seemed when I was farming. For those with livestock it is especially difficult. I can remember having to start the tractor to feed the cattle when it was bitterly cold. There were times when it just would not start. We would have it plugged in, with the battery charger charging, as the Nipco heater blew a bit of warmth onto the engine. As we waited for the tractor to warm up, we would have to go around and thaw out the floats and drinkers on the hog tanks. Then we would check the automatic waters for both the hogs and cattle and often they were froze up in spite of the electric heaters that were supposed to keep them working.
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Starting the tractor and thawing the water was not the only problem. The animals themselves faced their own challenges. Often the hogs would cluster together in a corner to try to stay warm. That worked well unless you were the pig at the bottom of the pile. Livestock would die. Gates would be frozen shut. Cattle would walk over fences. Still the best of farmers revel in these challenges rather than facing discouragement.
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No doubt the cold has become MUCH easier to bear now that I am no longer on the farm. Still that does not mean that I no longer have to contend with its challenges. I still get cold walking to the post office, the fan motor in the truck locked up on a bitterly cold morning, and then there was that incident with the gas meter. These, however, are minor compared to what I used to contend with. Today I face different kinds of problems then I did then.
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This reminds me a little bit of the salvation experience. Some suggest that if you just come to Christ, all your problems will go away. That may make for a good sales pitch. The problem is, it is not true. The Lord has not promised to take all our problems away, but He does help us to bear them.
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Furthermore, if we come to Christ just for what we can get, where is the repentance in that? We are to trust the Savior because He is God and we want to glorify Him, not just because we want our life to be easier. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
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The Apostle Paul warned that instead of ease, the godly Christian should expect problems. He said us in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
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So then, why would anyone even want to be a Christian? Because being a Christian is not just about us getting from God (we definitely get much), it is also about us trusting God- especially when the going gets tough. It would have been so much harder struggling to get the cattle fed, if I had not had the privilege of calling out to my Heavenly Father for grace to bear the cold.
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He doesn’t take all our problems away, but He does help us through them. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
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What’s more, as Christians, we do not just consider this life, but the life ahead. Paul admits in I Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Yet Paul was not miserable. His hope was for a better place. A place where is neither the bitter wind chill or the fires of hell. His hope was not of this world. His trust was not in this world. Even as he knew he would face more problems in this life, he was still joyful. Consider what Paul said in Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
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I pray that you as well could finish your course with joy. The only way that you can do that is to put your complete trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The next life will not be this cold, but it could be very hot if you neglect so great salvation.
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Reflecting on what happened, I am reminded of all the challenges that the cold brings. I recall how much more difficult the cold seemed when I was farming. For those with livestock it is especially difficult. I can remember having to start the tractor to feed the cattle when it was bitterly cold. There were times when it just would not start. We would have it plugged in, with the battery charger charging, as the Nipco heater blew a bit of warmth onto the engine. As we waited for the tractor to warm up, we would have to go around and thaw out the floats and drinkers on the hog tanks. Then we would check the automatic waters for both the hogs and cattle and often they were froze up in spite of the electric heaters that were supposed to keep them working.
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Starting the tractor and thawing the water was not the only problem. The animals themselves faced their own challenges. Often the hogs would cluster together in a corner to try to stay warm. That worked well unless you were the pig at the bottom of the pile. Livestock would die. Gates would be frozen shut. Cattle would walk over fences. Still the best of farmers revel in these challenges rather than facing discouragement.
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No doubt the cold has become MUCH easier to bear now that I am no longer on the farm. Still that does not mean that I no longer have to contend with its challenges. I still get cold walking to the post office, the fan motor in the truck locked up on a bitterly cold morning, and then there was that incident with the gas meter. These, however, are minor compared to what I used to contend with. Today I face different kinds of problems then I did then.
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This reminds me a little bit of the salvation experience. Some suggest that if you just come to Christ, all your problems will go away. That may make for a good sales pitch. The problem is, it is not true. The Lord has not promised to take all our problems away, but He does help us to bear them.
-
Furthermore, if we come to Christ just for what we can get, where is the repentance in that? We are to trust the Savior because He is God and we want to glorify Him, not just because we want our life to be easier. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
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The Apostle Paul warned that instead of ease, the godly Christian should expect problems. He said us in 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
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So then, why would anyone even want to be a Christian? Because being a Christian is not just about us getting from God (we definitely get much), it is also about us trusting God- especially when the going gets tough. It would have been so much harder struggling to get the cattle fed, if I had not had the privilege of calling out to my Heavenly Father for grace to bear the cold.
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He doesn’t take all our problems away, but He does help us through them. “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13
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What’s more, as Christians, we do not just consider this life, but the life ahead. Paul admits in I Corinthians 15:19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.” Yet Paul was not miserable. His hope was for a better place. A place where is neither the bitter wind chill or the fires of hell. His hope was not of this world. His trust was not in this world. Even as he knew he would face more problems in this life, he was still joyful. Consider what Paul said in Acts 20:24, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”
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I pray that you as well could finish your course with joy. The only way that you can do that is to put your complete trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. The next life will not be this cold, but it could be very hot if you neglect so great salvation.
Friday, January 2, 2009
I Don't Trust the Ice
Is there a difference between a coward and a cautious chicken? I hope so, because when it comes to ice covered lakes, I fall into the latter category. I have driven onto the lakes during the winter, but only after extended period of VERY cold weather and numerous reports of VERY thick ice. Even when the ice is over a foot thick, there is something unnerving about sitting in a fish house and hearing the cracks and rumbles as other vehicles drive over a bridge of ice that is only kept in tact by the freezing temperatures.
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One of my best friends was typically amongst the first to venture out in the fall and the last to come off in the spring. He worked long hours on road construction during the summer and had his winters free to fish. It was almost as if he reasoned that if the ground was froze too hard to build a road, then the lake must have thick enough ice.
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He would invite me to join him on the lakes at times that I just did not trust the ice. We would typically go back and forth about how safe it was. He would try to convince me not to worry and I would give the reason why I was not ready to drive out on the lake. He would reassure me of the thickness of the ice where he had his fish house, and I would ask if he had checked the thickness in every spot between there and the shore. Of course I did not expect him to do this just so I could feel confident in driving out to him, but my question was a reflection of my lack of faith in the ice’s ability to hold my pickup, and even myself.
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Now I could sit on shore and watch others driving back and forth on the ice between the shore and various fish houses. If you had asked me if I believed that one of those vehicles would fall through the ice as I watched, I would have had to say no. I did believe the ice would hold them, but I did not have enough trust to put my confidence in it.
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You see, there is a difference in the kinds of belief we have. There is a belief that acknowledges facts, and there is another kind of belief that ventures into the area of trust. So what does ice fishing have to do with our relationship with Jesus Christ? A true saving faith in Christ is not just an agreement about facts concerning the Lord, it is a trust, confidence, and life changing faith in Him.
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I could look at those other trucks on the lake and believe that the ice could hold them up, but if I did not put my trust in that ice enough to drive out there, I did not have a real life changing confidence in it. Many people approach a belief in God in a similar manner. They believe that He exists. They can see the evidence of it just as we can see people driving on the lake, yet they are not willing to change their lives and serve Him. I believe that is what James meant in 2:19, when he writes, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
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The devils- the enemies of God- believe that God exists. They even know all about Jesus, and that He died for the sins of mankind and deserves our worship. Does that mean that devils will get to heaven? No not at all. In fact, the lake of fire was made specifically for them. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41.
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Those who do not have a saving belief- the sort of belief that puts a total confidence in Christ- will face the same wrath as those devils. That is why the love and forgiveness of God expressed in John 3:16 is so precious. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
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As we compare the words of James and John, we are reminded that the belief we are to have is not to be just a belief of existence. Our belief must be a belief of commitment and trust. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:38-39, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
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As I think about the ice, I realize that putting my trust in it could be a life or death decision. The fear of falling through and dying in freezing water is a strong motivator. My friend finally found out how big a risk he was taking when his pickup fell through on a path others had crossed just a short time before. Fortunately he was not hurt, and only lost his pride and the time it took to get a Ford Courier off the bottom of the lake. As we consider the path of life, let us not forget, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. The decision concerning trusting Christ, is not just a life threatening decision, it is an eternal life threatening decision.
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Christ is worthy of our trust, thin ice is not. Psalms 71:1, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”
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One of my best friends was typically amongst the first to venture out in the fall and the last to come off in the spring. He worked long hours on road construction during the summer and had his winters free to fish. It was almost as if he reasoned that if the ground was froze too hard to build a road, then the lake must have thick enough ice.
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He would invite me to join him on the lakes at times that I just did not trust the ice. We would typically go back and forth about how safe it was. He would try to convince me not to worry and I would give the reason why I was not ready to drive out on the lake. He would reassure me of the thickness of the ice where he had his fish house, and I would ask if he had checked the thickness in every spot between there and the shore. Of course I did not expect him to do this just so I could feel confident in driving out to him, but my question was a reflection of my lack of faith in the ice’s ability to hold my pickup, and even myself.
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Now I could sit on shore and watch others driving back and forth on the ice between the shore and various fish houses. If you had asked me if I believed that one of those vehicles would fall through the ice as I watched, I would have had to say no. I did believe the ice would hold them, but I did not have enough trust to put my confidence in it.
-
You see, there is a difference in the kinds of belief we have. There is a belief that acknowledges facts, and there is another kind of belief that ventures into the area of trust. So what does ice fishing have to do with our relationship with Jesus Christ? A true saving faith in Christ is not just an agreement about facts concerning the Lord, it is a trust, confidence, and life changing faith in Him.
-
I could look at those other trucks on the lake and believe that the ice could hold them up, but if I did not put my trust in that ice enough to drive out there, I did not have a real life changing confidence in it. Many people approach a belief in God in a similar manner. They believe that He exists. They can see the evidence of it just as we can see people driving on the lake, yet they are not willing to change their lives and serve Him. I believe that is what James meant in 2:19, when he writes, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.”
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The devils- the enemies of God- believe that God exists. They even know all about Jesus, and that He died for the sins of mankind and deserves our worship. Does that mean that devils will get to heaven? No not at all. In fact, the lake of fire was made specifically for them. “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” Matthew 25:41.
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Those who do not have a saving belief- the sort of belief that puts a total confidence in Christ- will face the same wrath as those devils. That is why the love and forgiveness of God expressed in John 3:16 is so precious. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
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As we compare the words of James and John, we are reminded that the belief we are to have is not to be just a belief of existence. Our belief must be a belief of commitment and trust. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:38-39, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.”
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As I think about the ice, I realize that putting my trust in it could be a life or death decision. The fear of falling through and dying in freezing water is a strong motivator. My friend finally found out how big a risk he was taking when his pickup fell through on a path others had crossed just a short time before. Fortunately he was not hurt, and only lost his pride and the time it took to get a Ford Courier off the bottom of the lake. As we consider the path of life, let us not forget, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:14. The decision concerning trusting Christ, is not just a life threatening decision, it is an eternal life threatening decision.
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Christ is worthy of our trust, thin ice is not. Psalms 71:1, “In thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.”
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
God With Us: A Christmas Message
The Christmas season has once again arrived and it appears that this year will once again be a white Christmas. As I gaze out of my office window I am able to see a large pine tree frosted with a fresh snowfall that not even the brisk wind is able to dislodge. The shingles of the church roof have as well been decorated with wisps of snow that create a card like backdrop for that beautiful tree. Ah, the perfect picture of Christmas, or is it?
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That picture may be a great reminder of December 25th, for it is but one of the captivating scenes painted by the hand of God upon our landscape during this time of year. Yes a reminder of a Midwest December, but not necessarily a reminder of Christ. It is quite unlikely that Jesus was actually born in December, let alone on the 25th. In many ways I fear that our celebration has done more to distract us from Him than to cause us to focus on Him.
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So why is it so important to focus on Jesus Christ? The reasons to focus on Him go back much farther than His birth in Bethlehem. Those same reasons show us why our focus on Him must go beyond one day, or even one season. Jesus Christ must become a day by day moment by moment part of our lives.
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To fully grasp the significance of Christ coming to earth and being born as a child in Bethlehem, we must first realize why He came. His reason for coming dates all the way back to Adam and Eve and the first sin. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12. Since Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, prophets have been predicting that a Savior, a Messiah, would some day come to bring deliverance. The Old Testament of our Bible contains many of those prophecies, so when Jesus was born, many were already looking forward to His coming. The fulfillment of all these prophecies comes together as the angel told Joseph, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
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There is something very important that we must understand about the birth of Jesus. His birth was an incarnation. That means that the baby Jesus was a manifestation of the true God in human form. That means that He is God in the flesh. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
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The Old Testament prophets clearly testified to the truth that Jesus would actually be God in human form. This was even made clear in the prophecy of the virgin birth. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14. That name, repeated in Matthew 1:23, means “God with us.” The deity (truth that He is God) of Jesus Christ is also made clear in Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Notice what Isaiah says about Him. The child is The mighty God, The everlasting Father. When Jesus claimed, “I and my Father are one,” in John 10:30, He was affirming what the prophets had already predicted.
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Some folks refer to this time of year as the advent season. The word advent means the arrival of something important. What could be more important than the arrival of God? When we consider that the birth of Jesus Christ was God’s arrival to earth in human form, we must ask the question- when did Jesus actually come into existence? Micah 5:2 has the answer to that very question: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” This prophecy written about 700 years before the birth of Christ tells us that He has always existed. Jesus Christ has always existed because He is God.
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Because He is God, Christ deserves our worship. Trusting Him and accepting Him as the long awaited Messiah who came to forgive sin is what makes the difference between heaven and hell. John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” By not trusting Him, you are condemned already because since the time of Adam, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. What better time to give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ than the advent season. Then you will not only be focusing on the arrival of God to earth, but the arrival of God into your life.
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That picture may be a great reminder of December 25th, for it is but one of the captivating scenes painted by the hand of God upon our landscape during this time of year. Yes a reminder of a Midwest December, but not necessarily a reminder of Christ. It is quite unlikely that Jesus was actually born in December, let alone on the 25th. In many ways I fear that our celebration has done more to distract us from Him than to cause us to focus on Him.
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So why is it so important to focus on Jesus Christ? The reasons to focus on Him go back much farther than His birth in Bethlehem. Those same reasons show us why our focus on Him must go beyond one day, or even one season. Jesus Christ must become a day by day moment by moment part of our lives.
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To fully grasp the significance of Christ coming to earth and being born as a child in Bethlehem, we must first realize why He came. His reason for coming dates all the way back to Adam and Eve and the first sin. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” Romans 5:12. Since Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, prophets have been predicting that a Savior, a Messiah, would some day come to bring deliverance. The Old Testament of our Bible contains many of those prophecies, so when Jesus was born, many were already looking forward to His coming. The fulfillment of all these prophecies comes together as the angel told Joseph, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21
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There is something very important that we must understand about the birth of Jesus. His birth was an incarnation. That means that the baby Jesus was a manifestation of the true God in human form. That means that He is God in the flesh. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
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The Old Testament prophets clearly testified to the truth that Jesus would actually be God in human form. This was even made clear in the prophecy of the virgin birth. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14. That name, repeated in Matthew 1:23, means “God with us.” The deity (truth that He is God) of Jesus Christ is also made clear in Isaiah 9:6, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Notice what Isaiah says about Him. The child is The mighty God, The everlasting Father. When Jesus claimed, “I and my Father are one,” in John 10:30, He was affirming what the prophets had already predicted.
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Some folks refer to this time of year as the advent season. The word advent means the arrival of something important. What could be more important than the arrival of God? When we consider that the birth of Jesus Christ was God’s arrival to earth in human form, we must ask the question- when did Jesus actually come into existence? Micah 5:2 has the answer to that very question: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” This prophecy written about 700 years before the birth of Christ tells us that He has always existed. Jesus Christ has always existed because He is God.
-
Because He is God, Christ deserves our worship. Trusting Him and accepting Him as the long awaited Messiah who came to forgive sin is what makes the difference between heaven and hell. John 3:16-18 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” By not trusting Him, you are condemned already because since the time of Adam, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. What better time to give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ than the advent season. Then you will not only be focusing on the arrival of God to earth, but the arrival of God into your life.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Teenage God of Popularity
The first of the ten commandments clearly exhorts, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” In spite of this command, many teenagers put popularity ahead of God, thus the teenage “god” of popularity.
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Whether you are a parent, pastor, youth worker, or a teen yourself, many of the problems that must be dealt with in relating to young folks can be traced to the teenager’s desire to be popular. We recognize that drugs, alcohol, and even premarital sex are often driven by peer pressure. But what about the basic issues of showing love for one another? Consider the young lady in the youth group who gets ignored by the other girls because she doesn’t quite fit in. Consider the young man who becomes so preoccupied with sports that he forgets about his relationship with God just because he wants others to think well of him. Consider the parent, pastor, or youth worker who sets a bad example in these same areas by putting a premium on popularity in their own lives.
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The quest for popularity is not just about the party atmosphere, it can be as simple as a put down in order to make yourself look good. You see there are many little foxes that spoil the vine.
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As we consider the players in the popularity game we would do well to consider how popular Jesus Christ was. He had friends and even disciples who followed and learned from Him, but was He really popular in our way of thinking? Isaiah 53:3 tells us, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
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Sure, He had a lot of friends, but He was not popular in a fashionable sense. It reminds me somewhat of my years at a small Bible college. If the students there were asked who was the most popular, and then they were asked who had the most friends, I suspect they would have given a different list. You see, in the world’s mind, popular is fashionable, cool, and trendy. It really has little to do even with how likeable a person is. It is actually less about how many friends one has and more about how many people they think want to be their friend.
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Some of the popular people are likeable, but others actually attain that status by being rude and unlikeable. Then there are those who would not be considered popular because they are not necessarily trendy, but because of their love and kindness to others they have many friends. This quickly shows that there are actually two kinds of popularity. A godly popularity, and the popularity of the world.
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If a popularity is actually godly, it would never compete with the true God for position. What really must be discouraged among both teenagers and adults, is the sort of popularity that puts pride ahead of God. Essentially, this is the root of the problem. The lust for popularity becomes self idolatry. Pride says we are more important than God. We must be reminded that idolatry is about more than just graven images, it is also about trying to take glory and attention that is reserved only for God. “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8
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In many ways the popularity challenge is really a priority challenge. What is more important, the love of God or the pride of life? 1 John 2:15-17 is very clear, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
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Matthew 22:37-39: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.“ When man pursues popularity at the expense of these great commands, he is putting the world and all it has ahead of God.
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So is it really that bad to put the world ahead of God? James 4:4 answers that question, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” No doubt it is a serious matter to be an enemy of God. Common sense as well as godly sense says it would be better to be an enemy of this world than an enemy of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us the same in John 15:19, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
-
So what are parents, pastors, youth workers, and teens to do in a world that puts such a premium on popularity. No doubt the advice to Timothy is appropriate, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season.” The sad truth is that instead of preaching godly principles, parents and others often end up pressuring young people to be popular. Dads and moms, do you really know what you are asking your children to do? If you push them to live up to your worldly ideal, you are pushing them to be God’s enemy.
-
Parents, pastors, youth workers and godly teens must not only teach with words, but they must teach by example. How can we expect the next generation to overcome this challenge if we fail at it. Do we recognize the danger of pride in our own lives? Do we act like we always have to be the center of attention? Are we willing to shun worldliness in our lives? Are we willing to be seen with unpopular social outcasts? How can we expect the youth to mortify their sinful nature if we are not willing to do the same?
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“And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.” 1 Corinthians 4:6
-
Whether you are a parent, pastor, youth worker, or a teen yourself, many of the problems that must be dealt with in relating to young folks can be traced to the teenager’s desire to be popular. We recognize that drugs, alcohol, and even premarital sex are often driven by peer pressure. But what about the basic issues of showing love for one another? Consider the young lady in the youth group who gets ignored by the other girls because she doesn’t quite fit in. Consider the young man who becomes so preoccupied with sports that he forgets about his relationship with God just because he wants others to think well of him. Consider the parent, pastor, or youth worker who sets a bad example in these same areas by putting a premium on popularity in their own lives.
-
The quest for popularity is not just about the party atmosphere, it can be as simple as a put down in order to make yourself look good. You see there are many little foxes that spoil the vine.
-
As we consider the players in the popularity game we would do well to consider how popular Jesus Christ was. He had friends and even disciples who followed and learned from Him, but was He really popular in our way of thinking? Isaiah 53:3 tells us, “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”
-
Sure, He had a lot of friends, but He was not popular in a fashionable sense. It reminds me somewhat of my years at a small Bible college. If the students there were asked who was the most popular, and then they were asked who had the most friends, I suspect they would have given a different list. You see, in the world’s mind, popular is fashionable, cool, and trendy. It really has little to do even with how likeable a person is. It is actually less about how many friends one has and more about how many people they think want to be their friend.
-
Some of the popular people are likeable, but others actually attain that status by being rude and unlikeable. Then there are those who would not be considered popular because they are not necessarily trendy, but because of their love and kindness to others they have many friends. This quickly shows that there are actually two kinds of popularity. A godly popularity, and the popularity of the world.
-
If a popularity is actually godly, it would never compete with the true God for position. What really must be discouraged among both teenagers and adults, is the sort of popularity that puts pride ahead of God. Essentially, this is the root of the problem. The lust for popularity becomes self idolatry. Pride says we are more important than God. We must be reminded that idolatry is about more than just graven images, it is also about trying to take glory and attention that is reserved only for God. “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.” Isaiah 42:8
-
In many ways the popularity challenge is really a priority challenge. What is more important, the love of God or the pride of life? 1 John 2:15-17 is very clear, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
-
Matthew 22:37-39: “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.“ When man pursues popularity at the expense of these great commands, he is putting the world and all it has ahead of God.
-
So is it really that bad to put the world ahead of God? James 4:4 answers that question, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” No doubt it is a serious matter to be an enemy of God. Common sense as well as godly sense says it would be better to be an enemy of this world than an enemy of God. Our Lord Jesus Christ tells us the same in John 15:19, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
-
So what are parents, pastors, youth workers, and teens to do in a world that puts such a premium on popularity. No doubt the advice to Timothy is appropriate, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season.” The sad truth is that instead of preaching godly principles, parents and others often end up pressuring young people to be popular. Dads and moms, do you really know what you are asking your children to do? If you push them to live up to your worldly ideal, you are pushing them to be God’s enemy.
-
Parents, pastors, youth workers and godly teens must not only teach with words, but they must teach by example. How can we expect the next generation to overcome this challenge if we fail at it. Do we recognize the danger of pride in our own lives? Do we act like we always have to be the center of attention? Are we willing to shun worldliness in our lives? Are we willing to be seen with unpopular social outcasts? How can we expect the youth to mortify their sinful nature if we are not willing to do the same?
-
“And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.” 1 Corinthians 4:6
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Does the Devil Want to Confuse Us?
I have not had to sit for jury duty yet, but I did receive a subpoena to testify in a court case. Because of my earlier work as a sheriff’s department chaplain in another county, I was placed at a scene that allowed me to be a witness in this particular incident. Such cases are presented before a jury, and the jurors are left with the challenge of looking at all the evidence in order to make a judgment as to what the truth is. You do not have to be on a jury to face these same challenges. Mothers and fathers are faced with similar challenges as they attempt to resolve conflicts between their children as the kids give conflicting testimony and the parents must try sort out the truth.
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What about the matters of theology and Bible teaching (doctrine)? Do you think the Devil would like to give a little conflicting testimony himself? Let us not forget that he is the father of lies. (John 8:44)
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The Apostle Paul actually warns Timothy of this very danger of false teaching coming from Satan and his followers in 1 Timothy 4:1-3, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”
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Paul is one of the most prolific writers of New Testament Scripture, and much of his writing includes warnings about false teaching. In verse 14, chapter 4 of Ephesians he alerts his readers, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”. Not only does the Devil recruit his demons for this terrible task, but he uses men to lead others astray with wrong teaching.
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We need to know what the truth is so that we do not fall for these false testimonies of Satan. You see when it comes to doctrine, the Devil is the great counterfeiter. He will take a little truth from Scripture, and distort it just enough to be extremely dangerous. The best way to recognize false teaching is to study true teaching. That means we need to study our Bibles. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” The more familiar we are with God’s word, the better we will be able to spot false doctrine. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
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Yes, the Devil does want to confuse us. The ideas of men and their teaching will change, but the word of God will endure forever. 1 Peter 1:24-25 tells us, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” God and His word do not change. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
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Paul warned us about being carried by every wind of doctrine. One of the characteristics of false religious systems is that their beliefs change based on who is in power. I am so thankful that we have an unchanging Savior who has given us an unchanging word so that there might be a check on the lies of Satan. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23
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What about the matters of theology and Bible teaching (doctrine)? Do you think the Devil would like to give a little conflicting testimony himself? Let us not forget that he is the father of lies. (John 8:44)
-
The Apostle Paul actually warns Timothy of this very danger of false teaching coming from Satan and his followers in 1 Timothy 4:1-3, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.”
-
Paul is one of the most prolific writers of New Testament Scripture, and much of his writing includes warnings about false teaching. In verse 14, chapter 4 of Ephesians he alerts his readers, “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”. Not only does the Devil recruit his demons for this terrible task, but he uses men to lead others astray with wrong teaching.
-
We need to know what the truth is so that we do not fall for these false testimonies of Satan. You see when it comes to doctrine, the Devil is the great counterfeiter. He will take a little truth from Scripture, and distort it just enough to be extremely dangerous. The best way to recognize false teaching is to study true teaching. That means we need to study our Bibles. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” The more familiar we are with God’s word, the better we will be able to spot false doctrine. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15
-
Yes, the Devil does want to confuse us. The ideas of men and their teaching will change, but the word of God will endure forever. 1 Peter 1:24-25 tells us, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.” God and His word do not change. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8
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Paul warned us about being carried by every wind of doctrine. One of the characteristics of false religious systems is that their beliefs change based on who is in power. I am so thankful that we have an unchanging Savior who has given us an unchanging word so that there might be a check on the lies of Satan. “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23
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