Torah Is Out to Get You!

Have you ever known someone, a friend, family member or coworker, who is  pretty nice guy but fully committed to the world's dreams? They work hard, but tend to take credit for what goes right yet are pretty quick to case a cloud upon someone else when the project hits a snag. They are not nasty, however, their language is sprinkled with a bit of profanity. They long for the corner office while their cubical is decorated with a poster of their dream yacht and a swimsuit calendar. They pass along the office or neighborhood gossip. They once confided in you that they dreaded the upcoming parent visit, as their dad is dumber than a fence post and their mom has been known to act like a female dog. They have no real use for God. They are not angry with Him, they just don't get why you waste your time with that religious stuff. Besides, that old morality would get in the way of the weekend trysts with his various lady friends. Then things suddenly change. A loved one gets ill or they lose their job. Perhaps, the opposite happens. The promotion comes with the corner office and a company car attached. There is now enough for the down payment on that yacht. Yet, be it pain or great achievement life is not fulfilled. There is a gnawing emptiness that is never satisfied. Through the process of many conversations they accept your invitation to visit your church, just this one time, just so you will stop asking.

The visit goes well. Another visit follows. And another. Then one Monday morning they tell you it all makes sense. They have accepted Christ. Confessed their need for the Savior and have given God control. There is no sudden miraculous transformation, however, the changes are evident. Being with believers is now important as is his Bible reading. He shares credit and encourages those he works with. He accepts responsibility and even covers for others mistakes. The calendar comes down and the picture of his Compassion International child takes its place. He tells you he is selling the yacht so he can go to Haiti on a mission trip next year. He walks away from the gossip and over lunch he asks you to pray that the Lord would send him a Godly woman to share his life with. One weekend He lets you know that he will miss the bible study as he is taking his parents out to dinner, just to let them know how much they mean to him. How has all this come to pass? Why the change in behavior?

We could say they got "saved". Or that 2 Corinthians 5:17 is coming true, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." They have the Holy Spirit and because they love the Lord they want to please Him. John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments." But does this really explain the change? Could it be that they are now under a  New Covenant? Most evangelical believers would agree that one who has given their life to Messiah Jesus, is under the promised New Covenant. For this clearly explains the change. Simply put, touched by the grace of God, this new believer is becoming Torah observant. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is bringing them into compliance with the Law of Moses. Isn't that amazing?

Am I correct that you are just a bit confused? Obedience to Torah and the Law? No, this one has been saved by grace alone. The Law has nothing to do with this. Well, take a breath. Where do we first learn of the New Covenant God will make with His people? We find this good news in Jeremiah 31:31-33, "Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah, not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people." With the coming of Messiah Jesus, by the power of God's Spirit, a New Covenant has been established. No longer are God's people struggling to be obedient by their own resources, God will implant His Law, His Torah, in our minds and write it on our hearts.

So the new believer you know has replace his gods with the One true God. He no longer takes God's name in vain and has cast away the idols from his life. He longs to be with other believers and has come to honor his father and mother. He does not steal credit or murder another's reputation for personal gain. He does not covet but desires to give to others generously. He actually wants to be with one Godly woman for life. Hmmm. Check the list. It seems he has unwittingly begun to follow all ten of those pesky commandments Moses brought down from the mountain. According to Romans 12:2, he is no longer being conformed, or pressed into the world's mold, but a transformation is happening as God renews his mind, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Now you may disagree. You may just want to see the marvel of God's grace here. That "Law" thing is supposed to be done away with. Just grace in your life. That is fine with me. I am not here to argue with you. I just wanted to point out where that New Covenant you enjoy being under came from. But  you might want to do a little personal inventory. I would not be surprised if you were in the same position as that new believer, obeying Torah without even realizing it. You still may object. Fine, however, as believers we cannot deny the Word and promise of God. Like it or not you are under the New Covenant. Admit it or not God is putting the Law of Moses in your mind and writing Torah on your heart. As a follower of Messiah Jesus there is no place to hide. Torah is out to get you.

 

God's Jurassic Lessons

Have you considered that the Jurassic Park movies tell a story that we may have overlooked? There are now four movies with the same theme and same basic plot. Jurassic Park in 1993, The Lost world, Jurassic Park in 1997, Jurassic Park III in 2001 and the 2015 version, Jurassic World. These are yet not enough as Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom will be released in 2018. The music is compelling and the theme song by John Williams is recognizable by most, actually it just started playing in my head. The Spielberg computer generated dinosaurs are remarkably lifelike and a bit terrifying at times. They are entertaining and can even get your heart rate up a bit as the raptors and an occasional T Rex chase those poor souls across the screen. They may be a bit intense for smaller children, but they are almost an iconic series in American culture. And one thing for certain, a few folks manage to escape and a few dinosaurs remain to provide fodder for yet another sequel. What does this have to do with a lesson from the Lord? Glad you asked.

The point of all of the movies, especially the sequels, is that man has control over nature. Man can return the lost creatures to be a part of a new ecology. A little DNA splicing along with the magic of science and technology and Voilà! dinosaurs once again roam the earth. The problem is that dinosaurs do not make good pets. They are not creatures easily controlled. The ones that feed on meat still want to feed on meat and they do not discriminate. Humans make good appetizers. The reason there are four movies is that there are always scientist, engineers, and even military people that think they are better, smarted, and more prepared than the group that was eaten in the previous movie. They will succeed where the others have terribly failed.However, very similar results occur. The dinosaurs cannot be tamed or kept confined and people still become dino-lunch. No one seems to learn from those earlier attempts. In the latest version the hero will be sent back to the Jurassic Island to rescue the dinosaurs. A volcano on the Island is about to erupt and destroy all these prehistoric creatures. In the words of the hero scientist, "What could possibly go wrong?"

This seems to be the plight of humanity as a whole. Each generation has those that determined that they are brighter, more prepared, a bit more evolved than their predecessors. They can disregard the previous results. Failure was not do to a flaw in the plan, it was due to a flaw in those who made the attempt. In this case the attempt to live without divine oversight. Some may refer to this man made religion as humanism or rationalism but it is the same process human kind has gone through for thousands of years. No matter how many times civil society is tried without the oversight of divine truth, the experiment fails. It takes longer than a couple hour movie but the result is the same. People end up in danger and some of them die as a result of yet another failed godless social experiment. There is a god replacement in these plans. It is a growing, powerful, increasingly intrusive authority. A king, or dictator, or some elite class to rule over and control the masses. Morals and guidelines decided by committee usually do not apply to the committee. Because of their status and intellect they are exempt. Out of some misguided benevolence they set up rules for the lesser beings they rule over to protect them. Meaning, to have control over them. And as the rules, laws, restrictions, and controls have a basis in fickle human behavior, they change with the needs of the elite. Freedoms are compromised for "security".  Education must be controlled, communication regulated, and the disruptive subjugated for the benefit of the whole.

Any objective evaluation of previous societies that have grown and failed will find the same story line. Some in power conclude that they have the answers and set about a plan to oversee the lives of others. They assume the place of God and the value of life is usually the first thing to go. Citizens are there to serve, to provide, and be fodder for conquest. The dignity God placed in humanity is compromised. There are those who chafe against the growing oppressive government so they must be silenced. The influence of divine based revelation for human society must be nullified. In the name of tolerance those with a moral foundation, call it a Biblical foundation, that is greater than the presiding  authority, must be eliminated. The moral code of the state is all that matters. This being true we see the collapse of empires, the moral decay that becomes unsustainable. Life is sacrificed for entertainment in a coliseum, Jews are herded into death camps, dissenters are executed, the non-compliant beheaded or, on a lessor scale, the call, by some, to submit to God's authority simply becomes illegal.

Now many can argue that nations and societies have failed for diverse reasons. However, God's principles for society, for life in general, are always violated. Men choose to worship and serve the created rather than the Creator. The rise of the elite, the "more intelligent", the more "advanced", the more evolved, and more powerful, those who know better, comes at the expense of the rest of society. They believe their intentions are pure. The world they will build will be better. They can control the evolution of society and offer a better life for those under their protective authority. There just needs to be a few more guidelines and confiscation of a little more of the people's wealth to make it work. Just build a better cage for the raptors, a better habitat for the T-rex, a safer environment for the masses. Just a few more restrictions, a little more control, a little less interference from the dissenters who speak of some archaic Biblical authority. Humanity declares, "This time we will get it right." "No need for God's directions or interference." "We are better, more evolved than those who went before." Science, technology, social engineering, academics, these are the only gods needed. The Jurassic process is often subtle. A gradual shift away from the foundation God has provided. A quiet shift to belief in education, science, humanitie's ability to overcome any obstacle. The belief that we have advanced beyond a need for God's foundation is realized over time. Until that eroded foundation is replaced with human control. The byproduct is the loss of freedom, dignity, and life. All offered on the alter of "progress". Another culture, society, dynasty, world power, or despotic authority comes to an end. The stage is now set for yet another sequel. But, next time, I am sure we can control the dinosaurs.                   

Death Survives in God's Lesson in the Shells

Have you ever walked along a beach and found a particularly beautiful shell? They come in more sizes, shapes and colors than you could catalogue. From common oyster shells to ornate conch shells with twists and curls that are inspiring in their details. They come in the image of fans, oblong gnarly shapes, polished pieces of mother of pearl, and slivers of onyx that glisten in the sun. We have a collection of them from all the times we have visited the ocean. Our collection also includes a few starfish and ornate pieces of drift wood, carved and formed by the Creator Himself. God's shells find their way to local stores where they are sold as necklaces, ear rings, pins and bracelets. Some are just put in jars with some grains of sand so you can take a bit of the beach home with you. If you take the time, the variety of shapes, colors, and sizes can fill you with wonder as they reflect the creativity of the God who made them. If you do not live near a body of water you can discover the same wonder in a river bed filled with God's carved and polished stones. His creation exuberantly proclaims the wonder of His hand if we would just take a moment to observe it.

There is one thing all the shells on the beach have in common. No matter their shape, size or color, they are all the remains of something that has died. Not to be morbid, but it is honestly amazing how that which was once alive can bring such a testimony to the one who gave it life, even after that life has passed. Death, for believers, has a way of pulling us in two directions. The Apostle Paul understood this struggle, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you" (Philippians 1:21-24). For the followers of Messiah, death is just one step closer to the "incorruptible" body and a dwelling place in the New Jerusalem. No more pain, sorrow, death or disease. The question posed by the shells is, "What will we leave behind?"

God has a way of putting things in perspective. We take great effort to avoid death or to at least give the illusion that we can keep it at bay. The airways are filled with messages of ointments and serums to reduce our wrinkles, droopy eyelids and sagging skin. There are more supplements offered every day to give us vitality, endurance and a more exciting bedroom experience. All so we can have a more attractive corpse. Don't get me wrong, I take a few supplements to maintain good blood pressure and a healthy level of B12. I visit the gym three of four times a week to keep the joints moving and the pounds from accumulating. I understand that this is the only body I have to serve the Lord and the people I care for. God calls this remarkable body He created just a pot made of dirt. Well, actually an "earthen vessel" (2 Corinthians 4:7). It is a temporary thing to be upgraded with one meant for eternal use. The Apostle Paul refers to our bodies in this way, "For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up in life" (2 Corinthians 5:4). Paul sees real us, our soul as it were, as being trapped in an earthly tent. This physical body is groaning and burdened, waiting to be renewed. Some mornings I know exactly what the Apostle means. Paul was a tent maker so he was aware of his own illustration. Our bodies, like tents, are for temporary use and no matter how carefully made and maintained, they eventually wore out. 

This being the case, we should take a more serious look at Matthew 6:19-20, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." Our time on this planet is limited. The days are numbered and they pass by quickly. It is reasonable and logical to live for things beyond ourselves. We need to consider what kind of legacy will be left on the beach when this shell is discarded.

There are two areas I would like to consider. One comes from the Apostle Paul, who understood how transient we really are. He also knew that the road should continue after he departed. He took it upon himself to prepare others for ministry. Among the many Paul ministered with and encouraged he had one son in the faith that whose life he chose to build into. Timothy was special to Paul. We can see that as he accompanies Paul and is sent out to check on the various assemblies of believers where Paul had previously ministered (see 1 Corinthians 4:17 and 1 Thessalonians 3:2). Paul wrote two letters that are included in the Scriptures to reveal the depth of their relationship. They also record Paul's instructions for Timothy to carry on the ministry. Part of this commission was Paul's desire to see Timothy follow Paul's example. "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2:2). Paul's desire was to see a train of shells along the shore, one leading to another, each with its own special beauty, each reflecting the glory of their creator, after they were gone. This was not a new idea. Elijah did the same for Elisha, two unique shells resting on God's shoreline bearing the character and distinct markings of a servant of the Lord. David passed on much to Solomon, including the charge to build God's temple. Which leads me to the second area of shell reproduction.

We have the same opportunity as the Apostle Paul, or Timothy, Elijah or Elisha. We can also have something in common with Solomon's father, David. Moses captured this for us in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates" (emphasis mine). We are commanded to pass on the knowledge of the Lord to our children. It is not an option. We are not to allow them to grow up to decide what they want to believe when they are old enough. We are to live out the truth every day, in our homes, as we work and as we interact with others. Our children are to be both diligently taught and to readily observe that the Lord is God. Our walk must reflect our teaching. Children are to be directed to implant God's word into their hearts, minds, and lives, as we do the same. If we do not have children we may have nephews, nieces, and children of friends whose lives we can build into. If the Lord's kingdom is to be advanced there needs to be another generation to take our place.

If you are like me you may be aware that the number of days before you, in this world, are fewer than the ones that have past. Paul, David, Elijah, Samuel and so many others left us the example of passing on a legacy that will honor the Lord and advance His kingdom. Closer to home I have thoughts of those who have vacated their shells, heading onto glory, These lives deeply encouraged mine. Some, I thought left too soon. Others had run the race and after ninety plus years their bodies were demonstrating that these earthen vessels were only meant to last so long. They were ready to move on. They all left behind an amazing variety of shells on the beaches of my mind. Some with artistic colors and curls, some showing the gnarly abrasions revealing the buffeting waves of life they had endured. All reflect the impact of having been a vessel for God. Their tents are folded, their vessels are broken, but the shells of their lives remain to encourage those of us who are left to continue the trek down the beach of life. The message they leave behind remind us that a legacy will remain. What kind of testimony will your shell leave behind?  

 

 

God's Gracious Gift, Torah at the Mercy Seat

I am always impressed with the ways God chooses to reveal Himself to us. Psalm 119 lets us know that "the heavens declare the glory of God". Anyone who has observed a sunrise or a clear night when the stars shout His praise would have to agree. Hebrews 1:1 reminds us that, "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets." God's prophets brought us the Word of God. There are numerous passages like 1 Corinthians 2:10 that tell us the Spirit of God also reveals who God is and what He requires of us. We have His Creation, His Word and His Spirit to show us who the Lord God is. However, these are not the only tools God uses to help us understand things about Him and His purposes. God likes to use illustrations that reveal much about Himself in terms we can see and even touch. If you have ever raised grapes the vine and branch illustration of John 15 comes alive. Many of us have had experiences with seeds and soil, maybe even a sheep or two. And very few of us have never seen a door. Divine object lessons abound that bring the realities of God down to our level. It seems God's fingerprints are everywhere.


I appreciate the tangible object lesson the Lord gave to Israel many years ago. Unfortunately, it is an object that has been lost, thankfully, we have the Biblical record to provide a mental picture of this treasure. It is the Ark of the Covenant. Exodus 37 gives the details as to its construction. A very fine crafted box with an ornate top and the means to transport without coming in direct contact with it. The cover served as the mercy seat. This is where the blood was sprinkled on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, as a covering for the sins of the nation of Israel. A place of grace and forgiveness. It was a significant article in Israel's history and worship.

However, the mercy seat is only a part of the Ark of the Covenant. It is the top, the covering of the box that is the Ark. Hebrews 9:4 tells us what was placed into the ark, "which had the golden censer and the ark of the covenant overlaid on all sides with gold, in which were the golden pot that had the manna, Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tablets of the covenant." Manna, bread from heaven to give food, to provide life for the children of Israel for forty years. Bread unearned and undeserved yet provided by the grace of God. The Rod of Aaron, representing the priesthood which would provide the way to fellowship, forgiveness and worship of Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Finally the two tablets of the Ten Commandments given to Moses on the mountain. The Law of God, the basic instructions and directions for the nation to follow as they walked with God. The Law was a gracious gift of God to a new nation that had only known slavery and needed God's direction. For many Law and Grace are like oil and water, they can never mix. The difference between the Old and New. The pre-Christ instrument of death and the post-Christ deliverance by grace. However, God unites the Law of the Ark together with the mercy seat of grace. They are combined in the same illustration.

As many work to separate God's Law and God's grace the Lord reminds us that they are an integrated gift from Him. Consider Exodus 25:22,  “And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel." It is from the mercy seat that God will give Moses the commandments, Torah, the Law, which is then to be given to Israel. A gift of grace from the God of grace and mercy so God's people will know how to best live. Without these instructions from the Lord Israel would be left to borrow and adapt the cultural norms of the neighboring pagan nations. Cultural norms that devalued life, grounded in the fear of a variety of demanding and ever changing gods and goddesses. Torah brought truth, stability and a relationship with the God of all creation. It is an amazing and blessed place to be.

If the Lord God intended for us to separate His Law and His grace, why does He combine them at the very beginning of His relationship with His people? Godly boundaries and directions have always been and continue to be a gracious gift of God. As is true with any loving father, our Heavenly Father shows us His love, His grace, His mercy now as He did for Israel. Just look at the illustration He made in the Ark of the Covenant. Law and grace together at His mercy seat.    
 

The Terror of God's Mercy

Have you ever longed for God's Mercy? Maybe you have felt overwhelmed and sense potential disaster just beyond your vision. Jeremiah knew how you felt. He lived with ongoing destruction and conflict. His spirit was undone by the coldness of God's people, his own relatives and friends. In the midst of these difficult times he writes,  "By the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. New every morning. Great is Your faithfulness!" (Lamentations 3:22-23). It has been an encouragement to many and the source of Thomas O. Chisholm's well known hymn, "Great is Thy Faithfulness", composed back in 1923. The words can be a source of strength and assurance when we find ourselves in times of distress. God's mercies are new every morning, not jut scraps left over from the day before. However, have you ever considered what God's mercies look like? Have you put Jeremiah's encouraging words into the context from which he writes? Do you know of the history of the times? If not you may not see the power behind the Lord's mercies or how they were realized for Jeremiah and God's people. An honest look at the passage will show that there can be great terror in God's mercy.

I encourage you to take a minute and read Lamentations 2 and Lamentations 3. Let us consider a bit of history and a few excerpts to help you gain the context of Jeremiah's confident claim to God's unending mercy. In the days of Jeremiah Judah was in religious rebellion against the Lord. Idolatry,  Baal, and Ashtaroth worship permeated the land. The Northern tribes had already fallen to Assyria do to their unfaithfulness and now Judah was taking the same path. Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was chipping away at what little was left of the kingdom of Judah. Judah's destruction was imminent. Jeremiah's message was one of impending doom and coming exile and the grieve he carries in almost unbearable. Lamentations 2 and 3 record his words of anguish. A few excerpts from the chapters reveal his heart and the emotions he endures.

Lamentations 2:1, "covered the daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger," 2:2 "swallowed up and not pitied, thrown down in His wrath," 2:4 "Poured out His fury like fire," 2:7 "Lord has spurned His alter, abandoned His sanctuary," 2:8 "The Lord purposed to destroy," 2:17 "Lord has done what He purposed; thrown down and not pitied, caused an enemy to rejoice over you," 2:21 "Young and old lie in the streets. You have slaughtered and not pitied," In chapter 3 Jeremiah turns from God's hand against the nation to his personal pain. Jeremiah 3:1 "I am a man who has seen the affliction by the rod of His wrath," 3:4-9 "broken my bones, bitterness and woe, set me in dark places like the dead,made my chain heavy, shuts out my prayer, made my paths crocked." Jeremiah goes on; 3:11-16 "torn me to pieces,set me as an arrows target, arrows pierce my loins, ridiculed by my people, filled me with bitterness, broken my teeth, removed my soul from peace." After pouring out his desperation for the nation of Judah, for God's chosen people, Jeremiah cries out his personal pain in a flood of emotional distress. These chapters may picture the greatest rendition of God's wrath and judgement upon His people you will find in Scripture. It is hard to find a silver lining here when you read the text as it is  recorded.

After chapters of woe and destruction Jeremiah gives us 3:22-23, "By the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. New every morning. Great is Your faithfulness!" How can this be? The Hebrew word translated mercy is Hesed, which speaks of the depth of the covenant love shared by Yahweh and His people. It is often translated "lovingkindness" and is simply hard to capture in English. There is an intimacy and richness of commitment that offers security and grace. The word for compassion is the Hebrew racham, meaning bowels or womb. The picture her is a passionate and tender love that comes from the inner depths of our being. The power of God's magnificent covenant love keeps God's people from being consumed, finished, brought to an end. God's compassionate love, that flows from the very core of His being, never fails.

If Jeremiah is right, how can we reconcile such vivid and, in all honesty, terrifying pictures of God's wrath and judgement being poured out upon His own people? How can His fulfill servant, Jeremiah, know such suffering and torment? When you read chapters two and three do you come to the same conclusion as Jeremiah? Pain, bitterness, slaughter, fury, wrath, destruction all reveal the Lords unending mercy and compassion? Perhaps verses 22 and 23 belong somewhere else or maybe Jeremiah is trying to make us feel better in the midst of apparent annihilation. Or perhaps Jeremiah is right on target. Perhaps we are the ones who have packaged God's mercy and compassion in our own little box and misunderstand the depth of His covenant love for His people.

Solomon was the wisest man to have lived and gives this bit of advice in Proverbs 3:2, "For whom the LORD loves He corrects, just as a father the son in whom he delights." Solomon also tells us, "He who spares his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly" (Proverbs 13:24). The writer to the Hebrews borrows this verse in Hebrews 12:6. In Johns Revelation he records the Lords words,  “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent" (Revelation 3:19). Out of love the Lord must discipline. The longer and further His people go astray the stronger the discipline must be. Generations of warnings and disciplines had come and gone and yet God's people still worshiped other gods. From simple sacrifices on the high places to the burning of their children alive to appease some other god the Lord's people had forsaken Him and placed themselves in greater danger than they could have realized. Now the time had come to bring a severe judgement or correction to deliver them from themselves. Now God's temple would be razed. The people of God would be deported to Babylon. No temple to offer sacrifices, no alter to sprinkle the blood on when the Day of Atonement came. No Jerusalem to celebrate the required feasts and festivals. Just Babylon, the center of pagan worship. A serious time of judgement that would last for a generation. Even then it would be even more years before God's Temple would be rebuilt and the offerings restored. God's people got what they had long practiced. Pagan gods, pagan worship, no temple, no Jerusalem, no way to be obedient to the Lord's commands for worship.

Consider the consequences both of the discipline of the Lord and the dangers if the discipline had not come. The result of the deportation to Babylon, the temple's destruction, the razing of Jerusalem and the removal of the opportunity to worship in accordance with the lord's commands was deliverance. God's people would never again chase after foreign gods. No more Baal or any other god or goddess would be acceptable to God's people. Now consider the results of no discipline. Worship of Yahweh lost. The covenants fully forsaken and replaced with the religious traditions of the nations. Torah lost, the prophets replaced or executed. Yahweh becomes just another of the plethora of gods and goddesses demanding attention from Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, Egypt and all the little local deities in regions of the Middle East. What would have happened to the promise of Messiah? What would have happened to the Covenant to David, or Abraham or Moses? All we believe in and hold to be true could have been lost. However, in the depth of His compassion and love God intervenes.From the depths of His mercy He brings the needed discipline to deliver His people from themselves. In the process Jeremiah reveals the terror of God's mercy.

Just a final note, the terror that was God's mercy touched the righteous as well as those who strayed. Jeremiah had to hold onto the memories and knowledge of who the LORD was in order to endure the discipline that fell upon the nation as a whole. And it was enough, Lamentations 3:20-21, " My soul still remembers and sinks within me.This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope." Can we be like Job? "Behold, how happy is the man whom God reproves, so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty" (Job 5:17). I appreciate the truth shared in Hebrews 12:11, "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." The discipline of Lamentations chapters 2-3 did not seem joyful. They were times of terror and apparent disaster. Yet, the result was deliverance and the protection of God's promises and covenants. Our loving Heavenly Father demonstrates His love, His mercy, His deliverance, in His discipline. Sometimes the terror of God's mercy is precisely what we need. 
     

 

God's Painful Pearls

Do you ever get frustrated with your brain? It is s remarkable tool God has provided. However, it seems to have a mind of its own, wandering into thought patterns that cause discomfort. I would like to have a disciplined brain. One that reflects the Apostle Paul's claim, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). My brain is more of the "free range" sort of brain, meandering about and finding bits of garbage to feed on. I am grateful for the indwelling Spirit to poke my brain to flee the garbage and get back into the protection of God's hen house I just wish it did not wander to begin with. Time on this planet is limited and wasted with absurd notions, which encourages me to gently tap my head against the nearest wall. Things like, "If I won the $387,000,000 lottery I would ..." knowing this will never happen as I never buy lottery tickets. Yet, there goes my inner being listing the charities, ministries, and people I would be able to bless. The trips to Israel and then follow the Apostle Paul's route through the Middle East, Greece and onto Rome. Books I could purchase, like the Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament, and works of the Ante-Nicene Fathers. Then I snap back to where my mind was suppose to be and I focus on the necessary task at hand.

Perhaps more frustrating are the darker thoughts. Hurts that come back with vivid clarity. Temptations that just do not seem to take a permanent departure but poke out through the recessed folds of my mind. They remind me of that thorn Paul spoke of to the Corinthians, "And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure" (2 Corinthians 12:7). I do not experience the exaltation or abundant revelation, but I can relate to the thorn and Satan's buffeting. It would just be so wonderful to be completely free from such needless thoughts and the wasted time dealing with them. They are like covert pieces of sand in the soles of my cerebral cortex; they slip in and distract me with their irritating fragments of things I dealt with long ago. I have studied, taught the Scriptures, acquired a few degrees, meditated and prayed and the old seeds of doubt and failure still sprout from my memories and send me down mental trails of discouragement. I do not live there, but, the unwanted weeds still return to my mind and need to be extricated before they take root.

Going back to Paul's personal illustration of the thorn I have some hope. There was a purpose for the pain. It kept the Apostle dependent upon the Lord. Without it Paul could have succumbed to the pride that would have damaged his ministry. Perhaps I need to view these irritations as that grain of sand lodged in the tender parts of my mind. I coat them with prayer and tears and lean on the Lord for victory. Yet, it seems the irritating grain remains. So I coat it with another layer of prayer, reminded again of just how vulnerable I am. Over time the prayer coatings have smoothed off the rough edges of the memory, even if it has not been removed. As the years go by, the prayer coatings continue as this memory, though faded, lets me know it will not go away. In the process I have become more dependent upon the Lord. More aware of my own weaknesses. The realization of needed prayer and dependence comes more easily. The barbed irritation has become a pearl of great value. No longer tearing at my mind with painful memories, it is a gentle pressure that reminds me that my life is in God's hands. Whatever the pain or failure the Lord can use the sand to make a pearl of dependence in my life. It can help me see the pain of others and offer comfort from the pearl still lodged in my own mind.

My mind still wanders into stupid things. Moments lost with mindless day dreams and a few vain imaginations. Maybe my brain just needs a momentary vacation from the challenging realities of life. However, the truly painful moments, the darkest barbs delivered by Satan are becoming valued pearls. Pearls made of the ongoing salve provided by God's Spirit as I pray and trust in Him.

Perhaps, I am not alone. It may well be that some great pain, or loss, or failure invaded your life. The painful barbs in your mind have become a source nearing despair. Whatever the cause, like the Apostle Paul's thorn, it can become a pearl of dependence and even victory. The Lord can remove the anguish and smooth off the edges of those thoughts and memories. Coated with prayerful tears the Lord can heal and help you see that He can work through even this to enrich your walk with Him. Even more, He can then use you to help others build pearls out of pain. As was true with the Apostle, God's strength can work in our weakness. Our pain and failures can become God's pearl of great price. The difficult question is, "will we let Him?"

Do You Live In a Castle of Fear?

Have you ever felt a bit intimidated, concerned, even afraid due to events or people that you encounter in life? Have you considered what this does to your existence or to your goals and desires? Does it interfere with what you feel you were called to do? As believers we are told that we have nothing to fear. We should live anxious free lives overshadowed by the Lord's grace. However, I have found that life does not always feel that way. The Apostle John gives us a means of dealing with these feelings of inadequacy and apprehension. He also warns us of the consequences if we try to ignore the fear issue. We find this instruction in 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." According to John all we need is perfect love to conquer fear, and if we don't, there is torment and we stand imperfect before God. So it looks like the fear thing is a pretty big deal, from God's point of view. Love should have freed me from such feelings. Great, now I have added guilt to my sense of apprehension.

Now before we all join in the guilt train ride to torment it would be well to take a closer look at what John is saying. There are a few things to remember. John is a Jewish Rabbi. Though the letter is general, John writes from a Jewish context and often deals with Jewish issues including the challenges of accepting Gentiles into the believing community. John's use of the terms fear, love and torment will come from an Hebraic mindset, even if they are Greek words. In the context of 1 John 4:18, the Apostle is dealing with the problem of unity or the lack thereof. John has written, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God" (1 John 4:7). Love is the binding force that draws us to God and to one another. It is the very evidence that we know God. That is why John follows with verse 8, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." If there is no communion in love then God is not known and no one will easily find Him. For, "No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us" (1 John 4:12). This is a very Jewish thought. Greeks and Romans encountered their gods often. Legend held that the gods even cohabited with humans producing demigods, like Hercules. However, for Yahweh to be known His followers must reflect His love. What is this love of God?

John uses the Greek word, agape, the highest Greek word for love. It is a sacrificial love that seeks the best for another. John is likely thinking of the Hebrew word hesed or chesed. Often translated "lovingkindness" in the Old Testament. It is a difficult word to translate as it involves both God's unconditional covenant love and the response of His people to that love. It is deeply intimate and speaks of the profound connection between the Lord and His chosen ones. It is an active relationship of passionate obedience and tender mercy shared by those who know God, both personally and as a community. The love John speaks of demands community connection. Which is why John sums things up in 1 John 4:20, " If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" The love that binds one to the Lord must also bind us to one another or we do not know God or the Love of God.

John tells us that this kind of love between God and us results in love perfected. Remember 1 John 4:12 told us that, " If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us." Perfect in Greek may mean that something cannot be improved or advanced. You have arrived and can get no better. It can also carry the idea of completion or a finished result. The Hebrew idea also includes the concept of always making the right choice. God is perfect, however it does not mean He does not interact with His creation. His response is not always the same and is not always predictable. However, it is always the correct and best response. It is in our love for one another that God's love is completed. Not meaning that it cannot grow, but that it places an accurate visualization of Who He is, the unseen God, on display for the world to see. John's conclusion is this. "And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God love his brother also" (1 John 4:21). There is no option but to have the same deep and passionate love for one another that we are to have for God. If that is not true then we are not His disciples.

Nestled in this powerful message of unity and devoted love is verse 18, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love." The Greek word phobos, from where we get phobia, is used here. It is a broad term that covers everything from concern to terror. Those who have this fear issue have not been perfected, completed, do not make the right choices that would reflect the person and nature of the unseen God. In the context, why and what kind of fear could be such a concern for John as he writes to these believers? When we consider the culture of the time the issue is easier to understand. The community of believers John writes to is diverse. There are Jews, Messianic Jews, God fearing Gentiles, proselyte Gentiles (Gentiles who have become fully Jewish), believing or Messianic Gentiles, and a diversity of cultures. They are most likely meeting together at the synagogues to hear the Word of God, as it is the only place where the Word is available and taught. Now the command is for all those who believe in and love Messiah to be one unified community.

However, a Gentile establishing a deep connection with a Jew while forsaking everything that made him a Gentile could add a great deal of pressure to their life. They would be forsaking their pagan practices and life styles. They would appear to be becoming more Jewish. There would be great social pressure to keep the Jewish brothers at a distance. For the Jews it could be worse. Time with a Gentile could make them culturally and ceremonially unclean. Eating with, and caring for a Gentile, might cost you friendships and business within the greater Jewish community. Some may question your access to the temple and the Jewish feasts and celebrations. In reality there was a lot to be concerned about, to fear, in trying to be obedient to this command. To be devoted to those who have been suspect if not outright enemies for generations was no easy task. However, when we reflect upon the love of God Who gave His Son so that death would be defeated and we could have life eternal, loving one another is not so much to ask. In fact, there is no fear in love. Love that focuses on others and has its goal to make the right choices has a way of crushing fear and apprehension. If we choose not to love  there are consequences. This kind of love offers a complete picture of the love of God, it reveals the unseen God.

John says, "Fear has torment." Meaning, a sort of self inflicted punishment. It is the result of a continuing action that we submit to. We allow the fear and apprehension to control us rather than the Spirit of God. If fear controls you, you invite anxiety, loneliness, isolation, and paranoia to be your constant companions. You welcome the physical side effects of sleep deprivation, ulcers, head aches, and a compromised immune system. You have not been made complete in God's love. You are also not portraying the image of God that the world desperately needs to see. We have a choice in this matter. We can be made complete in God's love.

Most of us do not struggle with the thought of being ceremonial unclean by hanging out with a Gentile, unless you happen to be a Hasidic Jew. Still most of us have people or groups we feel a bit apprehensive being around. In truth we just do not have time for agape or hesed love. It is too demanding and takes too much of a commitment. We are afraid of vulnerability and saturated with a lack of trust after years of being taken advantage of or betrayed. We have been lied to and lied about and deserted when we needed a friend to defend us. So we live in fear. We are content to just taste the edges of what it is to be a part of a committed community. We do the church thing, the Bible study thing, the Christian thing, however the cost of agape is just too much. Fear protects us. It lets us hide behind the walls of our insecurities and and feel okay in our torment. And the world around us misses the opportunity to see the unseen God revealed in the love shared among His people. We can choose to take steps to be connected to others and to the community of believers we fellowship with. We can start with one person we trust and build from there. A cup of coffee, a shared prayer request, a note of encouragement, a text or phone call that tells them you care. Love is an action and it can deliver us from choosing to be victims, tormented by our own fears. 

Has the love of God completed you in such a way that your devotion to other believers allows you to be truly tenderhearted and vulnerable? God gave, and it was the cost of His Son. What price are we willing to pay to honestly love one another? Or is it just easier, safer, to live inside our castles of fear.