Noah was alone with only his closest family, floating above the watery grave that was the rest of the world. When God had shut him in the ark, it had taken seven days for the rain to start. Noah must have wondered at that point, “What now?” Now the ark had saved him, for the time being. But, as he sailed over the corpses of his neighbors, brothers, sisters, friends, and everything he knew, he had to be thinking again, “Now what?” Then Genesis chapter eight says, “And God remembered Noah…”
Abraham was looking out over the plains toward where Sodom and Gomorrah used to be. Now he saw only smoke rising like out of a furnace. As he looked upon the judgment and wrath God had rained down, he must have wondered, “What about my nephew?” It surely seemed that no one could have escaped that awful flame. But Genesis 19 says, “God remembered Abraham…”
The Hebrews were in bondage to the Egyptians. They were forced to struggle under heavy burdens. They did not control even the destinies of their own children. Their one advocate in the palace had fled the country after he committed a murder. He had been the closest thing they had known to hope in nearly four-hundred years, and now even that was gone. As they labored hopelessly under the sun, they must have wondered, “Has God forgotten us?” Then, Exodus 2:24 says, “God heard their groaning, and God remembered…”
When we are lost and don’t know what to do next, when we wonder if the good perish with the evil, when we think we are forgotten, God remembers. When we wonder, “What now?” when the world around us is going up in smoke, when we haven’t heard from God in what seems like ages, God remembers. No matter where we find ourselves, God remembers. It is not because He ever forgot; it is because He was waiting on time to catch up with His plan. He has marked us out for a purpose, and He remembers. And, no matter how many times we forget, God remembers.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
Shown on the Mountain
It has been said that you should not doubt in the dark what God has told you in the dark. There’s nothing wrong with the saying, and I think it speaks to an important point. But, like most such sayings, I believe it is said much better with scripture. So, here it goes, “And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.” Exodus 25:40.
Perhaps a little context would be helpful in showing the point.
Moses has just received the Ten Commandments, many other rules, and a detailed design for the furnishings of the tabernacle. These objects were the holiest utensils ever created, and they included the ark of the covenant, the physical symbol of God’s presence on earth.
Imagine Moses, after he came down from the mountain, trying to fashion these pieces in the middle of the desert: gathering the raw materials, acquiring the necessary tools, and then completing them to God’s extravagant design. It is not hard to imagine Moses and the craftsmen becoming discouraged. They may have even questioned the point of the utensils, or why they had to be so lavish. But it was in those times when they remembered the command of the LORD, “make them according to the pattern which was shown.”
And it’s a good thing they did. They had no way of knowing it at the time, but their faithfulness was remembered thousands of years later. It was then that the writer of Hebrews quoted that fortieth verse of Exodus 25. And it was then that he revealed why it was so important. He tells us that they were for a “copy and shadow of heavenly things.” They showed the greatness of God, and foretold of His work in the future.
So let us not grow discouraged in following God’s design. All that we do is meant to be a copy and shadow of something better to come. And, if we are faithful to the pattern shown us on the mountain, people will see how great God is, even in the desert.
Perhaps a little context would be helpful in showing the point.
Moses has just received the Ten Commandments, many other rules, and a detailed design for the furnishings of the tabernacle. These objects were the holiest utensils ever created, and they included the ark of the covenant, the physical symbol of God’s presence on earth.
Imagine Moses, after he came down from the mountain, trying to fashion these pieces in the middle of the desert: gathering the raw materials, acquiring the necessary tools, and then completing them to God’s extravagant design. It is not hard to imagine Moses and the craftsmen becoming discouraged. They may have even questioned the point of the utensils, or why they had to be so lavish. But it was in those times when they remembered the command of the LORD, “make them according to the pattern which was shown.”
And it’s a good thing they did. They had no way of knowing it at the time, but their faithfulness was remembered thousands of years later. It was then that the writer of Hebrews quoted that fortieth verse of Exodus 25. And it was then that he revealed why it was so important. He tells us that they were for a “copy and shadow of heavenly things.” They showed the greatness of God, and foretold of His work in the future.
So let us not grow discouraged in following God’s design. All that we do is meant to be a copy and shadow of something better to come. And, if we are faithful to the pattern shown us on the mountain, people will see how great God is, even in the desert.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Taster of Death
If you have carefully followed my notes or blogs, you may have noticed that I write about death slightly more than the average person might; perhaps not always physical death, but spiritual death or the putting to death of our selves. The duality of death for the Christian fascinates me. It is a paradox. We once were dead, but if we die to ourselves we can live. And, if we crucify ourselves, we will share in Christ’s resurrection. And so, we really only know life if we die.
More thoughts of death and the Christian were aroused in my head as I was reading through the book of Hebrews. In verse nine of chapter two it says, “But we do see Him who was made a little lower than the angels, namely, Jesus because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” Later in the same chapter it says that, by His death, Jesus destroyed him who had the power of death and He set free those imprisoned by the fear death brings.
It’s a beautiful image. Because Christ has died, we no longer have any reason to fear death. But the part that really stood out to me was when it said that Jesus tasted death for everyone. This called to mind an image of ancient winetasters, testing the king’s drink to make sure it contained no deadly poison. I’ve often thought that a wintaster’s job would not be one I would want. But that is, in many ways, what Christ became for us. I like to imagine Christ tasting death and then handing it to us as if to say, “This is fine. It won’t kill you.” Indeed, death no longer has any sting. Christ tasted it, He destroyed its power, and it’s a safe cup for us to drink.
More thoughts of death and the Christian were aroused in my head as I was reading through the book of Hebrews. In verse nine of chapter two it says, “But we do see Him who was made a little lower than the angels, namely, Jesus because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.” Later in the same chapter it says that, by His death, Jesus destroyed him who had the power of death and He set free those imprisoned by the fear death brings.
It’s a beautiful image. Because Christ has died, we no longer have any reason to fear death. But the part that really stood out to me was when it said that Jesus tasted death for everyone. This called to mind an image of ancient winetasters, testing the king’s drink to make sure it contained no deadly poison. I’ve often thought that a wintaster’s job would not be one I would want. But that is, in many ways, what Christ became for us. I like to imagine Christ tasting death and then handing it to us as if to say, “This is fine. It won’t kill you.” Indeed, death no longer has any sting. Christ tasted it, He destroyed its power, and it’s a safe cup for us to drink.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Ten Shekels and a Shirt (or Have Idol, will Travel)
There’s a story in Judges 17 and 18 that doesn’t get many sermons preached about it. After all, it is a little strange. In fact, the last five chapters of Judges are pretty weird. Try reading them sometime when you want some, uh… interesting stories. (Just a warning, these passages contain some of the more, shall we say, “disturbing” accounts in the scripture.)
It was the story in chapters 17 and 18 that really caught my attention though. It’s a little long, so hold on. It begins, as all good stories do, with a boy who stole from his mother… ya, a great opening, I know. His name was Micah, and he took eleven-hundred shekels of silver from his mother (that’s about 28 pounds). When he heard her put a curse on it, he decided to return it. To which she said, “Wow! You’re such a great son! I’m going to make this silver into an idol and give it back to you so that God will be happy with you!” I know, sounds like a great family, right?
Oh, but it gets better. A wandering priest shows up. No, this isn’t a bar joke. Micah figures, “hey, I’ve got an idol; if I get this Levite to be a priest for me, God will have to like me!” So he offers the Levite a new suit, food and lodging, and 4 ounces of silver a year to hang around and be his good luck charm.
Well, the Levite agreed. And he was happy to stick around doing his thing for a while. But then a clan of Danites pass through on their way to battle. They see Micah’s house with the idol and the priest and they think, “Here’s what we need right here. If we want to stay safe in battle, we need a little of the supernatural. This couldn’t hurt.”
So, they offer to let the Levite be their priest. He gladly accepts the promotion of serving 600 men instead of just one. Then they steal Micah’s idols and set out on their own. Naturally, Micah is upset so he goes after them. They tell him to back off and shut his mouth or they’ll get mad and kill him.
Anyway, Micah goes home with nothing, and the Danites wipe out a city, settle down there, and keep worshiping the idol that made the whole thing possible.
Whew! Finally got through that. Here’s the point. First of all, don’t steal from your mother. But mainly, this is what I would say: everyone in this story missed the point. They saw God as something they could manipulate into blessing them. They were just trying to get something from Him. And the Levite, worst of all, used his position as priest to move himself up the social ladder.
The point is simple: don’t try to use God for what you can get from Him. The end of all being is not the happiness of man but the glory of God. We were made to glorify Him, not indulge ourselves. This weird story is just another example of how messed up we are. So, don’t build an idol and constrain God to blessing you how you want, don’t go around looking for some way to get yourself ten shekels and a shirt, and don’t think that simply following religious practices will guarantee your success. God is not a means to an end. He is the goal. He is the prize. Having Him is enough.
It was the story in chapters 17 and 18 that really caught my attention though. It’s a little long, so hold on. It begins, as all good stories do, with a boy who stole from his mother… ya, a great opening, I know. His name was Micah, and he took eleven-hundred shekels of silver from his mother (that’s about 28 pounds). When he heard her put a curse on it, he decided to return it. To which she said, “Wow! You’re such a great son! I’m going to make this silver into an idol and give it back to you so that God will be happy with you!” I know, sounds like a great family, right?
Oh, but it gets better. A wandering priest shows up. No, this isn’t a bar joke. Micah figures, “hey, I’ve got an idol; if I get this Levite to be a priest for me, God will have to like me!” So he offers the Levite a new suit, food and lodging, and 4 ounces of silver a year to hang around and be his good luck charm.
Well, the Levite agreed. And he was happy to stick around doing his thing for a while. But then a clan of Danites pass through on their way to battle. They see Micah’s house with the idol and the priest and they think, “Here’s what we need right here. If we want to stay safe in battle, we need a little of the supernatural. This couldn’t hurt.”
So, they offer to let the Levite be their priest. He gladly accepts the promotion of serving 600 men instead of just one. Then they steal Micah’s idols and set out on their own. Naturally, Micah is upset so he goes after them. They tell him to back off and shut his mouth or they’ll get mad and kill him.
Anyway, Micah goes home with nothing, and the Danites wipe out a city, settle down there, and keep worshiping the idol that made the whole thing possible.
Whew! Finally got through that. Here’s the point. First of all, don’t steal from your mother. But mainly, this is what I would say: everyone in this story missed the point. They saw God as something they could manipulate into blessing them. They were just trying to get something from Him. And the Levite, worst of all, used his position as priest to move himself up the social ladder.
The point is simple: don’t try to use God for what you can get from Him. The end of all being is not the happiness of man but the glory of God. We were made to glorify Him, not indulge ourselves. This weird story is just another example of how messed up we are. So, don’t build an idol and constrain God to blessing you how you want, don’t go around looking for some way to get yourself ten shekels and a shirt, and don’t think that simply following religious practices will guarantee your success. God is not a means to an end. He is the goal. He is the prize. Having Him is enough.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Greater Things
Oh, what a year can do! It was a mere 365 days ago that I was in Cleveland, doing mission work, happy but struggling. It was then that we sang Chris Tomlin’s “God of this City,” boldly proclaiming “There is no one like our God! Greater things have yet to come, and greater things are still to be done…”
But what was to come would shake my world.
It was one year ago today that I wrote in my journal, asking God to keep me awake at night and fill me with passion for a cause. The only problem was that I was giving up the gifts He had given me for what I thought I needed.
Well, He found a way to keep me awake at night.
It was two days later that Amanda broke up with me. Many of you may not know, but we were dating pretty seriously, and the break up came as quite a shock. That day changed the course of all I had planned in my life. But God was working for Greater Things.
A few days later, I wrote in my journal that this was the hardest thing I had ever been through. But I also wrote that I knew it was, thus, the greatest opportunity for growth. And it was.
I don’t mean to sound like I’m gloating, but God has done so many amazing things since that day. There truly were greater things to come for me. He has blessed me with great friends and family; He has given me the opportunity to serve Him in a way I never thought I would a year ago; He has blessed me with an amazing girlfriend who is better than I could hope for; and, most importantly, He has given me a better understanding of His Life and His Purpose for mine.
That doesn’t mean the hurt wasn’t hard, or that it was wasn’t lasting. Even as long after the break up as January, I was still writing about it in my journal, though it was more of a side note. It was then that I said, “I really haven’t felt like myself since Amanda broke up with me, but I believe I am becoming myself.”
My life looks infinitely different than I expected it to a year ago. But one thing I have learned through all the change and pain and misdirection: there is no one like our God, and greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done. I’m excited to see how God will blow my plans out of the water in the next year.
But what was to come would shake my world.
It was one year ago today that I wrote in my journal, asking God to keep me awake at night and fill me with passion for a cause. The only problem was that I was giving up the gifts He had given me for what I thought I needed.
Well, He found a way to keep me awake at night.
It was two days later that Amanda broke up with me. Many of you may not know, but we were dating pretty seriously, and the break up came as quite a shock. That day changed the course of all I had planned in my life. But God was working for Greater Things.
A few days later, I wrote in my journal that this was the hardest thing I had ever been through. But I also wrote that I knew it was, thus, the greatest opportunity for growth. And it was.
I don’t mean to sound like I’m gloating, but God has done so many amazing things since that day. There truly were greater things to come for me. He has blessed me with great friends and family; He has given me the opportunity to serve Him in a way I never thought I would a year ago; He has blessed me with an amazing girlfriend who is better than I could hope for; and, most importantly, He has given me a better understanding of His Life and His Purpose for mine.
That doesn’t mean the hurt wasn’t hard, or that it was wasn’t lasting. Even as long after the break up as January, I was still writing about it in my journal, though it was more of a side note. It was then that I said, “I really haven’t felt like myself since Amanda broke up with me, but I believe I am becoming myself.”
My life looks infinitely different than I expected it to a year ago. But one thing I have learned through all the change and pain and misdirection: there is no one like our God, and greater things have yet to come and greater things are still to be done. I’m excited to see how God will blow my plans out of the water in the next year.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Don't Drink the Kool-Aid
In my family we have a running joke about noisy kids. We laugh about getting them to go to sleep by giving them “purple Kool-Aid” which, of course, is actually Nyquil. Now, before any of you go calling family services, we don’t actually carry out this practice; it is strictly a joke.
There is, however, a more sinister nature to everyone’s favorite fruit-flavored drink. We’ve all heard of cults that use the drink to deliver drugs to their members, either to make them easier to manipulate or as a means of mass suicide. By now, most rational adults know that if you are at a large compound in the middle of the New Mexico desert and the leader claims that UFOs are riding a comet to take us home to Jesus, you shouldn’t drink the Kool-Aid.
So, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Whew, crisis averted.
But what about all the other poisons we drink in? And no, I’m not talking about the nationwide plot to put nicotine in Coca-Cola to make it more addicting. I’m not even preaching against the dangers of alcohol.
No, the poison I’m talking about is all the things we drink from the cult of culture. Things like, “You are all that matters.” “Follow your heart.” “You can be whatever you want; just put your mind to it.” “The government can fix your problems.” “Science can fix your problems.” “Religion can fix your problems.” There are countless others, and I could go on listing them for pages. However, it is much easier to simply tell you the truth.
The truth is: If you want any hope or any fulfillment, God is the only place. We look so often to what the world has to offer; but at best it is water that will cause us to thirst again and at worst it is poison that puts us under their control and kills us.
Jesus said He is the living water that would satisfy us so we will never thirst again. He poured Himself out. Be satisfied in Him. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.
There is, however, a more sinister nature to everyone’s favorite fruit-flavored drink. We’ve all heard of cults that use the drink to deliver drugs to their members, either to make them easier to manipulate or as a means of mass suicide. By now, most rational adults know that if you are at a large compound in the middle of the New Mexico desert and the leader claims that UFOs are riding a comet to take us home to Jesus, you shouldn’t drink the Kool-Aid.
So, we can all breathe a sigh of relief. Whew, crisis averted.
But what about all the other poisons we drink in? And no, I’m not talking about the nationwide plot to put nicotine in Coca-Cola to make it more addicting. I’m not even preaching against the dangers of alcohol.
No, the poison I’m talking about is all the things we drink from the cult of culture. Things like, “You are all that matters.” “Follow your heart.” “You can be whatever you want; just put your mind to it.” “The government can fix your problems.” “Science can fix your problems.” “Religion can fix your problems.” There are countless others, and I could go on listing them for pages. However, it is much easier to simply tell you the truth.
The truth is: If you want any hope or any fulfillment, God is the only place. We look so often to what the world has to offer; but at best it is water that will cause us to thirst again and at worst it is poison that puts us under their control and kills us.
Jesus said He is the living water that would satisfy us so we will never thirst again. He poured Himself out. Be satisfied in Him. Don’t drink the Kool-Aid.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Bats Frighten Me...
I think I may spend too much time being entertained. I like reading, watching television, and indulging in a good movie. Every once in a while, however, they are actually worth my time. Sometimes, something from a movie will strike a chord that resounds in the essence of my being. That is what defines a good movie for me. It may be cheaply made with poor acting and no special effects, but if its message can awaken a glimpse of the eternal, it has been well worth it. One such movie came out a few years ago, though it also had the benefit of exceptional acting and a large budget. That movie was Batman Begins.
The movie was absolutely brilliant. Its theme, plot, and tone were amazing; and there are many things I could point out from its storyline. However, I will concentrate on only one small portion: my favorite line in the movie. The character of Bruce Wayne is beginning his transformation into Batman when Alfred asks him, “Why bats, Master Wayne?” Bruce coolly responds, “Well, Alfred, bats frighten me; and it’s time my enemies shared in my dread.”
The thought of shaping your life around the very thing you fear the most was something that stuck in my mind. I have often thought that the thing we fear most is often the very thing that could be our greatest weapon. I can see this in my own life and where God has called me.
God has, for some reason, seen fit to call me as a preacher, a task that I never thought I could do. I preached my first sermon when I was seventeen, and it scared me to death; public speaking was, perhaps, my greatest fear. I am still nervous every time I get in front of people, but by God’s grace I am strengthened in faith to give glory to Him. As I am continuing in obedience to God’s call, I see more and more how little my fears really mean. And now I see that Satan will often assault us with fear to keep us from doing the very thing that is the greatest threat to him. So, by that reasoning, the things that God calls us to that we fear most are the things that do the greatest damage to Satan because they are the things that will most glorify God.
So, why preaching? First, because God called me to do it. Second, because it frightens me, and it is time for Satan to share my dread. And by God’s strength, though I am still frightened when I have to preach, the devil is far more frightened when I preach.
So, what frightens you? And how will you use it to strike fear into your Enemy?
The movie was absolutely brilliant. Its theme, plot, and tone were amazing; and there are many things I could point out from its storyline. However, I will concentrate on only one small portion: my favorite line in the movie. The character of Bruce Wayne is beginning his transformation into Batman when Alfred asks him, “Why bats, Master Wayne?” Bruce coolly responds, “Well, Alfred, bats frighten me; and it’s time my enemies shared in my dread.”
The thought of shaping your life around the very thing you fear the most was something that stuck in my mind. I have often thought that the thing we fear most is often the very thing that could be our greatest weapon. I can see this in my own life and where God has called me.
God has, for some reason, seen fit to call me as a preacher, a task that I never thought I could do. I preached my first sermon when I was seventeen, and it scared me to death; public speaking was, perhaps, my greatest fear. I am still nervous every time I get in front of people, but by God’s grace I am strengthened in faith to give glory to Him. As I am continuing in obedience to God’s call, I see more and more how little my fears really mean. And now I see that Satan will often assault us with fear to keep us from doing the very thing that is the greatest threat to him. So, by that reasoning, the things that God calls us to that we fear most are the things that do the greatest damage to Satan because they are the things that will most glorify God.
So, why preaching? First, because God called me to do it. Second, because it frightens me, and it is time for Satan to share my dread. And by God’s strength, though I am still frightened when I have to preach, the devil is far more frightened when I preach.
So, what frightens you? And how will you use it to strike fear into your Enemy?
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