Tuesday, November 15, 2011
There's somethin stinky in the heir
“Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel--he was indeed the firstborn, but because he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph, the son of Israel, so that the genealogy is not listed according to the birthright.” 1 Chron. 5:1
What a tragic story about Reuben. He missed out on his incredible birthright because of his pride and immorality. Reuben slept with his dad’s woman, which was also the mother of two of his brothers. Gross. The firstborn was supposed to be the spiritual leader of his siblings but Reuben totally blew it and this resulted in a life that never really amounted to much. No prophet, no judge, and no king ever came out of the tribe of Reuben. Because Reuben’s character and integrity was flimsy, the authority and leadership that would have been his had to be spread among the rest of the brothers. Tragic indeed.
Was it worth it? Was it worth sabotaging his entire lineage for a little temporary pleasure? No way. Reuben could have been great and many amazing leaders could have come through his descendants but that honor went to others who had strong character and solid integrity.
One of my upcoming projects is to record a series of videos of my mother telling her life story. This will be the first video storyline in my family and I’m excited to start it. It gets me thinking.. what is MY story looking like so far? How’s my character and integrity?
This story shakes me up. I don’t want to look back on my life and realize that I missed out on God’s best for me and my family because of a little temporary selfish pleasure. I don’t want my great great great grandkids to look at my video story and see that Gramps didn’t amount to much because of wasting time or fooling around with stupid stuff.
The Lord wants to do amazing things through you and your family. Mine, too. Is there anything blocking that from happening? Are we shooting ourselves in the foot? Is pride stinking up the place? What hidden junk needs to be thrown out?
Let’s learn from Reuben’s mistake. Our decisions are not only affecting our present situation, not only affecting our future, but actually affecting people who haven’t even been born yet. Let’s sober up and get goin. There’s work to be done, first in us, and then around us. We have a birthright (Rom. 8:17) so let’s claim it and walk in it.
Monday, October 31, 2011
All fired up
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up." – Dan. 3:16-18
These godly fellas were bold and had faith that God could and would save them from burning up in the furnace. That’s terrific. However, I see something else that’s really intriguing in this passage. Not only did they have faith that God would save them but they resolved to obey Him even if he chose NOT to save them from dying.
It’s wonderful for us to have faith in God. He can save us from whatever challenging situation, imminent tragedy, or looming doom that we face. We trust Him and we should. However, I suggest that our attitude should go further than just trusting God to save us from difficulty. We must decide ahead of time that we will love Him, trust Him, and worship Him even when He allows us to go through the ringer.
What if he doesn’t heal that cancer and my loved one dies? What if I lose my job and He doesn’t provide a new job for a long time? What if He doesn’t come through financially and I go bankrupt? What if that relationship blows up and fizzles out? What if that prayer isn’t answered? What if my plans fall apart? What if I fail?
Real faith kicks in and says,
I will not bow down to those tempting idols and take the easy worldly way out.
I will not give in to that temptation to fix things in my own strength that’s contrary to God’s commandment to me.
I will choose to honor and glorify God regardless of what He allows to happen to me.
It’s with this attitude that the world looks on and says, “wow, everything just fell apart in that guy’s life and He still loves God and seems to have a joy that doesn’t make sense.. that’s bizarre.. maybe this Jesus thing has something to it..”
Whatever we’re facing at the moment, let’s be like Daniel’s boys. Not only do we have faith that God CAN save us but let’s have the resolve to worship Him even if He chooses not to save us from a particular problem. Perhaps He has plans to use a tragedy in your life to show the people in your world what it’s like to have faith in a God regardless of your circumstances. In the end, He gets the glory and that’s what it’s all about.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Christmas in July
“Christmas in July?!” That's what I exclaimed a couple of days ago when my good friend gave me a Christmas present from last year. As I ripped open the wrapping paper with blue and white snowflakes, that wonderful Christmas spirit was awakened in me in the middle of the hot Atlanta summer. Receiving a gift unexpectedly makes me feel so thankful for friendship and reminds me of the ultimate gift that we celebrate during the Christmas season.
Thankfulness is such an appropriate response when we receive love, gifts, and unexpected acts of kindness. Do you know how often the Bible says that we get to show our thanks to God for that Christmas gift of His Son Jesus? Do you know His favorite way of hearing that you’re thankful? Check this out:
Thankfulness is such an appropriate response when we receive love, gifts, and unexpected acts of kindness. Do you know how often the Bible says that we get to show our thanks to God for that Christmas gift of His Son Jesus? Do you know His favorite way of hearing that you’re thankful? Check this out:
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” –Heb 13:15
The frequency of our thanks is continually and the method of our thanks is praise. If you don’t feel like it, do it anyways. Sometimes it does feel like a sacrifice. Sometimes I worship through gritted teeth and a cold heart. Yet, God remains worthy of praise. He always deserves the “fruit of my lips” as I continually thank Him for changing everything in my world.
Maybe you’re busy today. Perhaps you’re grumpy. It could be that your heart is wandering from the Lord at the moment. Maybe you’ve got a lot on your mind - decisions to make, directions to choose, situations to figure out. He invites you to have Christmas in July! Rip the wrapping paper off like a little kid. Respond with gratitude and praise. Enjoy the best gift in the universe that’s yours today to enjoy. Mark my words – everything in your day will change, your perspective will be enlightened, your mood will improve, your priorities will shift, and your heart will be filled with joy.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Heavy Heart?
Here are some verses for you if you have a heavy heart today and some comments on them:
"I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" -Ps. 27:13
..You WILL see the goodness of the Lord HERE in YOUR life and in YOUR situation. Believe it, it's coming. Hope for it for His Word is true.
"Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart.." Ps. 27:14
..Cheer up, Charlie. It's tough to wait but gather your courage and the strength you need will come from the Lord as you wait. Someone once told me, "Be brave. If you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference." CHOOSE to be brave and the Lord will meet you in the place.
"Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." Ps. 55:22
..your job is simply to put that burden that's on your heart in the Lord's hands. That's your ONLY job. It's then HE who sustains you and keeps you from falling apart.
..and now the grand finale.....
"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." -Luke 12:32
..get rid of your fear, Gang. Your heavenly Father desires to give you the kingdom. What a mind blowing truth!! It pleases Him to do so. Yearn for it, cry out for it, focus upon it, and He'll be happy to DO it. The Kingdom of God is so much bigger and better than whatever is making your heart heavy today. Shift your gaze upon the Lord and position yourself in a posture of praise (whether you feel like it or not). Join with the precious saints of old and those who are living among the nations to pray, "Thy kindgom come!" You'll find that your burdens melt away and your heart is renewed.
"I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" -Ps. 27:13
..You WILL see the goodness of the Lord HERE in YOUR life and in YOUR situation. Believe it, it's coming. Hope for it for His Word is true.
"Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart.." Ps. 27:14
..Cheer up, Charlie. It's tough to wait but gather your courage and the strength you need will come from the Lord as you wait. Someone once told me, "Be brave. If you're not, pretend to be. No one can tell the difference." CHOOSE to be brave and the Lord will meet you in the place.
"Cast your burden on the Lord and He shall sustain you. He shall never permit the righteous to be moved." Ps. 55:22
..your job is simply to put that burden that's on your heart in the Lord's hands. That's your ONLY job. It's then HE who sustains you and keeps you from falling apart.
..and now the grand finale.....
"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." -Luke 12:32
..get rid of your fear, Gang. Your heavenly Father desires to give you the kingdom. What a mind blowing truth!! It pleases Him to do so. Yearn for it, cry out for it, focus upon it, and He'll be happy to DO it. The Kingdom of God is so much bigger and better than whatever is making your heart heavy today. Shift your gaze upon the Lord and position yourself in a posture of praise (whether you feel like it or not). Join with the precious saints of old and those who are living among the nations to pray, "Thy kindgom come!" You'll find that your burdens melt away and your heart is renewed.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Enough!!
There we were. Colorful lights darting around the dark room. The musicians grooving all over the stage and bobbing like buoys in the sea. Surrounded by my middle school friends, I’m in my perfect comfort zone. It’s one of the few places on earth I can truly be myself.
Head and shoulders above the rest, my fist pumping the air, I couldn’t seem to push out of my mind some stuff that’s troubled me lately. Try as I might, my own carnality sought to condemn me. You know that feeling. It’s this gritty pest that eats away at your joy. It’s this persistent whisper that reminds you of your evil past or present sin.
The first few songs during the worship sets at our youth group are always exciting and energetic. My kiddos goof off and get silly. They tug my ears, pull the cords on my hoodie until I look like Kenny, and laugh hysterically as I trump their middle school wackiness with even greater and wilder craziness.
We were in just such a typical place this morning. Having a blast and stoked to be together at church.
Then something changed.
It often does towards the last song. A new song starts that’s a little slower and a bit more focused. I feel my heart strings pulled and that stirring in my spirit to worship Jesus directly, intimately, and personally. The kids around me calm down and catch the drift as we press into a place of worship.
As we stood this morning and hands around the room started lifting in worship, one of my guys just in front of me leaned back on me, his weight supported by my own and the back of his head resting on my chest. Just moments earlier, he was Mr. Silly - funny noises, stupid faces, the works.
The Lord spoke powerfully to me in that moment. With the burdens of the world on my shoulders and the stress of recent difficulties keeping the back of my neck in knots, my Savior invited me to just lean on His chest and rest. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” He says to you and me. As that fella rested his weight against me during the last worship song of the morning, I’m sure he felt completely safe and hadn’t a care in the world. The Lord reminded me that I can do the same with Him anytime I like. For just a little while, I closed my eyes and sorta rested my heart against the Lord. I finally let the drama and problems and stress and disappointments and guilt and anger fade from my mind. My shoulders relaxed. Then a deep breath. Shelter. Relief. Peace. The safety of His presence and the warmth of His embrace was enough.
Enough?
Enough for what? Enough to silence the evil whispers. Enough to dispel the lies of the enemy. Enough to dust off my child-like faith from the shelf. Enough to remember how much I’m loved right where I’m at. Yes, enough.
If you’re haunted by something today, hear the invitation to lean upon the Lord with all of your weight. Not just your weight but the WEIGHTS that have been dragging you down. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Stop thinking so much and allow His love to wash over you. Be a little kid in His presence. Let Him whisper in your ear. Notice as the baggage you’ve been dragging around vanishes. He’s your Daddy. He’s gotcha. He’s big enough. He’s strong enough. He’s close enough. He’s gotcha.
Just. Rest.
Head and shoulders above the rest, my fist pumping the air, I couldn’t seem to push out of my mind some stuff that’s troubled me lately. Try as I might, my own carnality sought to condemn me. You know that feeling. It’s this gritty pest that eats away at your joy. It’s this persistent whisper that reminds you of your evil past or present sin.
The first few songs during the worship sets at our youth group are always exciting and energetic. My kiddos goof off and get silly. They tug my ears, pull the cords on my hoodie until I look like Kenny, and laugh hysterically as I trump their middle school wackiness with even greater and wilder craziness.
We were in just such a typical place this morning. Having a blast and stoked to be together at church.
Then something changed.
It often does towards the last song. A new song starts that’s a little slower and a bit more focused. I feel my heart strings pulled and that stirring in my spirit to worship Jesus directly, intimately, and personally. The kids around me calm down and catch the drift as we press into a place of worship.
As we stood this morning and hands around the room started lifting in worship, one of my guys just in front of me leaned back on me, his weight supported by my own and the back of his head resting on my chest. Just moments earlier, he was Mr. Silly - funny noises, stupid faces, the works.
The Lord spoke powerfully to me in that moment. With the burdens of the world on my shoulders and the stress of recent difficulties keeping the back of my neck in knots, my Savior invited me to just lean on His chest and rest. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” He says to you and me. As that fella rested his weight against me during the last worship song of the morning, I’m sure he felt completely safe and hadn’t a care in the world. The Lord reminded me that I can do the same with Him anytime I like. For just a little while, I closed my eyes and sorta rested my heart against the Lord. I finally let the drama and problems and stress and disappointments and guilt and anger fade from my mind. My shoulders relaxed. Then a deep breath. Shelter. Relief. Peace. The safety of His presence and the warmth of His embrace was enough.
Enough?
Enough for what? Enough to silence the evil whispers. Enough to dispel the lies of the enemy. Enough to dust off my child-like faith from the shelf. Enough to remember how much I’m loved right where I’m at. Yes, enough.
If you’re haunted by something today, hear the invitation to lean upon the Lord with all of your weight. Not just your weight but the WEIGHTS that have been dragging you down. “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Stop thinking so much and allow His love to wash over you. Be a little kid in His presence. Let Him whisper in your ear. Notice as the baggage you’ve been dragging around vanishes. He’s your Daddy. He’s gotcha. He’s big enough. He’s strong enough. He’s close enough. He’s gotcha.
Just. Rest.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Spewing Chunks
The Gwinnett Fair last night was a blast. Not only are there thrilling rides and chilling Carnies but where else can you buy deep fried butter?!
Once upon a time, I was able to tackle every ride with a massive goofy smile on my face. Regardless of how rickety or how repetitious a ride was, it was no problem for me. With powdered sugar residue around my mouth, I’d hop to the closest seat and twitch with excitement until the ride hurled me into the air and tossed me around mercilessly.
My body apparently has changed a bit over the past several years. The first ride was great last night but then something started bubbling deep within me on the second ride. You know what I’m talking about.. there was the urge to regurge, toss the cookies, spew chunks, burp to the ninth power…
Man, what a bummer! I bought the unlimited ride stamp and only made it on four or five rides all night. Watching the crowds scream with pure adrenaline while benched on the side lines with a percolating stomach and green-tinted face wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. It brings a familiar passage to mind..
“So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.” –Rev 3:16
Heavy words from my savior!! In speaking to a group of lukewarm believers, Jesus expresses his utter distaste for their “on the fence” lifestyle. The Greek word for vomit in this verse is “emeo.” It means, “to vomit, vomit forth, throw up, to reject with extreme disgust.” Someone who is hot can be used by the Lord, someone who is cold can be convicted and transformed by the Lord, but someone who is lukewarm thinks he’s fine and thus remains unusable and unchangeable.
Where do you find yourself today? More importantly, how does Jesus find you today? Are you lukewarm? Do you find your security, purpose, identity, or joy from any other source than Christ? If so, verse 19 pointedly gives practical instruction on how to get out of such a lukewarm state: “Be zealous and repent.” In other words, enthusiastically, eagerly, passionately, and fervently turn from that behavior and mindset. Be honest and direct with the Lord and ask him to help straighten out your outlook and motives. And ya know what?.. He’ll meet you in that place of surrender and begin to work some radical changes in your life. Let’s all be diligent to examine our life and, in the words of Joshua, choose this day whom you will serve.
As for me? Well, I’m choosing to pursue my savior with everything I’ve got – and what a thrill it is! No barfing in my world today.
Monday, February 22, 2010
What the French, Toast?
The first thoughts on my mind this morning are all thankfulness and gratitude for the incredible life God has given me this year and specifically for a wonderful weekend.
I reconnected with a best friend from 13 years ago and enjoyed seeing how his life journey has taken him through so many dynamic experiences. I knew he’d end up being a brilliant technically-savvy entrepreneur. He and I were two of the only three people who were geeks enough to take Algebra II as an elective when we were only freshman. Good times. He’s now back on my radar and I’m praying that God will revolutionize his life and bring him back to Jesus.
Sunday mornings always thrill me. My middle school guys were out of control yesterday but I still love them. My ADHD ball of craziness shouted to one of his peers who was talking out of turn, “Shut your cannibal eater!” to which I promptly replied, “What the French, Toast?!” During our ever-so-brief moments of relative sanity, we actually had some interesting dialogue about the concept that whatever you allow into your life via your eyes and ears will come out of your life one way or another. We decided to be intentional about building each other up rather than ripping each other apart with our words. Later that afternoon, one of the boys skated up to me at The Cooler and said, “hey Billy, nice skates.” I replied, “Uhhh, they're rentals but thanks..” He then had that smile on his face like I was missing something entirely and then I remembered that we were trying to look for ways to be uplifting and edifying. Wow, so cool. These knuckleheads are really getting it.
Sunday morning church was just what I needed to hear. John Woodall summarized the whole idea of walking in the Spirit: “Don’t say ‘don’t’, say ‘help!’” The idea is that our efforts to control our fleshly desires with self-imposed rules and regulations actually feed our flesh and have the opposite result than what we’re looking for. Rather, the only way to control the flesh is to look to the Lord and ask for help. Fantastic. I’ll study this concept a bit more later today. Paul said that we must reckon the old man dead since we are alive in Christ. Today, I’ll keep my eyes on the Lord and remind myself that my freedom from sin is found as I abide in Christ.
Yesterday evening at the Aquarium was intense. I got to pet sting rays and baby sharks. Just the beauty of the place had my attention focused on the brilliance of our Creator. Each and every one of the species in that massive aquarium were created by God with love. The same God who made those peculiar creatures also designed me for fellowship with Him. While the animals were created IN love, we were created TO love – and that’s exactly what I’m aiming for this week.
May I encourage you, my friends, to press into the life God has for you in Christ this week. Every sin is basically our own effort to satisfy a need of some sort that God has already promised to fulfill in Christ. Hand the reigns of your life back to your Savior today and let Him live a life of victory through you.
I reconnected with a best friend from 13 years ago and enjoyed seeing how his life journey has taken him through so many dynamic experiences. I knew he’d end up being a brilliant technically-savvy entrepreneur. He and I were two of the only three people who were geeks enough to take Algebra II as an elective when we were only freshman. Good times. He’s now back on my radar and I’m praying that God will revolutionize his life and bring him back to Jesus.
Sunday mornings always thrill me. My middle school guys were out of control yesterday but I still love them. My ADHD ball of craziness shouted to one of his peers who was talking out of turn, “Shut your cannibal eater!” to which I promptly replied, “What the French, Toast?!” During our ever-so-brief moments of relative sanity, we actually had some interesting dialogue about the concept that whatever you allow into your life via your eyes and ears will come out of your life one way or another. We decided to be intentional about building each other up rather than ripping each other apart with our words. Later that afternoon, one of the boys skated up to me at The Cooler and said, “hey Billy, nice skates.” I replied, “Uhhh, they're rentals but thanks..” He then had that smile on his face like I was missing something entirely and then I remembered that we were trying to look for ways to be uplifting and edifying. Wow, so cool. These knuckleheads are really getting it.
Sunday morning church was just what I needed to hear. John Woodall summarized the whole idea of walking in the Spirit: “Don’t say ‘don’t’, say ‘help!’” The idea is that our efforts to control our fleshly desires with self-imposed rules and regulations actually feed our flesh and have the opposite result than what we’re looking for. Rather, the only way to control the flesh is to look to the Lord and ask for help. Fantastic. I’ll study this concept a bit more later today. Paul said that we must reckon the old man dead since we are alive in Christ. Today, I’ll keep my eyes on the Lord and remind myself that my freedom from sin is found as I abide in Christ.
Yesterday evening at the Aquarium was intense. I got to pet sting rays and baby sharks. Just the beauty of the place had my attention focused on the brilliance of our Creator. Each and every one of the species in that massive aquarium were created by God with love. The same God who made those peculiar creatures also designed me for fellowship with Him. While the animals were created IN love, we were created TO love – and that’s exactly what I’m aiming for this week.
May I encourage you, my friends, to press into the life God has for you in Christ this week. Every sin is basically our own effort to satisfy a need of some sort that God has already promised to fulfill in Christ. Hand the reigns of your life back to your Savior today and let Him live a life of victory through you.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Defending The Lentils
The name for my new blog comes from the story of a man called Shammah in the Bible. Of all of King David’s mighty men, Shammah is one of only a few courageous fellas specifically recorded in God’s Word in 2 Samuel 23. So, what was so mighty about this guy Shammah? He guarded a field of lentils.
Yep – he risked his life to defend… beans.
Shammah’s duty was to defend a field of lentils from the Philistine army that was attacking
King David told Shammah to defend the field of lentils and he did. When everyone else split, Shammah said to himself, “Wait, I have a job to do. I have to guard the beans. I may die but I’m going to stand my ground as I’ve been commissioned by my king to do.”
The Lord has called each one of us to serve Him in some specific way. Sure, some are in the spotlight as teachers, pastors, missionaries, whatever. However, most of us have been called to defend beans. You may think that God has given you an insignificant task. Maybe you’re in a secular workplace and you’ve been called to love your coworkers and live out your faith each day. Maybe your ministry right now is changing poopy diapers. Perhaps you vacuum carpets at your church. Do you sometimes think to yourself, “Man, this doesn’t amount to a hill of beans! Others are on the forefront of the action but I’m stuck in this boring humdrum field where nothing exciting will ever happen..”
1 Cor. 4:2 says, “Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” Be faithful to do what God has called you to do. Jesus said that those who are faithful in few things will be made ruler over many things. Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 15:58, “..be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
My desire is that God will use this blog to encourage you to have the heart, the valor, and the faithfulness that Shammah had. God has given you a certain ground of responsibility. It may seem insignificant, small, boring, pointless – just a field of beans. Don’t give up when it gets tough. Hold your ground even if you see a looming army coming to wipe you out. Do what God has called you to do. Your role in God’s story is significant. Stand up in the battle and the Lord will bring the victory. Defend the lentils.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
*sniff sniff*
Catch the scene..
I’m surrounded by thousands of people. I’m singing. They’re singing. Worship is rising in a united roar. Hands are raised towards the sky. Tears. Laughter. Reflection of the cross. I’m soaked to the bone since I just walked a quarter mile in a hailstorm. Tomlin is wailing at the mike and leading the masses with joy. Several of my close friends are within an arms reach. Christ is exalted. We are overwhelmed.
And then it hits me..
As if a massive pause button is suddenly pressed by some magical finger, the whole scene comes to a sudden halt for just moment.
I smell something..
Yes, I smell something wonderful…
Literally! There’s a delicious aroma coming from some nearby grill and the mouthwatering scent brings an immediate growl to my stomach. A smile spreads across my face as my eyes halfway close. Mmmmm. A glance to my right returns a couple giggles as my friends also catch the whiff and notice my reaction.
And then it was gone.
It’s mind-boggling how different smells trigger such a broad range of emotions and reactions. Of the five senses, we maintain the sharpest memories from our sense of smell.
Anyways, a correlation was made in my mind as I stood there in my sopping wet clothes. The worship from thousands of people arose like a sweet smelling aroma to the very throne room of God. Over and over, we read that the physical sacrifices from the Children of Israel were sweet smelling aromas to the Lord. The very nation of Israel is referred to as a sweet aroma in Ezekial 20.
But this is where it all leads to…
“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” – Eph 5:2
Yes, it’s true that my sacrifice of worship is a sweet aroma to the Lord. Yes, it’s true that God’s people are a sweet aroma to Him. But the best smell that was ever sniffed in the history of the universe was the death of Jesus for the redemption of the world.
I never really thought of it like that until tonight but I think it’s true.
It sounds kinda morbid at first, doesn’t it? Look a little deeper though. It was God’s plan before He ever laid the foundations of the world that He would sacrifice Himself to save a broken hopeless people. As Jesus literally became sin for us and took the full blow of the Father’s righteous wrath and indignation, the offering was ACCEPTED by the Father! It was a sweet sweet sweet smelling aroma as the law was fulfilled, sin was paid for once and for all, and the infinite chasm between God’s holiness and Man’s depravity was bridged.
Good Friday, indeed.
So here’s my exhortation to you: walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us. Just walk in love. Allow yourself to be a sweet smelling aroma to the Lord as the life of Christ lives in you. Anything less than that and you’ll just stink of your own selfishness. God is sniffing the air. What does He smell? Let’s allow the love of Jesus to bring a beautiful fragrance from our lives.
I’m surrounded by thousands of people. I’m singing. They’re singing. Worship is rising in a united roar. Hands are raised towards the sky. Tears. Laughter. Reflection of the cross. I’m soaked to the bone since I just walked a quarter mile in a hailstorm. Tomlin is wailing at the mike and leading the masses with joy. Several of my close friends are within an arms reach. Christ is exalted. We are overwhelmed.
And then it hits me..
As if a massive pause button is suddenly pressed by some magical finger, the whole scene comes to a sudden halt for just moment.
I smell something..
Yes, I smell something wonderful…
Literally! There’s a delicious aroma coming from some nearby grill and the mouthwatering scent brings an immediate growl to my stomach. A smile spreads across my face as my eyes halfway close. Mmmmm. A glance to my right returns a couple giggles as my friends also catch the whiff and notice my reaction.
And then it was gone.
It’s mind-boggling how different smells trigger such a broad range of emotions and reactions. Of the five senses, we maintain the sharpest memories from our sense of smell.
Anyways, a correlation was made in my mind as I stood there in my sopping wet clothes. The worship from thousands of people arose like a sweet smelling aroma to the very throne room of God. Over and over, we read that the physical sacrifices from the Children of Israel were sweet smelling aromas to the Lord. The very nation of Israel is referred to as a sweet aroma in Ezekial 20.
But this is where it all leads to…
“And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” – Eph 5:2
Yes, it’s true that my sacrifice of worship is a sweet aroma to the Lord. Yes, it’s true that God’s people are a sweet aroma to Him. But the best smell that was ever sniffed in the history of the universe was the death of Jesus for the redemption of the world.
I never really thought of it like that until tonight but I think it’s true.
It sounds kinda morbid at first, doesn’t it? Look a little deeper though. It was God’s plan before He ever laid the foundations of the world that He would sacrifice Himself to save a broken hopeless people. As Jesus literally became sin for us and took the full blow of the Father’s righteous wrath and indignation, the offering was ACCEPTED by the Father! It was a sweet sweet sweet smelling aroma as the law was fulfilled, sin was paid for once and for all, and the infinite chasm between God’s holiness and Man’s depravity was bridged.
Good Friday, indeed.
So here’s my exhortation to you: walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us. Just walk in love. Allow yourself to be a sweet smelling aroma to the Lord as the life of Christ lives in you. Anything less than that and you’ll just stink of your own selfishness. God is sniffing the air. What does He smell? Let’s allow the love of Jesus to bring a beautiful fragrance from our lives.
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Yom Kippur Rebuttal
Issue: Is the shedding of blood the only way to atone for sins?
Here is an argument I recently heard:
“Hashem [a title for God] knows what is on our hearts and that is all that matters. We ask for forgiveness and it is there.”
That’s a wonderful thought but it is contrary to Scripture. We’ll take a look at what the Tanakh and the Talmud have to say on the subject. But first, back to the question. According to Hebrew Scripture, how exactly are one’s sins forgiven?
Since there’s no longer a temple, today’s rabbis say that the blood atonement is no longer necessary for the forgiveness of sin. They say that doing good deeds and the giving of tzedakah (charity) will get you into heaven. The argument I referenced earlier goes a step further and says that simply asking God for forgiveness is sufficient. Here’s what the Talmud, Zevahim 6a says about Vayikra (Leviticus 17:11): “Surely atonement can be made only with the blood, as it says, ‘For it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life.’” That’s pretty cut and dry.
Another argument that actually seems to have some scriptural backing for the absence of blood sacrifice is that atonement can be received by a flour offering. Leviticus 5:11 says, “But if he is not able to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he who sinned shall bring for his offering one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it, nor shall he put frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.” This argument is addressed by simply reading the next two verses. “Then he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord. It is a sin offering.” The flour was only effective when added to the top of the blood offering of the community.
That brings us to Yom Kippur. The idea of Yom Kippur in the Scriptures comes from Leviticus 23. “…and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord.” The climax of Yom Kippur was the Azazel or the scapegoat. Oh man, I get excited about the scapegoat. Maybe I’ll write further about the scapegoat later this week. Anyways, two goats would be brought before the high priest, lots were drawn, one goat would be sacrificed as an offering before the Lord, and the other would be released after the high priest symbolically transferred the sins of the nation onto the living goat by the laying on of his hands. That’s where we get the term “scapegoat” since this literal innocent goat was blamed for and punished for the sins of the people. The goat would then be sent into the wilderness to die.
Therein lies the problem. There’s no longer a temple and thus no blood sacrifice. Is tzedakah (charity) and mitzvoth (good deeds) enough to abolish the requirement of the blood sacrifice? Or, as my friend recently argued, is simply asking for forgiveness from one’s heart enough to atone for sin? The Jews around the world hope so but how can they be sure? There’s absolutely no reason to think that God changed his requirement since there’s no scriptural backing for such a conclusion. Isn’t there a lot riding on the assumption/hope that God will forgive sins without the blood sacrifices that he so carefully and articulately ordained?
Let’s get back to basics for a moment. Ezekiel 18:4 says “The soul who sins shall die.” Again, very straightforward. The bottom line that we would all agree with is that the barrier between God and I is sin and only God can take away that sin. How can this be done today? Many Jewish people argue that we should be more concerned about ethics and doing what is right rather than ancient tradition and ritual. Tell me though, when did God change the idea from Leviticus that there must be an “exchange of life?”
He didn’t. Malachi 3:6 says “For I the Lord, I change not.”
So what then? Has God left all of mankind without a way to have sin atoned for ever since the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70AD? No, God has provided. Remember the story of Abraham and Isaac? God told Abraham to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice but then stopped Abraham’s hand at the last minute. God provided a ram as a substitutionary sacrifice. That story speaks prophetically of the day in which God would provide Himself as the sacrifice for the world. Messiah became the scapegoat and thus provides atonement for all who will believe. It is through His substitutionary blood sacrifice that the “exchange of life” takes place and sin is atoned for according to original Hebrew scripture. Yes, Jesus fulfilled Yom Kippur perfectly. Let me leave you with a passage from the book of Hebrews. Read it slowly and think it through..
“Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Heb 9:11-15
Here is an argument I recently heard:
“Hashem [a title for God] knows what is on our hearts and that is all that matters. We ask for forgiveness and it is there.”
That’s a wonderful thought but it is contrary to Scripture. We’ll take a look at what the Tanakh and the Talmud have to say on the subject. But first, back to the question. According to Hebrew Scripture, how exactly are one’s sins forgiven?
Since there’s no longer a temple, today’s rabbis say that the blood atonement is no longer necessary for the forgiveness of sin. They say that doing good deeds and the giving of tzedakah (charity) will get you into heaven. The argument I referenced earlier goes a step further and says that simply asking God for forgiveness is sufficient. Here’s what the Talmud, Zevahim 6a says about Vayikra (Leviticus 17:11): “Surely atonement can be made only with the blood, as it says, ‘For it is the blood that maketh atonement by reason of the life.’” That’s pretty cut and dry.
Another argument that actually seems to have some scriptural backing for the absence of blood sacrifice is that atonement can be received by a flour offering. Leviticus 5:11 says, “But if he is not able to bring two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he who sinned shall bring for his offering one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it, nor shall he put frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.” This argument is addressed by simply reading the next two verses. “Then he shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar according to the offerings made by fire to the Lord. It is a sin offering.” The flour was only effective when added to the top of the blood offering of the community.
That brings us to Yom Kippur. The idea of Yom Kippur in the Scriptures comes from Leviticus 23. “…and you shall humble your souls and present an offering by fire to the Lord.” The climax of Yom Kippur was the Azazel or the scapegoat. Oh man, I get excited about the scapegoat. Maybe I’ll write further about the scapegoat later this week. Anyways, two goats would be brought before the high priest, lots were drawn, one goat would be sacrificed as an offering before the Lord, and the other would be released after the high priest symbolically transferred the sins of the nation onto the living goat by the laying on of his hands. That’s where we get the term “scapegoat” since this literal innocent goat was blamed for and punished for the sins of the people. The goat would then be sent into the wilderness to die.
Therein lies the problem. There’s no longer a temple and thus no blood sacrifice. Is tzedakah (charity) and mitzvoth (good deeds) enough to abolish the requirement of the blood sacrifice? Or, as my friend recently argued, is simply asking for forgiveness from one’s heart enough to atone for sin? The Jews around the world hope so but how can they be sure? There’s absolutely no reason to think that God changed his requirement since there’s no scriptural backing for such a conclusion. Isn’t there a lot riding on the assumption/hope that God will forgive sins without the blood sacrifices that he so carefully and articulately ordained?
Let’s get back to basics for a moment. Ezekiel 18:4 says “The soul who sins shall die.” Again, very straightforward. The bottom line that we would all agree with is that the barrier between God and I is sin and only God can take away that sin. How can this be done today? Many Jewish people argue that we should be more concerned about ethics and doing what is right rather than ancient tradition and ritual. Tell me though, when did God change the idea from Leviticus that there must be an “exchange of life?”
He didn’t. Malachi 3:6 says “For I the Lord, I change not.”
So what then? Has God left all of mankind without a way to have sin atoned for ever since the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70AD? No, God has provided. Remember the story of Abraham and Isaac? God told Abraham to offer Isaac up as a sacrifice but then stopped Abraham’s hand at the last minute. God provided a ram as a substitutionary sacrifice. That story speaks prophetically of the day in which God would provide Himself as the sacrifice for the world. Messiah became the scapegoat and thus provides atonement for all who will believe. It is through His substitutionary blood sacrifice that the “exchange of life” takes place and sin is atoned for according to original Hebrew scripture. Yes, Jesus fulfilled Yom Kippur perfectly. Let me leave you with a passage from the book of Hebrews. Read it slowly and think it through..
“Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of eternal inheritance.” Heb 9:11-15
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Lambchops
Passover is just around the corner. It’s a time that I really look forward to each year as we reflect upon the story of God’s deliverance of His people from the hand of the Egyptians. If you don’t know the story, Google it and get ready to be amazed.
The centerpiece of Passover is of course the lamb. You can read about it in Exodus 12 if you’re interested. The lamb would be carefully chosen by each family, kept in the house until the fourteenth day of Nisan, and then be slaughtered. The blood from the lamb was to be placed on the doorposts and lintels of the house and they were to eat the roasted lamb as a family.
“Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” Exd 12:13
So, the families that followed these instructions were spared from the plague that God sent to Egypt. That night, the angel killed the firstborn son of every household but passed over the houses that had the blood on the doorposts. It was the plague that persuaded Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Thus, the Jews celebrate this miraculous event to this day.
The first lamb sacrifice in the Scriptures is in Genesis and it progresses throughout the Scriptures. We read that there must be the shedding of blood for the remission of sins.
Gen 4 – A lamb was sacrificed for a single person: Abel
Exd 23 – A lamb was sacrificed for a family: Passover
Exd 29 – A lamb was scarified for the whole nation: the continual consecration by the priests
John 1 – A lamb was to be sacrificed for the whole world: John proclaimed “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
One of the specific instructions for the Passover lamb says in Exd 12:46 “nor shall you break one of its bones.” Very interesting. This speaks prophetically of Jesus…
A Roman crucifixion was designed to be excruciatingly painful. The torture would last for up to 36 hours before death finally came to the executed. The Scriptures say that Jesus died in just six hours. Because it was the preparation day for the Passover, the Jews asked Pilate if he would have the legs broken of the three people being crucified so that they would die faster. After all, it was a holy time in Jerusalem and nobody wanted to see people being crucified during the festivals.
It was actually a merciful act when Romans broke the legs of those being crucified. See, crucifixion brought spasms and eventually paralysis to the pectoral muscles. This would make it impossible to breathe. A man being crucified would then give himself a sort of artificial respiration. He would do this by placing his weight on the nail in his feet and lifting his body up a couple inches. This would allow him to exhale before dropping his weight back down.
So, the soldiers broke the legs of the men on either side of Jesus that day. When they came to Jesus, he was already dead. Instead of breaking his legs, they pierced his side with a spear to ensure that he was really dead. This fulfilled the prophecy from Psalm 34 that Messiah would not have a bone in his body broken.
Amazing! Did you know that Jesus actually died on the fourteenth day of Nisan? Yep, He became the perfect spotless Lamb and was sacrificed that day for the whole world. The very day that the Israelites were celebrating Passover and slaughtering the lambs, THE Lamb gave his life so that we could live. His blood is sprinkled on “the doorposts of our hearts” if we’ll simply believe that it is so. For my Jewish friends, may I challenge you to consider this and even study with an open mind? The Passover is a celebration of what God did thousands of years ago in Egypt but was also a prophetic celebration of the perfect Lamb: Messiah. Study the Scriptures, ask God to reveal the truth to you, and you’ll see for yourself.
The centerpiece of Passover is of course the lamb. You can read about it in Exodus 12 if you’re interested. The lamb would be carefully chosen by each family, kept in the house until the fourteenth day of Nisan, and then be slaughtered. The blood from the lamb was to be placed on the doorposts and lintels of the house and they were to eat the roasted lamb as a family.
“Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” Exd 12:13
So, the families that followed these instructions were spared from the plague that God sent to Egypt. That night, the angel killed the firstborn son of every household but passed over the houses that had the blood on the doorposts. It was the plague that persuaded Pharaoh to let God’s people go. Thus, the Jews celebrate this miraculous event to this day.
The first lamb sacrifice in the Scriptures is in Genesis and it progresses throughout the Scriptures. We read that there must be the shedding of blood for the remission of sins.
Gen 4 – A lamb was sacrificed for a single person: Abel
Exd 23 – A lamb was sacrificed for a family: Passover
Exd 29 – A lamb was scarified for the whole nation: the continual consecration by the priests
John 1 – A lamb was to be sacrificed for the whole world: John proclaimed “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”
One of the specific instructions for the Passover lamb says in Exd 12:46 “nor shall you break one of its bones.” Very interesting. This speaks prophetically of Jesus…
A Roman crucifixion was designed to be excruciatingly painful. The torture would last for up to 36 hours before death finally came to the executed. The Scriptures say that Jesus died in just six hours. Because it was the preparation day for the Passover, the Jews asked Pilate if he would have the legs broken of the three people being crucified so that they would die faster. After all, it was a holy time in Jerusalem and nobody wanted to see people being crucified during the festivals.
It was actually a merciful act when Romans broke the legs of those being crucified. See, crucifixion brought spasms and eventually paralysis to the pectoral muscles. This would make it impossible to breathe. A man being crucified would then give himself a sort of artificial respiration. He would do this by placing his weight on the nail in his feet and lifting his body up a couple inches. This would allow him to exhale before dropping his weight back down.
So, the soldiers broke the legs of the men on either side of Jesus that day. When they came to Jesus, he was already dead. Instead of breaking his legs, they pierced his side with a spear to ensure that he was really dead. This fulfilled the prophecy from Psalm 34 that Messiah would not have a bone in his body broken.
Amazing! Did you know that Jesus actually died on the fourteenth day of Nisan? Yep, He became the perfect spotless Lamb and was sacrificed that day for the whole world. The very day that the Israelites were celebrating Passover and slaughtering the lambs, THE Lamb gave his life so that we could live. His blood is sprinkled on “the doorposts of our hearts” if we’ll simply believe that it is so. For my Jewish friends, may I challenge you to consider this and even study with an open mind? The Passover is a celebration of what God did thousands of years ago in Egypt but was also a prophetic celebration of the perfect Lamb: Messiah. Study the Scriptures, ask God to reveal the truth to you, and you’ll see for yourself.
Miller's Ale House
Dinner tonight with a couple friends was interesting. After my buddy was rejected by our hot waitress (she apparently has a boyfriend), the conversation meandered all over the place. I told tales of my beautiful Love and her annoying Papillion. We pondered all of the typical things guys ponder at a tavern. My buddy then had to dip and I was left alone with a new friend – one whom intrigues me greatly.
Once the bill was paid, the new friend and I sat at the booth and proceeded to explore some tragic territory. He basically bashed God for 45 minutes and blamed God for every failure in his life. It broke my heart to see how pissed and how hurt this guy was. He said that God just sits around and watches his life fall apart without doing anything about it. I didn’t say much. I just listened as this guy pointed fingers at God and everyone else in the world for his problems. When I asked if he still believed in God, he responded that he was just a hair away from walking away altogether.
I really feel this guy’s pain. Back in college many nights were spent venting to a friend (Nick Sells for the majority of one semester) about how I was ready to quit on God and just do my own thing. There was such depression, frustration, and hopelessness in those days. Life felt hard. I didn’t feel God, didn’t hear God, and didn’t like my circumstances. There were many nights that I almost threw in the towel on my relationship with God and just called the whole thing quits.
Several of Jesus’ disciples walked away from him after a particular event. When Jesus turned to his twelve and asked if they would leave as well, Peter gave this response:
“But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” (John 6:68)
That’s the key. When life doesn’t make sense, when our circumstances seem unbearable, when we don’t feel God’s presence, when we lose someone we love, when the structures in our lives crumble, when we don’t understand what’s going on, when utter loneliness and depression sets in, to whom shall we turn? We can shake our fists at God but then what? Jesus has the words of eternal life; who or what other than Him is left for us to seek out?
I’m going through a really rough month. Perhaps you are, too. If you’re going through a troubling time, let me encourage you to stick closely to the Lord. He’s with you, He’s watching you, and He is deeply in love with you. God uses the trials to refine us and grow us into men and women that intimately know Him and genuinely trust Him. Don’t be like my friend was tonight. Don’t let your circumstances grow roots of bitterness and animosity in your heart against God and the rest of the world. Draw near to God and worship Him anyways. He’s worthy of our praise whether we feel up to it or not. Just press on, keep on, hang on. After you’ve tasted the living water, there’s nowhere else to go that will satisfy the thirst in your soul. Jesus is everything you’re longing for. Don’t be deceived in thinking that the world has anything to offer that will truly satisfy your thirst. Whatever it is that you’re desiring, missing, aching for, or dreaming of, you’ll find it in the one that shed his blood on the cross for you. I’m not trying to be preachy here.. just aching for my friends that are walking away from God. Just go back and save yourself some pain and regret. He loves you so stinkin’ much and really wants the best for you. Let God have His way in your heart and life. You’ll come out with a smile on your face, a joy in your life, a beautiful spirit, and a peace that surpasses comprehension and understanding.
And if you have no clue what I'm talking about because you've never given your heart to Jesus in the first place, consider doing it tonight. You'll never be the same.
Once the bill was paid, the new friend and I sat at the booth and proceeded to explore some tragic territory. He basically bashed God for 45 minutes and blamed God for every failure in his life. It broke my heart to see how pissed and how hurt this guy was. He said that God just sits around and watches his life fall apart without doing anything about it. I didn’t say much. I just listened as this guy pointed fingers at God and everyone else in the world for his problems. When I asked if he still believed in God, he responded that he was just a hair away from walking away altogether.
I really feel this guy’s pain. Back in college many nights were spent venting to a friend (Nick Sells for the majority of one semester) about how I was ready to quit on God and just do my own thing. There was such depression, frustration, and hopelessness in those days. Life felt hard. I didn’t feel God, didn’t hear God, and didn’t like my circumstances. There were many nights that I almost threw in the towel on my relationship with God and just called the whole thing quits.
Several of Jesus’ disciples walked away from him after a particular event. When Jesus turned to his twelve and asked if they would leave as well, Peter gave this response:
“But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.’” (John 6:68)
That’s the key. When life doesn’t make sense, when our circumstances seem unbearable, when we don’t feel God’s presence, when we lose someone we love, when the structures in our lives crumble, when we don’t understand what’s going on, when utter loneliness and depression sets in, to whom shall we turn? We can shake our fists at God but then what? Jesus has the words of eternal life; who or what other than Him is left for us to seek out?
I’m going through a really rough month. Perhaps you are, too. If you’re going through a troubling time, let me encourage you to stick closely to the Lord. He’s with you, He’s watching you, and He is deeply in love with you. God uses the trials to refine us and grow us into men and women that intimately know Him and genuinely trust Him. Don’t be like my friend was tonight. Don’t let your circumstances grow roots of bitterness and animosity in your heart against God and the rest of the world. Draw near to God and worship Him anyways. He’s worthy of our praise whether we feel up to it or not. Just press on, keep on, hang on. After you’ve tasted the living water, there’s nowhere else to go that will satisfy the thirst in your soul. Jesus is everything you’re longing for. Don’t be deceived in thinking that the world has anything to offer that will truly satisfy your thirst. Whatever it is that you’re desiring, missing, aching for, or dreaming of, you’ll find it in the one that shed his blood on the cross for you. I’m not trying to be preachy here.. just aching for my friends that are walking away from God. Just go back and save yourself some pain and regret. He loves you so stinkin’ much and really wants the best for you. Let God have His way in your heart and life. You’ll come out with a smile on your face, a joy in your life, a beautiful spirit, and a peace that surpasses comprehension and understanding.
And if you have no clue what I'm talking about because you've never given your heart to Jesus in the first place, consider doing it tonight. You'll never be the same.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Peace, Homie!
Check out today's Jon Courson Devotional..
-----------------
March 10
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you ...
John 15:7
The word ‘abide’ means to ‘be at home in’. The Psalmist didn’t say ‘Thy Word have I hid in my mind’ or even ‘in my memory’. He said, ’Thy Word have I hid in my heart,’ (Psalm 119:11).
Paul echoed him when he prayed in Ephesians 3 ‘that Christ may dwell in your hearts.’
Why does the Lord want Himself and His Word to abide in our hearts and not just in our heads? Because, affected by data, discussions, and information, the mind is incredibly fickle. I can change my mind 100 times in a single day concerning a single issue. So can you. But not so the heart.
Think back to your dating days and you know how this works. If someone dumped you, even though you knew in your head you were glad to be free of him or her you would still find yourself feeling for him or caring about her. Why? Because the heart holds on. That’s why the Lord wants His Word to dwell there.
How does this happen?
For me the most practical way knowledge moves from the head to the heart is through meditation and contemplation. Spending time in the Word — in morning and evening devotions, in corporate study, in times when I’m waiting in line or waiting at a stoplight allows it to sink in and permeate my inner man, to be at home in my life, to abide in my heart.
(Jon Courson; www.joncourson.com)
----------
This rings true with me this morning. As I think wayyy back to my dating days (umm.. just a few months ago!), I totally understand how the heart holds on even when the mind knows it's time to move on. So often, I study the Word from an academic position and forget to let the truths of God's love move into my heart. Lets focus this week on meditating on the truths that we know and push them into our hearts. Lets allow His words to be "at home" in us. Unlike Eastern Meditation in which you empty your mind of all thoughts and emotions, Biblical Meditation is the filling of your mind and heart with God's truth. Then, even when your circumstances are uncertain, even when your mind questions what's going on, even when people let you down, His Word abiding in your heart keeps you at peace.
Here are a few additional verses to go along with this idea...
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.." - Col. 3:15
"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." -Isa. 26:3
"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." -Ps. 119:11
"The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide." -Ps. 37:31
"Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart." -Job 22:22
"Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." -Ps. 119:97
"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." -Phl. 4:7
-----------------
March 10
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you ...
John 15:7
The word ‘abide’ means to ‘be at home in’. The Psalmist didn’t say ‘Thy Word have I hid in my mind’ or even ‘in my memory’. He said, ’Thy Word have I hid in my heart,’ (Psalm 119:11).
Paul echoed him when he prayed in Ephesians 3 ‘that Christ may dwell in your hearts.’
Why does the Lord want Himself and His Word to abide in our hearts and not just in our heads? Because, affected by data, discussions, and information, the mind is incredibly fickle. I can change my mind 100 times in a single day concerning a single issue. So can you. But not so the heart.
Think back to your dating days and you know how this works. If someone dumped you, even though you knew in your head you were glad to be free of him or her you would still find yourself feeling for him or caring about her. Why? Because the heart holds on. That’s why the Lord wants His Word to dwell there.
How does this happen?
For me the most practical way knowledge moves from the head to the heart is through meditation and contemplation. Spending time in the Word — in morning and evening devotions, in corporate study, in times when I’m waiting in line or waiting at a stoplight allows it to sink in and permeate my inner man, to be at home in my life, to abide in my heart.
(Jon Courson; www.joncourson.com)
----------
This rings true with me this morning. As I think wayyy back to my dating days (umm.. just a few months ago!), I totally understand how the heart holds on even when the mind knows it's time to move on. So often, I study the Word from an academic position and forget to let the truths of God's love move into my heart. Lets focus this week on meditating on the truths that we know and push them into our hearts. Lets allow His words to be "at home" in us. Unlike Eastern Meditation in which you empty your mind of all thoughts and emotions, Biblical Meditation is the filling of your mind and heart with God's truth. Then, even when your circumstances are uncertain, even when your mind questions what's going on, even when people let you down, His Word abiding in your heart keeps you at peace.
Here are a few additional verses to go along with this idea...
"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts.." - Col. 3:15
"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." -Isa. 26:3
"Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You." -Ps. 119:11
"The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide." -Ps. 37:31
"Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, and lay up His words in your heart." -Job 22:22
"Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." -Ps. 119:97
"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." -Phl. 4:7
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
25 Things About Me - I finally caved and did it.
• I ran away from home and headed for the Florida Keys at 17 with my best friend Matt. The plan was to become fishermen while living in my ’82 tie-dyed Volvo and making extra money by playing our guitars on the streets. We got stopped in Daytona for a broken taillight and were detained for a few days in Juvie until our parents felt like we learned a lesson and drove down to pick us up. I had the time of my life and would do it again.
• I found a dead body floating in the Atlantic while walking the coast with my father at 14. The guy was a friend of my grandfather’s and had shot himself in the head because he found out earlier that day that he had an inoperable brain tumor.
• Of the numerous jobs I’ve held over the years, I learned my most valuable skills about business, character, integrity, persuasion, patience, ethics, and perseverance while working at a crooked telemarketing company with open drug use and ex-con coworkers. I was 17.
• I was shot in the neck with a BB gun in middle school. The BB is just below my Adam’s Apple and you can see it if you look carefully. I’ve never had it removed because I’m scared of a doctor taking a scalpel to my throat.
• My sweetest times of worship and communion with my Savior are when I’m driving alone.
• I sometimes make faces in front of my bathroom mirror for as long as an hour because it cracks me up.
• I sleep with a small blue pillow that I’ve had since sixth grade. It goes with me on road trips and sleepovers.
• I never cried a single tear over my father’s death, yet miss him and think about him constantly. His cremains are in a cardboard box under my bathroom sink.
• I have a half-sister. Her name is Jamie, she’s 19, and the daughter of my father’s fifth ex-wife. I have no idea where she is and haven’t seen her in years. I usually tell people that I’m an only child because it’s easier than explaining.
• I think about my future wife, pray for her occasionally, and wonder what it will feel like when we lock eyes for the first time.
• Passion spills from my pen onto the pages of my various journals faster, easier, and with more clarity than I could ever express in any other way.
• I have no idea what I’m doing and I’m absolutely convinced that I am cheating at the whole Adulthood thing. I’m perfectly content with that, too.
• My mother was once a professional nude model and later owned a successful modeling agency in Atlanta. She also lived with a drug lord boyfriend in Peru in the 70’s.
• My heart yearns to travel and fully comes alive on the open road. I travel best alone.
• I still have the leftover popcorn, ticket stubs, change, receipt, a Polaroid picture, and a hand written note from my first date. I was in second grade at the time. The popcorn still looks fresh.
• I was suspended in second grade for defending myself against a group of bullies with a large cleaver. It was in my own front yard but considered an extension of school property because of the bus stop on the corner. (The bullies didn’t bother me after that day.)
• My greatest fear is living a life of mediocrity and leaving no legacy or mark on the world. My second greatest fear is snakes.
• Due to the way my mother raised me, I’m the most physically affectionate person you’re likely to meet.
• I was brainwashed as a child and was forced to listen to the oldies radio station against my will. Music from the 50/60’s became my favorite music and I listen to an oldies channel to this day as often as I can.
• Serial killers and the like fascinate me. I like to read the profiles of murderers – especially unusual bits such as their last meal requests before they’re executed.
• My favorite bands are Weezer and Dave Matthews, in that order. Their music has gotten me through the harshest winters of life’s cruelty.
• My youth pastor and I spent a summer building the outside baptismal at Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain. I’ve played guitar in summer concerts on it (it doubles as an outside stage). My Jewish father was baptized in it shortly after he accepted Jesus as Messiah at 60 years old. He and I got matching Malachi 4:6 tattoos earlier that day to celebrate.
• My grandfather was one of the wealthiest men in Florida from the 1940’s till the 1970’s. I’ve seen a picture of him arm-in-arm with Al Capone, who was one of his close friends.
• I cry often and easily but rarely in front of anyone.
• My favorite places in the world to be: standing in front of a group of people and teaching from the Bible, in a quiet coffee shop with a journal and pen in hand, in the arms of the woman I love, on my face before the Lord in worship, setting out for an adventure that has yet to be determined, basking in awe of God’s beautiful creation, and getting lost in the eyes of anyone who inspires me.
• I found a dead body floating in the Atlantic while walking the coast with my father at 14. The guy was a friend of my grandfather’s and had shot himself in the head because he found out earlier that day that he had an inoperable brain tumor.
• Of the numerous jobs I’ve held over the years, I learned my most valuable skills about business, character, integrity, persuasion, patience, ethics, and perseverance while working at a crooked telemarketing company with open drug use and ex-con coworkers. I was 17.
• I was shot in the neck with a BB gun in middle school. The BB is just below my Adam’s Apple and you can see it if you look carefully. I’ve never had it removed because I’m scared of a doctor taking a scalpel to my throat.
• My sweetest times of worship and communion with my Savior are when I’m driving alone.
• I sometimes make faces in front of my bathroom mirror for as long as an hour because it cracks me up.
• I sleep with a small blue pillow that I’ve had since sixth grade. It goes with me on road trips and sleepovers.
• I never cried a single tear over my father’s death, yet miss him and think about him constantly. His cremains are in a cardboard box under my bathroom sink.
• I have a half-sister. Her name is Jamie, she’s 19, and the daughter of my father’s fifth ex-wife. I have no idea where she is and haven’t seen her in years. I usually tell people that I’m an only child because it’s easier than explaining.
• I think about my future wife, pray for her occasionally, and wonder what it will feel like when we lock eyes for the first time.
• Passion spills from my pen onto the pages of my various journals faster, easier, and with more clarity than I could ever express in any other way.
• I have no idea what I’m doing and I’m absolutely convinced that I am cheating at the whole Adulthood thing. I’m perfectly content with that, too.
• My mother was once a professional nude model and later owned a successful modeling agency in Atlanta. She also lived with a drug lord boyfriend in Peru in the 70’s.
• My heart yearns to travel and fully comes alive on the open road. I travel best alone.
• I still have the leftover popcorn, ticket stubs, change, receipt, a Polaroid picture, and a hand written note from my first date. I was in second grade at the time. The popcorn still looks fresh.
• I was suspended in second grade for defending myself against a group of bullies with a large cleaver. It was in my own front yard but considered an extension of school property because of the bus stop on the corner. (The bullies didn’t bother me after that day.)
• My greatest fear is living a life of mediocrity and leaving no legacy or mark on the world. My second greatest fear is snakes.
• Due to the way my mother raised me, I’m the most physically affectionate person you’re likely to meet.
• I was brainwashed as a child and was forced to listen to the oldies radio station against my will. Music from the 50/60’s became my favorite music and I listen to an oldies channel to this day as often as I can.
• Serial killers and the like fascinate me. I like to read the profiles of murderers – especially unusual bits such as their last meal requests before they’re executed.
• My favorite bands are Weezer and Dave Matthews, in that order. Their music has gotten me through the harshest winters of life’s cruelty.
• My youth pastor and I spent a summer building the outside baptismal at Calvary Chapel Stone Mountain. I’ve played guitar in summer concerts on it (it doubles as an outside stage). My Jewish father was baptized in it shortly after he accepted Jesus as Messiah at 60 years old. He and I got matching Malachi 4:6 tattoos earlier that day to celebrate.
• My grandfather was one of the wealthiest men in Florida from the 1940’s till the 1970’s. I’ve seen a picture of him arm-in-arm with Al Capone, who was one of his close friends.
• I cry often and easily but rarely in front of anyone.
• My favorite places in the world to be: standing in front of a group of people and teaching from the Bible, in a quiet coffee shop with a journal and pen in hand, in the arms of the woman I love, on my face before the Lord in worship, setting out for an adventure that has yet to be determined, basking in awe of God’s beautiful creation, and getting lost in the eyes of anyone who inspires me.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Christmas on the Farm
Playing Joseph in my church's "Christmas on the Farm" this weekend surprisingly had quite an effect on me. I know the Christmas story inside and out. Since I was a little guy, I've always seen Jesus as the focal point of Christmas – as He should be. Last night was something new though. No, there was nothing different about the setting. It was rather typical – stable, donkey, sheep, shepherds, straw bedding in a wooden manger, a beautiful Mary, a borrowed baby doll, and a chilling wind that ignored my multiple layers of tunic clothing and went straight for the marrow.
There was something new though.
Although much of the ten minute presentation became repetitive, one portion did not. Just as a gentle song began in the background, Mary gently handed me the baby Jesus, wrapped in soft white cloth. For the next few moments, I was no longer acting. I looked back into those incredibly lifelike eyes and an involuntary smile spread across my face. A lump formed in my throat as I held the Child who would soon die for my sins and the sins of the world. Fully God and fully man, Immanuel, God with us. The creator of the universe nestled against my chest. My heart exploded with awe and thankfulness. As the smell of the animals' dung filled my nostrils and the frigid air attacked my body's warmth, I thanked the Father for sending His Son to such a disgusting world. Jesus emptied Himself, became of no reputation, took the form of a lowly servant, and ultimately suffered for a world that rejected Him.
My mind doesn't comprehend such love but that's alright. I'll continue to be dumbfounded day after day, Christmas after Christmas, as the Lord continues to remind me how much He loves me and how much it cost to reconcile me back to Himself. The word Gospel means "good news." It's true. It's so very true.
There was something new though.
Although much of the ten minute presentation became repetitive, one portion did not. Just as a gentle song began in the background, Mary gently handed me the baby Jesus, wrapped in soft white cloth. For the next few moments, I was no longer acting. I looked back into those incredibly lifelike eyes and an involuntary smile spread across my face. A lump formed in my throat as I held the Child who would soon die for my sins and the sins of the world. Fully God and fully man, Immanuel, God with us. The creator of the universe nestled against my chest. My heart exploded with awe and thankfulness. As the smell of the animals' dung filled my nostrils and the frigid air attacked my body's warmth, I thanked the Father for sending His Son to such a disgusting world. Jesus emptied Himself, became of no reputation, took the form of a lowly servant, and ultimately suffered for a world that rejected Him.
My mind doesn't comprehend such love but that's alright. I'll continue to be dumbfounded day after day, Christmas after Christmas, as the Lord continues to remind me how much He loves me and how much it cost to reconcile me back to Himself. The word Gospel means "good news." It's true. It's so very true.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
One for the Books
One of my favorite assignments from high school was a simple English project in which I picked a painting and a quote and mounted them on professional matting. No rules on subject matter, just rules on dimension and material. Ms. Freedman said mine was her favorite in all her years teaching. Neat old Jewish woman. I never once heard her use my first name. It was always a grumbly Greenfield!. So anyways, my project was pretty cool. I let Ms. Freedman keep it upon her request. It consisted of a painting of an old man with a little boy sitting on his knee. Together, they were playing a guitar. Just under the painting were John Lennon's famous words "all you need is love."
Is it true? Is that really all we need? Usually, I would say no. On any other day, the logical side of me would explain that we need much more than love. We need air, food, water, clothes, warmth, security. Not tonight though. What good is air when my chest struggles to gasp for a single breath? What good is food and water when my stomach has some painful mass of dull steady emptiness? My closet reeks of memories that further intensify the heartache. The down comforter and numerous pillows adequately contain my body's warmth but yet I still sense an icy cold on the inside. The neighborhood may be safe tonight but I still feel robbed and vulnerable.
But it's not just that..
My old man is still chillin under the bathroom sink. After all those years of hearing him talk and talk and talk (freakin telemarketers), I'd love to hear his voice just once more.
I brought my mother dinner tonight. What a sweet woman. As she happily munched on the pizza with her favorite toppings that I know by heart, she rambled about something on TV. As usual, it was difficult for me to even make eye contact. The oxygen tube running just beneath her cheek bones, the walker adjacent to the recliner, and the constant slur of words were all just reminders of how much I miss my mom. I miss the mom that she used to be.
I also saw my puppy tonight. My 16 year old puppy. For a pet hater, I sure do love my Rascal. Sometimes I wonder if he'll actually out live my mom. They're both getting closer by the day. Rascal will likely get a more formal funeral with more tears shed than my pops. Funny how things work out.
Brian Nichols' life was spared tonight. After being found guilty on 54 counts of various crimes including four murders, we somehow had a hung jury: 9/3. Because three jurors didn't sentence Brian to die, he will live - by default. My heart has been broken and re-broken again and again over the past three months of this trial for the families that lost loved ones on March 11, 2005. How could we possibly have spared this man's life? Judge Barnes' wife won't have her husband for yet another Christmas. Same goes for Julie Bandeaux's daughter, Sergeant Teasley's mom, and Agent Wilhelm's mentally handicapped brother. Justice? 5+ million tax payer dollars for this trial and much more for a lifetime in prison. I don't know. I just don't know.
So what is my conclusion tonight? Hell, I don't know. The love around me is severely tainted. My family is a mess, my country is a mess, my life is a mess.
Tomorrow, I'm trading toiletries for toiletries. It's really just an excuse for one last moment together before we allow our broken hearts to start letting go and moving on. In time, we won't look at each other the same. How I wish I could just grab her up and run far away. Throw caution to the wind and go. My love, my companion, my inspiration, my comforter, the very object of my passion. A terror lurks deep within that I'm passing up my soul mate. Either way, we did have a great run and a beautiful romance. One for the books. I'm a better man and a deeper lover because of it. Even picked up a couple dance steps – whaddayaknow.
All you need is love, eh? Sounds rather plausible tonight. All I can do is encourage you and encourage myself to keep loving. Let's not grow cold and callused, serious and cynical: dreary old pessimists. Let's love people even though our love is sadly lacking in consistency and selflessness. Let's keep receiving love even though it sometimes comes with ulterior motives and strings attached. By all means, love until you're bruised and bloody and then love some more. Never forget that, when all else fails, you've got a Savior that loves you unconditionally and gave His life for you. If I know anything about anything, I know that's absolutely true. Although I'm feeling a crippling loneliness tonight, my Savior is closer to me than I realize. His love is perfect, complete, and unchanging.
If you do have someone to love during the holidays, don't get caught up in the hoopla of the shopping frenzies. Just love them. Figure out how to love them and then smother them in love. Be their hero and lavish them with your affections. Don't take them for granted. For many of us, this will be our last Christmas with certain folks. Even if the endings aren't perfect 10's, we can surely do our best to love with everything we've got. You have the ability to make each of your relationships "one for the books." Declare your love, display your love, act your love, commit your love. Life is too damn miserable any other way.
Is it true? Is that really all we need? Usually, I would say no. On any other day, the logical side of me would explain that we need much more than love. We need air, food, water, clothes, warmth, security. Not tonight though. What good is air when my chest struggles to gasp for a single breath? What good is food and water when my stomach has some painful mass of dull steady emptiness? My closet reeks of memories that further intensify the heartache. The down comforter and numerous pillows adequately contain my body's warmth but yet I still sense an icy cold on the inside. The neighborhood may be safe tonight but I still feel robbed and vulnerable.
But it's not just that..
My old man is still chillin under the bathroom sink. After all those years of hearing him talk and talk and talk (freakin telemarketers), I'd love to hear his voice just once more.
I brought my mother dinner tonight. What a sweet woman. As she happily munched on the pizza with her favorite toppings that I know by heart, she rambled about something on TV. As usual, it was difficult for me to even make eye contact. The oxygen tube running just beneath her cheek bones, the walker adjacent to the recliner, and the constant slur of words were all just reminders of how much I miss my mom. I miss the mom that she used to be.
I also saw my puppy tonight. My 16 year old puppy. For a pet hater, I sure do love my Rascal. Sometimes I wonder if he'll actually out live my mom. They're both getting closer by the day. Rascal will likely get a more formal funeral with more tears shed than my pops. Funny how things work out.
Brian Nichols' life was spared tonight. After being found guilty on 54 counts of various crimes including four murders, we somehow had a hung jury: 9/3. Because three jurors didn't sentence Brian to die, he will live - by default. My heart has been broken and re-broken again and again over the past three months of this trial for the families that lost loved ones on March 11, 2005. How could we possibly have spared this man's life? Judge Barnes' wife won't have her husband for yet another Christmas. Same goes for Julie Bandeaux's daughter, Sergeant Teasley's mom, and Agent Wilhelm's mentally handicapped brother. Justice? 5+ million tax payer dollars for this trial and much more for a lifetime in prison. I don't know. I just don't know.
So what is my conclusion tonight? Hell, I don't know. The love around me is severely tainted. My family is a mess, my country is a mess, my life is a mess.
Tomorrow, I'm trading toiletries for toiletries. It's really just an excuse for one last moment together before we allow our broken hearts to start letting go and moving on. In time, we won't look at each other the same. How I wish I could just grab her up and run far away. Throw caution to the wind and go. My love, my companion, my inspiration, my comforter, the very object of my passion. A terror lurks deep within that I'm passing up my soul mate. Either way, we did have a great run and a beautiful romance. One for the books. I'm a better man and a deeper lover because of it. Even picked up a couple dance steps – whaddayaknow.
All you need is love, eh? Sounds rather plausible tonight. All I can do is encourage you and encourage myself to keep loving. Let's not grow cold and callused, serious and cynical: dreary old pessimists. Let's love people even though our love is sadly lacking in consistency and selflessness. Let's keep receiving love even though it sometimes comes with ulterior motives and strings attached. By all means, love until you're bruised and bloody and then love some more. Never forget that, when all else fails, you've got a Savior that loves you unconditionally and gave His life for you. If I know anything about anything, I know that's absolutely true. Although I'm feeling a crippling loneliness tonight, my Savior is closer to me than I realize. His love is perfect, complete, and unchanging.
If you do have someone to love during the holidays, don't get caught up in the hoopla of the shopping frenzies. Just love them. Figure out how to love them and then smother them in love. Be their hero and lavish them with your affections. Don't take them for granted. For many of us, this will be our last Christmas with certain folks. Even if the endings aren't perfect 10's, we can surely do our best to love with everything we've got. You have the ability to make each of your relationships "one for the books." Declare your love, display your love, act your love, commit your love. Life is too damn miserable any other way.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Did God create evil?
Have you ever heard someone ponder how a loving God could allow sin/evil to be in the world? Recently, it was suggested to me that God actually created sin so that He could show just how gracious, merciful and forgiving He is.
Bogus.
But it got me thinking..
Before just attacking a stance that I disagree with (which I did – whoops), I should step back and see what the Bible has to say on the subject.
"And everyone who has this hope in Him [God] purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:3-6, 8)
Ok, so I get that. God is pure, holy, and absolutely without sin. This passage defines sin as lawlessness, which is having motives and behavior contrary to God's law. God's law in Exodus 20 is a reflection of His character and this 1 John passage clearly states that there is no sin in God.
The 1 John passage explains that sin came from the devil. God created Satan so does that mean that God created sin? No. Check this out – "You [Satan] were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you." (Eze. 28:15) Ok, so now we're getting somewhere. Satan was created perfect but then became flawed later. Satan rebelled at some point in history (see Isa. 14:12-15) and that's when he started being a sinful being.
But if it's true that God created everything, isn't it logical to reason that sin, by its very existence, was created by God?
Think of it like this. God didn't create dark. He created light. You can't make dark. Dark is simply the absence of light. Same thing with cold. Cold is the absence of heat. Or silence, which is the absence of noise/sound.
Here's the key. God created beings, both angelic and human, as creatures of free will. God could have created robots that were programmed to automatically love Him and obey Him but that wouldn't be true love, right? True love is only love when there's choice involved. After all, forced love is merely rape. So, God decided to create beings with the capacity of free thinking. When created beings choose to disobey and rebel against God, the rebellion by definition is Sin. God didn't create sin. God created Choice. Choice that's contrary to God's character of sinless holy perfection is defined as Sin. God didn't cause Adam and Eve to sin, nor does He cause any of us to sin. James wrote, "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.'" (James 1:13)
Adam and Eve decided on their own to rebel against God and this is how sin entered our world. Rom. 5:12 explains this concept.
Although it was a well-meaning Christian that posed the erroneous idea that God created sin, I've heard atheists argue that the existence of sin/evil in the world is proof that God doesn't exist. It goes like this:
1) If God exists, he is omnibenevolent [totally good].
2) If God exists, he is omnipotent [can do anything].
3) An omnibenevolent God would not permit evil to exist.
4) An omnipotent God would have the power to prevent evil's existence.
5) Therefore, if God exists, evil does not exist.
6) Evil exists.
7) Therefore, God does not exist.
The problem is point 3. The Bible teaches that God is totally 100% good but that He still allows evil to exist. Allowing evil to exist does not mean that God is responsible for it, nor ok with it. When I was a child, my mother often asked me to clean my room. I usually didn't obey. My rebellion against my mother's instruction did not mean that she was responsible for my sin, nor that she caused my sin.
Sin is serious stuff, Folks. Sin is what separates us from God. When I look around this screwed up world and see all the evil that has poisoned it, I don't blame God because it's not His doing. God has allowed the evil to exist but only temporarily. He is showing tremendous patience with mankind so that everyone will have many opportunities to turn from their evil ways and turn to Him. One day soon, however, God will put an end to evil. I'm thankful that God has showed His incredible love for me though. He paid the penalty of my personal evil as He shed His blood on the cross so that I could be in a right standing before Him.
Bogus.
But it got me thinking..
Before just attacking a stance that I disagree with (which I did – whoops), I should step back and see what the Bible has to say on the subject.
"And everyone who has this hope in Him [God] purifies himself, just as He is pure. Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:3-6, 8)
Ok, so I get that. God is pure, holy, and absolutely without sin. This passage defines sin as lawlessness, which is having motives and behavior contrary to God's law. God's law in Exodus 20 is a reflection of His character and this 1 John passage clearly states that there is no sin in God.
The 1 John passage explains that sin came from the devil. God created Satan so does that mean that God created sin? No. Check this out – "You [Satan] were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you." (Eze. 28:15) Ok, so now we're getting somewhere. Satan was created perfect but then became flawed later. Satan rebelled at some point in history (see Isa. 14:12-15) and that's when he started being a sinful being.
But if it's true that God created everything, isn't it logical to reason that sin, by its very existence, was created by God?
Think of it like this. God didn't create dark. He created light. You can't make dark. Dark is simply the absence of light. Same thing with cold. Cold is the absence of heat. Or silence, which is the absence of noise/sound.
Here's the key. God created beings, both angelic and human, as creatures of free will. God could have created robots that were programmed to automatically love Him and obey Him but that wouldn't be true love, right? True love is only love when there's choice involved. After all, forced love is merely rape. So, God decided to create beings with the capacity of free thinking. When created beings choose to disobey and rebel against God, the rebellion by definition is Sin. God didn't create sin. God created Choice. Choice that's contrary to God's character of sinless holy perfection is defined as Sin. God didn't cause Adam and Eve to sin, nor does He cause any of us to sin. James wrote, "Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God,' for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.'" (James 1:13)
Adam and Eve decided on their own to rebel against God and this is how sin entered our world. Rom. 5:12 explains this concept.
Although it was a well-meaning Christian that posed the erroneous idea that God created sin, I've heard atheists argue that the existence of sin/evil in the world is proof that God doesn't exist. It goes like this:
1) If God exists, he is omnibenevolent [totally good].
2) If God exists, he is omnipotent [can do anything].
3) An omnibenevolent God would not permit evil to exist.
4) An omnipotent God would have the power to prevent evil's existence.
5) Therefore, if God exists, evil does not exist.
6) Evil exists.
7) Therefore, God does not exist.
The problem is point 3. The Bible teaches that God is totally 100% good but that He still allows evil to exist. Allowing evil to exist does not mean that God is responsible for it, nor ok with it. When I was a child, my mother often asked me to clean my room. I usually didn't obey. My rebellion against my mother's instruction did not mean that she was responsible for my sin, nor that she caused my sin.
Sin is serious stuff, Folks. Sin is what separates us from God. When I look around this screwed up world and see all the evil that has poisoned it, I don't blame God because it's not His doing. God has allowed the evil to exist but only temporarily. He is showing tremendous patience with mankind so that everyone will have many opportunities to turn from their evil ways and turn to Him. One day soon, however, God will put an end to evil. I'm thankful that God has showed His incredible love for me though. He paid the penalty of my personal evil as He shed His blood on the cross so that I could be in a right standing before Him.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Anything
I saw Lane Seabolt at my favorite little coffeehouse last night. One particular song is really moving me and I’d like to share the lyrics with you in a moment.
Broken love, crushed dreams, lingering memories. I've heard that our most vivid memories are attached to specific scents. Interesting. A smell recently triggered a memory that violently shook me to the core of my being. Do we realize how much we hold onto the past? Do we realize that our present actions will soon become memories that will only be relived as secondhand experiences? Like a thrift store, I peruse the rusted shelves of my former romances. Not really in the mood to buy anything. Just looking around, taking it in. Remembering how the broken toys used to light up and play music and how the tattered worn dresses used to sparkle like new. Perhaps a small part of me wants to grab a dress, throw a tie around my neck, and dance down the isle one last time. However, those dresses are vacant now – long ago forgotten.
Rambling..
Anyways, here's the lyrics to the song..
"Anything" by Lane Seabolt
www.myspace.com/laneseaboltmusic
i dont know if there was
anyone else who was
standing there
watching you
moving as if it all
mattered but we both know
nothing means anything
anymore anymore anymore
far below
there's a room
where i keep all that you
left in the pantry
and under your pillow
i know it's juvenile
but when i close my eyes
i still remember
your smell in the morning
when all was calm
all was new
all was good
but for you
hiding your face in your pillow
dont tell me what to do
i'm still in love with you
you're still a part of this sad situation
you can move on
but you'll never move past
all the words that were spoken
with only your eyes
long ago
we both knew
you for me
me for you
i still remember it like it was yesterday
i dont know if there was
something between us but
you've taken everything everything everything
so they say
it takes two
now it's just him and you
dancing and dreaming
and moving as if it all
mattered but we both know
nothing means anything
anymore anymore anymore
Broken love, crushed dreams, lingering memories. I've heard that our most vivid memories are attached to specific scents. Interesting. A smell recently triggered a memory that violently shook me to the core of my being. Do we realize how much we hold onto the past? Do we realize that our present actions will soon become memories that will only be relived as secondhand experiences? Like a thrift store, I peruse the rusted shelves of my former romances. Not really in the mood to buy anything. Just looking around, taking it in. Remembering how the broken toys used to light up and play music and how the tattered worn dresses used to sparkle like new. Perhaps a small part of me wants to grab a dress, throw a tie around my neck, and dance down the isle one last time. However, those dresses are vacant now – long ago forgotten.
Rambling..
Anyways, here's the lyrics to the song..
"Anything" by Lane Seabolt
www.myspace.com/laneseaboltmusic
i dont know if there was
anyone else who was
standing there
watching you
moving as if it all
mattered but we both know
nothing means anything
anymore anymore anymore
far below
there's a room
where i keep all that you
left in the pantry
and under your pillow
i know it's juvenile
but when i close my eyes
i still remember
your smell in the morning
when all was calm
all was new
all was good
but for you
hiding your face in your pillow
dont tell me what to do
i'm still in love with you
you're still a part of this sad situation
you can move on
but you'll never move past
all the words that were spoken
with only your eyes
long ago
we both knew
you for me
me for you
i still remember it like it was yesterday
i dont know if there was
something between us but
you've taken everything everything everything
so they say
it takes two
now it's just him and you
dancing and dreaming
and moving as if it all
mattered but we both know
nothing means anything
anymore anymore anymore
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)