Category: Jesus

A Good Captivity

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How serious is God about the way we think? He is determined enough to inspire the Apostle Paul to proclaim, “We are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (II Corinthians 10:5, NASB). Captive? Yes, captive. We are to take our thoughts and bring them under the full control of Jesus. Actual obedience does not just automatically happen. We Christians are commanded to be proactive, by forcing our thoughts into submission to Christ.

Let’s be real. Our thoughts can sometimes tend to run wildly. Flashing into my mind like strikes of lightning come angry, fearful, greedy, and selfish thoughts. By the power of God’s Spirit in me, I have the ability to grab those lightning bolts and tell them to submit to Jesus before they ignite a fire of disobedience lived out in the flesh. This is my responsibility – to get deliberate about apprehending my brainwork. For, my outward actions are a direct result of either my obedience or disobedience to this very command. Our behavior is rooted in the life of our minds. Hence, Jesus needs first to be Lord of my mind in order to be the real Master of my behavior.

“What is God’s will for my life?” people often ask. The answer is found not just somewhere down the road, but in each approaching moment. God’s will comes to fruition as we take every thought – one by one – and ensure its submission to Christ. As the day proceeds, this captivity brings results. Allow me to give tangible examples of questions we should be asking in the moments of our hours and days:

    What is God’s will for the words that proceed from my mouth immediately following an attack on my character?
    What is God’s will for my participation in Thursday’s staff meeting?
    What is God’s will for the look on my face when I pass in the hallway the person I like the least?
    What is God’s will for how I spend the hour of 7-8 pm this evening?
    What is God’s will for my paycheck?
    What is God’s will for my conversation at lunch today?
    What is God’s will for my reaction to the neighbor I find most annoying?
    What is God’s will for the way I conduct myself while standing in line at the grocery store?
    What is God’s will for my prayer life today?
    What is God’s will for my attitude in this very moment as I read this devotion?

Okay, how do our answers to the aforementioned questions look in light of God’s command to “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ”? Do you see how this works? It is not simply an ethereal directive. The decree has to do with all of life – at each incremental level.

How different could our lives turn out five years down the road if we obeyed this “thought command” each moment until then? Finding God’s will for your life is not as complicated as it seems. It is the outcome of a life lived according to I Corinthians 10:5. If every thought is under the authority of Jesus, then so, too, will the whole life be.

Will Christians Have Knowledge of the Great White Throne Judgment?

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First, we must understand that God’s judgment of people is right. Unlike human judicial systems which can make mistakes or include corruption, God’s judgment is pure and altogether fitting. We humans know amazingly little compared to God whose understanding is without limit (Isaiah 40:28). And when God takes any action of wrath, that action is centered on His holiness. His anger is right anger, unlike ours. As the Definer of all terms and Creator of all workings, God has the authority to proceed based on truth. Because He offered Himself – in Jesus – as the object of His own wrath, He is altogether right in judging those people who do not accept His sacrifice and choose to carry their guilt on their own (I Corinthians 5:21).

When God carried out the unimaginable deed of having His Son bear our sin on the Cross, the act was public. Both the unbelievers and the believers could witness the divine judgment of God that day, as Jesus took our rightful place. Three days later, Jesus rose from the grave – victorious over sin and death – and walked the earth for forty days in the presence of many. God did His work of judgment and salvation publicly on this earth. Similarly, God tells us to confess our own salvation as we believe (Romans 10:9-10).

God never has reason to be ashamed. In fact, God’s final act of judgment against Satan and those who follow him is a day of victory for righteousness. While God loves all people, He must once-and-for-all rid the heavens and earth of sinfulness. If He did not, we would forever suffer in this broken world. Our hope is a place of rightness, where God is truly and fully worshipped. Honoring His creation with dignity, God will give to unbelievers their choice – to be separated from God’s reign and plan.

With all this in mind, I am prone to think that believers will be aware of the Great White Throne Judgment as outlined in Revelation 20:11-15. Justice will be served as all of death and hell – and those whose names are not recorded in the book of life – are thrown into the lake of fire. No more will those opposed to the perfect plan of God be allowed to bring sin to the scene. Satan will have already been deposited in the lake of fire by the time of the final judgment of humans (Revelation 20:10). This ultimate judgment is what allows God to fully usher in the new heaven and new earth; wherein is no sadness, pain, or death (Revelation 21:1-4). Why? Because the source of sadness, pain, and death – sin against God – is consummately removed. For this day, we are thankful. Our true grief over this day ought to be grappled with now. We should be proclaiming the grand, overarching plan of God to every person we can. We need to make known redemption through Jesus Christ.

When we are tempted to believe God’s end plan is unfair, let us fix our perspective. Guilty humans being held accountable for the sin they commit and refuse to place by faith on Jesus is not unfair. Mind-boggling is Jesus, the God-Man, bearing the sin of others even though He had no sin! Jesus faced the wrath of God though He deserved no wrath. His punishment for us sinful people is the experience we should meet with amazement, not the punishment of humans for their own guilt.

Every person has the choice to place his sin on Jesus, rather than to be punished eternally for what we deserve. Our infinite God was able to absorb the payment for all sin in one, finite moment; while finite humans would have to go on forever in punishment for sin against a boundless God. We have the beautiful choice to bear our sin or place our sin on Jesus Christ.

All choices will be honored as God keeps His Word to provide a perfect place for His people one day. That glorious existence requires both the separation of sin and all its adherents from Heaven and justice to be served. Our witness of this will be eclipsed by what comes next, as God wipes our tears away and commences an existence for us so grand we simply cannot imagine.

What Does It Mean to Live, and What Does It Mean to Die?

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In my observation of discussing death and entrance to the next life with various people, most are apt to give the same type of answer to the question, “Why are you not ready to die (or be taken to Heaven) at this particular time?” The vast majority give a reply something like this: “I want to live on earth at least a little longer because I have not yet _____.” (Insert into the blank space any number of various experiences, e.g., travelled to a foreign country, gotten married, earned my doctoral degree, held my first grandchild, owned my own home, etc.) Even though most of the people I have spoken with are Christians, the basic response remains unchanged. People are not ready to die because some desired earthly experience has yet eluded them. If the people with which I have interacted through the years are truly representative of Christian feeling on the subject, we would be tempted to conclude that the Apostle Paul was out of his mind when he wrote the letter to the Philippians.

Under Roman house arrest and the shadow of his own execution, Paul penned these stunning words, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21, NASB). My mathematical mind forms succinct equations: Living = Christ and Dying = Gain. The strong and intellectual apostle boldly proclaimed a truth so simple, yet so antithetical to our regular way of thinking. Paul believed – and was inspired by God to record – that to die is actual gain. No matter what Paul had or had not experienced to date in his life, he knew that his death would result in a tangible gain that far surpassed any unrealized goal. No matter what supposed earthly pleasure or experience Paul might not have had, he knew that the reward of Heaven wiped out the loss by infinite measure.

Many Christians today believe our best life is this life – within a broken universe. Wrong. Our best life is the one to come – in the presence of God. The recreated heavens and earth, the restored bodies, the whole minds, the healed relationships, the contented hearts basking in the uninterrupted blessing of God, the everlasting adventures in the universe that is then made right, and an unbroken relationship with God will more than make up for anything we perceive ourselves as “losing” here. Paul stood firm in the reality – the unequivocally substantial nature – of Heaven. Thus, he could declare without doubt that his death is really gain . . . solid, true gain.

Let us go back to the other equation, “To live = Christ.” How many of us can proclaim that equation without reservation? How do I view living? Is life for my enjoyment? For my happiness? For my fulfillment? From a biblical perspective, the answer is “no.” My life should be defined in one beautifully simple way, “Christ.” I am always amazed and inspired by Paul’s firm grasp of God’s truth. This apostle actually believed and lived the equation, “To live = Christ.” Paul was not in the business of the Gospel for himself. He did not seek glory, admiration, or pleasure. He resolutely sought to make Christ known through both the everyday moments and the pinnacle experiences of his life. Paul would not have said, “Let me live on earth a little longer so I can take a dream vacation or complete a five-year plan of mine.” Paul would only say, “Let me live on this broken planet longer only if it means people will see Jesus in me.”

I fear we have negated God’s life and death equations in our lives by adding or subtracting our ideas. The equations are simple: Living = Christ and Dying = Gain.

Most Bosses Don’t Listen, But . . .

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If you had a general suspicion that bosses tend not to listen, your suspicion was confirmed by a recent study reported by Good Morning America on September 19. It seems the more power someone gains in an organization, the less likely they are to listen to the people under them. While this is, of course, a generalization (for we can cite great exceptions, e.g., my boss), we sense the frustration of the study’s main point.

In our ordinary experience, we often find that people with the most power, resources, and ability to effect change are those who are least likely to care about “average” people. Those among us who are hurting many times feel abandoned. The inflated confidence of bosses, the blatant disregard of less influential people by those with fame and fortune, and the sheer inability of the powerful to connect with the ordinary person all present obstacles to genuine help for regular people. The problem is that the recent study of bosses who don’t listen is limited to the realm of the natural. What about God? Can He – does He – intervene?

Read the beautiful, comforting words of Psalm 113:4-8 (ESV):

    The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!
    “Who is like the LORD our God, who is seated on high,
    who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?
    He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap
    to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.”

The irony of this passage is that the most powerful being who exists is the One who reaches down the lowest to lift up the helpless and heartbroken. Influential humans tend to ignore the needy. The most exalted Lord of the universe fixes His eye upon the disadvantaged. I especially enjoy verses 5 and 6; God is seated on high, but He is looking far down to see who wants rescued. His majesty does not deter Him from helping; He is the God who “raises the poor from the dust” and “lifts the needy to sit with princes.”

Flying in the face of corrupt human nature to grow bigger and care less, God’s promise is to lift us up with His own hand – though he is in charge of everything and owns everything. I fear that many people cannot conceptualize of a God like that because we are so accustomed to human failure. Remember, God stands outside the universe; He is transcendent. He is not simply the biggest or most powerful among us; He is completely other than we are. He is not the most compassionate human you have ever known; He defines compassion. We cannot allow our experiences with humans to taint our understanding of God. We must take Him at His Word.

Psalm 138:6 (ESV) succinctly proclaims, “For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly.” Will you believe that today? God alone stands as the power over all things, and He is also the One who cares about those who are brought low by life, sin, and circumstance. Unlike the human tendency to care less as we become more elevated, God cares the most even though He is the holy, exalted Creator. Please call out to Him now, and picture His mighty hand reaching down to hold you and lift you up. Do not allow human failure to cloud your view of God. Take Him at His Word.

Earlier in this article I spoke of the possible “sheer inability of the powerful to connect with the ordinary person.” Jesus Christ shattered that obstacle! Jesus is God, and in Him God put on the flesh of an ordinary human in order to connect with us for salvation and eternal life. God is the highest and actually became the lowest two thousand years ago in order to bring the lowly to the highest place! Through Jesus, we are lifted to God. Our voice is heard. Our heart is observed. Our need is met. Our future is secured. The Highest reaches to the lowest, defying the recent study bosses!

Devilish Pondering

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Our human interests tend to be very short-sighted and dangerously shallow. Were we to get our own way, apart from the grace of God, we would surely be doomed. In fact, turning to selfish, finite goals puts us in the same mindset category as that of Satan. Remember Peter? He was one of the disciples of Jesus, but after hearing the proclamation of the Lord’s impending suffering and crucifixion, he said to Christ, “God forbid it, Lord!” (Matthew 16:22, NASB).

What if Peter got his wish? What if God did forbid the horrific betrayal, arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection of His Son? I would be damned. I would die in my sin. And so would you. If Peter’s desire would have been granted, we would be utterly hopeless. All of humanity would be lost.

No wonder it is that Jesus rebuked Peter sharply by saying, “Get behind me, Satan!” (Matthew 16:23, NASB). Peter’s selfish, comfort-loving mindset placed him momentarily in the category of devilish pondering. Peter’s hope to avoid the temporary pain would result in eternal loss. I have to ask myself, “How often have I chosen the path of least resistance to the detriment of eternal accomplishments?” When we want what we want instead of what God knows is best, could we possibly be stepping into satanic territory? Imagine – Peter was bold enough to tell Jesus that God’s plan was wrong. How insolent have I ever been in my emotional reactions to God-ordained difficulty?

Jesus went on to say to Peter, “You are a stumbling block to Me; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s” (Matthew 16:23, NASB). Directly related to a satanic mindset is concentrating on human interest rather than on God’s interest. Jesus is implying that a great battle is taking place in the minds of believers. Even those who closely follow Jesus must check carefully their focus. Do we have in mind the eternal and costly plan of God or the temporal and indulgent plan of humans?

If God had done things the way Peter that day thought they ought to be done, Peter’s life would have possibly been less heart-breaking and confusing for a short period of time. Jesus certainly would have avoided more spiritual, emotional, and physical pain than ever could be imagined. However, Satan would have gained the victory! In the long run, all would be lost for creation.

Peter’s devilish pondering did not last forever. Jesus’ rebuke settled into Peter’s heart somewhere. Peter came to realize his selfish, shortsighted reaction. He wrote beautifully in his first epistle (chapter one, verse three) of the living hope we have only because of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Looking back, Peter recognized the everlasting value of God’s paradoxical plan.

Soon after the pointed interaction of Peter and Jesus, our Lord reminded all His followers of the cost of discipleship. In the context of rebuking the horror of a self-centered, satanically motivated mindset, Jesus proclaims the need for every follower to take up their own cross for God’s kingdom. Have I taken up my cross? When God calls me to sacrifice time, money, emotion, status, relationship – or anything else – for His sake, do I? Even though it is temporarily painful, do I put God’s will first? If not what is being lost?

Our everyday decisions are critical and fall into one of two categories: God’s eternal focus or devilish pondering.

Dingy Socks

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Sometimes I read statements in the Bible that strike me as particularly odd and make me smile. So was the case when I recently read Mark 9:3 (ESV), “And [Jesus’] clothes became radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them.”

The longstanding market for laundry bleach testifies to the fact that we humans like things clean and bright. If socks are meant to be white, then – generally speaking – we would like them to stay white and new-looking as long as possible. Something about white “whites” makes us feel good. That sounds fitting, for God made us with both a desire to be right and a hope for newness.

How down to earth Mark is when he pens Peter’s observation of the transfiguration of Jesus. Mark tells us in straightforward fashion that the clothes of Jesus became whiter than any launderer could possibly bleach them. We are told the clothes glistened in a way no human product or effort could ever make them sparkle.

And so it is with God! No human product or effort can produce the results only God alone can bring about. Our innate desire to shine and remain new is answered only in the work of Jesus. How wonderful it is for God to assure us of our hope in simple fashion. On an ordinary day in Israel two thousand years ago, Jesus was transfigured before the eyes of His closest friends: Peter, James, and John. Jesus chose to have His clothes gleam exceedingly, and we are gently reminded of His supernatural power to accomplish effortlessly what we struggle to do. The brilliance of Jesus is our comfort. I have no majesty of my own; I am fading, and I am sinful. Worse yet, I cannot muster any radiance for myself. I, instead, look to my Jesus.

Strange as it may seem, dingy socks may be a great reminder for us that only Jesus can bring the righteousness and newness for which we long. His blood cleanses us when nothing else can. His resurrected life gives us new life that will one day be completed with a new body that never grows old or worn.

Dingy socks and the smell of bleach will never be the same to me.

The Answer to Self-Esteem Issues

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True confidence for living comes only from God, the One who invests Himself in us. Self-esteem is not necessary when a person comes to understand who he is in Christ; for that individual will know Jesus-esteem! She will realize that God, who fashioned the universe, has now taken her up as an enterprise!

Philippians 1:6 (NASB) states clearly, “He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” The Greek root behind “work” in this verse implies “business, employment, that with which anyone is occupied, enterprise; an accomplishment of hand, art, industry, or mind.” Wow! Imagine that a single human being on this celestial orb can be an enterprise of God! You can be an accomplishment of the very mind and hand of the Almighty!

Not only can we be a work of God; we are a “good” work of God. “Good” in this context means “useful, pleasant, excellent, distinguished, or honorable.” When a man comes to Jesus for salvation, his life becomes a good life, in the sense that his life is now honorable and excellent. His life now serves the purpose of bringing God’s ways to the forefront. Our life now brings with it wherever we go the sweet fragrance of grace and the excellence of truth. A woman finds reason to live in the fact that she is useful to her Creator and to every part of the world to which He has commissioned here to take His glory and righteousness.

Amazingly, this good work of God in us will be completed – despite all the troubles of the world and the inconsistencies of humanity. Philippians 1:6 declares that “[God] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” The concept of “perfect” implies “bringing to fulfillment or completion.” It is the same root behind Hebrews 12:2, which promises that Jesus is both the Author and the Finisher of our faith. What He starts, He will surely complete. Many a project of man has been left in the dust – to disintegrate and be forgotten. Not so the project of God!

In fact, contrast happily the work of God to the work of the devil. No matter how diligently, methodically, and diabolically Satan labors to bring about his destructive desires; we know that his work comes to an end. I John 3:8 (NASB) is a verse of huge and comforting proportions: “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” The business of Satan is the promotion of sin and its ultimate outcome – death. Well, his enterprise is crushed by Jesus!

When John here tells us that Satan’s work is destroyed by Jesus, the Greek root means, “loosen, undo, dissolve.” Whatever the devil assumes he has accomplished, God absolutely undoes it. The Creator of all reality can dissolve whatever Satan has tried to assemble. A pivotal example is Jesus’ prophetic claim when He spoke of His body as a temple in John 2:19 (NASB), “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” In other words, it is as if God said, “Go ahead, devil, and do your work. It will be undone. I will dissolve your effort and raise mine up forever.”

Thank you, God, that the good work you do in your people will be brought to completion; it will not fail. Conversely, whatever the enemy tries to do will be undone. What an awesome God! And – to think – He works in you and me.

Embarrassed?

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Have you ever been embarrassed to talk about Jesus? Have you ever felt funny about including Bible verses in regular conversation? Let’s now take this up a notch . . . Have you ever felt weird about including Jesus or His words in a get-together with another Christian? I have been in all three situations.

The world in general is largely opposed to Jesus Christ but comfortable with religion. The culture may even accept the idea of the Bible’s existence, but the world certainly deems it odd to ponder the Bible’s contents over coffee. And what about the church in general? Even among Christians, conversation and activity often swells around topics of little eternal significance. A person can find himself frowned upon for making Jesus or the Word of God a central part of thought and interaction. This should not be, my friends. But so it is.

Our own sin in this area should sicken us. Here is the straightforward deal spoken by Jesus Himself, “For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in an adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38, ESV). This truth is both hard-hitting and not difficult to comprehend. If we are ashamed of Him and His Bible, He will be ashamed of us. But, take notice of the details. Jesus makes no excuses for our embarrassment just because the world is “so wicked.” He tells us we are not to be ashamed even in the midst of sinfulness and adultery. The adultery He seems to speak of here is people’s spiritual unfaithfulness to their Creator. The unsaved world is very sinful, and the church is often unfaithful. Still, the lover of Jesus is to proudly speak of Him and His Word. We are to allow no hostile situation or the lukewarm attitudes of friends or family stop us from centering our thoughts, words, and actions on the Person of Jesus Christ and the Bible.

If we choose to continue in the sin of being ashamed as we walk this difficult path in a sinful world, then Jesus will be ashamed of us in the light of His glory – surrounded by angels. Yes, I am called to stand firm and love Him and promote Him as my very life – no matter what. If some Christians think I am crazy for obsessing over Jesus and His Word, so be it. If unbelievers become malicious in word or deed, so be it. One day – if we remain faithful – our Jesus will be proud to call us His own when everything is finally made right. Stand up for Him and His words in a harsh and evil world, and He will stand up for you in a new and glorious world! The other option . . . well, I don’t even want to think about that.

The Verse AFTER the Favorite Verse

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As if Bible verses had sensitivity, I feel badly for Romans 8:29. It must be one of the most underrated Scriptures in the Bible. I am sure other verses are quoted just as infrequently, but Romans 8:29 happens to follow one of the most often recited verses. And so, for the next sentence to be commonly overlooked is both odd and unfortunate. Perhaps the less popular nature of Romans 8:29 in comparison to the preceding verse speaks to our human tendency to cling to what seems to make us feel good, rather than to what is true but difficult for a season. All Scripture should be read and taught in context, and this is also true of Romans 8:28.

Hear the resounding words of God spoken by Paul, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV). This truth is real comfort to us, as it ought to be. Omnipotent God is able to force each circumstance of a Christian’s life to conform to an unbelievable standard: our good. With God, nothing is wasted or given over to evil in the Christian’s life. Though the stream of circumstantial working may flow here and there – around mountains and in unexpected ways – each twist and turn takes the path that empties all the waters of life into the ocean of good. When God speaks of our good here in Romans 8:28, the Greek root means “useful, pleasant, excellent, upright, and joyful.” Everything I face will work towards a pleasant and excellent outcome. The question is, just exactly what is that outcome?

Enter the much overlooked Romans 8:29. Here, we find the answer to what genuinely brings joy. We discover precisely the target for which God aims when He carefully instructs each event to do its work for our good. What is the bull’s-eye on which God sets His sights? There is no doubt; the target is my conformity to the likeness of Jesus. Listen to the Word of God: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29, NIV).

If I go through the Christian life quoting Romans 8:28, but wrongly believe that “my good” can be defined any way I choose; I will be gravely disappointed. But, if I apprehend God’s right goal in this miraculous working together of all conditions of my life, I will be both free and satisfied. God’s good for my life is not so small as my wealth, prestige, and health. God’s good is my likeness to Jesus! This makes logical sense, for Jesus is the sinless Son of God. It is sin which delivers pain, heartache, disappointment, and death. We long for Heaven because sin cannot abide there – only our God and His glory. We long for that sinless residence, knowing its eternal status is joy and excellence! (Recall this is the essence of the Greek root for “good” in Romans 8:28.) Similarly, we ought to aspire to be like Jesus! It is God’s “good goal” for us. As more and more of His people conform to the image of Jesus, we will sense what is truly upright and pleasant while we await our conclusive good – Heaven.

When the situations of your Christian life do not seem to fulfill wrong assumptions about Romans 8:28, quote boldly the next verse. Know that God allows pain, discomfort, and factors we cannot understand – all in the process of making us more like Jesus. God’s bull’s-eye is so much greater than temporal comfort. God’s target is the glory of Jesus in my life.

Plunging Up Through a Mound of Dirt

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The kingdom of God is both unstoppable and mysterious. Jesus likened it to seeds scattered on the ground that slowly, methodically, and automatically grow.

Have you ever actually watched a plant grow (without the benefit of time lapse photography)? We could sit with eyes fixed steadily upon the seed for hours, days, and weeks to observe any progress – and still our human eyes could not catch the “movement.” Rather, we plant a seed and go about our days. We do what we can to water and fertilize, but the earth itself does the work. God has programmed this planet to make plants grow; and the Lord consistently sustains all the energy, processes, and products necessary for the curious work of cultivation and harvest.

We humans plant a seed and do exactly as Jesus said, “[We] sleep and rise night and day.” (Mark 4:27, ESV) In other words, we persevere through the stuff of life. We lay our heads down on the pillow at night and arise to a new day. We live out that day, and the next, and the next . . . all the while “the seed sprouts and grows,” though we “know not how.” (Mark 4:27, ESV)

This parable of the growing seed is a comforting one to us. God is at work behind the scenes, even as we continue on through the regularity of life! His kingdom is growing, even if the naked eye cannot grasp its movement. The seed we faithfully planted is sprouting and getting larger, even if we go on sleeping and rising.

Be faithful to spread the Word of God. Be faithful to plant the news of Jesus wherever God has asked. Though your days may seem ordinary, God is growing the seed. How He actually works in a human heart is as incomprehensible as the earth’s toiling with a little seed. Against the force of gravity and plunging up through a mound of dirt comes the sprout. So comes the beginning of God’s kingdom in a human heart once the seed of Truth is planted. Through seasons of sun, rain, cold, and heat grows the plant until the fruit appears. Likewise, the fruit of our investment in the proclamation of the Gospel arises despite obstacles and discouragement. Count on God to grow the kingdom as you plant the seed. Sleep at night knowing He is on the move. Wake in the morning assured growth is taking place. Scatter seed and let God work.

As Jesus promised, one day “when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:29, ESV) The final gathering of all that’s been planted and grown will take place and bring to light that which developed in such an unfathomable way. Suddenly, we shall realize just how majestic and impenetrable is this kingdom of God. The mysterious working of God in souls we touched with his Word will shine forth.

Keep scattering seed. Continue letting God work – faithfully and in an often unseen manner – as we go about our days in obedience.

Which Fire?

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Let’s focus on two instances in the Bible where God speaks to us about a “fiery furnace.” Though both situations are ominous, they are infinitely different. One leads to a closer relationship with Jesus, and one leads to eternal damnation. A night and day difference is clear. The question is: of which fire will you be a part?

At one point in his book, Erasing Hell, Francis Chan contemplates the day-to-day implications of the reality of Hell. After discussing the conflict he undergoes while considering the destinies of passers-by, Mr. Chan explains about Hell,

    This is not just about doctrine; it’s about destinies. And if you’re reading this book and wrestling with what the Bible says about hell, you cannot let this be a mere academic exercise. You must let Jesus’ very real teaching on hell sober you up. You must let Jesus’ words reconfigure the way you live, the way you talk, and the way you see the world and the people around you. (p. 72)

Obviously, Francis Chan believes (as I do) that our Bible teaches a non-negotiable reality of a just God – Hell. Jesus once told the “Parable of the Weeds” to crowds of listeners. Later, the Lord took his disciples aside and explained the parable. Jesus made clear that the sower of the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, and the good seed represents true Christians. The weeds, however, are the sons of the devil. When the close of this world occurs, angels will gather in the “harvest.” Jesus soberly proclaimed in Matthew 13:40-42 (ESV), “Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Certainly, God is communicating through His Word a truth many would rather ignore. Nonetheless, it is apparent throughout Scripture that evildoers (without the redemption that comes through Jesus Christ) will be going to a place of misery. In the New Testament, we find Hell described as a place of fire, darkness, weeping, and unimaginable regret. In Matthew 25:41 (ESV), Jesus describes hell as a place of “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” In this context, Jesus explains that unrighteous people will go to this place of punishment; though it was originally designed as the final abode of the most wicked one.

Okay, so very sadly we discover that there is a fiery furnace to be endured by those who reject God’s salvation through Jesus and continue on in their sinfulness. This fiery furnace is one where pain is felt to a degree currently unknown to us. Crystal clear is the fact that this fire is one of which we do not want to be a part. We are given no hope in Scripture of assistance or comfort there.

Travel back to the Old Testament book of Daniel. Three young men – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – refuse to give in to the wicked decree of King Nebuchadnezzar, demanding that all people bow down to a golden idol he had built. These men decided to remain faithful to the one, true God. Knowing the punishment for disobedience was to be thrown into a fiery furnace; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego obeyed God still. Furious at their refusal to do his bidding, Nebuchadnezzar had the furnace overheated so that the flame of the fire killed even the men who took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the furnace! Even so, the righteous young men were bound and thrown in.

Contrast what happens next to the description of Hell we have discussed already. In astonishment, King Nebuchadnezzar quickly rose and observed what was happening in the fire. In Daniel 3:24-25 (ESV) we read, “[King Nebuchadnezzar] declared to his counselors, ‘Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?’ They answered and said to the king, ‘True, O king.’ He answered and said, ‘But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.'” Later, in verse 27 we discover, “The fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.”

Unbelievable! THIS fire did no harm to the lovers of the true God. In fact, Jesus Himself appeared in the fire with them! This was a furnace of testing – meant to refine and draw men closer to God – not to destroy them. We note particularly that the fire had no effect on their physical bodies, so that not a hair was singed, nor did even a faint smell of smoke arise. In this furnace, God is with us. This fire is not OUR end or THE end; it is part of the process of learning to trust Him. We come out of this one unharmed . . . and more confident in our God!

Of which fire do you want to be a part? The one of punishment and separation from God? Or the one of testing and drawing nearer to God? One continues on in hopelessness and suffering untold. The other is one in which Jesus walks with us and protects us. We come out to a glorious end! I think this fire is the one of which the prophet Isaiah spoke in 43:2-3 (NIV), “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

If you choose the fire of testing and drawing nearer to God, you must choose Jesus. He is the only one who can cover your sin, because He took the payment for your wickedness at Calvary. Call on Him, and He will surely deliver you from Hell, and walk with you through the temporary, testing fires of this life.

Reference: Francis Chan, Erasing Hell (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2011)

The Paradox of Life

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Even if you appear to be “losing” according to the standards of culture, you may – in fact – be gaining everything. If you sacrifice your time, your passion, your money, and your reputation for the sake of Jesus; you will be given back more than you can ever imagine.

It is the paradox of all paradoxes. This life inversion is one the world cannot wrap its collective mind around. Working contrary to everything this world system understands, the biblical principle of “losing to save” truly turns things upside down for the faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Although the general world philosophy under an antichrist mindset instructs us to do all we can for ourselves – looking out for the health and well-being of number one – God makes clear it is only in sacrificing me to His will that I gain anything at all. No wonder Darwinian survival-of-the-fittest and pantheistic “inner divinity” take root so easily. All of Hell stands against the truth of God, and Jesus Himself proclaimed how narrow and difficult is the way of truth and life (Matthew 7:13-14).

But Hell shall not triumph! God’s truth – of which the ultimate end has not yet been seen – will prevail. This is what God has spoken in two contexts in one Gospel. First, Luke 9:24 (NASB): “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” The Greek root for “save” has a rich meaning, including: keep safe and sound, rescue from danger, restore to health, and preserve from destruction. The root for “lose” is shamelessly direct: destroy, abolish, kill, render useless, perish, and be lost. Okay, so whoever seeks to preserve his own life for any reason at all will ultimately lose his life. Work, scrape, continue on in your futile attempt to preserve your life from destruction; but your end is determined. Building up a large reserve of cash, visiting the gym five days a week, stockpiling for nuclear disaster, accumulating a list of good deeds done, and sheer self-will cannot preserve your life. In the end, all will be lost.

Paradoxically, if we lose our life for one particular reason – for the sake of Jesus – we will save it! Right! If I abolish my own life for the cause of Christ, I save my life. Remember that “save” here is a wonderful and all-encompassing word. My life will be rescued from danger, I will be restored to wholeness and health, I will see no destruction come upon me, and I will be safe and sound! Amen! The fullness of the promise is not realized in a world awaiting full redemption, but this salvation will be completely released on me one glorious day!

The woman who loses her life for Christ is the one who yields her time and affection to her Savior. Perhaps she is the one willing to choose investment in proclamation of the Gospel over investment in things that glitter. Maybe she is the one taking time to love the forgotten instead of seeking ways to be admired. She chooses to pray instead of indulge, for Jesus bids her come. The man who allows his life to be lost for Jesus’ sake is the one who dedicates His strength to things eternal. He does not grasp what he has with a tight fist, but He gives of himself that others might really know God’s love through him. He values the Word of God more than the musings of man or the entertainment of the world.

We see Jesus’ second declaration of the greatest paradox in Luke 17:33 (NASB). The context here is the end of this age; Jesus is clearly speaking of the future and His return. He now says in a most straightforward manner, “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” Here the selfish word is “keep,” and it can mean “make to remain for oneself” or “get for one’s self; purchase.” In other words, the person who is clutching to all he can for selfish gain will find himself with nothing in the end – not even peace at death. However, the one who loses her life for Jesus will preserve it! The Greek for “preserve” is glorious . . . “to bring forth alive, to give life.” Not even death can stop the power of God in the life of a person who has yielded his being, his possessions, his time – his everything – to Jesus. God will bring that person forth in vibrant, perfected life one day!

In mathematics, we call a function that “undoes” a given function an inverse function. The inverse literally produces the opposite effect of the original. The graphs of inverse functions are mirror images of one another about an axis. Picture this: giving your life away to Jesus will literally be “undone” by God. What you gave will be gained! What you lost will be found! If you are discouraged because all you now see is the loss you suffer for the cause of Christ, picture on the other side of the “axis” a point exactly opposite of where you are. Pain becomes joy. Loss of time becomes gain of eternity. Ridicule becomes honor. Poverty becomes riches. Weariness becomes strength. Clearly – oh, so clearly – he who loses will find!