To withdraw one's support or help from, especially in spite of duty, allegiance, or responsibility; desert: abandon a friend in trouble. This is just one of the dictionary’s definitions of the word, “abandon.” Fortunate indeed is that individual who can go on with his or her life, after being forsaken by a person or persons dear to them.
It is a pitiful sight to see one clinging to someone who wants nothing to do with him or her. The words of a country song illustrate my point, "He was a man holding on to a woman letting go." Blessed is that man or woman who, when loved ones and friends have gone away, can walk away; leaving it to the past.
Jesus told His disciples that they would leave Him alone, and then added, “…yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” This is the secret of perennial victory in one’s life, during those times of abandonment: a God consciousness. After all, who could ever be lonely with a companion such as He?
A mother may forget her sucking child; a Demas may forsake us; all may desert us; “[But] He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Note: The above article is dedicated to my daughter Leah, who, many years ago, was deserted, along with her three little boys, but found Isaiah’s words to be true, “Thy Maker is thine husband.”
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Global Warming
I am not a meteorologist, environmentalist, or biologist; but I do profess to be a 100% Biblist. And the Word of God tells me in no uncertain terms that as God destroyed His earth in the past by immersing it in water, He will demolish it in the future with a baptism of fire.
To those fickle followers of Christ who like to spiritualize the hard sayings of the Bible, I would remind you that the picture, good or bad, never does justice to the actual. Therefore, if the text is literal, it is going to be very, very bad. But if it is speaking figuratively, it’s going to be even worse than imagined. You choose.
As to the cause and effect of this devastation, the former is due to man’s continual sin against God. Concerning the latter, it’s the results of the Lord’s judgment upon mankind for his incessant rebellion. In the end-time Book of Revelation we’re told of the sun scorching men with great heat, so that they gnaw their tongues in pain and blaspheme the name God, refusing to repent.
But we are also told of a new earth that is awaiting those who bless that Worthy Name. Peter in his second epistle puts it this way, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
For you who have put all your stock in this present earth, I would remind you that your dividends of return will be ashes. I do not want to sound frivolous in making this statement to you who have put your roots deep in this present earth; but there is more truth than fiction in the old song, “There’ll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight.”
To those fickle followers of Christ who like to spiritualize the hard sayings of the Bible, I would remind you that the picture, good or bad, never does justice to the actual. Therefore, if the text is literal, it is going to be very, very bad. But if it is speaking figuratively, it’s going to be even worse than imagined. You choose.
As to the cause and effect of this devastation, the former is due to man’s continual sin against God. Concerning the latter, it’s the results of the Lord’s judgment upon mankind for his incessant rebellion. In the end-time Book of Revelation we’re told of the sun scorching men with great heat, so that they gnaw their tongues in pain and blaspheme the name God, refusing to repent.
But we are also told of a new earth that is awaiting those who bless that Worthy Name. Peter in his second epistle puts it this way, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
For you who have put all your stock in this present earth, I would remind you that your dividends of return will be ashes. I do not want to sound frivolous in making this statement to you who have put your roots deep in this present earth; but there is more truth than fiction in the old song, “There’ll be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight.”
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Spiritual Elitism
“When Isaac was old…his eyes were dim…so that he could not see.” To my knowledge Isaac is the only one of whom it is said, “he sowed in the land, and received…an hundredfold.” This son of Abraham was also a beautiful type of Christ in several particulars, one being His death and resurrection. Yet, this Christ-likeness did not exempt him from those infirmities that come with age. And no matter how godly you and I may be, neither will it us.
Many Christians possess a kind of unspoken philosophy, believing that if they live for God the physical maladies of this life will not come nigh them. But nothing is further from the truth. Being a member of the fallen Adamic race carries with it all the frailties associated therewith. As I’ve stated in numerous articles, “You cannot escape your humanity!”
There does not have to be a spiritual reason for everything that touches our physical lives. Some things are just a part of our pilgrimage here on earth; they come to all alike, in one form or another. There is no such thing as a “Spiritual Elite,” who are spared these dreaded woes. Hide behind a monastery wall, flee to a beautiful island, but you’ll find all the things you were running from beat you there, awaiting your arrival.
And so, what is the conclusion of the whole matter? Simple, we need to come down from our lofty cloud, lay aside our white robe, along with our halo and harp, and join the band of the commoners. When our Lord took upon Himself our form, He also took what went with it: weariness, hunger and thirst, pain and suffering. And you can be sure of this, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.”
Accepting the fact that one is human answers a lot of our unanswered questions.
Many Christians possess a kind of unspoken philosophy, believing that if they live for God the physical maladies of this life will not come nigh them. But nothing is further from the truth. Being a member of the fallen Adamic race carries with it all the frailties associated therewith. As I’ve stated in numerous articles, “You cannot escape your humanity!”
There does not have to be a spiritual reason for everything that touches our physical lives. Some things are just a part of our pilgrimage here on earth; they come to all alike, in one form or another. There is no such thing as a “Spiritual Elite,” who are spared these dreaded woes. Hide behind a monastery wall, flee to a beautiful island, but you’ll find all the things you were running from beat you there, awaiting your arrival.
And so, what is the conclusion of the whole matter? Simple, we need to come down from our lofty cloud, lay aside our white robe, along with our halo and harp, and join the band of the commoners. When our Lord took upon Himself our form, He also took what went with it: weariness, hunger and thirst, pain and suffering. And you can be sure of this, “The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.”
Accepting the fact that one is human answers a lot of our unanswered questions.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
So You Believe, Do You?
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” What a shock it must have been for those early believers, as it is for many today, to find out that the devil has faith. He is orthodox, in that he believes in the unity of God. He can stand alongside of many in churches and repeat their creed: “I believe in the one, true God.” If that’s all one has, then you cannot distinguish them from the devil. To be content with this kind of faith is to be condemned.
It is not a professing faith, but a faith that produces good works that God recognizes. If a person has only a faith without works, he is no better than the devil. The devils know there is one God, but there is no personal relationship with Him. “...what have we to do with thee...I know who thou art, the Holy One of God.” There are no atheists among the devil’s crowd. Those only exist among us mortals.
A mere intellectual assent is a vanity faith—it’s cosmetic. You can have an intellectual faith (the devils believe) and a faith that moves the emotions (they tremble), but only that faith that brings a change of life and good works, counts with God. It’s not talkin’ it that counts, but walkin’ it.
A naked profession of faith is no better than a verbal charity! (Thomas Manton)
It is not a professing faith, but a faith that produces good works that God recognizes. If a person has only a faith without works, he is no better than the devil. The devils know there is one God, but there is no personal relationship with Him. “...what have we to do with thee...I know who thou art, the Holy One of God.” There are no atheists among the devil’s crowd. Those only exist among us mortals.
A mere intellectual assent is a vanity faith—it’s cosmetic. You can have an intellectual faith (the devils believe) and a faith that moves the emotions (they tremble), but only that faith that brings a change of life and good works, counts with God. It’s not talkin’ it that counts, but walkin’ it.
A naked profession of faith is no better than a verbal charity! (Thomas Manton)
Sunday, November 29, 2009
The Great Escape
“I will disguise myself...” The person who said this did not want others to recognize him for who he was. How many of us are like this. We spend our lives running from reality. Because we are not comfortable in our own skins, we try to incarnate ourselves in another’s, trying to be someone we are not.
My elder son, Andrew, made a statement to me some time ago that I thought was profound. He said, “Dad, most Christians are trying to run away from their humanity.” Strange, that our Lord took upon Him the form of humanity, while we are trying to deny ours. We cannot escape the fact that we belong to the human race. We Christians—like it or not; admit it or not—have all the faults, frailties, failings, and feelings of the common man. The one main difference is that the Christian has God to sustain and help him.
It is not the super-human Christian, but the sincere-human Christian that impresses humanity.
My elder son, Andrew, made a statement to me some time ago that I thought was profound. He said, “Dad, most Christians are trying to run away from their humanity.” Strange, that our Lord took upon Him the form of humanity, while we are trying to deny ours. We cannot escape the fact that we belong to the human race. We Christians—like it or not; admit it or not—have all the faults, frailties, failings, and feelings of the common man. The one main difference is that the Christian has God to sustain and help him.
It is not the super-human Christian, but the sincere-human Christian that impresses humanity.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Our Selective Hearing
A.W. Tozer has an article entitled, “Listen To the Man Who Listens To God.” This is difficult for today’s carnal culture that puts so much emphasis on the external “earthen vessel,” rather than the “treasure” within it. We like to pick and choose the pitcher we drink from. "The fine china, if you please, not that old chipped stuff!"
Concerning the building of the Temple, David told his young son, Solomon, that God’s Word came to him explaining why Solomon would build it and not David himself. But when you check the reference, you’ll find that it was the prophet Nathan God used to relay His message to the King. It was the lesser, as the old-timers used to say, telling "his betters” what he was to do. It was a plain prophet who instructed “the man after God’s own heart.” From this we learn, King David considered no one beneath him! He was a good listener, whoever was speaking for God.
It was because, no doubt, Paul’s “bodily presence [was] weak” and “his speech contemptible” that many of the carnal Christians at Corinth chose to listen to eloquent Apollos over Paul. In Acts chapter twenty-seven, Paul warns the ship's builder and master of impending danger, but he would not heed his words. The experts were listened to over Paul, and this to their own peril. Later, in the midst of a terrible storm, the old preacher said to them, “Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me.” Paul was one of those people we dislike immensely, one who reminded them, “I told you so.”
God sometimes uses strange instruments to speak to His people. Ask Balaam!
Concerning the building of the Temple, David told his young son, Solomon, that God’s Word came to him explaining why Solomon would build it and not David himself. But when you check the reference, you’ll find that it was the prophet Nathan God used to relay His message to the King. It was the lesser, as the old-timers used to say, telling "his betters” what he was to do. It was a plain prophet who instructed “the man after God’s own heart.” From this we learn, King David considered no one beneath him! He was a good listener, whoever was speaking for God.
It was because, no doubt, Paul’s “bodily presence [was] weak” and “his speech contemptible” that many of the carnal Christians at Corinth chose to listen to eloquent Apollos over Paul. In Acts chapter twenty-seven, Paul warns the ship's builder and master of impending danger, but he would not heed his words. The experts were listened to over Paul, and this to their own peril. Later, in the midst of a terrible storm, the old preacher said to them, “Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me.” Paul was one of those people we dislike immensely, one who reminded them, “I told you so.”
God sometimes uses strange instruments to speak to His people. Ask Balaam!
Friday, November 27, 2009
The Prodigal's Brother's Problem
The Prodigal’s brother’s problem can be ours, if we’re not careful. He majored on what his brother was in the past, rather than accepting who he was in the present. Paul admonishes us to “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.” And one of the things we’re to emulate is the Lord’s not concerning Himself with a person's past, but seeing each individual in their present condition.
Contrary to some teaching, there is no “eternity past,” or “eternity future.” All there is is the eternal present. We are prone to live in time past, or its future; but God lives in the eternal present. We are told, “God is.” And as to faith, the scripture says, “Now faith.” The Great “I Am,” is not, was, or will be. Therefore, all God’s dealings with mankind and the world in which he lives, is in the eternal present.
And so we see God accepts and deals with His children in their present condition, whatever that state may be good or bad. He will not condemn one who has made a mess of his or her past, who is now living for Him. On the other hand, neither will he commend any for past achievements and allow their present life, if not God-honoring, to slide by unnoticed, and not dealt with.
God concerns Himself with, not what we were; but who we are now!
Contrary to some teaching, there is no “eternity past,” or “eternity future.” All there is is the eternal present. We are prone to live in time past, or its future; but God lives in the eternal present. We are told, “God is.” And as to faith, the scripture says, “Now faith.” The Great “I Am,” is not, was, or will be. Therefore, all God’s dealings with mankind and the world in which he lives, is in the eternal present.
And so we see God accepts and deals with His children in their present condition, whatever that state may be good or bad. He will not condemn one who has made a mess of his or her past, who is now living for Him. On the other hand, neither will he commend any for past achievements and allow their present life, if not God-honoring, to slide by unnoticed, and not dealt with.
God concerns Himself with, not what we were; but who we are now!
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