John's "Wish List"

"Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth." I just returned home from a two day stay at the VA hospital in Sacramento. I needed a blood transfusion (four units) for blood I was losing in my stomach, and naturally, an endoscopy to cauterize the source of the cause. Even though I had been up for twenty-four hours, the night before the procedure, I was unable to sleep, I think because of weakness and anxiety, 

About two in the morning, I turned on the TV, hoping that would possibly help me in drifting off into La-La Land. As I surfed all seven channels, I came across one of the "feel good" TV ministries. For the life of me, I cannot understand how even a novice could fall for that jargon. But as P.T. Barnum is purported to have said, "There's a sucker born every minute." Any worldly con-man would spot such shams. Our Lord told us as much when He said the children of this world are wiser than those of light.

I seriously doubt some Christians put their thinking caps on when reading the Bible. To use our opening text to prove a "health and wealth" philosophy is utter nonsense. John is speaking in a general sense. What would you expect him to say? "I wish above all things you will be in want and poor health?" To ask about one's health was common custom in ancient Jewish correspondence. Evidently Gaius' spiritual state was of such excellence that John prayed his physical health would match it. Or, it may be, John's beloved friend was not well and the apostle was praying Gaius would be as healthy in body as in soul.

The scriptures teach throughout, God's people are still a part of humanity after He calls them out from the world. In one sense, we are nothing like natural man, but in another, just like them. This is so that we can still relate to their infirmities and sufferings. You know, like Jesus came in the flesh to identify with us. From godly Isaac's poor eyesight to Paul's continual affliction, God's elect have always suffered in one form or another. And as to wealth, let us not forget Jesus had to borrow a penny. To by-pass the Cross for a "health and wealth" life is Satan inspired, to be sure (Matt.4 cp. Lk.4). As my dear friend, Dr. John R. Rice used to say, "Healers die also."

No cross, no crown! It's not now, it's later (Ro.8:18). 

A Branded Conscience

"Having their conscience seared with a hot iron..." I once heard a preacher illustrate this text by applying it to a branded calf. He said, once the seared place healed, you could jab it with a penknife and the beast would nor flinch; it was now insensitive in that area. 

There has been much discussion and written about the subject of conscience. Generally speaking, there seems to be no debate it is an inner sense of what is right and wrong in one's conduct or motives. As to the latter, before conversion, because of depravity, there is a bent to follow the evil. Concerning the former, after salvation, because of the divine nature, there is a leaning to pursue the good.

It seems when Satan has put his brand upon an individual life by cauterizing their conscience, there is no longer conviction. That is, no conviction without conscience! " John.8:9 tells us, "...being convicted by their own conscience..." If as the old adage says, "Conscience is your guide," when seared, the two choices will disappear. And you will naturally choose the latter, though it is no longer set before you, it is ingrained in you. What will be missing is the good.

The devil is no respecter of persons when it comes to the ruination of a life. Young or old, it matters not to him. Many religious young people, because of their continual refusal to do the good and leave off the bad, have had their conscience seared, just like the old reprobate in the gutter. What a chilling thought, to go through life in such a hopeless condition!      

Those Dreaded Confrontations

One of the negative characteristics in Jacob's life was his dislike for facing people. He ran from those he didn't like to face. We're told he, "left" home, and in Laban's case, "stole away." How many there are of us that can relate to him. Like the ostrich, we'd prefer to bury our head in the sand. But sooner or later, all must face the music.

The word confrontation means: (1) to meet face to face; to stand facing. (2) to place before. There are three necessary encounters we cannot avoid indefinitely. Facing others, God, and ourselves. Jacob ran for years trying to avoid facing these three  with whom he had dealings earlier in life. But God brought him to a place he couldn't get out of and demanded of him a confrontation.

Interestingly, the whole of Jacob's life was changed when he came to the end of himself and faced those he'd evaded for so long. When the Lord asked what his name was, and he said, "Jacob" (meaning supplanted, schemer, deceiver), it was then God said he was a prince. And after coming face to face with his offended brother, he found a warm reception, with much affection and blessings.

Why, O, why, do we run from God's best?

The Separatist Movement

I believe most emphatically in Biblical separation. But I do not, and will not, accept a list of man-made rules. My son, Andrew, mentioned once to a woman that the Bible did not teach total abstinence; to which she replied, "But don't you think God holds us to a higher standard than that?"

You can trace all separatist movements back as far as the Pharisees, and yes, even further, to Israel of old. They added hundreds of their own commandments to God's law. We find such descriptive terms of these separatists as, "They say, and do not." And, "Thou that sayest a man should not...dost thou...? 

Francis Schaeffer, J.I. Packer, and Harry Ironside all belonged to strict separatist groups in their day, the latter two coming close to nervous breakdowns, because they could not live up to the rigidity of the "elites" teaching. But each found, in time, that the strongest advocates of the movements didn't live up to what they preached.

This was the whole issue over Paul's stern rebuke of Peter in Galatians 2:11-14. Especially verse 14, "If thou being a Jew, livest after the manner of the Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest the Gentiles to live as do the Jews.?"

Let each reader heed the words of the first Church council."Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear."