*Sooner or Later

“Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate.” The first coming of God’s dear Son was “in the fullness of the time.” And so it will be when He appears a second time. We are told it will be “in his times…” And what will He show us at this appearing? That Jesus Christ is the “only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.”

Someday Jesus Christ is going to show this old world who is really boss. All will be under His absolute, sovereign rule. Now there is only a small remnant of us who willingly submit; but then “every knee shall bow.” Yes, the time is drawing nigh that all of the earth’s kings and lords, along with their subjects, will be under Christ’s rule and authority, paying Him the homage due His blessed and holy name.

Sooner or later all will bow to His sovereignty. This being the case, the sooner is the better.

The Despair of Perfection

I tend to be a perfectionist. Because of this, I can be a burden both to myself and those around me. In a world where everything, and everyone, is imperfect, such people as me can spend their lives in misery unless they learn to adjust.

No one in the Bible claimed to be perfect. In the Old Testament, Job says, “...if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.” Paul tells us in the New Testament, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect...” If one could be perfect, that would do away with the doctrine of progressive sanctification, while ridiculously stating, by its claim, that you no longer need the blood of Christ in your daily life.

Though they would never say so publicly, this is where much of the so-called “deeper life” teaching leads one. Be careful of such teachings. Remember the first person in the Bible that promised that if you followed his teaching, “ye shall be as gods.”

When the Bible speaks of a Christian being perfect it simply means at a particular stage in your spiritual growth. For example, a husband may make a table for his wife, and seeing it in its early stage, she might say, “its perfect!” But she also says this after the sanding process, the staining, and then, finally, when the finishing touches are put on it. That is how the Scripture can use the term, “more perfect,” and be correct. How can perfect be more perfect except it be at different stages and time intervals?

David said, “I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad…” Christ is the only, truly Perfect One, and yet He gives each of us an “exceeding broad” space to move about in. God help us to do the same with our family and friends.

*Visiting the Fruit Stand

“[The] Lord is…longsuffering to us-ward.” The “us-ward” here is referring to God’s people—His elect, if you please. And who among the Lord’s children knew more about God’s suffering long with them than His number one problem child? How comforting to find two thousand years later that when we stepped into Peter’s sandals, we’d find the same God bearing long with all our shortcomings.

And how thankful we should be to our families, loved ones, and friends, for putting up with us. Even during the times when we can’t even stand ourselves, and are apt to give up, they don’t write us off as a lost cause. Oh, the gratitude we owe them for suffering those long days, weeks, months, and, yes, even years, with us.

Jesus’ admonition to the “us-wards,” is to “Go, and do likewise.” When visiting the Spirit’s fruit stand, take away with you a large bag of long-suffering. The taste is out of this world!

*How Will You Die?

A philosopher asked a young man if he would like to be rich or virtuous. He answered that he would like to live like a rich man, but die as a virtuous man. And so it is with many Christians today. They want to live like the worldly and enjoy the pleasures of sin, but when it comes to dying they want to die like the godly.

Balaam was such a man. He said, “Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his” (Num.23:10). But if you’ll check his life, he didn’t want to live like the righteous, only to die like them.

Common sense would teach us that if godliness is so desirable at death, why should we not pursue it in life? Godliness is needed now as much as it will be at death.

If my testimony is not, “For me to live is Christ,” then to die is not gain.

*The Remnant

Throughout the Bible, and down through Church history, whenever the mass of God’s people, like Lot of old, went away from the Lord, there was always a small segment of devotees, as Abraham, who drew near unto God. This small group that swore its allegiance only to the Lord is referred to as the remnant. The word is defined as 1) a remaining small part or number; 2) a fragment or scrap.

Elijah felt he was left alone among the throng of God’s people who had grown cold and indifferent to spiritual things, especially God Himself. But the Lord revealed to him that there were still seven thousand like himself who refused to bow the knee to the powerless, permissive, popularized religion of their day.

Paul’s words are as applicable to us today as they were true then. “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.” I pray you are rejoicing in the ranks of the remnant.

*Christianity: Fact or Fiction

“Nicodemus…said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him…” Socrates said, “An unexplained life is not worth living.” God doesn’t mind if you put Christianity under a microscope. That is, as long as we’re willing to lay aside our preconceived ideas. As C.S. Lewis said, “In coming to understand anything, we must reject the facts as they are for us, in favor of the facts as they are.” Many come to God for His agreement, rather than His answers.

The book of Job records over four hundred questions. It is perfectly legitimate and Scriptural to ask God a question…but not to question God. These are two entirely different things. I personally, question unquestioning people. Those who say we are to simply have faith and not question, live in a dunce’s dungeon. God’s order is fact, faith, and feeling. It is, therefore, proper and right to investigate the facts before stepping out by faith.

Biblical faith is built on historical fact.

The Best Medicine

“Then was our mouth filled with laughter.” If the Christian life does anything for a person, it balances him out. It is not all fun and games, as some would have us believe. But, on the other hand, it is not a sour-looking long face either. God made the mouth so that it can turn up or down. Left to itself, it’s neutral. Our attitude determines which way it goes. And, certainly, I understand the influence of circumstances at times.

If anyone has the right to laugh, it is those who have been delivered from being held in long captivity. Spiritual laughter can cause our enemies to take notice so that they testify among themselves, “The Lord hath done great things for them.” The laughter of God’s people is what convinced their adversaries.

“A merry heart doth good like a medicine,” says the wise man. Sometimes it is not medication we need but merriment. We have a plaque hanging on a wall in our home that reads, “He who laughs, lasts.” Maybe today some of us need to get with friends and have an old-fashioned belly laugh. It would do us all good.

Some of the most memorable times in life are those in which we shared laughter with friends.

*Taken Away or Given Away

“…your joy no man taketh from you.” If this be true, and it is, then, any joy lost was willingly surrendered, not taken. Man can take just about everything we possess; but it is impossible for him to rob us of our joy. It remains ours until such time as we choose to freely relinquish it to some circumstance or individual. Our joy is one of the few things that spiritual thieves cannot break through and steal.

Paul had his freedom taken and was confined, but he still had joy in the jailhouse. They thought they had emptied old John of all life’s pleasures, but in that aged, earthly vessel remained his treasured “fullness of joy.” And when Habakkuk was stripped of all life’s blessings, he stood and testified, “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Now we understand a little better the words “as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing.”

You can’t rob a Christian of his joy; but he can relinquish it.

*The Second Time Around

“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” This promise was not made to Jeremiah when he was at his pinnacle, but while he was in prison. And so it is with us. God’s sweetest promises come our way when we are shut-up and imprisoned by circumstances. But though we may be shut in, God cannot be shut out from us. No locks or bars can keep Him from His elect.

When dire events frown upon us, Deity smiles. And why not, for nothing is too hard for Him. Man’s extremity is God’s opportunity. Things were going from bad to worse for His prophet. And it was then that God made His bold promise, one which He was more than capable of performing.

During these tough times our testimony should be that of God’s old friend. “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”
“The word of the Lord came unto Jeremiah the second time.” If we don’t get it the first time, God always makes sure we get a second chance. (Jonah 3:1)

*For Better or for Worse?

Never expect a person, young or old, to accept your life-style if it be not better than the one they are already living. Such an offer would be ludicrous. If you can’t present a life that is better, then I would suggest getting one you can recommend. Equal, or inferior to, is not an incentive for change. I’m convinced most who desire others to adopt their way of living do so because, as the old saying goes, “Misery loves company.” It is a characteristic of cults or carnal Christians.

A life that is not filled with peace, joy, purity, and righteousness, is not living, it is only existing. Jesus’ desire for us is just not a life but an abundant life. Why would any sane person want to trade sergeant’s stripes for the bare sleeve of a private when they had opportunity to have a general’s star placed on their collar?

Stop and Listen

“Amen and Amen.” To deny that God emphasizes certain numbers in His Book is to close one’s eyes to Divine light. For example, seven is completion or perfection; forty, probation or trial. There is a symbolism attached to these, as with other numbers in the Scriptures. And so it is with the number two. It stands for union. “They shall be one flesh,” is how God describes the union of two people in marriage.

This can be true also of the head and the heart. They are to be one in agreement. When there is conflict between the two, it is time to stop any endeavor until each can say “Amen” to the other. To be established, the Bible says it must be “in the mouth of two witnesses.” For instance, the Word of God and the Spirit of God always agree as one. It takes two wings to fly, and you’ll never get off the ground in any endeavor unless there are two internal voices that say, “Amen and Amen."

Those Little Big Things

“…the Lord was not in the wind…the Lord was not in the earthquake…the Lord was not in the fire…but…in…a still small voice.” Certainly, it must be admitted, whatever else our Lord was teaching His prophet, one thing was that, if not careful, we can miss God in the small things of life, while looking for Him in the bigger ones.

There used to be a worldly song entitled, Little Things Mean a Lot. If we fail to see God in the compassionate touch of a loved one, the beauty of a little flower, the smile of a child, or in a small get-well card from a friend, we have missed seeing our great God in these little things.

Remember, God came into the world in the form of a little baby. He hailed from a small town, and He pastored a little flock. When Jesus saw things like small fishes, the lilies of the field, and a little lad, He knew little is much when God is in it. Let’s be sure not to look for God in the wrong places.

Little things God is in are better than one big thing He is not.

*It's Never Too Late

“This is a desert place, and the time is now past.” Time and place create no problem for God. He, rather, uses them as opportunities to manifest His glory. The situation is never too bleak or the hour too late for Him to work. When we are ready to give up and disperse, He is ready to give out and dispense.

It’s never too late when we put God in the equation. Ask aged Sarah, as she holds her new born child. Ask Mary and Martha at their brother’s graveside. Ask all those blind, lame, deaf, and dumb, who thought their time had come and gone. We need to remember, our cheap timepieces always run five minutes faster than God’s precision “Big Ben.”

*A Sacred Sedative

The little wall plaque says, “Prayer changes things.” But even more importantly, it changes me. There is such a thing as predestined circumstances, which all the prayer in the world cannot and will not change. But though some things in life are as settled as cement, God intended for his children to be as supple as a good leather glove. And it’s only by prayer we become pliable.

I’m afraid one of the undesirable traits I received from my mother, who raised me, was to be a habitual worrier. Rather than sing, “Why worry when you can pray,” my natural temperament would be to change the lyrics to, “Why pray when you can worry.” God’s sacred sedative for such people is to be found only in prayer. It’s our divine tranquilizer.

Portions of two of my favorite songs say it better than I ever could: “Oh what peace we often forfeit, Oh what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” And the second is like unto it, “Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.”

A Coveted Compliment

Oswald Chambers, describing his dear and respected friend, Duncan MacGregor, used just three words: “Character, character, character.” This is just about as high a compliment one can be paid, other than their love for God.

Contrary to what some low people in high places may say, character counts. We hear a lot today in religious circles about a person’s faith, as if it were the pinnacle, not realizing it’s foundational. Peter tells us, “Add to your faith...” We are to be cultivating character as we grow in the Lord. It’s a continuous process that culminates in Heaven.

Until Christians once again begin to honor their commitments, pay their debts, show appreciation, clock in on time, along with a list of other Godly character traits, we will never convince this world that we are made out from a different fiber. They’ll be content with their own garments.

The best collateral is character.

Fear of the Fire

Strange how two people can look at the same thing but see it differently. Israel saw only a devouring fire on the mount and kept their distance. Moses saw God in the fire and entered into the midst of it. There is no cause to fear the fire when God is in it.

The “fiery trials” spoken of by Peter always do three things: first, they loose us from our bondage; second, they give us an awareness of our Divine Companion; and third, they bring glory to God. The three Hebrew children are an illustration of these three truths.

Isaiah promises, “...when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.” And so it was with the courageous three in Daniel. The king’s testimony of them was, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth man is like the Son of God.”

It’s that fourth Man Who makes the difference in the fiery trials of life. When old John on Patmos describes this fourth Man he says, “...his feet [were] like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace,” (Dan.3). No wonder we are told “...glorify ye the Lord in the fires.”

When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie
My grace all sufficient shall be thy supply;
The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design
Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

Chained or Changed

The wise man tells us it is not wise to say the former days were better. Even if we could go back, in order to forget present unpleasantries, we’d also have to forfeit the nice things we have experienced. And anyway, who wants to start over in the first grade? To begin again from where you are is the thing to do. Or, as the Hebrew writer says, “Let us go on…”— not back. The way it was is not as good as the way it can or will be.

Like it or not, we all change, whether for better or worse. I’ve observed that those who live pulling the scab off a painful past only get worse and worse. And those who relive the “good old days” are destined to miss the glorious days that lie ahead. Yesterdays can be a ball and chain that holds us back today.

To hear someone say of another that he or she is the same, and that they never change, is not a compliment, unless it refers to their principles. Only God doesn’t change; you cannot improve on perfection. But we still need a lot of work. We’re on the assembly line all our lives. It is at the end of it we get the perfect product.

To Be or Not To Be

Shakespeare’s To Be or Not To Be is still a relevant question, especially among God’s people. Today, whether it be the local paper, or the local pulpit, it seems what you do is more important than who you are.

The “how-to” books promote doing, not being. We do not want to take the time to become some-one. We are too busy doing some-thing. God is preeminently interested in who we are. The world, and religion, is only impressed by what we have accomplished.

“Being” is so important because it flavors all we do. This is why, when God judges His people according to their works, it will not be on the basis of what size it was, but “what sort it was.” What we have done will be traced back to who we are. All works are birthed by motive.

When I stand before my God, I care not if my spiritual resume is void of great accomplishments; but I do pray it will say, “He was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost.”

Bobbing For Apples

“Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.” I have a little philosophical tidbit I try to live by. I’ve mentioned it on more than one occasion in the Journal. It goes like this: There is nothing perfect; there is nothing lasting; and you’ll never get it all together. Each of these causes my type of temperament much frustration, the last one probably more than the first two.

Life is like bobbing for apples. There will always be something popping up that demands our attention. When one is taken care of, there will be another to take its place. It is vicious cycle that will keep us dizzily going round and round, if we allow it. It is only outside the circle that we can see the whole. As long as we stay on this merry-go-round, we’ll get nowhere.

George McDonald writes: “No man ever sank under the burden of the day. It is when tomorrow’s burden is added to the burden of today that the weight is more than a man can bear.” This agrees with Jesus’ teaching to take care of what’s at hand and to not overly concern ourselves with what will pop up in the near future (Matt.6:34).

A Temporary Patch

Why do you think among today’s believers there is so much emphasis on this present evil world, and not that one which is to come? Why all the hullabaloo about here rather than here-after? Why the concern with the nasty-now-and-now, to the neglect of the sweet-by-and-by? We who name the name of Christ should realize our next major stop is Heaven. This present world, as we know it, is headed for a baptism of fire, only to leave all the things we cherish and cling to in ashes.

Here are some reasons that anchor us to this present evil world: exposure to science, falsely called, with its atheistic influence and bias; emphasis on the material in our secular culture; erroneous teaching of Eastern religions with the New Age philosophy; and being engulfed in social and political issues. As a tragic consequence of these, the Church has paid a dear price, substituting the Here for the Here-after.

As the song goes, “This world is not my home; I’m only passing through.” We are sojourners, not permanent residents. There is a whole New Earth coming. The best we can do with this present condemned one is to put a temporary band-aid on it. Dr. J.H. Jowett wrote: “I discovered that no man works less eagerly for the slums because now and then he has a vision of the city of God.”

“Pleasure, profit, preferment are the worldling’s trinity.” (John Trapp-Puritan)

*Christians Are Not Exempt

“[A]t even my wife died; and I did in the morning as I was commanded.” God had forewarned Ezekiel that He would remove from him the joy of his life, when he told him, “I take away from thee the desire of thine eyes with a stroke.” What is one to do when loved ones are taken, health breaks down, children go wrong, and we experience financial set backs? In spite of sounding overly simplistic, we go on. In the bad times as well as the good, life goes on. And, like it or not, we are carried along by the same current as others. We are not any different or better. Christians are not exempt.

Our text teaches us that, after we have buried our losses, we are to do as we are commanded. Our personal griefs are to give way, and submit, to Divine direction. Our disposition at such times makes little difference. If we are living to please God, then life’s hurts will be easier to bear. How many servants of God can testify after a gloomy evening, there was a glorious sunrise awaiting them.

There is a great difference between the world’s “ups and downs” and the Christian’s "downs and ups”. (Psl.139:2,a)

Awed by the Almighty

“Stand in awe, and sin not.” Webster’s definition of the little word “awe,” is as follows: 1) an overwhelming feeling of reverence, admiration, fear, or wonder produced by that which is grand, sublime, extremely powerful, etc.; 2) to inspire or fill with awe; 3) to influence by awe, awed them to obedience.

One good remedy for sin is to be awed by the Almighty. The reason for most, if not all the trouble in the Church today is that we have lost “the wonder of it all.” The reverence, majesty, and glory of “the Lamb that sitteth upon the throne,” is no longer preached from most of the pulpits of our country. The average sermon could be found in any “self-help” book. This is the cause for so many anemic churches. When God is preached, His glory soon fills all His house.

One Almighty is more than all mighties. (William Gurnall, Puritan)

All Equal in One

A book about math says one equals one, but the Book of God teaches all are equal in THE ONE. Paul tells us, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.” In Him, diversities of peoples become one.

When the Spirit of God is poured out upon a people, they rise to the place where they all flow together. It is so racially, for no longer are they Jew and Gentile. Peter and Cornelius lose their prejudice against one another. When the Spirit of God comes, He also takes care of our social problems. There is no bond or free. The master and servant’s distinction is lost in the Great Emancipator. The rich and the poor, the learned and illiterate—their pools flow together when the tide is high.

I spent some years living close to the ocean. At low tide, there are scores of separate pools along the seashore, but, at high tide, they flow together, and the distinctions are lost in union. It seem to me that in many of our lives it is high time for a high tide.

*Close to the Cross

It was Evangelist D.L. Moody who said, “Never get further than a day away from the Cross.” It was here Jesus made a fool out of the devil (Col.2). The Cross was no afterthought with God. Jesus was God’s Lamb “…slain from the foundation of the world.” And our Lord well knew it. For, in reference to this historical event, He said, “…for this cause came I into the world.” God does not want us to forget it. This was His purpose in establishing the Lord’s Supper. It is God’s forget-me-not. “This do in remembrance of me.”
Years ago, after a village meeting in Alaska, the pastor was flying me back to the Anchorage airport in a small 2-seater plane. We ran into a snowstorm so bad that I couldn’t see the wings for the blinding snow. I asked how he knew where we were going. He pointed to the instrument panel, showing me a little cross-like needle, then replied, “Just keep your eyes on the cross; it will keep us safe and on course.”

A Good Place to Start

Setbacks need not be permanent. Sometimes a step backward will take you two forward. Setbacks can be advantageous. One can get a clearer view of the landscape and what’s up ahead. You can get so close to the forest you can’t see the trees.

What does one do when he or she has lost ground? The same thing that our father Abraham did when experiencing a backward step. After we are told he “…went down,” it is recorded he “…went up,” and then it adds, “…he went on.”

Some of us are waiting for something to happen when what we really need to do is get a move on. Don’t wait until you get all your ducks in a row. There will always be one duck to break ranks! Go with what you have.

Begin your journey again from where you are. The Chinese proverb says, “A thousand mile journey begins with one step.” The quickest way to make progress is to advance to where you once were, and go on from there. It’s the old story of coming back to Bethel.

Satan and Time

“He knoweth that he hath but a short time.” In the Bible sense, any time is short compared to an endless eternity, whether it be one or a thousand years. Satan’s limited time accounts for the fierceness in his fighting. He is a conquered foe who refuses to admit defeat. In God’s omniscience, for some reason known only to Him, He allows the devil to continue to do battle with the Omnipotent and His children for a time.

Because of this, we Christian soldiers may lose a battle or two, but when, and if, this happens, it is important to remember Apollyon has already lost the war. This is the reason the old-timers used to say, “When you fall, shout the victory.” Every evil spirit, with their king, has an eternal place of punishment already consigned and prepared, just as our everlasting home of bliss is reserved and awaiting us.

We can be characterized as “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” Sorrowful for temporary defeats because of our sinful natures, yet, at the same time, rejoicing because, as saints, there is eternal victory. So, when we are brought low, you may hear a little low-sounding bass in our song of Zion, but the high pitched treble sounds of the Hallelujah’s for our Victor almost drown them out.

Wounded and weak, the lame still take the prey.

*Continual Cleansing

“…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” One need not go to the Greek to find out this is a present and continuous cleansing. The English word “cleanseth” carries with it both a present and progressive action. Because of this, in spite of daily defilement from sin, we can enjoy unbroken fellowship with God.

Confession of sin is not to be at the end of the day but throughout it. The Christian life is to be lived on a moment by moment basis. This is the way in which God keeps His vineyard in this world. “I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.”
As A.W. Tozer says in his book, I Talk Back to the Devil, “…when God forgives a man, He treats him as though he had never sinned…He starts with him again as though he had just been created and as if there had been no past at all.”

What God forgives, He forgets.

Truth in a Nutshell?

“Master we saw one...and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not...” (Mk. 9:38-39). Oswald Chambers said, “It takes God a long time to get us out of the way of thinking that unless everyone sees as we do they must be wrong.”

There are some rigid movements within Christendom who believe only they have a corner on the truth. In an overbearing, dictatorial way, they renounce all others as heretics or apostates. If you’re not a part of their particular denomination, or church, you could not possibly be right. This type of self-centered ego comes from the fact that they refuse to see the whole picture. The Body of Christ is much larger than one little group. It takes in all of God’s people, not a select few. It may surprise some, but there are still “seven thousand.” You need not get an Elijah complex.

I like what one old-time evangelist said years ago: “If a hound dog comes to town and barks for Jesus, I’m going to leave him alone.”

A man who thinks he is always right will eventually start playing God in other people’s lives.

Responsible Knowledge

“And he said unto them, It is not for you to know…” Because we do not know one thing does not mean we are left in the dark about another. The disciples did not know the time of the establishment of the Kingdom, but they knew they were to be empowered by the Spirit. To not be certain of the one doesn’t release us from obeying the other.

We are obligated and responsible to do those things we know are right to do (James 4:17). There are superficial, professing Christians today who believe that because they do not understand one thing, they are justified in copping out of doing the revealed thing. To not understand foreordination does not excuse fornication.

“It is not the things in the Bible I don’t understand that bother me, but those that I do.” (Mark Twain)

*Heaven Helps Us

During a Bible conference some years ago, I mentioned to the people that there are various types of ministries. To explain mine, I said, in jest, “I’m not as interested in showing you how live in the ‘sweet bye-and-bye’ as I am in the “nasty now-and-now.” After my message, my good pastor friend, in all innocence and sincerity said, “You know, I find, when my mind is upon the “sweet bye-and-bye,” I live better in the “nasty now-and-now.” I took this gentle and instructive rebuke as from the Lord.

If you’re familiar with Bible biographies, as well as those written throughout history, you realize those who accomplish the most for this present world, were those who thought much on the next. They left their enduring mark upon this earth, because their minds were occupied with Heaven.

I believe the one main cause Christians are so ineffective in the world today is for this very reason; we no longer think of the other world. To quote one of my favorite authors, “Aim at Heaven and you will get the earth thrown in; aim at the earth, and you will get neither.” We shall never make a difference on this earth as long as the world is our main goal. We must learn to want something else more.

There will be no Heaven on earth until Heaven is in our hearts.

Know-It-Alls

God keep me from being a religious dogmatist, as Job’s well-meaning friend, Eliaphaz. But sad to say, how much like him we all are—flaunting our spiritual superiority, while we declare the cause of other’s misfortunes. What we say is often true—even eloquent, at times—but we do it with a harsh and hard spirit.

Webster’s definition for dogmatic is, “asserting opinion in a dictatorial way; opinionated.” I’m afraid this has been a picture of my life on many occasions. What an ugly one it is. Even now I am ashamed and embarrassed to think about it. We can tell people why their children go wrong, what is the cause of their sickness, the reason for their trials, and where they’re doctrinally wrong, etc, etc. We dogmatists have a hypocritical and pharisaical opinion on just about everything.

We can explain it all...till it happens to us. Isn’t it strange that when bad things happen in the lives of others, it’s because of something wrong they did; but, when it touches us, it surely must be for our benefit, to make us a better Christian. If we could (or would) only see ourselves as others do, we would keep a permanent black veil over that portrait.

May we stop trying to play God in everyone’s life. Let us be careful of being too dogmatic on minor doctrinal issues, and, by all means, stop interpreting events in the lives of others. It never occurs to a dogmatist that he could possibly be wrong. I cannot tell you how many times I have been.

As a dogmatist, I’ve spent a lot of time in the dog-house.

Unanswered Questions

My wife sings a song that says, “When answers aren’t enough, there’s Jesus.” When I was first converted, there was a preacher who used to claim he could answer any Bible question in fifteen seconds. I trust now, in his old age, he knows better than to make such a foolish statement as this.

Recently, I saw a beautiful teen-age girl with her mother. The girl had only a stump for a left arm. It seemed to be a birth defect. Had she asked, I could have quoted for her the Scriptures. But, truthfully, I didn’t have the answer. Yes, we are to take things by faith, but that doesn’t always supply the answers.

I’m told in the book of Job that there are over four hundred questions. Someone has said, “It is alright to ask God a question, but it’s wrong to question God.” With some of our perplexing questions, we’ll just have to wait till we see Him face to face. Until then, we need to go on our pilgrim way, singing in our hearts:

We’ll talk it over in the bye-and-bye.
We’ll talk it over, my Lord and I.
I’ll ask the reason; He’ll tell me why,
When we talk it over in the bye-and-bye

"What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter." (jn.13:7)

Prayer Requests

“Let your requests be made known unto God.” Throughout scriptures we find kings, lords, masters, judges, fathers and friends granting requests to those who ask. Interestingly, God falls under each of these headings. If a wicked king granted a sinful woman’s request (Mat.14:7), most certainly our Wonderful King of Kings will His saints (Mat.21:22).

Paul doesn’t mention a “claiming,” or “demanding,” of things; but simply the making of a humble, submissive request. “If it be thy will,” was both Jesus’ approach and addendum to His request to God (Lk.22:42). He subordinated His desire, believing His Father knew best. We need to trust our all-wise God to decide which of our requests to grant, and which to lovingly withhold.

The Lord doesn’t need information; He knows our deepest longings before we ask. But He would know them from us. “Thus saith the Lord God; I will yet for this be inquired of by the House of Israel, to do it for them.”

To be sure, He will regard our prayers when they are in the form of requests (Psl.102:17).

The Flavor of Life

“I hated life.” These words did not fall from the lips of a depressed, ignorant pauper who had no station in life, but rather from a king to whom God had given “largeness of heart,” as well as making him the wisest and wealthiest man in all the earth.

The things of this world bring no permanent satisfaction if God is not in them. Like sugar is to tea, so God makes our material cups sweet to the taste. When we seek first the things above the sun, we’ll enjoy the things that are under the sun. As Peter says, it is then that we can “love life.”

To live only for the “meat that perishes” will never bring perpetual happiness to the soul. Those who live only for the things of this world are constantly discarding them as children do who no longer find satisfaction from their toys. It is Heaven’s promises, not earth’s pleasures that give spice to life.

The blessings of earth become burdens when God is not in them.

The Corinthian Syndrome

I tell young preachers who are entering their first pastorate to begin it by teaching through 1 Corinthians. Why do I say this? Because we are in the age of the Corinthian Christian. You cannot read through this book and not notice the similarities.

They boasted of their spiritual gifts, but never recognized the Giver; they gloried in preachers, but not in God; fornication was the accepted norm; they sued one another; they drank to excess, and came to church that way; divorce was rampant; their religious trinkets (idols) were more important to them than a Divine relationship; there was the masculinization of women and the feminization of men. We could go on, but this should suffice to prove my point.

What was the cure for such a people and church? Well, Paul did not give them a long list of man-made rules. He gave them a simple cure-all for everything. It has to do with ownership:

What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (6:19-20).

There is no spiritual problem that the filling of the Holy Spirit cannot solve.

The Shadow of the Cross

“[H]is cross…a shadow.” Paul tells us both in Colossians and the book of Hebrews that the Old Testament was filled with shadows of good things to come. You can be sure whenever you see a shadow that there is something of substance close by.

The cross of Christ is outlined throughout the old Cannon of Scripture. Jesus Himself confirmed this when He told the people of His day to, “Search the Scriptures…they...testify of me.” Remember, all they had at that time was the Old Testament.

Let us then seek to see some shadowy shapes of His Cross under the old Covenant. That is, some outlines of the real thing.

1. The Passover Lamb’s blood was put on the two side door posts and the lintel above. The Cross!

2. The Tabernacle furniture was placed so that it made the shape of cross. The Cross!

3. The heave offering was vertical, the wave offering horizontal. Bring them together and they become perpendicular. The Cross!

4. When Joseph’s two sons stood before Jacob, their grandfather, he crossed his arms so that he could bless the second born first. The Cross!

5. Ruth did not lie along side of Boaz, but cross-way at his feet. The Cross!

6. Peter refers to Christ’s cross as a, “Tree.” At the bitter waters of Marah, Moses cast a tree into them, and the waters became sweet. The Cross!

Glory, glory everlasting
Be to Him who bore the cross!
Who redeemed our souls, by tasting
Death, the death deserved by us.

Vain Knowledge

All knowledge is futile without the knowledge of God. Socrates said, “I know only one thing, that I know nothing.” I cannot vouch that this was said in sincerity or with a false show of humility. But after studying the Holy Scriptures for half a century, it is plain to me that every worldly wise philosopher’s knowledge is vain.

Few there are who understand that the real issue among Job’s so-called friends was which among them had the greater knowledge. Each desperately attempted to exalt himself at the other’s expense. To paraphrase Paul, “…they did not know as they ought to know.” God tells us in no uncertain terms at the end of Job that these know-it-alls knew nothing at all.

Peter exhorts Believers in his second epistle, “Add to your faith…knowledge.” He goes on to describe of what sort this knowledge consists, “But grow…in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” The Christian’s greatest desire should be to know Him more intimately. Not the Christ of the world, but the Christ of the Word.

Jesus said, “Search the scriptures…they…testify of me.”

Unbelieving Believers

The definition for the word “paradox,” in the American Heritage Dictionary is “a statement that appears to contradict itself, or be contrary to common sense, but that may be true.” The term “unbelieving believers” would fit under this heading. Contrary to reason, there are those among us believers, who manifest unbelief.

For example, Thomas was a believer in the Lord’s substitutionary death, but an unbeliever in the resurrection life. The father who brought his child to Jesus said, “I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” He believed God “was,” but not the “rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Israel had faith to cross the Red Sea, but not Jordan. Each of the above examples show unbelieving believers.

Doesn’t it seem strange; we have faith the Lord will save us, but we have difficulty trusting Him for victory in our daily lives. Moses tells God’s people in Deuteronomy, “He brought us out…that he might bring us in...” Exactly the same faith that brought them through the Red Sea could bring them over Jordan to the land of milk and honey. But, Hebrews tells us, "They could not enter in because of unbelief."

Israel didn’t wade through Jordan; they walked over by faith.

Mr. In-Between

“How long halt ye between two opinions?” This is a difficult position to be in. It is doubly true when either choice will glorify God. To be in such a situation is to experience what the proverbial saying calls being “between a rock and a hard place.”

Not to choose one way or the other leaves things unresolved and us unstable. Therefore, it’s better to make a decision, even if it’s wrong. God can correct a wrong decision, but He can do nothing for no decision. It is said of Paul and his party, “…they assayed to…but the Spirit suffered them not.”

Do what you generally know the be right, and God will take care of the specifics.

The Christian's Great Confession

Reading the title of this article, I’m sure many Christian minds will go to Peter’s “Great Confession” in Mat.16:16. I am not speaking of his grand doctrinal statement, but rather a practical declaration each of us needs to make before the world, as well as our brethren. Those among us who hold positions of influence need especially to affirm this fact loud and clear.

And what is this major acknowledgement? It is simply the declaration that, “I CANNOT WALK ON WATER.” We need to affirm to all that we are not “Super Saints.” There is no giant “S” on the front of whatever attire we may be wearing. Neither do we possess a monogrammed cape enabling us to soar above the common man. We are men of like passions as they are, and we dare not ever forget it. For to do so means God will needs clip our artificial wings to bring us back down to earth.

Heavenly people are to be humble, not haughty!

Bargaining Chips

If you know anything about the life of Jacob, you know he was a great one for bargaining with God. The only problem was, he (like we) usually came up short keeping his end of the bargain. The truth of the matter is, the sooner we realize that none of us have any bargaining chips with God, the happier and more content we will be.

I had the distinct privilege of spending a few years in N. Ireland. These dear people are known for their bartering ability. After some time of haggling, each barterer walks away feeling he or she got the better part of the deal.

The child of God who has learned not to try to barter with God will find he has gotten in on the best bargain of a lifetime.

Grace at Hand

“The people...found grace in the wilderness” (Jer.31:2a) There is no place grace cannot and will not go. When wickedness is great in the earth, when corruption is all around us, when violence fills our land, grace can still be found. Ask Noah!

We are strangers in a strange land, but we’re never strangers to grace. It follows us wherever we go and wherever we are. It is always nearby. We are never so lost or forgotten that grace cannot find us. When Elijah was discouraged and so depressed he wanted to die, He, Who is full of grace, showed up in the wilderness of his experience to sustain him by providing “a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head” as he slept.

And what was God’s purpose in His people finding grace in the wilderness? “I went to cause him to rest” (v.2b). And so it still is; we also can find grace in a weary land.

Grace is always at hand; just reach out and take what you need!

Enough is Enough

We are told in the Book of God that Satan accuses God’s people day and night. He is relentless, there is no let up, until we say, “Enough is enough.” That is, we put our foot down and tell the indicter he has gone far enough, and that we’ll allow him to go no further. The best illustration of Satan being silenced in condemning the saint, I think, is found in Max Lucado’s book, “In the Grip of Grace.”

Sometime ago I read a story of a youngster who was shooting rocks with a slingshot. He could never hit his target. As he returned to Grandma’s backyard, he spied her pet duck. On impulse he took aim and let fly. The stone hit, and the duck was dead. The boy panicked and hid the bird in the woodpile, only to look up and see his sister watching.

After lunch that day, Grandma told Sally to help with the dishes. Salle responded, “Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen today. Didn’t you Johnny?” And she whispered to him, “Remember the duck!” So, Johnny did the dishes.

What choice did he have? For the next weeks he was at the sink often. Sometimes for his duty, sometimes for his sin. “Remember the duck,” Sally’d whisper when he objected.

So weary of the chore, he decided that any punishment would be better than washing more dishes, so he confessed to killing the duck. “I know, Johnny,” his grandma said, giving him a hug. “I was standing at the window and saw the whole thing. Because I love you, I forgave you. I wondered how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.”

Outdated?

C.S. Lewis wrote: “It will not bother me in the hour of death to reflect that I have been “had for a sucker” by any number of imposters; but it would be a torment to know that one had refused even one person in need.”

We who have been burnt a few times in life by those we have helped, need not let one bad apple spoil the bunch. We ought not major on the nine who did not return to give thanks but the one who did. That one was worth all the rest.

Both laymen and leader are susceptible to this plague of the heart. Memory loss is no excuse for forgetting how much others did for us when there was no one else to reach out a helping hand.

One does not have to agree with or adopt the lifestyle of a drunkard, but certainly there should be some show of appreciation when such a person runs into a burning house and saves their only child. Gratitude is never out of date.

A brief note of thanks says more than a whole book.

*Something You Can Hang Your Hat On

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.” His methods may change, but never the Man. His sterling character is changeless. Paul was telling these primitive believers that the God of the Old Testament saints was the same in their times. And added that He will remain such even unto our day. Therefore we can repeat this precious promise to our generation. He is the same in the 21st century as He was in the 1st. And He will continue to be such forever. That’s something you can depend on.

If at one time he loved you, He loves you still; if at one time He was with you, He is with you still; if at one time He owned you as His own, then He owns you still. We do not have a fickle Savior, but a faithful one. Ours is not a vacillating God; He is covenant-keeping one. Christ is changeless in a changeable world. Or as the hymn writer wrote: “Change and decay in all around I see: O Thou Who changes not, abide with me.”

Christ is the Rock that keeps the rock of Gibraltar steady.

Brain-dead Believers

“Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” Many ministries today have degenerated into Nicolaitism. That is, the clergy over the laity. Our modern equivalent of this word would be totalitarianism, which Webster defines as meaning: 1) does not tolerate parties of different opinions; 2) dictates over various aspects of life; 3) has authoritative control over freedom, will, or thought.

How do such ministries come to fruition, and even flourish? Invariably, it is when God’s people stop thinking for themselves, and let others do it for them. If you can get a man to think like you, you have captured him. Ideals are the most powerful weapons in the world. All dictators and conquerors realize this. This is why thinkers are threats to tyrants.

The two-fold danger we face is either having a closed mind that is open to nothing; or an open one that takes in everything. What is needed is a spiritually discerning mind in all things.

If you think outside the box, it will lead you inside the veil.

Bondage

The religious professors of Jesus day fancifully imagined themselves to have never been in bondage, and were quick to tell Him so. But sheep can’t pull the wool over the Shepherd’s eyes. He was more than familiar with their history (as He is ours). They had been in bondage in Egypt for some four hundred years, in Babylonian bondage seventy years, and at the time of their fabricated statement, were in bondage to Rome.

Why is it we are so slow to admit we are in bondage to something or someone? Is it not because we desperately want to believe we are in control? The truth is we are all in bondage, one way or the other. If one is not a bond-slave to Jesus Christ, then he or she is to the world, the flesh, or the devil. There are varieties of ways in which one can be in bondage to either things or people. For example, we can be in bondage to our appetites, thoughts, enjoyments, and emotions, as well as to family, friends, and religious leaders; to name just a few.

Peter tells us in his second epistle, “…for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.” The quickest way to break anything that enslaves you is to make yourself a bond-servant to Jesus Christ. You are free when you’re bound to Christ. When we can say from our hearts, “I will not let thee go,” it is then the hold other things have on us, strangely lets go.

It’s well to remember, we are in bondage to whatever we cannot part with.

*Settled as Cement

“Settle it therefore in your hearts...” If you’re ever going to transact business with God, it must be done from the conference room of your heart. All the issues of life come from this little room. Once things are settled there, you can go forward without fear. Very few things, if any, can stop you once things are settled in this sacred room. Divine determination will characterize your life.

It is within the confines of the four walls of the heart that purposes are fixed. They are settled like cement. This is what carried young Daniel through life. Once he had “purposed in his heart...” it took him through the rest of his life till old age. Every unsettled thing in our lives, the devil will challenge us on.

We are always committed to the things we love. What are you committed to?

Friendship's Necessity

There are several things that go into a lasting friendship, such as mutual loyalty, the ability to keep a confidence, as well as being comfortable in intimate conversation. But first and foremost, above all, true friendship is willing to accept the other, just as he or she is…warts and all. The famine of true friendship today can be traced to the fact that one or both party’s fears rejection. As someone has said, “A friend is someone who knows all about you and still likes you.”

We should constantly keep our friendships in repair. The wise man said, “…when thou art come into…thy friend…humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.” David and Jonathan are good examples of this. Their relationship epitomized what Aristotle said: “Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.” Again, it has been said, “No man is the whole of himself; his friends are the rest of him.”

Many of us, because of death or the fact of geography, long for the camaraderie we once enjoyed with friends. But to all you lonely, seemingly friendless souls, I remind you “…there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” And remember, too, it is He that said to His followers, “Ye are my friends.” The songwriters had it right when they penned, “There’s not a Friend like the lowly Jesus,” and “What a friend we have in Jesus.”

Thank God, He’s my Friend. He accepts me the way I am. And I have no fear of ever being rejected by Him.

He Stole My Heart

I feel like Samuel Rutherford when he said, “Since He looked upon me my heart is not my own, He hath run away to heaven with it.” Jesus Christ is my life; I’d like to believe He has all the love and loyalty this frail vessel is capable of giving.

But I blush to admit, because of this feeble flesh, I am not always what I ought and want to be to Him. But, blessed be His name, He has always been to me everything He promised to be. For half a century now He has been my Saviour, God, friend, lover, protector, provider, councilor, physician, and defender. I could go on and on, but as John the Beloved said, “…the world itself could not contain the books that should be written,” if I were to tell all He is and means to me.

I am grieved by professing Christians today who make much of God and little of His Son. A Christian can no more get to God by-passing Jesus than a sinner can. You cannot ignore God’s Beloved Son and honour God. “All men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father.”

The test for every false religion is, “What think ye of Christ?” Not, “Do you believe in God?” James writes, “Thou believest that there is one God…the devils also believe, and tremble.”

Contrary to the religious peddlers of our day, God’s emphasis is not on the family, politics, church, and pet doctrines, but on His Darling Son! Please listen to this old disciple, if you want God’s blessings upon your life and ministry in a very special way; then make much of His Son. Like any father, God loves it when His Son is bragged about!