Have You Been With Jesus?

      Acts 5:27-29 says, And when they had brought them, they set them before the council.  And the high priest questioned them, saying, “We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.”  But Peter answered, “We must obey God rather than men.”

        It required extraordinary courage for Peter and the others to stand before the council and say the things they did. The Sanhedrin charged the apostles with disobeying their command to teach no more in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18). The apostles said that it was right for them to disobey. The Sanhedrin accused the apostles of trying to bring the blood of Jesus Christ upon their heads. The apostles accused them of killing Jesus (Acts 5:30). The Sanhedrin denied that Jesus possessed divine authority. The apostles declared, “God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31). By then much of the Sanhedrin was prepared to kill the apostles (Acts 5:33). Had they not heeded the advice of Gamaliel (Acts 5:34-39) they likely would have done so.

      What an awesome display of faith and courage. It is not difficult to begin imagining that they were a different breed of human, a group of first century “supermen” exempt from the discouragements and fears that often plague “the rest of us.” After all, what else could explain their ability to stand with straight backs and determined brows before an enraged Sanhedrin? 

      They were not supermen. In fact, they had not always been as bold as this. Even after this event Peter, the spokesmen for the group, would briefly turn hypocrite and lead others astray by his example (Galatians 2:11-13). God reveals their failings so that we will recognize that they were just like us, fraught with all the frailties and fears indigenous to humanity. Like us, they occasionally succumbed to temptation. Like us, they experienced illnesses and death. Like us, they sometimes needed a shoulder to cry on. Like us, they needed to be encouraged. Like us, they needed to be saved!

       So if they were not supermen, if they really were just like us, how did they manage to bravely stand before a hostile council and so thoroughly make their defense that the council could not begin to deal with the points they made? I believe we find all the answer we need in Acts 4:13, the first time two apostles were brought before the council.  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.” They had been with Jesus. They had traveled with Him, listened to Him, received their training from Him, and been saved by Him. They had been with Jesus.

     When ordinary people are filled with extraordinary faith that they have been with Jesus becomes apparent to all who are paying attention. Our ordinary daily lives should show us the truth of this. Why do faithful Christian spouses patiently work at their marriage when folks all around them with similar troubles and fears separate from one another? It is because they have been with Jesus. Why does the faithful Christian see the glory of God in the brilliant morning sunlight while other folks are grumbling about going to work in the morning? It is because they have been with Jesus. Why doesn’t the faithful Christian curse and throw out vulgar gestures when someone cuts them off while driving or shoves in front of them in the grocery line? It is because they have been with Jesus.

      Living hand in hand with Jesus does not reveal itself only when one’s life is on the line. It is something that shines through in daily life. Of course, it does require a mature, committed faith to hold its resolve in the face of personal danger. It is the type of faith all saints should work for. Christians often say that they do not know what they would do if faced with the same challenges of some of our earliest brethren, such as those faced by the apostles in Acts 4 and 5. I don’t believe that to be the correct attitude. All committed Christians should be prepared to not just have their faith tested, but to cling to it to the end, even if that end is death (Matthew 10:22). Such would certainly not be easy, but it would be expected by the One prepared to welcome them on the other side.

      Yes, we are ordinary people. None of us are masquerading as regular humans until we find the nearest phone booth. Yet we are all capable of extraordinary things through our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Living the faithful Christian life each day is as extraordinary as surviving the most trying moments with faith intact. Both are made possible because the saint has been with Jesus. 

A Few Thoughts On Fellowship

     Where many have concluded that fellowship is the thing Christians do over fried chicken, a cup of coffee, and conversation; the New Testament use of the word shows it to be spiritual in nature. We have fellowship with those who stand for the truth, worship God in the ways He said He wants to be worshipped, and live their lives making every effort to walk worthy of their calling. New Testament Christians take tremendous delight in laughing with one another over a meal and recognize such intimacy to be a product of the blessing of being in fellowship with God. They recognize this foundatinal truth: it always comes back to God!

     How is the fellowship God desires established? The answer is found in 1 John 1:5-7. This is the message we have heard and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkenss at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. To claim fellowship with God is to walk in the way He walked. Look at Jesus Christ and do what he did. Love truth as he loved it, walk according to the Father’s will as he did, and love souls the way he loved them. Those who are willing to do this will not hesitate to put him on in baptism and will, as a result, join with those who share the same faithful commitment. They will work and worship together, fellowshipping one another because they are in fellowship with God. Anyone can claim to love Christ, sit down over a hearty meal with other such claimers, have a grand old time, and call the whole thing fellowship. But if one wants to be part of the spiritual fellowship in which God delights 1 John 1:5-7 tells them how.

     Not long ago a brother declared, “We cannot have fellowship with someone God does not fellowship.” If by “cannot” he means it should never happen then he is absolutey right. If by “cannot” he means it couldn’t actually happen…Well, that’s a different story. Let’s consider Scripture.

     We read the following from 3 John 9-10. I have written something to the church, but Diotrophes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknoweldge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church. Diotrophes refused to fellowship a group of traveling preachers (5-8). What’s more, he raised his fist against his brothers and sisters in the congregation who did welcome them, casting these faithful Christians out of the church. Further, he refused to recognize the authority of the apostle John. Thus, Diotrophes refused fellowship to faithful traveling preachers, faithful brothers and sisters within the congregation of which he was part, and an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Note this well, beloved: God fellowshipped while Diotrophes didn’t. Severing fellowship with a brother or sister in Christ is never something to be done without prayerful study and meditation. Neither should it ever be the result of an emotional reaction. Man’s emotions lead him wrong. A lot. When fellowship is severed it must only ever be for a single reason: a Christian or group of Christians has chosen to no longer walk in the light. That conclusion should only ever be reached after calm and prayerful consideration of God’s Word. Otherwise, one may disfellowship where God has not. What a frightening proposition!

     Turning to 1 Corinthians 5:1-2 we find a different, though equally disturbing, situation. It is actually reported that there is sexaul immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father’s wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rathe to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you.” These brethren had among them one walking in darkness. He was living in sin without remorese or repentance. They were aware of it and yet took no action to remove him from their midst. His wicked influence (leaven, v. 6) was left unchecked and could easily have ravaged that church had not Paul stepped it to get it sorted. Note this well, beloved: God did not fellowship while the Corinthian brethren did. When calm and prayerful study reveals that fellowship must be severed faithful saints had better have the courage and conviction to follow through. It is no better to extend fellowship where God does not than to sever fellowship where God extends it.

     What determines biblical fellowship? What are its boundries? What is to occur when those boundries are reached? Man has had much to say about this throughout the centuries and has left folks more confused than ever. So stop listening to man. Let us resolve to simply hear God. We know with certainty that He will never lead us wrong.   

The Majority Appeal

     In Exodus 23:2 God cautioned against something that has been a problem for man almost from the very beginning. He said, You shall not fall in with the many to do evil. Centuries later Jesus made a couple of very informative statements along these lines. Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13-14).    Yet even with these warnings the appeal of the majority remains incredibly strong.

     It is quite common for those in the minority on issues to be mocked and pressured to join the majority. I can only assume that Noah and his family must have seemed like a crazy (and tiny) group of religious extremists as they built the ark (Genesis 6-7). Righteous Lot infuriated the men of Sodom as he refused to take part in their deeds, clearly judging them wicked and ungodly. They would have killed him for it had he not been rescued (Genesis 19:5-9). Joshua and Caleb offered their minority report, rocked the boat every which way, and nearly received a stoning for going against the majority opinion (Numbers 13:25-14:10). Students of the Scripture know that in each of these cases (and many more could be added) the majority was wrong. If we can determine why the majority is nearly always wrong in spiritual matters we can equip ourselves to stand correctly and remove the appeal of “majorityism” (if that’s not a real word it should be!) altogether.

    Let’s understand this first: no majority is ever wrong simply because it’s a majority. Right and wrong are not determined by numbers, either great or small. Some take a peculiar delight in holding a minority opinion on just about everything. Where many believe the expression “might makes right”, these just as heartily accept the proposition “if believed by few it must be true.” That’s silly. A small group can be just as wrong as a large group. Nothing is true because either a majority or minority accepts it as such. Let God be true though every one were a liar. (Romans 3:4)

     So why is the majority usually wrong on spiritual matters? Well, how do the majority of people respond to divine truth and authority? You don’t need to do any research into this besides considering your own relationships. Set aside your brethren for a moment and answer the question by simply considering all other acquaintances in your life. It doesn’t take much thought to see that people, as a whole, lack faith in God (at least as God Himself would define it). Every day we see the majority of people substituting human plans and purposes for divine. Practically speaking this means that there is very little chance for sound conclusions in spiritual matters from the majority.

     Neither is it a surprise that most people seek out a majority. Without faith in God and the strength to stand alone, most people seek security in numbers. When a majority forms, regardless of the morality or appropriateness of the position they advocate, they convince themselves that “everyone can’t be wrong” and continue to “go alone to get along.” Their numbers grow and the broad way remains heavily traversed.

     Beloved, there is nothing appealing about condemnation and if Jesus meant what he said in Matthew 7:13-14 (he did) the majority is marching steadily toward destruction even with its flowing banners of “might”, “popular opinion”, and “wisdom”. How many fathers have asked the child who foolishly followed his friends into some mischief, “If your friends jumped off a bridge would you?” The Father above asks, “If the majority chooses condemnation will you?” Don’t say “no” and live “yes”. Find God’s truth in Scripture and let it guide your steps. It will set you on an awfully narrow road and for long stretches you may not see another traveler upon it, yet it ends at the very gates of Heaven. The majority won’t be there, but God will. No majority is so appealing as that!

Think On These Things

It is good to be tolerant in matters of no consequence. Where the rights of men are equal, where God has not legislated, let each man make his own determinations. However, to be tolerant of sins against God's Law is to usurp the right to "judge" God's Law (James 4:9-12). Perhaps there are times where "tolerance" is a mask for lack of conviction and concern.

Think On These Things (Excerpts From The Preacher's Journal)

     "I am convinced that most Christians have tremendous stores of talent and skill buried beneath a pile of distraction, insecurity, and fear. We find excuses that seem reasonable to us, that don't arouse an offended conscience, and we trot them out whenever obligation comes calling." (Jim Jonas)
     Interesting thoughts from Mr. Jonas. The next time obligation and opportunity come calling, how will we answer?

National Security?

     Nahum prophesied about Assyria and specifically Assyria’s capital city, Nineveh. The book is a sort of “sequel” to Jonah. About a hundred years before Nahum Nineveh had repented through the reluctant preaching of Jonah. By the time Nahum arrived on the scene things in Nineveh had gotten so bad that God had determined it was time for them to suffer one of the terrible “days of the Lord.”

     A wicked nation suffering God’s vengeful judgment (Nahum 1:2) is certainly not unique to Nahum. We can read of the prophets delivering God’s message of judgment to Edom, Philistia, Moab, Babylon, Egypt, and many others. In the case of Nahum’s prophesy, God seems to take special care to point out that it was when Assyria was as her strongest that He would see her humbled. Nahum 1:12-13 says, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Though they are at full strength and many, they will be cut down and pass away. Though I have afflicted you, I will afflict you no more. And now I will break his yoke from off you and will burst your bonds apart.”

     Truly Assyria was as strong as they were only because God permitted it. Though Assyria had destroyed Israel and provided a constant threat to Judah, God wanted His people to know that He was using the wicked Assyrian’s as a chastening rod. When Assyrian iniquity became complete God broke Assyria’s yoke from off Judah’s neck and burst their bonds apart. The point I want us to get is this: there was nothing Assyria could do about it.

    Take a moment to read Nahum 2 (only 13 verses). Did you see listed all that Nineveh trusted in? Their walls were strong, their soldiers were mighty, their chariots were many, their officers were skilled, and their wealth was immense. They were described as lions! Yet verse 13 makes the one statement that rendered all of Assyria’s assets useless—“Behold, I am against you, declares the Lord of hosts.”

     Friends, when God is against a nation there is no such thing as national security. Nineveh’s wall could have stood a mile high, all of her soldiers could have stood as tall as Goliath, gold and precious metals could have filled the streets for lack of space to store them, all of her allies could have stood at the gates, her chariots could have numbered in the millions with the most skillful soldiers to man them, all of her horses could have been of the finest stock, and every nation could have trembled in terror beholding her. Yet the simple fact that she made God her enemy doomed her and all she trusted in for her security was as useless as a miniscule whisper of wind against a mighty oak. Because Nineveh’s security was not based upon God Nineveh was not secure at all.

     “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stay awake in vain” (Psalm 127:1). Friends, where is your security? Upon what do you base your trust? Jehovah prompted Nineveh to keep her trust where it had been and see the result. In Nahum 3:14 He says, “Draw water for the siege; strengthen your forts; go into the clay; tread the mortar; take hold of the brick mold!”  She had always trusted in her provisions and the strength of her city. Jehovah urged her to keep it up. Grab some water, gather the material to make bricks, and just keep strengthening that wall. Surely no one could them, right? Verse 15 says, “There will the fire devour you; the sword will cut you off. It will devour you like the locust.” 

     Nineveh’s national security was an illusion, nothing more. She rejected true security and was destroyed because of it. Her destruction was so thorough, so complete, that the location of that once majestic city was not discovered until 1842. Such is the “security” of those who reject God.      

What if God were like us?

      There are many who refuse to believe in God because they say if there really were a God things on this earth would be different. They would do things a certain way and they will not believe in a God who does things differently. In essence, they refuse to believe in a God who is not a mirror image of them. We could discuss how and why God is different by examining many of His own statements in Scripture and do so to great benefit. However, for the purposes of this article we’re going to consider the question stated in the title. What if God really were like me? What if He thought like me, behaved like me, and spoke like me? 1 Peter 1:14-16 says, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’.” We are called upon to conduct ourselves in a holy manner just as the One who called us is holy. But what if the Holy One, if only for a month, chose to conduct Himself after the pattern that He sees in us? How much do you suppose would change?

      Psalm 34:15 says, “The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous and his ears toward their cries.” Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” It is wonderfully comforting knowing that God’s eyes and ears are always inclined toward the saint. But would that still be the case for the month He patterned His conduct after ours? Would there be times when He was not very inclined at all to see, listen to, and help His saints through their daily struggles? Would He be too tired, preoccupied, or self-absorbed to care? 

     Ezekiel 18:21-23 says, “But if a wicked person turns from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” More than anything else our God wants to be able to forgive a person of their sins and enjoy a saving relationship with them. The entirety of Scripture is about the deployment and fruition of a plan to accomplish His will in this matter. But would that still be the case for the month He patterned His conduct after ours? Would a desire and willingness to forgive characterize Him for that month? Or is it possible that He would become a grudge-holder for the month, refusing to forgive those who slighted Him even as they repent and ask forgiveness?

      Malachi 3:10 says, “Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” Our God has always been eager to pour blessings upon His people, physically and spiritually. But would that still be the case for the month He patterned His conduct after ours? Would He eagerly rain spiritual blessings upon those faithful to His cause? Or is it possible that He’d be too preoccupied with Himself to even appreciate those working for and trusting in Him?

         Of course, God is not going to pattern His conduct after ours. He is always faithful and true even when we’re not. Indeed, we’re commanded to imitate Him, not the other way around (Ephesians 5:1). However, answering these questions tells us a great deal about ourselves. Did you like the answers?   

Therefore do not throw away your confidence (1)

   Hebrews 10:32-36 says, “But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.”

   The Christians addressed by the Hebrew writer had suffered upon their conversion to Christ. Some of them were held up before the public eye and ridiculed. Some were made a spectacle of as they were cast into prison. Some had their property plundered. The ones who may not have experienced these things first hand were so concerned and involved with the saints who were that they could truly be considered partners with them in their suffering. 

   Few things would be as stressful, particularly from the perspective of a father, as having his home and property confiscated. A father must provide for his family. He works hard to provide a place where his wife and children can feel safe, a place to which they can return each day confident that food, clothing, and shelter will be available to them. He may not be able to present them with an abundance of worldly goods, but love for his family and His God powerfully motivates him try and make their lives as comfortable as possible. How his faith must be shaken when those things are plundered from him!

   Or is it? The Hebrew writer reminds those first century saints of a time when they did not just accept such persecution, but they accepted it joyfully! “But how can that be?”today’s non-Christian and worldly-minded Christian ask incredulously? After all, Jesus’ statement in Luke 12:15 that “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of His possessions” just sounds so strange, so unrealistic, doesn’t it? Yes, if approached from a worldly perspective. There is nothing praiseworthy or commendable in suffering to the one whose vision cannot see beyond his life on earth.

   However, early after their conversions the recipients of the Hebrew letter had been able to take a much longer view than that. Even as their houses and property were taken from before their physical eyes, their spiritual eyes were fastened upon a “better possession and an abiding one.” They were very much like Moses, of whom the Hebrew writer would remind them just a few verses later. “By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward” (Hebrews 11:24-26). One must not gloss over the fact that Moses knew of a reward exceeding that of being called the grandson of the most powerful man on the planet and enjoying all the vice and pleasure associated with it. One must be even further moved in considering that he thought of these sinful pleasures as merely “passing” when he could have indulged in them for the greatest part of a long life. The worldly-minded exclaim, “What a wonderful life this man gave up!” The spiritually minded exclaim, “What a wonderful reward he grasped!” In the beginning, the Hebrew saints kept that reward firmly in mind. What about you and I?

   

Draw Near To God--4

      James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”

   This article will conclude the four-part series on drawing near to God. The consistent lesson of the preceding three articles has been that in order to draw near to God one must find out where He is. So far, we have learned that God is in His creation, in His word, and in the church, the body of His only begotten Son. In this article we will look at passages that show God is in heaven, His dwelling place.

   In the midst of listing the numerous laws contained in the Law of Moses, Deuteronomy 26:15 says, “Look down from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless your people Israel and the ground that you have given us, as you swore to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Heaven is the holy habitation of God. Solomon, when he dedicated the temple, in 1 Kings 8:30 said, “And listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” Heaven is God’s dwelling place. Cautioning his readers regarding their speech, the preacher in Ecclesiastes 5:2 wrote, “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.”

   God dwells in heaven. That is where He is. If we would draw near to Him, then we must have heaven as our goal and be ever striving to get there. All of our time, energy, and our physical resources should be mere tools that help us on the road to heaven. That statement is not made to teach us that we should turn over all of our assets to some sort of central treasury. But it is stated to teach that we will have difficulty drawing near to God in heaven if we hold back from a total commitment to Him.

   How do we draw near to God in heaven? We draw near to God through prayer. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray in Matthew 6:9 He began, “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”  Jesus knew where God, the Father, was and where prayer should be directed. If our prayers are to be an avenue whereby we draw near to God, then we need to direct those prayers to God in heaven. In Psalm 18:6, having been rescued by God from the hand of Saul, David wrote, “In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” 1 Peter 3:12 shows how receptive God is to the prayers of the righteous. “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

   In Jeremiah 29, God sent a letter to the exiles in Babylon instructing them to be good citizens of whatever city they found themselves in during the exile. They were to build houses, rear families, plant gardens, and seek the welfare of the city in which they lived. In this letter God told them that at the end of the seventy years, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

   God is on His throne in heaven always attuned to those who pray in an effort to be nearer to Him. “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.” (Psalm 73:28)  

Draw Near To God--3

    “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)

   Previous posts in this series indicated that we draw near to God by perceiving Him in His creation and by studying our Bibles wherein God reveals Himself more fully. But where else can God be found? Are there additional avenues whereby we might draw near to Him? The answer, or course, is yes, and this article and the one to follow will explore two other means by which we can draw near to God.

   God can be found in the church, that body of the faithful. The faithful are those who have dedicated themselves to being as much like God as they can possibly be. “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16) If we willingly obey God, that is, be holy as He is holy, then we draw near to Him and He to us. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” (Philippians 4:8) If we think like God, that is, fill our minds with the thoughts enumerated in Philippians 4:8, then we draw near to God and He to us. God always has our best interests at heart. The members of a church where God can be found always have each member’s best interests in mind. “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” (Philippians 2:3)

   We draw near to God, and He to us, every time we function collectively as the church. We draw near to God as we worship Him together. We draw near to Him when we read and listen to the public reading of the scriptures. We draw near to God when we encourage and assist each other to think honorable and lovely thoughts. We come closer to God when we exhort and encourage each other, when we lift each other up, when we help each other press on, when we mutually overcome all that Satan puts in our way, when we share our faith and work as a body to spread the gospel. If we are working to be a church that God approves of, then there is never a time that our work does not bring us closer to God, and He to us.

   “Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.

    Before our Father’s throne we pour our ardent pray’rs; our fears, our hopes, our aims are one, our comforts and our fears.

   We share our mutual woes, our mutual burdens bear; and often for each other flows the sympathizing tear.”

    Truly the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.        

Draw Near To God--2

     James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” As was stated in the previous post, if one would draw near to God one must know where to look for Him. Not only can God be found in His creation, He can also be found in the scriptures. While we can draw near to God by being receptive to what creation informs us about Him, we can draw nearer by means of the knowledge God reveals about Himself in His word. It is as if creation is merely a preface or introduction to the infinitely more detailed content contained within the bible.

     If one would know God, if one would really and truly draw near to God, the bible is where He can be found. In order to really draw near to God one must get into His word wherein He reveals Himself. In the bible God tells us who He is, who we are, and where we stand in relation to Him. Not only does God describe Himself in His book, He also tells us what He has done and why He did it. In addition He tells us what He will do in the future. He doesn’t stop there; He informs us what He likes and what He does not like. He makes clear what pleases Him and what displeases Him. He shares His promises, gives warnings, and provides ample evidence that His promises can be relied upon without fail. In the remainder of this article we can only begin to mine the depths of the scriptures to extract the vast treasures contained therein. Even though space is limited, we can establish the profound truth that if we will draw near to God by going to the scriptures God will draw near to us.

   Let’s draw near to God through the following scriptures:

   God is eternal and infinite. “Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end.” (Ps 102:25-27)

   God is sovereign. “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.” (Isaiah 46:9-11)

   God has done great and wonderful things. “In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.  And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Col. 2:11-16)

   God’s power works to our best interests. “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:29-31)

   The bible is all about God. It contains God’s revelation about Himself. Just think about that fact: God, the Creator, has not left us, the creation, in the dark about Him, but has fully enlightened us so that we might know Him. There is no better way to draw near to God than to make His word a vital part of our lives.     

Draw Near To God--1

    James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” Can you think of a statement more precious and wonderful than that? What a marvelous blessing it is to know that if one will move towards God, then God in turn will move towards the one who wants to be near Him. Drawing near to God means coming closer to Him, approaching His presence, coming under His influence. Drawing near to God opens up the possibility of being in His presence and experiencing safety, peace, happiness, and intimacy with deity, contentment and so many other spiritual blessings.

     For good reason we sing “There is a place of quiet rest, near to the heart of God, a place where sin cannot molest, near to the heart of God. There is a place of comfort sweet, near to the heart of God, a place where we our Savior meet, near to the heart of God. There is a place of full release, near to the heart of God, a place where all is joy and peace, near to the heart of God.”

    But where is God? Where is He to be found? If one is to draw near to Him one must know where he can be located. This is the first of four articles about drawing near to God where He is. This first article is about finding God in His creation. The articles to follow will be about finding God in His word; finding God in the Church, i.e. His people; and finding God in heaven, His dwelling place.

    God can be found in His creation. Romans 1:20 says, “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” One who observes the physical world and fails to find God misses one of the fundamental, essential truths of the universe. This world is not the result of some accidental, cataclysmic phenomenon. The beauty, the combination of simplicity and complexity working hand in hand, the order, the variety, the connectedness, the resources, the richness, and even the sometimes devastating power displayed in the forces of nature all speak to the working of a divine presence. How can one miss this truth?

    “This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears, all nature sings, and round me rings the music of the spheres.” Is this what happens within you when you consider the world in which you live? We draw near to God when we attend our ears to what the creation is telling us about the Creator. “This is my Father’s world, I rest me in the thought of rocks, of skies and seas-His hand the wonders wrought. This is my Father’s world, the birds their carols raise, the morning light, the lily white, declare their Maker’s praise. This is my Father’s world, He shines in all that’s fair; in the rustling grass I hear Him pass, He speaks to me ev’ry where.” Look around you. Everywhere you look you will find a message from God. He is saying that He is real, He is powerful, He is kind and thoughtful, and He wants you to draw near to Him.

   God can be found in His creation. One draws near to Him by listening to and acknowledging what the very creation itself openly asserts about the one who spoke it all into existence. Truly “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” (Psalm 19:1) 

An All-Seeing Eye

     “The Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence…For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.” Psalm 11:4-5, 7

     “The Lord is in his holy temple.” How that thought must have comforted David! Reflecting upon that great truth took a situation that seemed impossible to overcome and reminded David that Saul was not ultimately in charge, God was! Saul could rampage and threaten, he could set the entire nation on David, yet God had plans for David that no man could nullify. Saul was not fighting against David, he was fighting against God. 

     Every step that both David and Saul made was carefully observed and weighed by God. Every prayer and demonstration of faith from David was noted and considered. Every time Saul cursed David or committed violence in a murderous rage, God was watching. God loved David because of David’s faith. He demonstrated a heart that God approved of, saying that it was even a heart similar to His own (1 Samuel 13:13-14). For that reason God protected him. Yet Saul became as wicked as David was righteous. His jealous, ungodly heart even moved him to commit an atrocious crime by having the priests of the city of Nob along with their families executed (1 Samuel 22:6-23). 

     David stated in verse 5 of our psalm that God tests the children of men. Viewing it through that prism it is easy to see that while David passed this test of faith with flying colors, Saul failed it just as thoroughly. After such a promising beginning Saul transformed into the very thing David reminds us that God hates—a wicked person who falls in love with violence. Sadly, that description pretty well sums up the final years of Saul’s life.

   David concludes this wonderful psalm with a powerful statement of encouragement. I have no doubt that he was reminding himself of God’s great love for righteousness and all His wonderful promises to the faithful. As bad as things appeared to be David was buoyed by the knowledge that his trusting faith would result in seeing the face of God. That wonderful promise still stands for the righteous!

Fight Or Flight?

     “In the Lord I rake refuge; how can you say to my soul, ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain, for behold, the wicked bend the bow; they have fitted their arrow to the string to shoot in the dark the upright in heart; if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”Psalm 11:1-3

     The situation described in these verses is frightening, isn’t it? David’s friends and advisor’s stand next to him as they survey the landscape. Things look bleak indeed. If, as many believe, this psalm was written during the time of Saul’s reign when his hatred and jealousy toward David was reaching epic levels then it is very easy to see just how dark things appeared to those who had hitched their wagon to David.

     They tell him that it’s time to abandon ship. They tell him to take a lesson from the birds. Birds certainly don’t hang around when troubles approaches, but spread their wings and fly to a place of safety. They tell David to look around him and see the wicked men aligning themselves against him. It is as though they already have the bow drawn fully and are cunningly hidden in the dark ready to fire upon him from he knows not where. They would also have David know that he has no reason to expect help to come from within Saul’s government. After all, the foundations of justice have been destroyed through Saul’s poor leadership and single-minded focus on murdering David. Were folks advising David today they might say, “David, your enemies are everywhere and they have their guns loaded with fingers on the trigger. The powers that be, including law enforcement, have grown corrupt and the most powerful man in the nation hates you and wants you dead. The time has come to pack your bags and get out of dodge. Abandon hope for it has certainly abandoned you.”

     Yet David began the psalm by asking his friends (and perhaps his own heart) how they could say that he needs to flee? How could they tell him to run away? One might say that the answer seems obvious, but it is to the person who takes his refuge in God. Some problems cannot be bypassed but must be traveled through. David knew that God had plans for him in Israel so he wasn’t leaving. However, there was no way he was getting through this situation without God. So David did what David always seemed to do: he put all of his trust and faith in the One who was infinitely more powerful than Saul and everyone else. He trusted God to be his refuge. May you and I possess such commitment and faith!