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?