How Important Are We Really?

It's hard to get a right perspective on ourselves, is it not?

I have lived for over 35 years yet still find myself yielding to the whims of selfishness. My spirits sag when I'm neglected and soar when I am praised. It's natural, I believe, but dangerous.

My desire to be comfortable, both physically and in myself, become the driving force in what I do and how I perceive life. So I find it necessary to stop and consider—how important am I really?

Long before science could analyze us to the smallest molecule, God's Word described how unique each individual is.

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. ~Psalm 139:13-14

You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews. ~Job 10:11

And what unique gifts God has given us to do specific tasks on this earth.

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. ~Ephesians 2:10

Jesus described how intimately God cares for us.

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. ~Luke 12:6-7

He not only knew us before we were born, but chose to save us before the world was created and mapped out the days we would live.

Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. ~Psalm 139:16

For [God] chose us in [Christ] before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love He predestined us to be adopted as His sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will. ~Ephesians 1:3-4

But we should know that it was nothing we did, not who we are, that made God determine to save us.

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ~Romans 5:8

It isn't just that we didn't deserve God's love in the passive sense; we were actually antagonistic, in rebellion, against God in our spirits and actions.

For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! ~Romans 5:10

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. ~Isaiah 64:6

 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. ~Romans 3:23

So why am I recounting what is so elementary to the faith? If you haven't tuned me out, here is why.

I frequently follow a blogger named Carl Trueman on the Reformation 21 site. Trueman lives in the States but is from England. I enjoy his humour, even at our expense, and, though I don't always agree word for word, he challenges my thinking.

This past week Trueman published a post called An Unmessianic Sense of Non-Destiny. In it, he discusses the changes to his outlook on life in reaching middle age. He said he has come to realize how dispensable he is in his personal and professional life and in his spiritual influence. He acknowledges what I emphasized above, but focuses on correcting our distorted sense of self-worth.

Trueman claims that we have focused so completely on our destinies as individuals that we have a type of messiah-complex. Our own life purpose has become such a priority that we "trump all else." And I think in a sense he is right.

He writes:

Put bluntly, when I read the Bible it seems to me that the church is the meaning of human history; but it is the church, a corporate body, not the distinct individuals who go to make up her membership. Of course, all of us individuals have our gifts and our roles to play: the Lord calls us each by name and numbers the very hairs of our heads; but, to borrow Paul's analogy of the body [Romans 12:4-5], we have no special destiny in ourselves taken as isolated units, any more than bits of our own bodies do in isolation from each other. When I act, I act as a whole person; my hand has no special role of its own; it acts only in the context of being part of my overall body. With the church, the destiny of the whole is greater than the sum of the destinies of individual Christians.

To clarify, I would add that it is the churches focus on Christ and energy in seeking Him that matters, not the church as an organization or even as a universal body. But I take Trueman's point: we get so caught up in our own tastes, opinions, desires, gifts, goals...pride, that we live as if the "arm" was the whole body; as if our small service was the salvation of the world.

Trueman goes on—

This is an important insight which should profoundly shape our thinking and, indeed, our praying. My special destiny as a believer is to be part of the church; and it is the church that is the big player in God's wider plan, not me. That puts me, my uniqueness, my importance, my role, in definite perspective. The problem today is that too many have the idea that God's primary plan is for them, and the church is secondary, the instrument to the realization of their individual significance. They may not even realize they think that way but, like those involuntary `tells' at a poker game, so certain unconscious spiritual behaviours give the game away.

He points out how this attitude affects our prayers and our church commitments. If it's all about me, then I can pull out of membership (or not join) because getting my personal strokes is more important than supporting those in a local body.

God chose us, uniquely designed us, reached down and saved us (despite our warped, ugly souls), and gave us gifts. These gifts and our salvation are to be offered up to Him as offerings of love.

He is the Head of the Body; we are merely members. Though we are loved, we must keep in perspective that life is not about "me."

We live for Him. We love others for Him. And someday, our complete and utter satisfaction will be realized when we live with Him.

Christian Militia

What is coupled with the name Christian never ceases to amaze and frustrate me. Recent headlines proclaim the arrest of a “Christian Militia” group in Michigan. The ironic fact is that this arrest took place just before Easter.

The disciples of Jesus were equally amazed and dismayed before Easter some 2000 years ago, but for polar-opposite reasons.

They had expected a King, a Ruler who would come and wipe out Israel’s enemies and set them free from Rome. They watched their Messiah get arrested, charged with blaspheming and rabble rousing, and sentenced to die, all without a fight. They must have felt they had somehow they’d pinned their hopes on the wrong man.

Yet Scripture, hundreds of years earlier had predicted this scene:

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)

When questioned by Pilate, Rome’s Procurator of Judaea, Jesus answered: “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm." (John 18:36)

The word “Christian” originated in the Near East city of Antioch (in modern day Turkey). It meant to be a follower of Christ, one who adheres to Christ’s teachings.

“A new commandment I give to you,” Jesus had instructed His disciples, “that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Blowing up synagogues, as some have done in the name of Christ, killing abortion clinic workers or police, gathering soldiers to crusade against those of other faiths—none of these are what Christ taught His followers to do, none have anything to do with love. All these actions derive from an earthly kingdom estranged from God.

This is the Ultimate Blasphemy: to call yourself by the name of Christ and to live like the devil.

Into Thin Air

I recently read Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer. Jon, a journalist, joined one of the teams on the 1996 tragic expedition of Mt Everest where eight fellow climbers died.

To be honest, the book topic did not peak my interest. I find it hard to relate to the drive that causes men and women to risk their lives for a moment that will not make any significant difference. My mom, however, who has great taste in literature, convinced me I wouldn't be able to put it down.

The story gripped and haunted me. At least three of the eight who died on May 10, 1996 were guides. They knew what it took to survive. They knew the caution signs. They used the right equipment.

The main dangers each climber faced, besides the obvious one of falling, were

1. Ice in their oxygen tubes or running out of oxygen. They were acclimated enough that they could breath even in the thin air, but the sublimental oxygen increased their chances of not succumbing to several deadly altitude sicknesses and enabled them to have clearer reasoning.
2. Not keeping warm enough. The solutions (besides warm clothing/equipment) were to keep moving, even at times of rest, and to drink hot tea.

I don't mean this to be a book review, so, naturally, I see parallels for the Christian life.

One of my father's favourite quotes (though I don't know the source) is "Few men run well to the end."

The apostle Paul said something similar to the church in Galatia: "You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth?" (Galatians 5:7)

It may sound metaphorically contradictory to combine climbing and running, unless you understand that the climb to the top of Mt Everest is a race against time, limited oxygen, elements, and physical limitations.

We, as Christians, should never relax our guard against the flesh. We need the oxygen of conversation with God through His Word and prayer.

1. If sin blocks the flow of life from Him to us, we may very likely wander off a spiritual cliff or discourage others in their search for God.
2. If we do not keep busy serving Him, our abilities may freeze up, becoming limited; pride or other sins may cut off our dependence on God to use our gifts, and we may lose our privilege to serve in an area. Or if we refuse to give or receive the warmth of fellowship, we will become cold, weak, and ineffectual.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

And what about non-Christians? What is their part in the climb of faith? Scripture makes it clear that without the Holy Spirit of God they are, as we were, "dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). They have not even made it to Base Camp.

For those of us born again by the Spirit, let's not become confident in ourselves, our talents, our intellects, or our energies. We need to remind each other from where our righteousness comes: "for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure" (Philippians 2:13).

Paul said: So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)

Far from discouraging us, this should cause each of us to cling more tightly to the hand of our Father, to lean closer to hear the beat of His heart.

Jesus warned us: "Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold" (Matthew 24:12).

Let's encourage one another in our walks to look to Jesus and to do good, to love and to fellowship.

Let's remember our capacity for sin and our Source of righteousness. We need to believe as Paul did: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst (1Timothy 1:15).

If we seek God, He promises we will always find Him. If we climb in our own strength, we will always fall. This world is stronger than we are, but our God is stronger than all.

How the Blood Works

I've often wondered why God made the payment of sin to be death when He knew He would have to pay it in order to have any relationship with us at all.

Recently, my Pastor preached on the biblical covenants. Last week he reiterated God's covenant with Abraham. All these covenants were made directly to the Jews, but the Abrahamic covenant promised to spill over to the rest of the world through Abraham's Seed—Jesus.

Another unique distinction in the covenant with Abraham (here still called Abram) is how the oath was sworn.

Yahweh said to him, “Bring Me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.”

Abram brought all these to Him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away.

As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him.....

When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram... (Genesis 15:9-12, 17-18a)

In the ancient Near East when a covenant was sworn, both covenanters would walk through an aisle of dead animals, such as described in Genesis. The purpose of doing such said, in essence, that both were agreeing to fulfill the covenant or sacrifice their lives.

Throughout the Old Testament, Yahweh was always the One reaching out to mankind. With Abraham, it was no different. Yahweh desired to fulfill a promise through this man. Being a man, however, Abraham would not be able to keep his end of the contract, perfect obedience to Yahweh's covenant, for himself or for his descendants; therefore, all of us would be condemned to eternal punishment...the sacrifice of our lives.

Because Yahweh desired a relationship with the human race, He took the fulfillment of the covenant upon Himself. He alone walked through the dead animals, guaranteeing the covenant at the sacrifice of His life.

Humans, Abraham and every person throughout time, has failed to keep the requirements of God, as Yahweh had known. To remind us of the horror our sin is to Him, He required that the Jews sacrifice animals. The lambs, goats, cattle, etc. took the death that we deserved. This did not cleanse us of our sin. It only reminded us of the blood that needed to be shed because of our faithlessness.

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22)

As Yahweh foreknew, a time came when sacrifice had to be made. He came in flesh. He came to be one of us, to experience the temptations, yet to resist them. Someone once pointed out that His withstanding the temptations were a greater test of His empathy than if He had given in to them. Because He resisted, He knows the extent of temptation's strength.

For thirty-three years as a man, He completed our half of the covenant, which not one person in thousands of generations had been able to do. At the same time, as God, He fulfilled His promise to sacrifice His life because of our breach of the covenant.

Jesus blood became the entrance into the New Covenant. The cost is incomparable. Because it cannot be matched, any who refuse to enter into this covenant through Jesus will never find peace with God. Any who refuse to accept Jesus death as their payment will be required to pay with their lives...for eternity.

Each Easter we remember again, not just the sacrifice, but that Jesus rose from the dead. His resurrection placed Him at the right hand of Yahweh to interceed for all who come before God in His Name.

Are you trying to arrange a covenant of your own, which will leave you the sole fulfiller and the one responsible for a perfect life?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. (John 14:6)

God paid it all. There is no greater insult to Him than to say: It wasn't enough.

(Picture curtesy of http://www.freefoto.com/)

Don't Forget to Remember

Tonight is the eve of my birthday. For over twenty years I have had an unbroken tradition of writing a farewell letter on this night to my age.

It may sound corny, but there is a feeling of accomplishment to remember and summarize a year of one's life. This tradition both validates my experiences and, maybe in a sense, puts the year to rest.

Some years, I slip in pictures of trophies won. Other years, like with filing taxes, I list my losses. Every year, I have more blessings to mention than I have time, paper, or energy to mark.

God often told His people to remember, to write down what they had learned. He commanded the kings of Israel to write out a portion of the law before they began their rule. If they had obeyed, I wonder how different their history would have been. God is sovereign and knew they'd disobey; nevertheless, the prescription is still written for us to follow.

At the Jew's national birth into the land of Israel, God admonished:

Write [My law] on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates...—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:9,12a)

We are apt to forget not just God's law, but also His faithfulness; answers to prayer that at the time astounded us, now are a distant and vague memory.

Many passages in the Bible reminisce God's faithful dealings with His people:

I will remember the deeds of Yahweh; yes, I will remember Your miracles of long ago.
I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds.
Your ways, O God, are holy. What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who performs miracles; You display Your power among the peoples.
With Your mighty arm You redeemed Your people...
Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters,
though Your footprints were not seen. (Psalm 77:11-15, 19)

Perhaps writing a letter to yourself seems too silly. How about to your son, daughter, niece, nephew, or a younger sibling? Write down what God has done for you and how He has amazed you by His grace. If they are children, seal it for them to read years from now after you are gone.

Point out His footprints in your life. Let's not let the stories of God's faithfulness die with us.

How has God been faithful to you this week, month, or year? I'd love to hear.

Ugly Duckling vs Beautiful Swan

What were your first thoughts when Susan Boyle took the stage on Britains Got Talent? Did you, like me, expect another horrible audition like many shown on American Idol? Probably. Susan's frumpish looks, her cocky, devil-may-care attitude... She was too unattractive to be so confident. Then, she opened her mouth and sang, and the Simon Cowell in all of us sat stunned. This ugly duckling had a beautiful talent for song.

What is it in us that applauds beauty and charm? It doesn't start as adults. Some of the smallest of children cringe from what they perceive as ugly and reach for what is lovely.

But from where does this ideal originate? It's true that someone who attracks you may not be attractive to me. As the saying goes, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." Yet, I think, certain deformities are universally disdained. A particular level seems to be in place, differing some from culture to culture, by which we judge ourselves and those around us.

We accept in people some things that are different from us, but there is a line we draw. If someone is on this side of the eccentric line, they are accepted; that side, they are shunned. And sometimes, we shun and accept those we cannot ignore. Wealth and fame may weigh heavily in this.

What is it that causes us to react to singular people with something akin to fear? Why should we fear what we don't understand? History shows us we do. Look at the Americans' view of their African slaves or the Nazi's view of Jews, as a couple examples. Consider the horror and pain that these phobias caused.

Although we all love stories of ugly ducklings becoming beautiful swans, we must admit to secret judgements in our heart; standards by which we determine who is acceptable. We may fight it. Yet, it's there when we look in the mirror, watch TV, enter our jobs, sit in our pews.

C.S. Lewis, in writing to a childhood friend, reminds him of the connection between our eyes and the objects we view.

You say that nature is beautiful because of its shape, colour and motions, and perhaps a little because of association. Now these colours etc are sensations in my eye, produced by vibrations on the aether between me and the tree: the real tree is something quite different—a combination of colourless, shapeless, invisible atoms. It follows then that neither the tree, nor any other material object can be beautiful in itself: I can never see them as they are, and if I could it would give me no delight.

The prophet Isaiah paints a picture of Jesus' coming and predicts our prejudice:

My servant grew up in Yahweh's presence like a tender green shoot, like a root in dry ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to Him. (53:2)

The prophet Samuel fell into this trap when he was looking at Jesse's sons. He saw one of David's older brothers. Surely this tall, handsome man was who God had chosen to be king.

But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks at the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

In one of his books, C.S. Lewis described how some, who we admire on earth, we may look at in horror when we see them as they really are; while others, who we ignored or shunned on earth, we, if we could see now how they really look, would be in danger of falling down and worshiping.

We may be nothing much to look at. We may not have a beautiful voice with which to sing. Yet, our bodies, our voices, our charm will some day return to dust. It's our hearts that live on. Our spirits are the focus of God's eyes.

As believers in our Lord Jesus, especially, we are commanded to not show favouritism (James 2:1). We are known to be God's by our love for enemies as well as friends. God's love in our hearts works to make us beautiful.

So, before you gaze so critically in the mirror or inwardly mock the stranger beside you, remember our true appearance is not yet visible.

What are your thoughts?

You Are What You Think

"Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds." Deuteronomy 11:18a

My best friend and I were longtime fans of the Christian-rap group, DC Talk. I knew most of the lyrics by heart, especially Toby's. I didn't sit down to memorize them. I learned them by listening repetitiously and thinking about them. One day we put in one of their cassettes as we drove to church. When Toby's part came on, as usual, I rapped with him word for word. Something else happened in that moment. My friend looked at me in disbelief as my voice suddenly blended so completely with his, it sounded like one voice.

In a similar way, our daily actions become one with whatever consumes our thoughts. In Matthew 12:34b-35, Jesus said, "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings forth evil things out of the evil stored up in him."

What are we storing up in our hearts? Are we reading God's Word and letting His thoughts fill our minds or are we filling our minds with music, books, magazines, pictures, internet, movies or other things that teach an opposite way of life? The images and messages may seem harmless, but God reminds us that our thoughts determine our actions.

In Deuteronomy 11, God told the Israelites to be consumed with Him and His Word, and, in so doing, set an example of passionate living for God. If seeking God's pleasure consumes our thoughts, energy, feelings, and speech (Mark 12:30), He promises us a deeper understanding of who He is, a peace despite circumstances, and a freedom from sin's strongholds.

What can we do to fill our thoughts with things of God? We can memorize Bible verses ("Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds"v. 18), share our faith with others ("Teach them.., [talk] about them" v. 19), and display pictures, verses, or other items that remind us of our relationship with God ("Write them on the door frames of your house" v. 20).
Your actions flow from the rivers of your mind.

So how are you doing? Are there any tips you've learned that help you to concentrate daily on Him?