Now What?

The zeal with which the Christians addressed the political atmosphere over the last year seems to have been unparalleled in past elections. Editorials and expressions of opinions, which were based on fact or fiction, were scattered throughout the populace. It was the hope of the expositors of personal belief that there would be a turning from confusion to a certainty of belief based upon their understanding of the Word of God. These agents of zeal should be commended for their efforts to try and stabilize this country of shifting moral and ethical standards. The question is was their motive one of self-interest or was it in the interest of the Body of Christ? Were they directed by God or was it a promotion of their agenda? How big a role did the Christian community play in the Presidential Election? Now that it is over, can the Body of Christ say in confidence that the reelection of our President was the will of God? Local churches throughout the land held prayer vigils to petition God to have the right man elected. Are we to assume that the prayers were heard and that the reelection of the President to another four years was the answer to the petitioning saints? If the Church believes the wrong man was elected, does that mean their prayers went unanswered?

To many Christians, there seems to be a gloom and doom atmosphere; depression to some, and human prophesy of difficult days ahead by others. Some Believers are using carnal weapons of fiery darts to fly accusations toward the duly elected President. The pre-election zeal of Christians has become the post election standard of behavior. Instead of bringing healing to our land, the Believer continues to keep the wound of separation open.

Why are we surprised at the way this country is going? Are we so ignorant of Scripture that we fail to recognize the signs of the end of the age? The Church needs to recognize that we are in the last days and what is needed is not offensive behavior, but zeal to lead people to God through His Son Jesus Christ. If the Believer would spend as much energy on representing the Kingdom of God as he does in opposing political agendas, there might be enough Believers in this country to vote responsibly and thus give this land an extension of life expectancy.

Every Christian needs to understand that the powers that be are "ordained" of God. (Rom. 13:1) It is imperative we understand that God has everything under control. God loves this country, but He will also chastise it. How He will do that is not to be a concern of ours. We are called to be a witness of His love, not a rod of judgment. We are called to be a peace maker, not a tool of division. We are not called to expose the obvious, but to present the hidden treasure of Jesus Christ. Abortion is wrong, new birth is right. Homosexuality is wrong, joined to Christ is right. Artificial highs are wrong, overdosed in Jesus is right.

Let this country hear that there is an answer to its problems. It is not by hearing what is wrong with it, but rather how right it can be when it returns to its Creator.

Walking After Emptiness   

He Won't Let You Down

Just yesterday I was reading a real life story of a man who left his wife and daughter behind, seeking to better his fortune in Europe. Little did the woman know: that she would not see the man for the next ten years. Within those ten years he barely made comprehensible contact with his wife and daughter. He also managed to sire two children within this period with another woman abroad.

This story is not uncommon, especially amongst those who happen to leave the shores of Africa and Asia to seek a better fortune in Europe. So many women and sometimes men have been disappointed by the actions of others. In many cases, these victims, especially women, put their lives on hold, refusing to face the reality of their situation, deceiving themselves, that a magic wand will wave away the insanity and correct the insincerity, betrayal and deception.

On the other hand, many women in the west have married men coming in from Africa and beyond, only to discover they have married already married men, causing them to commit involuntary bigamy.

Such discoveries have often led to suicides and the distortion and destruction of the lives of all those involved.

There is a scripture in the bible that holds true to all men:

"This is what the Lord says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord."

Even Jesus said of man:

- That he would not entrust himself to them, because he knew what was in man ( John 2:24)

One for the women-

It is amazing how many women measure their self worth by others. So many women will put their lives and whole destinies on hold simply because they are not married or in a relationship that they feel will lead to marriage.

Looking at the scripture above taken from Jeremiah 17:5 such a woman whose strength is measured by the man on her arm or any other human being for that matter, is under a curse. Some women will stop at nothing to get married, including snatching the husband of another, just to give off the appearance of being married.

2 Corinthians 10:12 says: When they measured themselves by themselves and compared themselves to one another, they were without understanding and behaved unwisely.

When the desire to have that man, at whatever cost, becomes bigger and greater than your desire to know God, it becomes sin and such a person operates under a curse: according to the bible.

There is only one who is faithful to the end

Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore the LORD your God is God: He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments."

1 Thessalonians 5:24 "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it"

God wants to take the ultimate glory and honour for our lives. He is not pleased when another human being, that he has created, becomes the object of our sole desire and worth in this life. It is a misplaced love and an inordinate affection.

God's faithfulness towards us is about who He is and not dependent on what we can do for him.

Whatever God has spoken to you through his spoken word shall surely come to pass. 2 Corinthians 1:20 says: "For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." He is not a God that says yes today and then forgets, like man, and says no tomorrow:

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change His mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfil?

All men should put their trust in the living God because he is reliable. Hebrews 13:18 says: Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever.

What he said yesterday concerning you still holds, as well as what he said today and that which he shall say tomorrow. Isn't that wonderful?

He never changes: He is reliable, dependable, trustworthy and sincere. He never compromises, never changes, is faithful and worthy of all praise. He is one who will never let you down. You may say in your heart, "these are just mere words," but this confirmation comes from Almighty God:

Revelation 19:11 describes him as "Faithful and True"

Revelation 22:16 describes him as the "Morning Star"

Acts 3:14 describes him as the "Holy and Just one"

1 John 2:1 describes him as "Jesus Christ the Righteous"

John 8:12 describes him as the "Light of the world"

John 1:41 describes him as the "Messiah"

John 8:12 describes Him as the "Light of the world"

Acts 3:15 describes Him as the "Author of Life"

My prayer is that this week, you will mediate on these scriptures and be confidently assured that there is one that 'will never let you down'.

Have an assured week,

© Ruth Dickson http://www.gihonbooks.com

Walking After Emptiness   

Why Conditional Immortality Destroys The Gospel

Evangelicalism has becoming wider and broader. Boundaries that 40 or 50 years ago were clearer have become fuzzy and indistinct. One prominent belief that has become more acceptable to many is Conditional Immortality. I accept my title sounds rather blunt, so I must, as fairly as I can, show you how this belief is destructive of the gospel. More than anything else hinges on our understanding of the gospel of God's grace and the salvation that it brings. Don't stay fuzzy about this issue!

1. BAD NEWS FIRST

First, I must briefly describe the gospel. If, as I contend, conditional immortality destroys the gospel, I shall need to tell you what is being destroyed and the way in which it takes place.

Following the historic Genesis fall, the biblical portrayal of the natural condition of mankind in relation to God, is one of extreme peril. Our condition is described as 'lost' (Luke 19:10), 'condemned' (John 3:18), 'dead in the trespasses and sins' (Ephesians 2:1), 'darkened in... understanding (Eph. 4:18), 'alienated from the life of God' (Eph. 4:18) and under the just 'wrath' (Eph. 2:3) of God.

We are in extreme danger and subject to the worst of possible outcomes - to be banished from the favour of God and remain forever under his holy wrath in deep anguish (Matthew 25:46, 2 Thessalonians 1:9, Revelation 14:11). These and many other descriptions give a truly shocking picture of our plight. Let no one fall into the illusion that this is scaremongering exaggeration to frighten religious people to toe the line. Today there is a lot of pressure aimed at weakening the Christian's resolve to proclaim the just judgement of God and the unsearchable riches of Christ - both go together.

Many have the idea that the teaching of eternal punishment given by the Sovereign Lord himself (e.g. Matt. 25:46, Mark 9:44, 48) is way too harsh. Notice how the natural mind sets itself up to judge what it thinks is fair, and how it insinuates that God is not fair! So, now the popular view is that the harsher views that once prevailed were censorious and judgemental, but now, with more enlightened views of God's fatherly compassions, we have a more benign and mature view.

2. ASTONISHING ESCAPE

I have a simple response to this objection - this is precisely what the Son of God himself, no less, left heaven's glory for, to enter and identify with our awful plight and then go to the cross to endure in full the terrible condemnation due to sinners in order to save them from that most dreadful end! This is why Scripture extols the height and depth of the love of God, and marvels at the riches of his grace; this is why salvation is called a 'great salvation' (Hebrews 2:3) and why so much praise and overflowing love and amazed gratitude are the hallmark of the New Testament epistles.

This is why powerful and stirring challenges ought to be made when the gospel is preached. Salvation is something vast - how we need to grasp that! This is not some trivial little happy story; this is the goal of the ages of eternity, in which GOD judges for ever the great rebellion, displays his infinite grace in saving and preparing a spotless bride for his Son, vindicates his honour and begins to usher in a whole new creation!

3. GREAT SALVATION

When, once, you begin to see the gospel in this light, it is no surprise that such a cost was poured out by the Lord Jesus as he shed his blood, and how this reveals that God has gone to the extremities of immeasurable grace to save a multitude of hell-deserving rebels! This is why anything that impugns this gospel must be exposed and its true colours made clear so that you untangle yourself and stand firmly in the true freedom of God's grace.

Now, that I have summarised the gospel, we turn to see how Conditional Immortality both undermines and destroys grace - the wholly undeserved favour of God. Is that a trivial thing? No, it's appalling. How is that? Under this new scheme, justice is appealed to, to provide a way of escape for unsaved sinners who remain outside of Christ, because the penalty now envisaged to be their due is way less than I have outlined from Scripture, and a new escape route for them is provided.

Immortality is given conditionally only to those who put their faith in Christ, but for the rest, there is an insinuation that eternal punishment is too severe and it is the lost sinner's right to expect a quick deliverance from hell into a nirvana-like nothingness of annihilation. For this, any remaining unsaved sinners are resurrected for judgement and then evaporated, extinguished and their personal being in the image of God is de-created into nothingness as annihilation is now considered a basic right in justice. However, we ought to note that 'destroy' in God's word does not mean extinction of persons into nothingness.

4. SALVATION NEVER MERITED

But if salvation, which is essentially an escape from just condemnation is merited, how can salvation into endless bliss be wholly unmerited, if it was already the sinners' right, grounded in justice, to escape from eternal condemnation by another route - annihilation? And the unsaved can soothe their anxieties by contemplating a wonderful deliverance into annihilation into which he or she may escape as their merited reward. Oh, what a deviously diabolical scheme of alternative salvation this is that impugns the just judgement of God!

Here is a new gospel, adapted to our times, where you are never so bad as to deserve what Scripture teaches is your just reward - eternal conscious punishment.

5. JESUS PAID IN FULL - COMPLETELY UNDESERVED!

Let's be clear, grace that is deserved is not grace - it's a reward. If eternal punishment is not utterly just, how did Jesus, as the sinners' substitute, suffer their just punishment for them - if such retribution was not their just penalty? Do you see how this teaching not only muddles, but destroys the penal and substitutionary atonement of Christ? Do you see how conditional immortality destroys the gospel of the grace of God and introduces a false, two-tier system of escape?

This is why we must continue to make clear that the one eternal salvation gained at the cost of the Saviour's lifeblood is free and completely undeserved and in this we shall glory for all eternity to 'the praise of his glorious grace'! (Eph. 1:6). The everlasting glory of God's grace in salvation is the issue - do everything in the power he gives you to magnify his name and his grace.

Walking After Emptiness   

Too Bad For God?

Have you become discouraged by personal failure and written yourself off? If you have, you are not alone, and this article is for you. My main point is that there are people out there, and you may be one of them, who deeply and genuinely feel they have so messed themselves up and others that they are too bad for God. Now are you willing to reconsider that? Not that you might be better than you thought, but that God might be more forgiving than you thought.

1. TOO BAD

Let's consider how that thinking like 'I'm too bad for God' is a self judgement that also reflects on God. You have decided to write yourself off as hopeless in a way that says to yourself 'God would definitely not be interested in forgiving someone like me.' And then you have decided you are simply too bad for God! So I need to ask, if you are thinking like that, whether that judgement honours God, or based on a verdict that might be blocking a real but radical solution. And what you may not realise; you are reinforcing and confirming your own unbelief!

Have I then any basis for optimism in this most serious of subjects, when some people have done appalling things for which a terrible sense of guilt and hopelessness envelops them like a dark cloud? Yes, I have, and I shall need to explain it and at the same time not give anyone a reason for false optimism - like 'I feel down now, but I'm sure it will all pan out fine at the end'.

2. DEEP PROBLEM

Look, just to make doubly sure that you realise this is not a trivial issue; everyone who persists in their unbelief, believing they are too bad for God, will have their unbelief confirmed and receive what they fully deserve - 'the cowards, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulphur, which is the second death' (Revelation 21:8).

This is a summary of the sins that have been most 'popular' over the span of human history, ever since the historic Genesis fall, and if you think your lifestyle isn't that bad, note that 'faithless' is also included. To be 'faithless' is deeply serious, because at root it casts God's word back at him and tells him he is a liar; 'Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son' (1 John 5:10).

We don't like direct and blunt language like that these days because we have become socialised to become ever more tolerant of all types of human behaviour - with a few exceptions, one of which is: we must never tolerate warnings of divine judgement on our increasingly permissive and immoral Western lifestyles! And in the face of natural disasters which left those unaffected feeling let off the hook, Jesus' words continue to ring out; 'No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish' (Luke 13:3 & 5).

'But' maybe you respond 'I'm still too bad for God, he wouldn't accept me, I'm too unworthy!' So do you want to add to all your other sins by now disobeying what God expressly commands you to do! In one thing you are right, there are no worthy recipients. All sin is utterly damnable to God, worthy of just judgement. Yes, you are right, no one is worthy, and that is why all need to receive God's undeserved favour - God's best for your worst! But perhaps you have underestimated God, who has revealed that he is 'rich in mercy' (Ephesians 2:4).

3. YOU UNDERESTIMATED GOD!

This is where we need to stop, as it were, and reflect on this surprising truth, because all of the terribly wicked and sinful lifestyles and secret sins of the heart that demand the judgement of the second death, are precisely the sort of sins for which Christ died! And now if you will accept your own responsibility, repent of your sins and hard heart that is 'hostile to God' (Romans 8:7), and seek God's rich undeserved grace and mercy, you will be forgiven! This is amazing good news! You see, the only people who are too bad for God are those who use that as an excuse and are unwilling to see that heart attitude as unbelief and confess it as such to God.

Look, I do understand you may have many good reasons for thinking you have blown it and are too bad for God. But now, will you consider that all of those objections are raised in unbelief which must now be confronted by one all-powerful answer? That God did not send his own Son into this world to see him shed his blood willingly, dying on a cross without it being boundlessly effective in dealing with the vilest and most shocking of sins. You see, God's honour is at stake here. Is he, or is he not, able to rescue those who not only feel they are great sinners, but are great sinners?

4. NOT TOO BAD FOR A GREAT SAVIOUR

God's own beloved Son did not pour out his spotless life, suffering God's awful wrath in order to deal with a few refined sins, or a few trifling indiscretions! Not at all - Christ died for SINNERS! And now, he 'is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him' (Hebrews 7:25). It is Jesus who is the wholly worthy One. He is the righteous One, who suffered the penalty on behalf of the unrighteous ones. He knows you are unworthy! Why condemn yourself as too bad for all eternity, when Christ died a death sufficient to save you for all eternity? Yes, it would certainly be too bad if you turned away from such a richly generous offer of forgiveness.

Will you then accept the sufficiency of his sacrifice to blot out your dark sins? Jesus said, 'whoever comes to me I will never cast out' (John 6:37). Too bad for God? - well, are you now prepared to accept that was your own opinion and that it failed to take account of the great mercy of God we see revealed in Jesus' death? None, not even you, are too bad to be forgiven, cleansed and reconciled to 'our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ' (Titus 2:13) - but you must come!

Walking After Emptiness   

Anger, Advocacy and Action for the Defenceless

Outlier (definition: noun): a person excluded from a group; an outsider.

Those that are particularly vulnerable to feeling rejected are likely to feel like outliers when rejected. But that would be all of us. None of us like to be rejected. Likewise, none of us like to be feel excluded by reason of prejudice, which is very often delivered silently, where the body language communicates volumes. Much more bullying takes place covertly than overtly.

The good thing about having felt like an outlier is we get to feel how unacceptable it is that people would treat other people like this - especially those who should know better - those who believe in love, supposedly - but don't make the effort, or don't have conscience enough, to create opportunities for inclusiveness.

People who espouse to be loving, yet don't act that way reveal a fearful level of hypocrisy, based in pride or greed. But the focus of this article is about the daring of the outlier toward advocacy for other outliers.

A POIGNANT BIBLICAL EXAMPLE OF PREJUDICE

Jesus struggled with prejudice and was treated like an outlier at his hometown of Nazareth. Such was the effect of the negativity of the people against him he could not do any miracles there. It wasn't as though he didn't want to. He couldn't!

Well, he did cure a few sick people there, but his divine powers were rendered almost perfectly ineffective, because he was so amazed at their unbelief. Their unbelief had quenched the spiritual power within Jesus.

Likewise, the effect of prejudice quenches our spiritual power when we encounter it; when we feel like an outlier. We feel awkward, self-conscious, and unable to draw on the confidence that God so effectively speaks into our lives at other times.

But the outlier has a special purpose: to become an advocate for other outliers.

THE CARING OF ADVOCACY

Why is it so people choose to exclude, When to love, it's simple, we must include, But the experience of an outlier is preciously rare, Because they are inspired to most indignantly care.

***

When an outlier converts their shame for having been rejected into anger against the injustice for being rejected, and they are then able to save that stored indignant energy to advocate for others, they are a powerful weapon for God.

There is no shortage of outliers in our world. When we empathise with other outliers, particularly the ones who have special disadvantages, God speaks to us about how we can defend the defenceless and speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

***

When we are rejected, and we feel like outliers, we have a special duty. We feel what it feels like to be discriminated against, and then we convert the prejudice against us into a force for advocacy for outsiders with special disadvantages. We turn the force for evil against us into a force for good for the disadvantaged.

When good fights good, good always wins! Injustice is merely fuel for action.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

Walking After Emptiness   

Ten Talent Men

Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents... Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them (Matthew 25:16, 19 NAS).

The familiar parable of the talents is a tale of three men. The last man buried the one talent he was given. What the Lord gave him was never used at all - a sad story of a wasted life. God was not glorified. The man's inaction led to condemnation from Him.

The first two men were both commended when they increased their talents. The master's reply was exactly the same to both men. No matter how many gifts the Father gives His children, if they use them well, He will be pleased. The emphasis is not on the number of gifts, but on the heart of the receiver. A grateful and willing servant will be productive and give something back to God - glorifying Him with his actions and receiving a blessing as he does.

Fortunately, many Christians are very careful not only to use the gifts God has given them, but increase them as well. This devotional is about two of those men. They were given at least five talents each. In gaining five more, they became ten talent men.

My husband's father has already entered the presence of the Lord. I believe that when he did, he was greeted with, "Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master" (Matthew 25:21).

Pop could and would fix anything, not only in his own house, but also for anyone else who needed something done. He worked hard all his life to provide for his family. After retirement, he worked as a volunteer helping build and maintain churches, campgrounds and renovating widow's homes.

Without complaint, he cared for Mom as she suffered with Alzheimer's. Even after she began ill, he continued his volunteer work - always taking her with him, checking on her in the process. His pastor recounted that when there was work to be done at the church, the foreman would assign something to Pop, turn around in a few minutes to see him behind him, and would ask him if he needed help with the assignment. His answer was always, "No, I'm finished. What else do you have for me to do?"

The other ten talent man is a longtime friend. Having faithfully served as a foreign missionary, he continued to work in the church after he retired. With a goal of learning something new every year, he acquired new skills. He built an elevated garden with an inbuilt sprinkler system; learned how to fly remote control airplanes; flew and built complicated kites; taught himself how to sail and much more - all the while making himself available to anyone in need.

Neither of these men would have ever considered burying their talents. Faithful in the few things, their reward is in bringing joy to the giver of our greatest gift - our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Walking After Emptiness