Month: August 2011

The Verse AFTER the Favorite Verse

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As if Bible verses had sensitivity, I feel badly for Romans 8:29. It must be one of the most underrated Scriptures in the Bible. I am sure other verses are quoted just as infrequently, but Romans 8:29 happens to follow one of the most often recited verses. And so, for the next sentence to be commonly overlooked is both odd and unfortunate. Perhaps the less popular nature of Romans 8:29 in comparison to the preceding verse speaks to our human tendency to cling to what seems to make us feel good, rather than to what is true but difficult for a season. All Scripture should be read and taught in context, and this is also true of Romans 8:28.

Hear the resounding words of God spoken by Paul, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV). This truth is real comfort to us, as it ought to be. Omnipotent God is able to force each circumstance of a Christian’s life to conform to an unbelievable standard: our good. With God, nothing is wasted or given over to evil in the Christian’s life. Though the stream of circumstantial working may flow here and there – around mountains and in unexpected ways – each twist and turn takes the path that empties all the waters of life into the ocean of good. When God speaks of our good here in Romans 8:28, the Greek root means “useful, pleasant, excellent, upright, and joyful.” Everything I face will work towards a pleasant and excellent outcome. The question is, just exactly what is that outcome?

Enter the much overlooked Romans 8:29. Here, we find the answer to what genuinely brings joy. We discover precisely the target for which God aims when He carefully instructs each event to do its work for our good. What is the bull’s-eye on which God sets His sights? There is no doubt; the target is my conformity to the likeness of Jesus. Listen to the Word of God: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers” (Romans 8:29, NIV).

If I go through the Christian life quoting Romans 8:28, but wrongly believe that “my good” can be defined any way I choose; I will be gravely disappointed. But, if I apprehend God’s right goal in this miraculous working together of all conditions of my life, I will be both free and satisfied. God’s good for my life is not so small as my wealth, prestige, and health. God’s good is my likeness to Jesus! This makes logical sense, for Jesus is the sinless Son of God. It is sin which delivers pain, heartache, disappointment, and death. We long for Heaven because sin cannot abide there – only our God and His glory. We long for that sinless residence, knowing its eternal status is joy and excellence! (Recall this is the essence of the Greek root for “good” in Romans 8:28.) Similarly, we ought to aspire to be like Jesus! It is God’s “good goal” for us. As more and more of His people conform to the image of Jesus, we will sense what is truly upright and pleasant while we await our conclusive good – Heaven.

When the situations of your Christian life do not seem to fulfill wrong assumptions about Romans 8:28, quote boldly the next verse. Know that God allows pain, discomfort, and factors we cannot understand – all in the process of making us more like Jesus. God’s bull’s-eye is so much greater than temporal comfort. God’s target is the glory of Jesus in my life.

When the Walls Come Crumbling Down

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Speaking about the enemies of God, Isaiah writes, “The unassailable fortifications of your walls He will bring down, lay low and cast to the ground, even to the dust” (25:12, ESV). These words strike me as I read them, for how can “unassailable” fortifications be assailed? By God! His strength supersedes the combined forces of evil. No enemy of His stands a chance when God decides to bring vengeance and deliver HIs own people from tyranny and affliction.

Isaiah is writing prophetically during a time when godless Assyria is threatening Israel and Judah. Isaiah lived long enough to see the northern kingdom of Israel conquered by Assyria and taken captive. Isaiah continued to plead with Judah concerning their sin, knowing they, too, would suffer the same consequence if no change took place. Nonetheless, God prompted Isaiah to speak forth the ultimate victory of the Lord and His remnant of followers. Assured God would one day destroy Assyria and Babylon – and bring His people back to their land – Isaiah proclaims that God’s enemies who have carefully built high strongholds would eventually come to ruin. Though they invested strength and wealth in their own protection, it would not prove to be enough when God Almighty steps into the action of His wrath.

Typical of Isaiah’s style, he projects past the immediate future to the glorious hope we shall all witness at the close of history. Our God will utterly destroy every enemy. That which we struggled against so long – all the heinous work of the devil and his minions – will crumble before our eyes. As a very high wall tumbles and breaks into particles of dust, so will everyone and everything that held its veritable fist to the face of God and His children. No longer will sin’s cruel outcomes be unassailable. Not high enough to avoid God’s “bringing down” are the walls of injustice and evil. Back to the granules from which the strong walls were fashioned, they will return. Though evil men and hideous Satan work assiduously to build their bastions of sinister deeds, none shall stand a chance when the Maker of earth turns all this disgusting work back to dust. God will bring down evil and pulverize its effects to powder, so that His New Heaven and Earth stand rightly – springing forth at the end of time. And we, His people, shall tread this new land, trampling the bits and pieces of the evil that used to be.

What once loomed high and threatened our undoing will effectively be undone. We get glimpses of that ultimate victory each time the gracious Lord defeats sin’s destructive power in our lives. In every single instance of God’s divine protection from harm or demise, we peer into the mysterious realm of the grand future yet to be revealed. He is with us now, though many of the “unassailable” citadels yet stand. Just remember, “unassailable” is a relative term to God when it comes to the evil we battle. He turns things inside out. The high fortifications will be brought low – even to the dust. Our God wins.

So, when you look up and see that incredible wall that threatens your well-being and your future, say with Isaiah to the enemy, “The unassailable fortifications of your walls He will bring down, lay low and cast to the ground, even to the dust”!

Plunging Up Through a Mound of Dirt

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The kingdom of God is both unstoppable and mysterious. Jesus likened it to seeds scattered on the ground that slowly, methodically, and automatically grow.

Have you ever actually watched a plant grow (without the benefit of time lapse photography)? We could sit with eyes fixed steadily upon the seed for hours, days, and weeks to observe any progress – and still our human eyes could not catch the “movement.” Rather, we plant a seed and go about our days. We do what we can to water and fertilize, but the earth itself does the work. God has programmed this planet to make plants grow; and the Lord consistently sustains all the energy, processes, and products necessary for the curious work of cultivation and harvest.

We humans plant a seed and do exactly as Jesus said, “[We] sleep and rise night and day.” (Mark 4:27, ESV) In other words, we persevere through the stuff of life. We lay our heads down on the pillow at night and arise to a new day. We live out that day, and the next, and the next . . . all the while “the seed sprouts and grows,” though we “know not how.” (Mark 4:27, ESV)

This parable of the growing seed is a comforting one to us. God is at work behind the scenes, even as we continue on through the regularity of life! His kingdom is growing, even if the naked eye cannot grasp its movement. The seed we faithfully planted is sprouting and getting larger, even if we go on sleeping and rising.

Be faithful to spread the Word of God. Be faithful to plant the news of Jesus wherever God has asked. Though your days may seem ordinary, God is growing the seed. How He actually works in a human heart is as incomprehensible as the earth’s toiling with a little seed. Against the force of gravity and plunging up through a mound of dirt comes the sprout. So comes the beginning of God’s kingdom in a human heart once the seed of Truth is planted. Through seasons of sun, rain, cold, and heat grows the plant until the fruit appears. Likewise, the fruit of our investment in the proclamation of the Gospel arises despite obstacles and discouragement. Count on God to grow the kingdom as you plant the seed. Sleep at night knowing He is on the move. Wake in the morning assured growth is taking place. Scatter seed and let God work.

As Jesus promised, one day “when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 4:29, ESV) The final gathering of all that’s been planted and grown will take place and bring to light that which developed in such an unfathomable way. Suddenly, we shall realize just how majestic and impenetrable is this kingdom of God. The mysterious working of God in souls we touched with his Word will shine forth.

Keep scattering seed. Continue letting God work – faithfully and in an often unseen manner – as we go about our days in obedience.

Which Fire?

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Let’s focus on two instances in the Bible where God speaks to us about a “fiery furnace.” Though both situations are ominous, they are infinitely different. One leads to a closer relationship with Jesus, and one leads to eternal damnation. A night and day difference is clear. The question is: of which fire will you be a part?

At one point in his book, Erasing Hell, Francis Chan contemplates the day-to-day implications of the reality of Hell. After discussing the conflict he undergoes while considering the destinies of passers-by, Mr. Chan explains about Hell,

    This is not just about doctrine; it’s about destinies. And if you’re reading this book and wrestling with what the Bible says about hell, you cannot let this be a mere academic exercise. You must let Jesus’ very real teaching on hell sober you up. You must let Jesus’ words reconfigure the way you live, the way you talk, and the way you see the world and the people around you. (p. 72)

Obviously, Francis Chan believes (as I do) that our Bible teaches a non-negotiable reality of a just God – Hell. Jesus once told the “Parable of the Weeds” to crowds of listeners. Later, the Lord took his disciples aside and explained the parable. Jesus made clear that the sower of the good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, and the good seed represents true Christians. The weeds, however, are the sons of the devil. When the close of this world occurs, angels will gather in the “harvest.” Jesus soberly proclaimed in Matthew 13:40-42 (ESV), “Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Certainly, God is communicating through His Word a truth many would rather ignore. Nonetheless, it is apparent throughout Scripture that evildoers (without the redemption that comes through Jesus Christ) will be going to a place of misery. In the New Testament, we find Hell described as a place of fire, darkness, weeping, and unimaginable regret. In Matthew 25:41 (ESV), Jesus describes hell as a place of “eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” In this context, Jesus explains that unrighteous people will go to this place of punishment; though it was originally designed as the final abode of the most wicked one.

Okay, so very sadly we discover that there is a fiery furnace to be endured by those who reject God’s salvation through Jesus and continue on in their sinfulness. This fiery furnace is one where pain is felt to a degree currently unknown to us. Crystal clear is the fact that this fire is one of which we do not want to be a part. We are given no hope in Scripture of assistance or comfort there.

Travel back to the Old Testament book of Daniel. Three young men – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – refuse to give in to the wicked decree of King Nebuchadnezzar, demanding that all people bow down to a golden idol he had built. These men decided to remain faithful to the one, true God. Knowing the punishment for disobedience was to be thrown into a fiery furnace; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego obeyed God still. Furious at their refusal to do his bidding, Nebuchadnezzar had the furnace overheated so that the flame of the fire killed even the men who took Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to the furnace! Even so, the righteous young men were bound and thrown in.

Contrast what happens next to the description of Hell we have discussed already. In astonishment, King Nebuchadnezzar quickly rose and observed what was happening in the fire. In Daniel 3:24-25 (ESV) we read, “[King Nebuchadnezzar] declared to his counselors, ‘Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?’ They answered and said to the king, ‘True, O king.’ He answered and said, ‘But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.'” Later, in verse 27 we discover, “The fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them.”

Unbelievable! THIS fire did no harm to the lovers of the true God. In fact, Jesus Himself appeared in the fire with them! This was a furnace of testing – meant to refine and draw men closer to God – not to destroy them. We note particularly that the fire had no effect on their physical bodies, so that not a hair was singed, nor did even a faint smell of smoke arise. In this furnace, God is with us. This fire is not OUR end or THE end; it is part of the process of learning to trust Him. We come out of this one unharmed . . . and more confident in our God!

Of which fire do you want to be a part? The one of punishment and separation from God? Or the one of testing and drawing nearer to God? One continues on in hopelessness and suffering untold. The other is one in which Jesus walks with us and protects us. We come out to a glorious end! I think this fire is the one of which the prophet Isaiah spoke in 43:2-3 (NIV), “When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.”

If you choose the fire of testing and drawing nearer to God, you must choose Jesus. He is the only one who can cover your sin, because He took the payment for your wickedness at Calvary. Call on Him, and He will surely deliver you from Hell, and walk with you through the temporary, testing fires of this life.

Reference: Francis Chan, Erasing Hell (Colorado Springs, CO: David C Cook, 2011)

The Paradox of Life

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Even if you appear to be “losing” according to the standards of culture, you may – in fact – be gaining everything. If you sacrifice your time, your passion, your money, and your reputation for the sake of Jesus; you will be given back more than you can ever imagine.

It is the paradox of all paradoxes. This life inversion is one the world cannot wrap its collective mind around. Working contrary to everything this world system understands, the biblical principle of “losing to save” truly turns things upside down for the faithful follower of Jesus Christ. Although the general world philosophy under an antichrist mindset instructs us to do all we can for ourselves – looking out for the health and well-being of number one – God makes clear it is only in sacrificing me to His will that I gain anything at all. No wonder Darwinian survival-of-the-fittest and pantheistic “inner divinity” take root so easily. All of Hell stands against the truth of God, and Jesus Himself proclaimed how narrow and difficult is the way of truth and life (Matthew 7:13-14).

But Hell shall not triumph! God’s truth – of which the ultimate end has not yet been seen – will prevail. This is what God has spoken in two contexts in one Gospel. First, Luke 9:24 (NASB): “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.” The Greek root for “save” has a rich meaning, including: keep safe and sound, rescue from danger, restore to health, and preserve from destruction. The root for “lose” is shamelessly direct: destroy, abolish, kill, render useless, perish, and be lost. Okay, so whoever seeks to preserve his own life for any reason at all will ultimately lose his life. Work, scrape, continue on in your futile attempt to preserve your life from destruction; but your end is determined. Building up a large reserve of cash, visiting the gym five days a week, stockpiling for nuclear disaster, accumulating a list of good deeds done, and sheer self-will cannot preserve your life. In the end, all will be lost.

Paradoxically, if we lose our life for one particular reason – for the sake of Jesus – we will save it! Right! If I abolish my own life for the cause of Christ, I save my life. Remember that “save” here is a wonderful and all-encompassing word. My life will be rescued from danger, I will be restored to wholeness and health, I will see no destruction come upon me, and I will be safe and sound! Amen! The fullness of the promise is not realized in a world awaiting full redemption, but this salvation will be completely released on me one glorious day!

The woman who loses her life for Christ is the one who yields her time and affection to her Savior. Perhaps she is the one willing to choose investment in proclamation of the Gospel over investment in things that glitter. Maybe she is the one taking time to love the forgotten instead of seeking ways to be admired. She chooses to pray instead of indulge, for Jesus bids her come. The man who allows his life to be lost for Jesus’ sake is the one who dedicates His strength to things eternal. He does not grasp what he has with a tight fist, but He gives of himself that others might really know God’s love through him. He values the Word of God more than the musings of man or the entertainment of the world.

We see Jesus’ second declaration of the greatest paradox in Luke 17:33 (NASB). The context here is the end of this age; Jesus is clearly speaking of the future and His return. He now says in a most straightforward manner, “Whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it.” Here the selfish word is “keep,” and it can mean “make to remain for oneself” or “get for one’s self; purchase.” In other words, the person who is clutching to all he can for selfish gain will find himself with nothing in the end – not even peace at death. However, the one who loses her life for Jesus will preserve it! The Greek for “preserve” is glorious . . . “to bring forth alive, to give life.” Not even death can stop the power of God in the life of a person who has yielded his being, his possessions, his time – his everything – to Jesus. God will bring that person forth in vibrant, perfected life one day!

In mathematics, we call a function that “undoes” a given function an inverse function. The inverse literally produces the opposite effect of the original. The graphs of inverse functions are mirror images of one another about an axis. Picture this: giving your life away to Jesus will literally be “undone” by God. What you gave will be gained! What you lost will be found! If you are discouraged because all you now see is the loss you suffer for the cause of Christ, picture on the other side of the “axis” a point exactly opposite of where you are. Pain becomes joy. Loss of time becomes gain of eternity. Ridicule becomes honor. Poverty becomes riches. Weariness becomes strength. Clearly – oh, so clearly – he who loses will find!