Oh How the Mighty Fall (the sad ending in the life of Ravi Zacharias)

Ravi Zacharias was an unknown when I was studying at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS). It was 1984 I believe. Many world renown speakers came through TEDS speaking in the chapel services. I was in attendance when a young Ravi Z. took to the pulpit for what would be a 3 day engagement. I had heard some of the world's best theologians, many who were more adept at thinking and writing than they were speaking. Ravi was different. I was totally engaged by his brilliance, his clear elocution of a language not his native tongue. His illustrations were profound and his recitations from literature, some at length while he was speaking, were from memory I learned later.  Ravi possessed what is called eidetic imagery or more popularly, a photographic memory.

On his last day it was announced that he would be meeting in a class room with anyone who wanted to come and chat further about his lecture or anything else for that matter.  There were perhaps 7 students present with the one who would become world famous preaching to hundreds of thousands, engaging with world leaders, and sharing the gospel of Christ with some of the most notorious Imams known to man. This was truly a unique man gifted by the Almighty--for His purposes. 

When word came that Ravi's days were numbered I pleaded with the Lord to spare this man who was so skilled in the wisdom of the Word. When I learned Ravi had left this earth, I wondered why someone like him dies while evil and wicked men live on spreading their nastiness to their last breath. 

"My ways are not your ways..." we are told in Scripture.  True but unsatisfactory to this mortal soul. Then I read the unfolding of a life of heinous wickedness.  Crimes against humanity, against his wife, his children, the millions whose lives he touched, and ultimately, against the Lord Almighty. Why Lord? 

                                                                    Silence...

As a teacher and preacher of the inspired, infallible, inerrant, authoritative Word of God since the latter 70's, I tend to have conversation with the Living God when another well known Christian leader falls. I understand the doctrine of a sin nature perhaps better than many. I've lived with one for the past 67 years... I know the Bible better than many part of which is gaining a keen sense of the less than inspiring quality of men the Lord has used throughout history. The Lord is not limited by the intrinsic qualities of a person when He wants something done.  Even redeemed man is still encumbered by the "old man" and will be until the corruptible is shed and replaced by the incorruptible as the apostle Paul tells the Church at Corinth. I understand all this, but still...

Ravi Zacharias was one of a kind. How can someone so studied, so committed, so practiced, so skilled, so imbued with the Holy Spirit to do such great things while living a life of abject debauchery and deceit at the same time words of Life are are being used to usher untold numbers of people destined for Hell to Life Everlasting through the "true knowledge of Him Who saved us..." 

Jeremiah speaks from the pages of Scripture: ""The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately corrupt; Who can understand it?"  (Jeremiah 17:9)  

Again--I KNOW the Bible well and those words from the prophet are etched on my mind reminding ME of my frailty.  But this was Ravi, Ravi Zacharias, HE WAS DIFFERENT! 

"Different how?" The Spirit questions my protests. You mean different like Abraham the greatest of the Old Testament faithful, and patriarch of the nation of Israel?  Abraham, who pawned off his wife to king Abimelech so that he might be treated favorably? 

Maybe Ravi was different, different like King David? Now there was a man of God. Even God Himself declares David to be a "Man after God's own heart..." (1Sam. 13) And what a resumé David amassed lusting after Bathsheba the wife of Uriah one of David's loyal warriors.  After stealing Uriah's wife while he is fighting a war to protect the King, David schemes bringing Uriah home on leave certain he will take advantage of the reprieve from battle to sleep with his wife. Oh but his loyalty to David and his fellow soldiers on the battle field compelled him to sleep out side his house instead of with his wife. Yes David was different. The man after God's own heart, then sends Uriah's order of execution back with Uriah  to give to Joab, the commander, who sets Uriah at the front line and then pulls back the troops so Uriah is killed.  Yes David was different...

But, but, Ravi WAS different.  Different how? Maybe different like Simon Peter, who was ready to take on the Roman Army in Gethsemane when they came for Jesus. Unlike the others, Simon was different attacking with sword removing the ear of one of the soldiers. And only hours later, Simon denied that he had ever seen or heard of the Nazarene, not once but three times...Yes, he was definitely different.

But sadly, Ravi was no different than you or me. At his core, he was just another sinner saved by grace and set apart to speak to millions of the wonderful grace of God by which he stood in the presence of crowds doing what his Creator had equipped him to do.  

                       --Doing what His creator had equipped him to do.--   

He was possessed with a fallen nature that was redeemed by the grace of His Savior just like you and me. At the end of the day Ravi Z. was just another lump of clay masterfully fashioned on the Potter's wheel to do wondrous and mighty things set forth in the mind and plans of the One who made him.  

Where does that leave us?  All of us who were awed by Ravi's gifts need not disparage those gifts as if his sin negates the power of those God-given gifts. Ravi's sin does nothing to invalidate or even diminish the truth for truth is not validated by one's ability to apply that truth. Truth is true because it is true having originated from the Truth Giver.

 And Ravi Z. warts and all, was compelled to speak forth that truth under the inspiration of the 3rd Person of the Triune Godhead. And the Kingdom of Heaven has been advanced and I believe will continue to be advanced because of it and all to the glory of God whose Kingdom it is even in spite of the flawed nature of the messenger.  Thanks be to God. May I learn and heed the tragic lessons of the hazards of greatness.

Two Prayers for Blessing: one Holy, the other ungodly

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us..."  (Psalms 67:1)

The first part of this snippet from Psalm 67 is one that preaches well, is encouraging, is upbeat, and is just what our narcissistic nature craves. Face it, we ALL want to hear/say/pray and hopefully experience God's bounty and blessing in our lives. But what I see is that while we would jump all over any of the "prosperity preachers" for selling this from their pulpits the psalmist is writing with an entirely different purpose in mind. The psalmist qualifies the hoped for blessing, "...that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations."  (Psalms 67:2) The psalmist's prayer is not anthropocentric (self-centered) but Theocentric (Christ centered). 

The RCV (Revised Cripe Version) might read: "God, take note of us, and bless us with all good things, most of all, the blessing of your hallowed Presence. Furthermore, bless us us in all things, in all ways "SO THAT we may be equipped, energized and supplied with everything we need TO EXPAND THY KINGDOM COME." Isn't this the very reason for our existence?

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I AM with you always, to the end of the age.”"  (Matthew 28:19-20)

This is NOT a missionary verse!  This is a Christ follower verse. So, "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."  (Colossians 3:23-24)

Consequently, Psalm 67:1 is a perfectly excellent prayer if prayed biblically. 

Participation Awards Coming to the Olympics?

Simone Biles is arguably the greatest gymnast of her era. And so in a world utterly unhinged from any objective anchor of truth but what one determines for themselves to be truth, we have just the latest iteration of the consequences of Divine rebellion. 

"In an effort to deter other gymnasts from trying skills they are not physically capable of doing, the International Gymnastics Federation watered down the value of a new element Biles plans to do at the world championships. That’s right. Penalize the reigning world and Olympic champion who is almost cautious when it comes to adding difficulty, for the potential recklessness of others." (USA Today)

As a former gymnast let me put this in simpler terms. In any "routine" which consists of individual movements  you are scored not only on the success of how you complete the movements of your routine, but also on the "difficulty" of each particular movement in the routine.  Meaning two competitors could complete their routines with an identical performance score but one competitor's routine consisted of a move or moves which were scored at a greater difficulty. So if one had a double twisting, double somersault in an otherwise identical routine as their competitor who only had a double twisting, single somersault, the greater difficulty routine would prevail. It's that simple and logical. 

Simone Biles is far and away better than the rest so the Olympic Federation wants to essentially penalize the superior athlete for being too good. What is at work here originates at the heart of Divine rebellion. God is the One who defines right and wrong, truth and falsehood, light and dark good and evil. The Scriptures tell us that all things hold together only because there is a loving Creator who, as the writer of Hebrews states, "...upholds all things by the word of His power...."  (Hebrews 1:3) Mankind can ignore God's ownership, rule and authority over all things but they do so to their peril. The apostle Paul explains that the consequence of usurping Divine authority and rule over all things comes at a deadly price. 

"Therefore [because of the world's rejection of God's ultimate Kingship] God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen."  (Romans 1:24-25)

In short--God says, "You wanna do it YOUR way be my guest but it won't be pretty." By the way, this was THE sin in the Garden of Eden. God said one thing, Adam and Eve became their own authority dismissing God's rightful place.  It has been chaos ever since. And it impacts EVERY aspect of life.  

So what's next?  Maybe participation awards will become the next step for the world of competition. Crazy as that sounds today, imagine transgendered males competing against female champions. In some warped sense of "fairness" participation awards may be the next fruit of Divine rebellion.

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap."  (Galatians 6:7)

Pause before sinning...

David--KING David--called by God Himself, "a man after my own heart." Yet here he is having been laid out by his faithful friend and prophet Nathan who boldly sets a verbal trap for the king.  Using what Trent and Smalley, "The Language of Love" call an emotional word picture, Nathan side steps the expected self-justification, denial, mind your own business, "Do you know who I am" kinds of responses that everyone tends to run to when hammered point blank with a failing. David's lust compelled him to steal another man's wife--Bathsheba--and then trying to cover it up, arranges for her husband-- Uriah--to be killed in battle.  It doesn't get much worse.

Instead of the wise prophet laying out the facts and pronouncing judgement on the king, he tells him a story about a nasty man who ruthlessly takes a poor man's pet lamb and has it slaughtered for dinner. Mind you the nasty man was himself, rich and had his choice of flocks of livestock. 

Nathan asks the king, "What should be done to this man?"  Hearing the grave injustice, David is livid exclaiming the rich man deserves death!  Nathan says, "YOU are that man..." Without defense, David humbly repents. Psalm 51 is David's written confession and adoration for the grace God extends to him.

"Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity And cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge."  (Psalms 51:1-4)

Don't be confused when reading the inspired Word of David's confession. "Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight." Of course David sinned against Uriah and Bathsheba but ultimately every offense of mankind is against the Creator first and foremost. When the prodigal son returns home (Luke 15) having reaped the consequences of his self-absorbed life, he says to his father, "I have sinned against heaven and in your sight; I am no longer worthy to be called your son."  (Luke 15:21)

Every sin is first and foremost against Heaven. The cross was and is the only hope for any of us regardless how major or minor the sin may be.  But what seems unimportant to us in the casual ways in which we sin against our spouse, children, employer, friends and even our enemies, is an offense against the Creator who suffered the cross absorbing the consequences of even the least of our sins. "He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor 5:21)

Many people of faith have a fair grasp on the idea of a gracious Savior dying for our BIG sins. But it is a different matter when it comes to the day by day, minute by minute(?) sins we take for granted. This is why all of humanity is in the same boat.  "The wages of sin is death..." Paul writes the church at Rome and the Psalmist writes, ""Every one has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one."  (Psalms 53:3)

Remember Jesus' words, "Whatever you have done to least of these you have done it unto me." Perhaps remembering BEFORE you blow that gasket, or cheat the clerk who undercharged you, the Christ follower is covered by His blood for sure, and thus forgiven. But your offense is no less offensive to the very One who bled, died and rose again. For by grace you have been saved... And it is the kindness of the Lord that leads one to repentance, not for the purpose of living another day to sin more but to sin less, to the glory and praise of His name. 

Where is God When He is Silent? Job Figured it out...

I am reading the book of Job in my annual trek through the Bible. It's a book that has always intrigued me and one that I believe few have ever really read much less meditated on it.  Illustration? What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word JOB! If you said, "fill out an application" *maybe this isn't the forum for you.  Seriously though, did you think PATIENCE? How many times have we heard "The patience of Job" used as a plaudit for someone who is bearing up under prolonged duress with tenacity and aplomb?  Truth be told from my vantage point patience doesn't even enter the picture. Job is a man of faith in the midst of unspeakable hardship. As a reader I have to remind myself that I come to Job's plight with information Job never had. That information changes everything.  

 

I love the book, precisely because WE have information Job never had. There was a spiritual chess match in the heavenlies between the Almighty and Satan and Job was a literal pawn on the board. (My apologies if you don't understand Chess.)  Either way the book needs to be read and reread.  

 

The brief: -- Over a brief time Job has essentially lost everything; his wealth, his security, his children, his health, and his friends. Job begins to question the benevolence or more, the justice of his Creator. The more Job inquires for some plausible explanation to his circumstances the louder the silence of God became. Enter the "friends..." to the rescue.  

 

While each one vehemently offered Job their expert assessments for his suffering their council was the same: "God is always right, He never makes a mistake so you obviously screwed up in a big way. Just embrace whatever it is you did, say you’re sorry, and everything will be just fine."  

 

Ironically, many of the attributes of God the friends mention are pretty much spot on. But their puny understanding of the Sovereign Almighty was woefully deficient even if well intentioned. (Yes that makes me wince if not gulp when I contemplate my life of teaching and counseling over the decades.) 

 

Bottom line--Job was being forthright in his self-assessment which we know because of the opening verse of the story. 

 

Because of verse 1. "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil."  (Job 1:1) 

 

WE know Job is right all along; he wasn't being punished for anything he had done or failed to do. BUT JOB DOESN'T KNOW THAT. And so he protests asking, then demanding that God give him audience to explain what is going on.  But again--all Job hears is silence. And that silence means God doesn't care, God is busy, God can't be bothered, God is unfair. 

                                                  You ever been there? 

Then today it dawned on me. As time went on Job's suffering was magnified by God's silence which intimates God's absence.  And yet as we see looking from the outside in with a heavenly perspective it was when the Lord seemed the furthest away to Job that He was actually the closest. At the point where God seemed distant, aloof, uncaring and uninvolved, He was perhaps NEVER closer to Job in his life; never more attentive to the circumstances he was undergoing. 

 

The Lord was observing, previewing, approving, superintending, restricting and overseeing everything that befell Job. But Job had NO idea that he was actually God's shining star, the Creator's paragon of faithfulness and virtue, entrusting to this very normal and flawed man, a Divine confidence in his faithfulness, fortitude and endurance against the prince of darkness himself.  

 

If you were the one selected for this role where could you possibly find greater commendation knowing God Himself was putting you up as "His person"?  

 

But Job never knew and yet God says to Satan himself, "Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil."  (Job 1:8)  Have at him!  He will not disappoint me.  

 

Who wants such a calling? I mean seriously. Um, thank you Lord but if you don't mind I think I'll pass on this one. Job--WOW! Just Wow!