Good Friday Meditation

I have often said in my preaching—“Sometimes God gives us what we want…sometimes that isn’t good.”

Reading a Good Friday passage this morning in Luke it dawned on me that in the exercise of free will there can be tragedy or triumph.  When the “First Couple” was in the Garden the liberty to choose was in full force. Would it yield remorse or jubilation. Choose well and LIFE results; choose poorly, and death…

 "When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked…"  (Genesis 3:6-7)                 “Death entered the world.”

God’s perfect plan for all of humanity, living in perfect harmony with both creation and Creator, came to a devastating halt.  All that God intended for mankind--unsullied communion with their Heavenly Father enjoying Him and the marvel of His wondrous works in the universe for ever and ever—was turned into an existence of struggle, pain, sorrow and death.  It would remain so until Father would bring a renewed universe, once again perfect in all ways, through the work of the Triune Godhead; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The eons passed.

 "…while we were children, we were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world. But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons."  (Galatians 4:3-5)

Today we are mindful of the torment of the Perfect One standing before Pontius Pilate; the Creator subjecting Himself to the choice of His creatures. "Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again, but they kept on calling out, saying, "Crucify, crucify Him!""  (Luke 23:20-21)
"And Pilate pronounced sentence that their demand be granted. And he released the man they were asking for who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder,
                                    but he delivered Jesus to their will."  (Luke 23:24-25)

An absolutely horrid turn of events for the Perfect One; an absolutely liberating one for mankind.
And this was the plan of The Almighty from before the foundations of the Earth.

"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."  (1 John 4:10) 

                                    Thank you Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Faith in Covid-19...

You don’t believe in God eh?  You don’t believe in anything you can’t see, taste, touch, feel, or smell eh? You've determined that you have a “scientific” mind which is logical, rational, objective.  You’re not going to be hornswoggled by someone’s pipe dreams, crutches, inventions and delusions to make them feel better about things they don’t understand or can’t control. Good for you! So—one question.

How many “scientifically” minded God-dismissers have seen Covid-19? Oh I know you have heard statistics, you know of reports about it, you may have seen someone’s “testimony” of their experience with it, or are bereft of a loved one succumbing to it, but YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN THE CAUSATIVE AGENT CALLED A VIRUS. You have only ever seen or heard or read of its effect on others.  And yet you are sheltering in place, perhaps wearing a mask when you venture outside--which is pretty seldom--and you are wringing your hands over the devastation compromising your ability to earn a living, see grandchildren, or buy toilet paper. So to be fair, even-handed and objective it must be admitted that you believe strongly enough in something you have never seen to make life changes in light of it none-the-less. Hmmmmmm… Sounds like FAITH to me.

There is evidence all around you that leads you to believe this virus is real and that is has dangerous attributes. You have submitted your doubts to the "experts" on the subject trusting their professional, studied opinions on the matter. And while anyone may choose to ignore warnings to the reality of it no one can avoid the consequences should they become infected. 

So why is it that when it comes to God of whom there is evidence all around you and in the lives of people you know.  You have seen changes—wonderful changes—in a spouse, friend or child, a niece, cousin or uncle or sibling. You know and you have heard or have seen their stories of how this unseen God has changed their world and their life for the good. And yet belligerently you dismiss out of hand what the evidence points to. And at the end of the day,  you cannot muster the intellectual honesty to admit to yourself that you may not have such a scientific, objective, rational mind after all.  In the interest of science, more, in the interest of your eternity, you might just want to “scientifically” reexamine what you think you believe.

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."  (Hebrews 11:1)

"In the Twinkling of an Eye?"

Barely two months ago the world was up to its eye brows in the exciting preparations for the wonders of Christmas celebrations.  This morning as I write, Good Friday is 48 hours away followed by Resurrection Sunday. Oh how things have changed—in the World.

Back in December had I seen a guy on a street corner with a handmade placard saying “The World Is Coming To An End!” even as a believer I probably would have shrugged, had a few carnal thoughts about his sanity wondering why he wasn’t gainfully employed and everything else that runs with such lines of silent protestations. “Get a JOB pal!”

Today, our nation and most of the world is shut down due to an unseen--except with high tech equipment—plague literally changing the lives of billions……..virtually overnight. It strains credulity.

"Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed."  (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

“In the twinkling of an eye?” I have to say I believe this with my whole heart after all I am a follower of the Lord of the Universe. BUT…Ah yes those pesky little conjunctions; small but (oops! Man they are hard to avoid) oh so filled with meaning.  I believe but…

My but is that in my thoughtful ponderings over many years I have tried to envision how an entire planet entrenched in Sinatraism (I did it MY way!)  could possibly be brought to a place of a unified world under one global ruler.  I believe it could and actually will come about but (Ugh! There it is again) there has to be so many intermediate steps along the way for this transition to take place.  I mean we are talking decades if not centuries. At least this is where I was had you asked me 2 months ago. 

Could it be the Lord is sending us telegrams of urgency to get our lives in order?  “I know I will, for sure tomorrow.  Or maybe the next day. Or maybe……”

2 Local Churches, 2 Different Outcomes

I just finished watching a live “worship” service of a local Waterville Church that I knew was, how shall I say, blasphemous?  Then it was time to be with the Waterville Faith family… From the music, to the prayers, to the professional production itself, it testified to the Glory of God. Then the proclamation of the Inspired, Infallible, Inerrant, Authoritative, Word of God was wonderfully presented as a fully integrated aspect of the whole “worship” experience not just an add-on.. I was challenged, I was blessed, I was lifted up above the present confusing times and for a few minutes was in the presence of the joy of the Risen Savior who is also Lord.

Then there was the “other” church. In full disclosure, I was a little late getting on to the site but I had seen their whole “worship” service last week complete with an inane poem with pauses for cleansing breaths instructing the viewers to do the same. This morning I was just in time to see the pastor reading a children’s story about a bear, a mouse and several other woodland creatures. Somehow they each had crowns they were all quite proud of declaring themselves to be kings, queens, etc. but the big bear was left out. Since I missed the beginning, I didn’t have the context but figured it would be revealed as the “Pastor” pulled it together with a pithy point as he did with last week’s cutesy poem… I could not tell you what the point was. One comment that popped up live on the side bar as he was talking though said, “Mark sure knows his children’s books.” My immediate thought was, “If he only knew the Bible’s books...”

Then the “sermon." His text was Mark 1:1-11, The Triumphal entry… He made some marginally coherent statements about the entrance noting that  “…it was anything but triumphal.” At least he got that right adding, “The people didn’t know then how the story turns out and we don’t know now.” Wait what? I am trusting (without reason) that he was referring to the turmoil currently around us all but that wasn’t clear. I’ll give him benefit of doubt even if unmerited.  He then talked about the Jews being oppressed by Pharaoh and how we are now under the “…economic exploitation of our own Pharaoh…Hosanna! Save us now.”  (Last week his “sermon” was insipid with implied failings of our health care system and why we needed single payer health care.) It was brief but definite. The pastor’s message on this Palm Sunday morning was a total of 4-5 minutes!

Was it coincidence that only 15 minutes earlier in my quiet time—my time reading through the books of the Bible—was in James?  I read—""Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment."  (James 3:1)

So to go from a cesspool of “spirituality”  to spend time with Faith this morning was like showering away the filth of sentimentality which makes people feel better about themselves as they head for a Christless eternity.  To God be the glory for your churches worldwide who declare YOU!

Peace in Less Than Peaceful Times

Just a couple weeks back when the market was down about 4,000 points I thought it might be prudent to see how our “portfolio” was faring.  I was prepared for the worst although I had no idea what the “worst” might even look like.  Hmmm, well seems it was down 6 figures…

In all candor I was pleasantly surprised, if one can use such a word in this case, that it was down “only” that much. Was I truly as nonchalant as it seems? Again in all candor, yes.  Not because I am a giant of faith—I have my fleshy moments, shamefully too often--but in my daily time with the Lord, and pondering certain truths of God’s actions in history on behalf of His people, I had been mentally camping on the fact that a few months ago, as the market was on a mach-3 rise breaking record highs by the week, I was reminded by the Spirit that anything that can go up that fast can also go down that fast, actually even faster. I was further reminded in my spirit that we have lived a great portion of our lives truly by faith utterly dependent on His faithfulness as Adonai Jireh—The Lord Who is Provision.

In a moment the Spirit brought to mind the Lord’s faithfulness to His children in the wilderness. Water when needed issued out of a rock, food appeared from heaven. "Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.  (Deuteronomy 8:2-5) And in this case, they were being disciplined! How much more faithful is He when His children are captives living in a fallen world?

In our case, we have many years in which we can recall His supernatural provision for us as a normal way of life.  Why would anything change now or in the future?  Certainly we are required to be responsible in planning for future possibilities (“Consider the ant O’ sluggard…”) but the fact is, our security should never be in any human endeavor. So “the peace that passes understanding…” (Phil 4) is ultimately grounded in the faithfulness of God in good times and bad.

I commend a song to you which has buoyed me up in my weak moments and encourage you to give it a listen. It is The Goodness of God by Jenn Johnson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0FBb6hnwTo&list=RDn0FBb6hnwTo&start_radio=1

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded."  (James 4:8)

In Christ, you've already died!

"Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  
(Colossians 3:1-3)

During my rotation as a Medical Technologist, pathology rotation was the most talked about with good reason.  The sights, and smells, especially the smells, are things that only that rare breed of doctors called pathologists can stomach.  There is a definite and unique aroma emanating from necrotic tissue which is tissue that is dead and generally speaking—rotting.  When a “floater” was brought in, (a body that had been found in water after several days) the stench of necrotic tissue was so nauseating that a slice of orange went under the mask to mitigate the otherwise gag-worthy bouquet. This is the word Paul uses in Colossians 3. “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead [nekrosate] to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” Necrotic tissue cannot/will not be rejuvenated, reanimated, or brought to life again no matter how much science and technology come to bear.

Every Christ follower is pronounced and viewed to be “In Christ” having been seated with Him in the Heavenly places.” As such, we are to regard our present, imperfect bodies with all its flaws and imperfections as a heap of necrotic tissue which is lifeless having relinquished its ability to embrace anything which is against the very nature of the One “in Whom” we are raised up.

Meaning what?  Meaning one would never expect or envision a Believer to pursue, much less embrace the list of evils in Paul’s words any more than the pathologist would expect the heap of rotting flesh in the morgue to stand up and start dancing.

And what is that list?  “…consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.” The list is all encompassing. Despite Paul’s inspired exhortation, all of these things are found in the local church called, the Body of Christ on Earth. As a pastor the extent to which this is true is honestly disturbing.

So what is Covid 19 all about?  Barring omniscience, any opinion on the matter is strictly conjecture. But Paul’s words should not be dismissed without consideration.

“For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience, and in them you also once walked, when you were living in them.” The foregone conclusion is the evils are all in the past! Never-the-less, Paul reminds us “But now YOU also put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth." (Colossians 3:4-8) 

 Hmmm…   Maybe the Lord is trying to tell us something.

Offended by the Gospel

Think for a moment of our day in which we find ourselves. OFFENSE—may be the word of our culture.  The driving force of all consideration is not what is good, right or true but rather, what gives anyone offense. If you’re offended, then I am at fault and whatever it was that offended you, the new “civility” of the day demands I retract, I recant, I apologize. If I do not--in the modern vernacular—There will be hell to pay. The apostle Paul however never had much concern about offending anyone—except God alone. Pause and consider his words to the Christians of Galatia?

"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!"  (Galatians 1:6-9)

A quick reading probably serves us poorly in understanding the intensity of Paul’s flabbergastedness! When the disciples saw Jesus speak to the elements of His creation in the raging storm and the winds and seas listened and obeyed their Master, the disciples were “amazed.” It's the same word here. Paul wasn’t simply annoyed, disturbed or perturbed at what he found in the church of Galatia, he was stupefyingly dumbfounded. How is it even possible that anyone who had heard and seen the Gospel of Jesus so clearly as the Galatians had (3:1) could get it wrong? What’s worse, how could they get it so wrong that they took it upon themselves to concoct their own hybrid-gospel leading others away from The Way, The Truth and The Life?  Yes, Paul was beside himself with anger.

In our day of pulpit pap where we must not give offense for fear of losing someone out the door or being despised by one’s neighbor, Paul let it rip.

"But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!"  (Galatians 1:8-9)

What’s the meaning of “accursed?” The word is “anathema.” It means to be consigned to the abode of the eternally dead.  In other words, let anyone—Paul includes himself—who perverts the Gospel of salvation by faith in Christ alone, “Go to Hell.”

Now consider the state of “gospel proclamation” in Christendom today…  Considering Paul’s inspired words, it should compel every Christ follower to sober introspection and where necessary—REPENTANCE.