Saturday, May 7, 2011

On Temptation...

In my recent times of meditation, I've been mulling on the subject of temptation. Why are we tempted? Why are we the target of Satan's demonic assault? After all, we have no power or authority on our own, so why the barrage from our enemy? I was quickened in my spirit with these thoughts:

We face strong temptation in our lives because it’s not about us. Temptation is an assault by the demonic powers on their rival kingdom of Christ. That’s why (much to our chagrin) our salvation doesn’t curtail the force of temptation, but usually increases it. You see, when we invite The Spirit of Christ to live in us, they will come looking for us; for we now have the power of the One on who they appropriate all their fury.

Satan and his cohorts want to destroy the likeness of the crucified One that they see established in us (1 Pet. 4:14; Rev. 12:17). As Christians, we become their targets because of our close resemblance to our Brother, Jesus Christ.

All of us, whether born-again or not, bear some likeness to Jesus because we share with Him a human nature, the image of God. As we come to find peace with God through our acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior, we begin the transformation of being conformed more and more into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). The demons clamor and howl in the increasing glory of His light, and they’ll attempt, with even more impetus and motivation, to put it out of their sights.

Satan will do anything that he can to destroy the kingdom of God. Thus the reason for our temptation and the assault of the enemy on our lives.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Biblical Urban Legends

Urban legends (also called urban myths). Dictionary.com defines them this way: a modern story of obscure origin and with little or no supporting evidence that spreads spontaneously in varying forms and often has elements of humor, moralizing, or horror.

Those of us who are entrusted with the task of expositing the Scriptures in a local church (I pastored for several years) must take care to verify our sources, illustrations, and stories. No matter how helpful an illustration may be, it is dishonoring to God if it is untrue.

Here are a number of urban legends (most of them, I have expounded) that get repeated in sermons. Some are more pervasive than others, even appearing in commentaries and scholarly works.

1. The “eye of the needle” refers to a gate outside Jerusalem.


“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God,” says Jesus in Mark 10:25. Maybe you’ve heard of the gate in Jerusalem called the “eye of the needle.” The camel could pass through it only after stooping down and having all its baggage taken off.

The illustration is used in many sermons as an example of coming to God on our knees and without our baggage. The only problem is… there is no evidence for such a gate. The story has been around since the 15th century, but there isn’t a shred of evidence to support it.

2. The high priest wore a robe with bells on it when entering the Holy of Holies. Those listening on the outside could hear when the high priest stopped moving. A rope was tied around his ankle so that others could drag him out of the Holy of Holies in case God struck him dead.

Various versions of this claim have been repeated by pastors and Bible teachers, but it is a legend. It started in the Middle Ages and keeps getting repeated. There is no evidence for the claim in the Bible, the Apocrypha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, Josephus, the Talmud, Mishna or any other source. Furthermore, the thickness of the veil (three feet) would have precluded the possibility of a priest being dragged out anyway.

3. Scribes took baths, discarded their pens, washed their hands, etc. every time they wrote the name of God.

As a way of getting across the reverence of the Jewish and Christian scribes toward God, preachers like to describe the honor given to God’s name. Unfortunately, there’s no evidence that scribes did these sorts of rituals every time they came across the name of God.

4. There was this saying among the sages: “May you be covered in your rabbi’s dust.”


This is one of the most pervasive and fast-spreading stories to flood the church in recent years. The idea is that as you walked behind your rabbi, he would kick up dust and you would become caked in it and so following your rabbi closely came to symbolize your commitment and zeal. Joel Willitts explains:

This is powerful stuff isn’t it? Well the only problem is that it just isn’t true… The context in which it is given in Mishnah (Aboth 1:4) is expressly not what is assumed by those who promulgate this idea.

5. Voltaire’s house is now owned by a Bible-printing publisher.

Voltaire was famous for saying, “One hundred years from my day there will not be a Bible in the earth except one that is looked upon by an antiquarian curiosity seeker.” There is a myth out there that within 50 years of Voltaire’s death, his house was owned by a Bible society that used his own printing press to make Bibles. Sounds like a great story, but it’s not true. Regardless, Voltaire’s prediction of the demise of the Bible was vastly overstated.

6. Gehenna was a burning trash dump outside Jerusalem.

I’ve used this illustration many times. But there isn’t evidence to support this idea. Still, because it seems like a reasonable explanation for the origin of the Hinnom Valley as “hell,” commentators and preachers have accepted it. It’s possible that the verdict may still be out on this one, but not if Todd Bolen is right:

“The explanation for the ‘fire of Gehenna’ lies not in a burning trash dump, but in the burning of sacrificed children.  Already in Old Testament times, the Valley of Hinnom was associated with the destiny of the wicked.  That the valley was just outside the city of Jerusalem made it an appropriate symbol for those excluded from divine blessing.”

7. NASA scientists have discovered a “missing day” which corresponds to the Joshua account of the sun standing still.

Please don’t repeat this myth. There has been no “missing day” discovered, and the legend has been circulating longer than NASA has been in existence, with different scientists playing the part.

To anyone who has ever heard me espouse any of these urban legends, I ask you to forgive me. My intent was not to mislead or fabricate. I failed to do my own research as to the validity of these statements. Blessing to you and yours.

Friday, April 22, 2011

The Sixth Day

It was day six of creation. God hand-formed man into His image. Behold the man. Adam. The very first of the human race. His irresponsible choice plunged the entirety of human kind into the powerful stronghold of sin and death. Fast-forward to another sixth day. It's Friday. Pilate, the prefect of the Roman providence of Judea, stands beside Jesus and declares, “Behold the Man!” Jesus. The “second Adam”. The perfect human being, whose sinless life will reverse the curse of sin and death. Behold the Man who will make payment for our sin. Behold the Man who will appease the anger of a holy God. Behold the Man, our Messiah and Lord! Behold the Man. Savior and God!


Pitch-black darkness has invaded Jerusalem. An eery hush falls through the valleys that surround the hill, Golgotha. A loud cry pierces the deafening silence. Beaten beyond human recognition and wearing thorns for a crown, Jesus cries from the cross. "Tetelesta!" (translated, "It is finished!”). His work was complete. It was on the sixth day that God had completed his creation work. Now Jesus has finished His work. The Lamb without spot or blemish has died as our sacrifice. The victory cry from was cross echoes through the ages, “It is finished.” The sacrifice has been accomplished. And God, who had turn His back on Golgotha's stage, saw that it was good. Sin's hold has been broken. We can be free.

Good Friday musings. Just pondering out loud.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

The Window

     
     Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.  His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service and where they had been on vacation.
     Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.  The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his life would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
     The window overlooked a park with a gazebo.  Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats.  Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. Lovers walked hand in hand. Children played softball in the brilliant summer sun, while others lay on the carpet of grass, book in hand.  As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the scene.
     One afternoon the man set up and said, "You won't believe what is going on today.  There's a parade going on out there.  The floats are so detailed and beautiful.  The marching bands are dressed to the hilt.  Thousands of people line the streets, clapping and cheering in appreciation of the incredible entertainment.  What a sight!"
     And for the first time, the thought hit the other man, "Why does he have the bed next to the window?  Why does he always get to look outside?  Why can't I have the chance to enjoy the view?"  At first the man felt ashamed about his ill feelings and thoughts but that shame quickly vanished.  
     Days passed and he became more angry and bitterness began to eat at his spirit until he became totally soured. The man by the window would atempt to describe the bustling activity outside only to be totally rejected by his roommate.  The conversastion and fellowship between the two stopped, as hatred overwhelmed the the bedridden man.
     One night, as he lay thinking about how much he detested the man by the window, the other man began to cough uncontrolably, chocking as the fluid was congesting in his lungs.  The dying man tried to ring for the nurse but the button had fallen to the floor.
     The other man also had a buttom and all that he needed to do was to push his button to summon help for his dying one-time friend.  Help would be on the way and his life would be spared.  Instead, he just lay there as the other man drowned in his own fluid.  There was silence.  The man was dead.
     The next morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths, only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window.  She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take him away.
     As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved to the other side of the room. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
     He was looking at a blank wall.  There was no window.  The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you and bring you some happiness."
     You see, jealousy had completely overtaken this man, stealing his joy and happiness... even robbing him of his morals and ability to help his fellow man.  He could have saved the life of the man by the window but instead he plotted to be where the other man was.
     Proverbs 27:4 MSG, "We're blasted by anger and swamped by rage, but who can survive jealousy?" Once we start thinking that we've got less than what we ought to have, that's when we start thinking that we are less than what we really ought to be and that's when jealousy... the cancer of the heart... kicks in.
     Lord, help me to realize that I already have much more than I deserve.  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me (Psalm 51:10)  Help me to appreciate the blessings in my life, and to appreciate those blessings that you heap upon others.  

Note: There are many versions of this story.  I have 'polished' it a bit to fit the situation.  I hope you've been touched by it.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Why Fear The Grasshoppers?



Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

People, by and large, are pleasers of  people.  Everyone wants to be accepted by their fellowman and most of what we do and how we act is determined by what we think others will expect of us.  We may proclaim that is not the case but our lifestyles betray our confessions.

Here is the unmistakable truth: There is a day coming when we will stand before God. And knowing that, we are worried about being accepted of men?  In the not too distant future, we will encounter the Righteous Judge.  At that judgment seat appearance, will we be acceptable to God?  He alone is the one that should cause us concern; yet we continue to live our lives, fearful of men and anxious about what they think, resulting in our constant 'performance' for their approval. 

In my opinion, it's a matter of comparison and contrast.  Allow me to explain.  Let's say that there are two men standing before you.  The first is a 5' 6", 90 pound weakling, capable of bench pressing a whopping 10 pounds.  The other is a 6' 6", 250 pound hulk-of-a-man who can bench 700+ pounds and is one of the meanest, orneriest men on earth.  Of the two, who should you fear most?  Hands down, the hulkster should provoke the greatest apprehension and fear.  Likewise, he will prove to be the one that you seek to please.

Here's my point.  You may be scared out of your wits of that 6' 6" brute but he is nothing... a mere grasshopper compared to God.  All the mighty forces of all the nations of the world combined would be but a drop in the bucket compared to God, and yet we fear the grasshopper?!

So what does it matter if we are fearful of others?  It was William Gurnall who said, "We fear men so much, because we fear God so little. One fear cures another. When man's terror scares you, turn your thoughts to the wrath of God."  You see, we may fear man but if we know even the slightest bit about God, we will fear Him in a greater way, and that fear of God will emaciate our fear of man.

Is there a tendency in all of us to want to be accepted by people?  Without question.  However, if we believe that God is who He says He is, then our desire to be accepted by people will dissipate once we come to the reality of the need to be acceptable to God.

Here's the bottom line:  What does it matter if others judge us?  Why be upset if others mock us?  Why should we care if others call us fools?  The only thing that is going to matter and have any bearing on eternity is that day when we will stand alone before a just God.  Nothing hidden.  All revealed.

We should not be concerned with getting our best life now!  We need not focus on our feeble, unsuccessful attempts at being man-pleasers.  Rather, we should be fix our attention on how we will fare on the day that we meet God face to face.  Heb 10:31 could not be any clearer, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."  

So why fear the grasshoppers?

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Being Wholly Holy


I don't know about you but I have found that when God continually deals with me on a particular subject or thought that is an area that most needs to be further strengthened or more committed to Him.  Lately, I've been pondering a lot about being separated (2 Corinthians 6:17) and holy unto God (Romans 12:1).  

What does it mean to be holy?  Does it mean that we follow all the rules?  Certainly not, for we can follow all the rules and not be holy.  Holy has the idea of being completely separate unto God.  But don't misunderstand... we can separate ourselves completely from the things of the world; but if we stay there it's a very boring, legalistic life.  Furthermore, we can separate from the things that are wicked and wrong for our own glory; like the Pharisees of the New Testament, and it will mean nothing to God.

Holiness is separating from the world in order to be separated unto God.  It's a heart issue. It's recognizing Him as having infinite worth above all else; thus we separate our lives unto Him.  It involves passion... esteem and worth.  We have judged Him to be infinitely more worthy than anything or anyone else and so we drop those things that keep us from Him and run to Him.

You see, it's not about doing the  right thing.  It's not about saying that we love Him.  It is loving Him for who He is... and doing so with a passion.  It's not about moral regulations.  It's not about treating God like an impersonal thing.  God is a person.  He can be grieved.  So holiness is not about doing all the right things or abstaining from the wrong things .  Holiness is when we say to God, "The only reason that I run from these things is because I want to run to you!"

Here's the deal: When we truly have a new relationship with God... an intimacy and a passion for Him like never before... we too will have a new relationship with everything else.  Those things to which we once cleaved, we will abandon in favor of God.

To be absolutely clear... offering our lives a holy and living sacrifice is not about forsaking the things of the world so that we can be in God's good graces.  It's not about doing the right things so that we can go to heaven.  It's saying to God, "I no longer present my members to the things of the world so that I may present my members to you!"  It's called a sacrifice; for indeed it is one.

You see, the subject of dying to the world is foreign to most Christians and a taboo teaching in most churches.  The thought of sacrificing all to God and not craving the things of this world is a morbid-almost 'monkish'-sackcloth and ashes-kind-of-existence to most Christians.  But those who loose their life shall find it (Matthew 10:39); for He came to bring life in abundance (John 10:10).  When we stand before God, the only regret that we should have is that we have not given Him more! 

God, help me to abandon the 'foreign gods' of my life and run in hot pursuit of You.  Help me to walk away from those things that keep me from you.  Lord, I want to be wholly holy.  Help me to do that... not out of obligation or what I might gain... but out of pure love for You.