Rick Crookshank, Pastor

Sunday, January 04, 2009

What does the Bible say about resolutions worthy of a Christian?

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created. (Revelation 4:11—NIV)

There are seasons of life which lead to new resolves. The birth of a baby, the start of a new job, and the turning of a corner in life often lead to times of introspection and course-correcting resolutions. Typically, New Year's resolutions come and go along with the new month's picture on the calendar. I suspect that the germ of most of the good intentions at any new beginning is a prick of the conscience. An accounting has been made of failing performance which, if left unchecked, will lead to lost opportunity—at best, or disaster—at worst.

It takes a tremendous amount of effort to change a habit. The investment begins with a worthy resolve which must be followed by the formulation of a rational plan to implement the change (this is where the investment begins to show its cost). Changed behavior is not for the squeamish. The defeat of an old habit takes concentration, personal sacrifice, and endurance over the long haul.

Enduring is often the most difficult step. At this point the cost of our resolves may be felt by our loved ones. How much easier it is when they are on board with us. For this reason every resolve to change useless habits of life ought to be well thought out, the cost counted, and you must take every pain to assure that the purpose is worthy.

If a resolution is going to be successful for both time and eternity it must be directly built upon the bedrock of God's intended purpose for every man. Without a clear sense of this worldview every lofty resolve of a man will inevitably crumble and dissolve and will measure the man. Without God, a man's effectiveness at change is reducible to the level of his backbone of core beliefs, whatever they may be. Eternally effective resolution in man is the measure of the worthiness of God.

Our text purports the worldview that is essential for any resolve to see a succeeding year. By chapter four of Revelation, John has finished disclosing Jesus' messages to the seven churches encouraging them to be refreshed in their resolve to serve God supremely in their corner of God's vineyard and to overcome until the Lord calls them home. Verse one changes the scene to the court before the throne of God in Heaven. The "elders" (verse 10) surrounding the throne of God in the context are indicative of the overcoming, victorious, church age saints casting their crowns at the feet of God, for without Him the crowns would not have been won, they really are His. Their faithfulness was made possible by God's faithfulness.

As they cast their crowns at His feet their united voices erupt with the sublime words of worship which are quoted above. Five characteristics for lasting resolution are resoundingly declared. First, God is Supreme—He is to have preeminence above all other competing voices clamoring for attention. Second, He is Lord—the Master, He deserves your utmost obedience. Third, He is Deserving—the only One worth exhausting your life's stewardship of all He has given in order to return to Him all the glory, honor and power of your life. Fourth, He is the Creator—no one or thing has legitimate claim on your life but He. Finally, He is the Fountain of your life—you exist because He willed it! How humbling and astonishing! His worth is beyond compare and He deserves your submission now, for He will have it eventually.

Now review your resolves. Are they worthy of thought, sacrifice, commitment, and of His great Name? What steps of obedience would He have you to do in accordance with His will for your life? Trust and obey.

Sunday, December 28, 2008

What does the Bible say about cheating death?

And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment. (Hebrews 9:27—NIV)

The question of cheating death is tantalizing. We love the idea of second chances. Our society is accustomed to put things in provocative ways. When someone has been spared an untimely disaster we commonly hear expressions like, "I've dodged a bullet," or "My number must not have been up," or "I was lucky," or "I used up one of my nine lives." Each statement views the inevitability of death through mortal eyes sensing a charmed deliverance to live another day. Often there is a tone of foreboding awe as the person reviews the events to anyone who will listen and claims the experience has made him the wiser.

The idea of cheating death seems to animate death into some sort of stalking enemy who can be fooled, outrun, foiled, and maybe even bargained with. In every case the idea is conveyed that as death was about to close his cold grip his quarry was able to slip through his fingers like a whiff of air.

Human life, in all of its forms, is a precious gift from God. Since He gave it, He also ascribes its limits. God likens its duration to a mist, "you do not know what will happen tomorrow, for what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away." (James 4:14) The brevity of life is plainly evident as our years of life accumulate and grow "long in the tooth." Solomon puts the promise-filled beginning and the finality of the end of life in a matter of fact way when he states, "To everything there is as season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted." (Ecclesiastes 3:1–2) Actual death, the ending of life, as our text states, is unmistakably an appointed event in the plan of God.

The event of death in every one's life is always a swift arrival. "Remember how short my time is," the psalmist says. The Scriptures often return to the theme of the shortness of life for the very reason that man ought not to forget that he is mortal (Job 7:6–7, 9:25–26, 14:1–2; Psalm 39:5, 11, 62:9, 90:5–6; James 1:10). Psalm 90:10 states, "The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away."

No, death is not an anthropomorphic phantom to be cheated. It is an appointment to be prepared for, taken into account, and to be reckoned, as sure as the setting sun. How did we come to this? Romans 6:23 states, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Without the covering of Christ, death brings you before God for the fearful reckoning day of judgment for sins you committed in life. However, for the one who has trusted in the Word of God promising salvation to those resting the care of their souls upon Christ, death brings you to a review day of rewards for service done for God. Your sins were judged and paid in full on the cross by the suffering Son of God. Romans 8:28–30 states, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, …whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified." No wonder the Scriptures say, "Blessed in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints."

Listen to the difference between these two statements:

1) I was so lucky because I cheated death!

2) I wonder why God spared my life. He doesn't owe me anything!

The first is simply a statement of shortsighted euphoria and unbelief; no Christian should only get that far in his musings. The second statement is much more to the point of thanksgiving to the Sovereign God of love and grace who keeps His children as the apple of His eye.

Do you live as though today may be the day of your appointment? What have you left undone that must be done, or done that must be undone, because "today is the day of salvation?" Trust and obey.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

What does the Bible say is the purpose of a Savior?

God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…for He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:19,21—NIV)

More familiar are the words of John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." The casual reader may not be familiar with the reason we need a savior. He does not know why he will perish without a savior, but he is pretty sure he doesn't want to perish, and the everlasting life part sounds pretty good.

The text before us beautifully details the purpose of God in His mighty work of redemption. It answers the why, how, and what of the gift of His Son. The divine gift of the Savior for mankind is the only authentic provision of peace and goodwill among men. Man's estrangement from one another is because he is estranged from God. The price for estrangement from God is eternal death. "Exhibit A" that eternal death awaits every man is his sin nature which leads to his acts of sin.

My debt under the holy law of God—Our text identifies these acts as trespasses. Generally speaking, trespasses are an encroachment upon, and a violation of, the boundaries God has set for righteous behavior. These acts are called sin in Scripture. Any and every trespass against God's holy law brings with it the verdict of "guilty" in God's courtroom of justice. The declaration of guilt requires the payment of a penalty. "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) Sin, guilt, penalty—the natural flow of life without Christ, and all sins, without exception, recorded in the courts of Heaven.

His declaration which satisfies my debt—Our text explains how God could satisfy His wrath toward our trespasses, a wrath we justly deserve. The doctrines of imputation and substitution are illustrated. God declared His Son to be sin (imputed our sin to the account of His perfect Son). God treated as sin the One who knew no sin so that He can treat those sinners who trust in His Son's redemptive work as if they had never sinned. Jesus becomes the substitute (for us) who takes upon Himself the sin of His own (born again believers). Jesus had no "personal acquaintance" with sin yet Jesus paid our sin debt in full upon the cross of Calvary. Therefore, the righteous standing of God's Son is permitted to be imputed on the believer's record in the courts of Heaven (i.e., "the righteousness of God in Him" of verse 21).

The design of God in His work—Our text tells us of the grace of God, He provides reconciliation for sinners who have been forgiven through faith in the substitutionary death of His Son. It is a change in the believer's state. He was estranged from His Creator, now he is at peace with His Maker and he is a beneficiary of the goodwill of God. Real peace only comes to those who are subject to God's good will and pleasure. Sin, guilt, and penalty cannot produce peace with a just God. Jesus satisfied the just demands of the offended law suffering, as the Just for the unjust, until the wrath of God was exhausted. Peace is established through this Gift of Grace.

Are you painfully aware of the personal cost to Jesus for the sins you have chosen and choose to commit? Do you adequately value the state of peace that exists between your soul and God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you seeking to carry the ministry of reconciliation to the lost around you? Trust and obey.

Sunday, December 14, 2008

What does the Bible say about the deity of Jesus Christ?

'I and my Father are one.' Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. (John 10:30–31—NIV)

In our postmodern culture we are more apt to have thoughts regarding the nature and mission of Jesus Christ at Christmas than at any other time of the year. It is commonly understood that the reason for gift-giving and great-hearted charity is because God gave to man the gift of Jesus, His Son. But what exactly did God give?

Some teach that God's gift is a call to forsake greed and emulate the selfless example of gift-giving. Others wistfully make a plea for mankind to honor the spirit of peace and harmony as the real message of Christmas. Often there is an emotional plea from both the sacred desk and the public lectern to simply remember the example of the humble circumstances that Joseph, Mary and Jesus endured and that we should be thankful for our blessings and be thoughtful of others less fortunate.

These are good applications and worthy reminders of higher values relevant to all mankind. But, if this is all that is believed and communicated, there is nothing of eternal, salvific, life-redemption in the message of Christmas. The signal meaning of the Gift of God has been downgraded and substituted for a lesser value.

The prophetic Name given for Jesus is "Emmanuel, God with us." It is precisely this truth, Jesus is God, that gave rise to the situation found in John 10. Our Lord had finished His teaching that He is the Good Shepherd who gives His life in substitute for the lives of His sheep. He is the "door" for the sheep to enter salvation ("I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved"). This shows the critical relationship established between God and His sheep through the mediatorial role of His Son, Jesus. This relationship is actuated through Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (verses 17–18).

Our Savior completed His teaching on this living, covenantal relationship with words which have brought comfort to the saints throughout the ages, "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one (verses 29–30)".

At these words the unbelieving, yet religious, people around Him took supreme offense. They unmistakably heard the message of Christmas—God with us. The reason they took up stones to stone Jesus was they had heard from His own mouth words which would have been blasphemy from any other person. "I and My Father are one" is a strong allusion to Deuteronomy 6:4, "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one." Jesus was saying that He is Jehovah! It was unmistakable to their ears, it therefore has to be unmistakable to ours as well. "One" implies plurality like "one family." Jesus was stating His unity of essence with His Father, not just unity of will or power. He is God and declared Himself to be so!

Simply put, the significance of the Father's gift is "God with us" in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus is fully God, claimed to be so, and those who were best able to hear and recognize His claim knew exactly what He meant and claimed to be! Jesus is a fine example of self-sacrifice and of humility. He is the Prince of Peace and offers peace with God to all, who through faith in His finished work of substitutionary death for the payment of sin's penalty upon the cross of Calvary, rest the care of their soul upon Him. Christ is God! This is the true meaning of the Christmas gift.

As you celebrate the season, remember the significance. The babe in the manger was the only human born with a mission to be the Mediator between God and man. He did not come to remain an exemplary babe in our dreams. He was born to die that we may live. He came to do a God-size task. His resurrection declares His triumph!

Have you allowed others to substitute a secondary meaning for the most important meaning of all? Is your worship filled with seminal truth, or is it filled with misdirected meditations? Are you born again and obediently following His commands? Trust and obey.

Sunday, December 07, 2008

What does the Bible say is the cure for worry?

Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? (Matthew 6:30—NIV)

Read Matthew 6:25–34.

Worry is "taking responsibility we were never intended to have" and "worry is to the mind what poison is to the body." When you need a little perspective as you are tossing about with worry, put yourself to a little test. Try to remember what made you sleepless this time last year.

Because we are finite, thoughtful, and conscious of consequences to our behavior, we find ourselves wrestling with things we cannot control. If there is something we should be doing, we better get to it! If there is something we should not be doing, we better stop it! Your unsettledness is then not really worry; it is a guilty conscience, which requires a different antidote.

But if, upon close examination of a problem, you search the Scriptures for direction from God, bathe the matter in prayer, and discern there is nothing left to do but wait upon God—your heart palpitations can be diagnosed as worry.

Take a page from a wise old saint, "worry about nothing, pray about everything." Matthew 6:25–34 teaches that occupation with righteous behavior should monopolize the Christian’s time. When we take care of God’s business, He takes care of ours.

Because worry is so common among us sinful humans, God graciously gives us wonderful promises everywhere in Scripture. Take a quick walk through the Scriptures with me. "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You." "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (Psalm 56:3, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:6, 7, 19, and 1 Peter 5:6, 7).

Read the verses again with a quiet heart. Doesn't your redeemed heart soar when you thoughtfully comprehend what God promises His beloved ones?

Worry, in all its manifestations, is unbelief. Our Lord teaches in Matthew 6 that worry is being unthankful (v. 25), illogical (v. 26), unproductive (v. 27), useless (vv. 28–30), fleshly minded (vv. 31–33), and distracted (v. 34). He challenges you to think the way a person of faith thinks. You must never allow worry to commandeer your life. You have been hijacked when you fail to allow God to bear your burdens, and your burdens distract you from His work.

Verse 30 offers the cure for worry. Worry's cure is found in strengthened faith. Faith is simply believing what God says and resting upon it. Here is a practical checklist: 1) List your worries. 2) Look in the Bible for the promises of God attendant to each worry. 3) Lay your burdens on Him by taking undistracted, quality time with God in prayer. 4) Labor to serve God. In short—spend your worry time in worship time. Trust and obey.