All God’s Promises Are True

Think of all the comforts of God’s word. In an unstable and shifting world that are not many thing that we can rely on with absolute certainty. Only God is constant and true. His words and promises are a “strong encouragement” and the hope that we base on them are “an anchor of the soul...both sure and steadfast.” (Heb. 6:18,19)  

Yet even as we take comfort in the surety of God’s promises for help and good, we make take with equal seriousness all His promises that warn of punishment. So often we like to think of only the nice things. This is illustrated in the fact that poll after poll shows that a much greater number of people believe in heaven than in hell, even though we have equal evidence and authority for both. Jesus often speaks of rewards and punishments in the same sentence, yet only one is remembered.  But His promises of curses and consequences are just as sure as His promises of blessings and rewards. 

Both the righteous goodness and righteous severity of God has been equally spoken and equally proven. All of God’s word is confirmed. Will those living by the gospel faith go to heaven? Surely they will.  Will those who are not obedient to it go to hell? Just as surely they will also. Salvation and condemnation are based on the same sure word of God. The scriptures, history and experience all confirm that we must give heed to all that God has said. Let His word be a dreadful and fearful thing to those who won’t live by it – and let them not ignore it – even as His word is wondrously comforting to those who will live by it.

Run The Race With Endurance Heb. 12:1-3

The exhortation to be faithful and avoid sin is based firmly on the life and work of Jesus. As we run our endurance race of Christianity, we look to Jesus.  In distance races it is illegal to have someone set the pace for you.  You compete on your own. Once a Cuban racer fall far back off the lead, then as his teammate was about to lap him he sped back up and set a strong pace for the first man who was now tiring. This encouragement helped his teammate to run at near record time, but it also got them both disqualified.  Fortunately we don’t run the Christian race alone. God’s rules permit a pacesetter.  It is Jesus. He has run this same race — a life of service, faith and devotion to God here on earth.  

The exhortation to be faithful and avoid sin is also based on the death of Jesus. Jesus’ struggle against sin was a mortal one. The Hebrews were “growing weary and losing heart.” (vs. 3) They were giving up to soon.  Consider all that Jesus gave up.  He gave up heaven then suffered cruelly for us. If we are still living, our struggle hasn’t yet cost us our lives as it did Jesus. We are like the Hebrews, “You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin.” (vs. 4) Jesus suffered the shameful cross because He saw the goal - being seated at the right hand of God. If we want to hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant...enter thou into the joy of thy lord”  and “receive the crown of life,” we will have to do the same things.  

In order to “run with endurance,” live like the faithful, not the faint. Look to Jesus, not th

Resurrected Or Not?

What are the evidence and arguments for and against the resurrection? The main objection to the resurrection today isn’t even verifiable evidence at all; rather it’s a philosophical argument.  It is argued that since no miracles are scientifically observable today, no miracles have ever happened. This is not sound logic, but rather materialistic, naturalist presumption. This is no stronger proof against the resurrection that the simple assertion that, “We don’t believe it.”  Still, this is the strongest and most common argument that is used today.  

On the other hand, the evidence for the resurrection is strong and multifaceted.  The direct evidence includes the predictive prophesies of the Old Testament and by Jesus in the gospels. There were the many witnesses who saw Jesus after there resurrection and the miracles worked by the apostles as they preached that Jesus was raised. Then there is the circumstantial evidence of the changed character of the apostles after the resurrection, the rapid spread of the church and its continued existence to this day.  

Christians can, and should, face with confidence any challenge to the historical proof of the resurrection. The apostle Paul did so in 1 Cor. 15. He considered whether or not Jesus was raised and argued with convincing proof that He was. Paul affirmed the inspiration of the gospel message, listed the witnesses, presented the effects of resurrection not taking place, then told what the results of the resurrection will be and quoted a predictive prophecies concerning it. Study the scriptures, consider the proof of the resurrection, consider the alternatives, consider its effects and believe.

Jesus Walked On The Ice?

“Jesus may not have walked on water as the Bible claims but rather skated on ice formed through a freak cold spell, a scientific study has suggested.”  (BBC News, “Did Jesus walk on water - or ice?” April 5, 2006, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4881108.stm). 

A few years ago, in a silly attempt to give a naturalistic explanation for a miracle, a professor at Florida State made news by “seriously” proposing that Jesus’ miracle of walking on the water was really just Him shuffling along on ice. The professor made got lots of press with this for a few weeks. 

Many “scientific,” “rational,” cynical, and skeptical men look down on people who still take their faith seriously enough to believe in miracles.  They view believers as gullible simpletons of the same type as those who fear or use magic spells and witch doctors. Yet it is the folly of unbelief that leads men to the acceptance of truly fantastical things.

What would it say about Jesus’ moral judgment if He chastised Peter for lack of faith when he merely fell off the ice?  (How well would you do walking on ice at night in a storm?)  And what would it say about the character of Jesus if He accepted worship as the Son of God on the basis of being able to walk on water and calm the storm when He really just skated out to the boat?  

The “scientific” explanation removes the stumbling block of the miracle for the skeptic, but it attacks the credibility and character of Jesus and the inspiration of the scriptures. The folly rationalists is apparent even as they look down on us for believing in miracles.

We Remember The Ones Who Are Different: Daniel 1-3

The early chapter of the book of Daniel tell what happened when four of the Hebrews captured and exiled by Nebuchadnezzer are sent to Babylon. We don’t know how many other youths from the noble and priestly parts of Israel’s society were taken captive, but since 2 Kings 24:14 says 10,000 captives in all were taken, it must have a large number.

How many of them do we know about? Four. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. 

We know of them as youths at the special royal academy that Nebuchadnezzer had set up to train young men from all over the empire in service to his empire. When these four alone made it a point to keep the restrictionsthat the Law of Moses gave for eating foods. And we know of three of the four years later, when as Imperial officials, they alone would not worship the idol that Nebuchadnezzer had set up.

Had Daniel and his friends eaten pagan food there would have been nothing left to distinguish them from the rest. Had they bowed down to worship the idol, they would have just been part of the crowd. 

Modern thought says to go along, accommodate and convert by overtime by coexisting. But God wants us to be different in regard to the things that He commanded. This is not odd for the sake of being odd, but different in the things that God has decided. (Rf. 2 Cor. 6:17,18

A Wonderful Story Of God’s People Doing As They Should 2 Chron. 20

In the days of Jehoshaphat, Judah was throated by a great horde of three countries from the east combining to invade. Jehoshaphat was afraid. Fear in similar situations has caused many godly people to do evil.  His father Asa turned to a foreign alliance when he faced less of a threat that this. (2 Chron. 16)  But Jehoshaphat sought the Lord. (16 times “seek, seeking or sought the LORD (Jehovah)” appears in 1 & 2 Chron.) He called the people of Judah to fast as they sought the Lord. They assembled in the Temple courtyard and the king led in prayer.

Jehoshaphat’s prayer acknowledged the sovereignty of God, His help in making them a nation, and that trouble should not come upon God’s people so long as they humbled themselves before God. So in faith, they asked for God’s help. A prophet stood up and said that God would fight their enemies for them. They were to go out as to battle on a mountain overlooking a plain and wait there to see the victory of the Lord. The people bowed in worship and loudly praised God.  

Led the priests and singers, they went out where God had told them. They watched as the combined armies broke into its separate parts and fought one another to the point of total annihilation.  

The victory for God’s people was so complete that all they had to do was go down and take the spoils of war.  It took three days to carry all of it off.  On the fourth day, they had a great service of thanks to God. Faith and trust worked a greater victory than the army of Judah could have,

Psalm 5 Refuge Found In Worship And Prayer

In the fifth Psalm we find David again beset by many enemies. We often have the false notion that if we strive to be good and do what is right that most people will like us, or that at a minimum we will mostly be left alone.  But David’s experience does not bear this out. Certainly he was opposed because he was the king and all who have power will have opposition. But his troubles were more than simply political opposition. 

As the “anointed of God,” (2 Sam. 23:1) he was a constant public example and the living embodiment of service to God.  He was fiercely opposed for being a light in a dark world. Many have lost their faith because of this type of continual antagonism. Others have fallen into the temptation to sink to the ungodly tactics of their opponents once hostilities have begun.  But David shows the true way - reliance on God through prayer. 

David knew that these blessings were not for him alone. All who have the same faith can take refuge, be glad, sing for joy, find shelter and exalt in the Lord. Where did David find Him? In prayer and in worship. Love and fidelity to the great Creator are the right response when we consider His love toward us. But we are influenced daily by the evil world that surrounds us so that we don’t realize that the Invisible God is also present. The difference between David and his enemies – between the faithful and the unfaithful – came down to one walking by faith and the other walking by sight according the course of this world.  

How do you walk? Or maybe we should rather ask, how do you worship?And how do you pray?

Ps. 6 A Troubled Soul Prays To God In Anguish And Hope

Ps. 6:1:1“O LORD, do not rebuke me in Thine anger, Nor chasten me in Thy wrath.

2Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am pining away; Heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed.

3And my soul is greatly dismayed; But Thou, O LORD--how long?

Yet again David is greatly troubled. He pleads with the Lord as one who recognizes his unworthiness to come before God. David recognized his failings in this way and called out with complete dependence on God’s grace. David’s own strength was failing and he was greatly troubled, so he recognized his need and waited on the Lord. However long that was. 

8Depart from me, all you who do iniquity, For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.

9The LORD has heard my supplication, The LORD receives my prayer.

10All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly dismayed; They shall turn back, they shall suddenly be ashamed.”

Sinners be warned: leave this righteous man alone. Will they? Probably not until they are totally consumed by the Lord, but David is still renewed. Confidence has returned because he has assurance πthe Lord has “heard and received” his prayers. All who strive to live faithfully have this same promise (2 Pet. 3:10-12).

A Discouraging Word

Living here as we do on near the edge of the great western cattle country, we all can recall the words of the cowboy’s optimistic song, “Where seldom is heard a discouraging word, And the skies are not cloudy all day.”  How wonderful that people and nature seems to be for us. When we feel that way, it seems nothing can be against us. 

But this week in our reading of the history of Israel, the time came when it was exactly the opposite. 

Numb. 13:31,32 “But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.” 32  So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.” 14:1,2  “Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night. 2  And all the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron; and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness!”

Behold the power of discouraging words!!  Israel failed even though God was with them. We know God would have been with them, but they didn’t believe it, in part because of the unfaithful words of the spies.

What about us today? Do we speak the words that encourage and build? Or do we speak the words the help people be doubtful and hesitant? Look at the ends of the 10 spies (14:37) and the faithful two.

Consider Jesus: Our Hope

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

People viscerally know that earthly existence is ultimately unsatisfying and that true contentment and fulfillment escape us even when worldly circumstances are favorable. Those without faith, and a worldview diminished by selfishness, look to a change of fortune or circumstances to find fulfillment. Others have a spiritual hope, but false spiritual hopes, such as reincarnation or universalism, are weak and unsatisfactory. 

Compared to this is the great bright hope of Christianity believing in “God our Savior, and…Christ Jesus, who is our hope.” (1 Tim. 1:1)

Such hope was present in the Old Testament, “For Thou art my hope; O Lord GOD, Thou art my confidence from my youth.” (Ps. 71:5) And “I have hope in Him.” (Lam. 3:24) Now this “hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised long ages ago,” (Tit. 1:2) is realized in Jesus. 

Jesus, the embodiment of our hope, is the one who came from Heaven to show us the way back there by reconciled us to God and our brothers along the way. This is much better than hoping in riches (1 Tim. 6:17) or any of the vain things of this world.

This hope enlivens everything we do 1 Tim. 4:10 “For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.”, knowing that it will all go well for us if we do. “Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus” (Tit. 2:13) 

So “Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Pet. 1:13)

Consider Jesus: Finisher Of The Faith

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Heb 12:2“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter [finisher – KJV, NKJV] of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus is the beginning, middle and end of our salvation. Sometimes that is explicitly stated, as in this verse and the in the Alpha and Omega passages (Rev. 1:8, 21:6; 22:13) He is fully the “Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Rev. 22:13)

The first description of Him here is that He is the “author,” the starting or originator or our faith. Then he also brings it to completion, to perfection, to its fullness. So He is the creator and sustainer of it until the very end. 

The beginning and ending of the faith is true for us in two parts. First, that the work He planned and set out to do, He did. He came to earth, loved us, taught His way, was successfully the sacrifice for our sins, and set the church in motion. But then, in a second, in a personal way for each of us, He helps us to reach the end and object of our faith by sustain us in our faith through His teaching and help for us in being a Christian until the ultimate day. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6)

Consider Jesus: Author And Finisher Of Our Faith

Let us continue to “consider Jesus.” (Heb. 3:1) 

Heb 12:2“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter (finisher – KJV, NKJV) of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus not only revealed the faith to us but He also both wrote it and lived it.  There are many who can deliver a message that other write.  But who can author the way for men to live?  (Ref. Jer. 10:23).  But in Jesus we have the One who could write it, reveal it, and then live the perfectly right way.  He brought the faith to life in His life.