Death III

Death III

…till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return. (Genesis 3:19 ESV)

Death’s Promotion

Death became horrible when humans were condemned to die.  Before God’s judgment on Adam (and his descendants), death was just a part of creation.  Things, animate things, ended in Eden.  Even if just plants.  As strange as it sounds, Death was included in God’s pronouncement that creation was, ‘very good.’

But after Adam’s rejection of God, God moved humans into the category of death-able.  Adam was no longer outside of the natural cycle… Adam would now die.  His body would end, like plants, animals, and bugs.

What a shock that must have been for Adam.  That event that he would have observed taking place around him, now would be happening to him!  And to Eve! And to all of his descendants…

Death was promoted, in a sense, into the main avenue of God’s judgment against Adam… the main avenue of God’s curse against rebel mankind.

Paul later says it this way:  For the wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23 ESV)

Wages because it is deserved and earned.  Wages because it is certain. 

Death then became horrible, grievous, terrifying, and terrible.

And Adam, and every human since, justifiably hated it.

It is not natural.  For humans, death is the direct result of Sin, of our rebellion against God, of our rejection (every rejection: big and small) of God.  I won’t call it SUPERnatural… but it is SUBnatural.

God’s wrath, in a way, was focused against mankind and all of creation, through death.  Death was thereafter the sign of God’s separation of humans from God Himself.

There is nothing worse.

Death became the epitome of God’s enemies.  An enemy that God would move heaven and earth to defeat, to fix, to repair, to reconcile, and to redeem.

And that is why we abhor Death.  And it is why God did amazing things to help us.

Death II

Death II

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. (Genesis 1:31 ESV)

Death in Eden

Was death present in the Garden of Eden?  Not human death, no death plans for Adam… but death as an ending of some sort of life?

That kind of death probably was in the garden.

The logical proof is found in God’s statement at the end of His creating work.  When He was done making the universe He said it was not merely good… but VERY good.

I am not all that artistic.  But the few times I have completed some artwork (a song, or a drawing, or even a poem…) when I am done, I am done.  Until I am done, I edit, I finesse, I correct, I try again… but when it is done, when it is beautiful, when it is completed, it is done.

God made everything, and then called it very good… He was done creating at that point.  No more creating.  No more making something out of nothing. 

Consider, then a bug.  Without being all scientific, many bugs eat plant (or animal) matter.  That is their purpose, and it shows in HOW they were made, and how they function.  If no plant (or animal) matter existed, those bugs could not survive.  It does not make sense that God would have created those bugs “figuring that someday they would have something to eat.”  It does not make sense that God would have created those bugs in a way that did not function correctly, because they had nothing to eat.  It does not make sense that God made a bug “very good,” but would fix it up later when it’s food chain changed.

The same can be said of a tiger’s fangs, a giraffe’s long neck, or many bacteria.  The ‘end’ of life is evidenced in creation itself.

There must have been death before the fall.

Note… NOT human death.  But something that was alive (a plant… and animal… bacteria…) would have ended that ‘life.’

Death, before the curse that resulted from Adam’s sin, was not evil.  It was not a curse.  It was not anything to do with the God-breathed life that God put into Adam’s body.

It was simply a part of the cycle.  It was natural.  And it was very good.

When the world defines death as ‘the end,’ the world is correct as far as it goes.  Death for my favorite Cactus Plant IS that plant’s end.  Death for the buzzing fly IS that bug’s end.  Death, even for my precious pet IS that pet’s end.  But that is vastly different from what happens to humans.

Because the death present in the Garden of Eden was not Adam’s death.

That shows us two things… first, death for humans was something later, something worse, something terrible.  And second, the world is wrong in it’s definition of death as ‘the end.’  We are not merely a part of nature.  And our entire life, from conception to our body’s end, is therefore different.

It is better.  It is more than ‘very good.’  It is precious to God uniquely.

Death I

Death I

An Introduction

Death has been on my mind.

Old deaths have come to the forefront of my memories.  Relatives (both distant and near), teachers, friends (both distant and near), celebrities (even the news has been reminding me of death), Biblical stories, and my own advancing years ALL have been clamoring for my attention.

And recently, in our church, it seems that death has been lurking.

And while all of that might seem a dismal set of thoughts, in the end it has not been.  Because I have learned some things about death.

(I WILL be returning to our Biblical Survey after a few days… but it is time for this insertion.)

Death is not actually hanging around our doors.  Death, while lurking, has actually been overcome by Christ.  More than that, really… Death was trounced on Good Friday, the three days in the tomb, and the Resurrection by ALL of the Trinity.  Even Christ’s Ascension helped transform death.

Because death has not simply been beaten.  Death is not merely a toothless old hag who used to have power.  When God defeated THAT enemy, the last enemy, He actually changed it… Death is now a means of our entrance into heaven.  Of course we grieve when death strikes it’s feeble blows. But those very blows for Christians have been changed.  THAT is why we do not grieve like the world grieves.  Because death is no longer tragic.  Death no longer demands sorrow.  Death no longer is a shadowy lurking thing.  Death works for God.  Death is God’s mechanism to give us our new bodies.  Death is now God’s planned entrance Gate for His people into HIS Presence. 

God beat death by transforming it from the epitome of the curse to the last stage of our glorification.

Death is now another way we get to follow Jesus… His path… His way… His example… His gift.

Galatians IV: Reaping

Galatians IV

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7 ESV)

Reaping

The old TV show Dragnet ended every episode with a description of what ended up happening to the perpetrators described in the show.  When Dragnet became syndicated, time constraints caused the producers to cut those “just desserts” off the end of the episodes.  But a backlash resulted, with fans writing and complaining.

“Just Desserts” was the most popular part of the show.

But this verse is not intended to cause us to gloat about sinners reaping what they have sown. It is a warning, instead, to not mock God.

Not because He always gets His revenge against liars, blasphemers, murderers, and adulterers. 

People mock God when they do not take seriously His one offer of salvation.  Those who reject God’s Jesus will reap what they sow.  Those who sow disbelief, sow arrogant skepticism, sow denial of God’s grace, sow denial of God’s existence, WILL reap what they have sown.

God will treat those who mock by denial by giving them what they claim to want.

God staying out of their lives, out of their business, out of their ethics, out of their hearts.

And the reaping that results is the eternal absolute absence of God… in other words, hell itself.

But look how much God does NOT want that to happen.  Look at the price He paid so that we do NOT have to reap what we have sown.  In fact, the Messiah, Jesus, reaps what we have sown in His very death (and His life, and His resurrection!)

And therefore, we can reap what JESUS sows!

Galatians III: Relief from Burdens

Galatians III

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:1,2 ESV)

Relief from Burdens

The church is not generally known for our kindness to Christians who fall into sin.  While our intentions might be securing the holiness of the body of Christ, we often slip into self-righteous condemnation.  We often slip into judgmentalism.  We often slip into what looks like revenge and punishment.  We often drive away those who are caught in transgression, when the church is exactly what the transgressors need.

Instead, we get to bear those burdens, too.

Jesus did… and we can copy Him.

If we have sinned, we know the pain of guilt, and we know the path to hope.  Show that path.

If we have known the pain of guilt, we know the shame that follows, and we know that Jesus died to take away that shame.  Point to the cross.

If we have known the pain of public sin, we know how difficult restoration seems to be, and we know that Christ lived, and died, and lived to restore us fully. Talk about that.

If we have known the emptiness of no restoration, we know sorrow, and we know the One who dries tears.  Try tears, too.

I am not talking about an easy gospel.  I am talking about the necessity of Jesus, and our job to point our hands and fingers and hearts at Jesus when we see sin and sinners.

He bore our burden… and we get to be like Him.

Galatians II: Progression

Galatians II

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5:22, 23 ESV)

Progression

When fruit grows, first it is dormant, then a bud develops, then the bud blooms, then the petals drop, then the fruit grows, then it ripens, and then it is a tasty fruit.

This familiar list by Paul is often seen as a set of different fruits… comparing apples, oranges, grapes, pomegranates, and cherries, perhaps. 

But lately I have been wondering if this list is a progression of development in the life of Christians.  A movement from immaturity to maturity.  In that light, perhaps we can see that a new Christians leans what love is.  This causes joy.  That joy leads to peace.  That peace helps us endure patiently.  That patience makes us kind to others who are struggling as we have struggled.  That kindness allows us to choose to act in a good way.  That goodness keeps us working for our King, faithfully.  Which can lead to gentleness, like Christ’s.  Which finally leads us to self-control.

Keep progressing!

Galatians I: Forgetting

Galatians I

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified.  (Galatians 3:1 ESV)

Forgetting

The foolish Galatian Christians were not silly idiots.  They were only foolish because they forgot God’s Way.  A fool is simply (and painfully) anyone who chooses any path other than God’s path.

The Gospel itself, salvation by Grace, does not seem to make sense.  We do not encounter grace and mercy, unconditional, in the world.  We humans are surprised when we hear, no matter how many times we have heard it before, that God forgives.  He does not forgive because we deserve it, He forgives because He loves.

And that surprises us.  And so we forget.

This last week, I remembered an old way to prepare a Roast Turkey.  A bit (not too much) of extra moisture, despite the recipe, goes a long way to keep the Turkey moist.

It surprises me… it does not make sense… and so I forget.  I was a foolish cook for a couple of years.  My forgetfulness bewitched me. 

And then I remembered.

In a similar way, Christians get to remember that God saves by GRACE, not works.  He saves by GRACE, not our righteousness.  He saves by GRACE, not our personality, reliability, niceness, cleverness, obedience, Word-attention, or humility.

Forgetting that, and trying to impress God by our works even after we are saved, is foolishness.

Be wise, instead.

II Corinthians IV: Justification

II Corinthians IV

For our sake He made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (II Corinthians 5:21 ESV)

Justification

When God sees a Christian, He sees His holy child.

He knows we sin.  He knows we are not perfect.  He knows we are not holy.

But He has worked out an amazing plan.  He exchanged, in His sight and understanding, the Messiah’s sinless, perfect, holy nature for our sinful, imperfect, unholy natures.

And Jesus died for it.

We, though, get to look like Jesus in God’s sight.

This sure does sound strange.  But I believe that  we imitate it in our daily lives, in small ways. 

When we meet the son of an old friend, we assume certain things about them.  Certain characteristics, certain qualities, perhaps even certain beliefs.  While we might consider that pre-judging, it is also attributing qualities because of a relationship.

When we read a resume, we attribute abilities and perspectives to an applicant based on what we know about their school, their experiences, and their history.  While we might consider that jumping to conclusions, it is also attributing qualities because of connections.

When we notice that someone looks like an old friend, or a celebrity, or a historical figure, we wonder if they are like the resembled person.  While we might consider that naïve, it is also a somewhat logical connection between what we know, and the person we are seeing.

When God sees us, He sees the connection that Christians have with His only begotten Son, Christ Jesus.  And purposefully, God attributes to us certain characteristics of Jesus.

He sees Jesus’ righteousness.

He sees Jesus’ royalty.

He sees Jesus’ love.

He sees Jesus’ holiness.

When God sees believers… He chooses to see Jesus!  And that is how we are justified in God’s eyes.

II Corinthians III: Yoked

II Corinthians III

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (II Corinthians 6:14 ESV)

Yoked

I once managed a group of salespeople, and I discovered that some of them, while all excellent in their own way, did not work well together.  For instance, one salesman always drove towards making LARGE sales.  He did not work well, on a team, with the salesman who primarily wanted to make many, many light contacts, planning to make sales in the long term.  You would think they would complement each other, but all they did was fight.

They were unequally yoked.

On a movie set a few months ago, we had to use humans to pull a wagon (the animals did not follow directions!) But the two young men we put in the harness did not work well together.  One was strong and slow.  The other was quick and full of burst of energy.  The wagon would not go straight.  

They were unequally yoked.

Even more so, those of us who know we work and live only for our King, Jesus, do not work well with those who serve another King, another God, another worldview. 

Whether we are referring to employment, projects, relationships, or marriage… if our foundations are not the same… things WILL be difficult.

We work best with folk with whom we work together.

It is not about similar attitudes, experiences, or habits.  It is all about having the awareness of how amazing our saving, loving, and Kingly our Jesus is.

THAT is the yoke that matters.

II Corinthians II: Ambassadors

II Corinthians II

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ.  (II Corinthians 5:20 ESV)

Ambassadors

Shirley Temple, known first for her acting in a myriad of cute films, was a fantastic ambassador for the United States to the United Nations.  Because she understood what an ambassador actually is.

She was asked numerous times, “What do you think of this policy that you are voting on?” 

She always answered, in effect… “It does not matter.  I represent the United States, not myself.”

An ambassador represents someone else.

An ambassador does not work to accomplish their own goals, ambitions, or ideals.

It is hard for modern Americans to grasp this.  We probably think that an ambassador has power to accomplish their own plans.   But the minute an ambassador does that, they stop being an ambassador.

And we are ambassadors for Christ in the world today.

Our own likes, dislikes, presuppositions, prejudices, experiences, and wishes are not a part of how we act in the world.

We GET to be Christ’s ambassadors.

What does HE actually say about issues in His Word?  What did HE actually do that we can mimic and imitate?  What were HIS reasons behind His activities, that can alter our perceptions?

We are not Christians and ambassadors so we can design and follow our own agenda.  Whether that is political, economical, personal, relational, principial, or practical.

We are HIS ambassadors.

We work for HIM.

II Corinthians I: Heart

II Corinthians I

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (II Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV)

Heart

I keep losing things.  Or so it seems.  I lost my keys, and found them in an unexpected, albeit logical place.  I lost an attachment for my computer that lets me access the internet, but found it under a chair.  I lost my cordless drill, yet there It was, right where I had left it.  I’ve lost my checkbook, still I expect it will turn up.

Physical things get lost, and sometimes found.

But Paul points out that we do NOT lose heart.  This is not a command, or a hope, or a wish.  He states it as a fact.

We do not lose heart.

It does seem like it sometimes, doesn’t it?  We grow discouraged at the happenings in the world.  We fear instead of trust, doubt instead of hope, and worry instead of relax in Christ.

But Christians do not lose heart, because that internal contentment, peace, and confidence that Christians have is not ours to lose. 

Heart comes from Jesus. He is not in our pocket, so we can not lose Him.  While real, He is not physically present in our reality, yet… so we can not lose Him.  He is not present simply because we sense Him… but rather we sense Him at times because He is present… so we can not lose Him.

I admit that I do not notice Him at dark times.  But I do not lose heart, because noticed or not, He is here. 

I admit that I do not turn to Him is steadily as I can during times of insecurity.  But I do not lose heart, because whether I am focused on Him or not, He is here.

I admit that my fears IN the scenes seem bigger than He seems behind the scenes.  But I do not lose heart because that comparison is a problem of my perspective, not a problem if His absence.  Because He is here.

So we do not lose heart.

I Corinthians XIV: In

I Corinthians XIV

Let all that you do be done in love. (I Corinthians 16:14 ESV)

In

For a supposedly little word, “in” has a lot packed into it.

IN means through.

IN means because of.

IN means empowered by.

IN means motivated by.

IN means ‘under the umbrella of.’

IN means purpose.

IN means colored by.

IN means surrounded by.

It’s a good thing that Love is a big word, too.

I Corinthians XIII: A Good Start

I Corinthians XIII

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside… (I Corinthians 16:2 ESV)

A Good Start

I have given leftovers to my dog.  I have given leftovers to a thrift store.  I have given leftovers to friends in need.

The thing about leftovers, though, is that a leftover is left over.  It is something I do not need.  It is something that it is easy to give away.  Whether it is a leftover piece of bread, a leftover pair of shoes, or a leftover microwave oven.

The lawn mower I use every week is not left over, so I do not give it away.  The sweater that still fits me and is somewhat stylish remains in my drawer, I do not give it away.  And I never give bacon away, because it is never left over.

Paul tells the Corinthian church to prepare for a worship offering by setting something aside at the beginning of the week.  That is not a description of leftovers.

 When we understand our relationship with God… His sacrificial love… His grace… His lovingkindness… we are not interested in giving Him leftovers.

Whether it is money in the offering… time studying Him… our attention… or our devotion.

He comes first.  And that is not a grumpy command… it acknowledges how good He is to us.

I Corinthians XII: Double Hope

I Corinthians XII

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (I Corinthians 15:19 ESV)

Double Hope

These days many of us are ‘so heavenly minded we can do no earthly good.’  Our eyes are delightfully on heaven, and we know that earthly life is temporary, so we get lost, almost, in heavenly contemplation.

When it comes to life here and now, we seem to ask, “why polish the brass on a sinking ship?”

Apparently, the Corinthian Christians had the opposite problem.

They seem to have been so excited about the gospel’s effects in the here-and-now, that they did not think much about hope after death.  So Paul encourages them to be more heavenly minded.  Hope is not merely for the here-and-now, but it is precious to have hope for heaven.

Both hopes are blessings.

The gospel, we hope, brings healing and help today.  Gospel tendrils are entwined in every calendar, every struggle, every commitment, every responsibility, every relationship, every activity, every decision, for every Christian.  Hope for today is amazing.

AND the gospel, we hope, brings ultimate restoration between us and God.  We have hope, not for this life only… but for eternity.  Heaven is perfect, full, and bright.  Heaven will be life as God intended life to be, when He started things in the Garden.  Not mere, ‘good.’  But VERY good.

Because of Jesus, we have double hope!

I Corinthians XI: Peace

I Corinthians XI

For God is not a God of confusion but of peace. (I Corinthians 14:33 ESV)

Peace

I like to defeat my enemies… be that a rival football team, a different political party, a rude neighbor, a hostile nation, or someone who does not laugh enough at my jokes.

But God is a God of peace.

Not a doormat God, though.  Not a God who ignores key differences, though.  Not a God who looks the other way.  Not a God who is afraid of His enemies.

But His goal is not warfare against His enemies.  That’s our nature, not His. 

His goal is not conflict and winning.  That’s our nature, not His.

His goal is not chanting victory songs for eternity in heaven.  That’s our nature, not His.

God desires peace by conversion of His enemies into His children.  That is what He did with me.

God desires peace by making the division of “two kinds of people” simple, and not confusing.  Folk are either united to Him in Christ… or not.

God desires peace by defeating the real enemy.  Not the other political party, or the other nation, or the other worldview, or the other favorite color.  He defeats sin, mankind’s rebellion, and death.

And God brings that peace only through the Prince of Peace… the Sacrificial King… the Gift of Substitutionary Atonement.

In other words… God is the God of peace through Jesus.

I Corinthians X: Forever

I Corinthians X

So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (I Corinthians 13:13 ESV)

Forever

What’s so great about love?  Paul clearly finds great value in faith, hope, and love.  Then he claims that of these three great things, love is the greatest.

What makes love so grand?

It is probably not the mushy love feelings that we all enjoy.

It is probably not the fact that more “love stories” are written, than “faith stories,” or “hope stories.”

It is probably not that Paul is a feel-good hippie.

All three are gifts from God, through Jesus Christ.  All three are helpful, meaningful, and cool.

But only love lasts through eternity.

We will not need faith in heaven, because faith is the key to heaven’s door.  No more faith is needed.  Also, our faith will be made sight!  We will SEE the One we have faith in!

We will not need hope in heaven, because heaven is perfect.  We will have nothing left to hope for.  Jesus Himself is there with us. And all of His promises are fulfilled, when we are in heaven.

But we will keep on loving in heaven.  We will keep on being loved in heaven.  We will encounter new and greater love every moment in heaven.  We will live in love in heaven.

Love is the greatest, because it alone of the three, is forever.

I Corinthians IX: Manifestations

I Corinthians IX

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (I Corinthians 12:7 ESV)

Manifestations

When my children went off to college, I gave them gifts.  Things that I knew they would need.  Things that would help them.  Things for their good.

I admit that most of them were probably more necessary in my mind, than in reality. (Who needs a thesaurus these days?)

But the Holy Spirit gives great gifts to the Church.  Gifts (manifestations of the Spirit) that He knows we need.  Gifts that the Church really does need.

Here is a list of some of them.  God gives more than JUST these… but these are pretty good! I am glad the church has had them.

For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. (I Corinthians 12:8-11 ESV)

These are not mere high-browed things that important Christians do… they are gifts that God gives to the church through us!  Find which gifts He gave you, for the common good.

I Corinthians VIII: Credentials

I Corinthians VIII

For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when He was betrayed took bread,  and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said…  (I Corinthians 11:23,24 ESV)

Credentials

I taught some students a few years ago to play chess.  And really, they should have been more impressed with my pedigree.

I learned how to play chess from my grandfather. 

He learned the game from a mysterious stranger.  A man who apparently was a Grand Master.  (He taught my grandfather while they traveled together train-hopping during the depression.) 

Supposedly, that stranger learned chess from Emmanuel Lasker, one of Chess’s great players in the early 20th century.

Lasker’s skills, however, did not descend to me.

When Paul writes that he received instructions from the Lord in how to take the Lord’s Supper, we should sit up and take notice, though.

Paul really knew what he was talking about.  And therefore, HIS instructions have real weight.

And we get to follow the Lord’s instructions, too.  Because Paul wrote them down in God’s book.

I Corinthians VII: People Pleaser

I Corinthians VII

 Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved. (I Corinthians 10:31 ESV)

People Pleaser

That sounds like an insult.  We are not supposed to act with a willingness or interest to please others.  A people pleaser is seen as a weak personality.  An untrustworthy personality.  An immature personality.

But Paul claims to be a people pleaser.  Not because he is weak, untrustworthy, or immature.

But rather because he uses that method to spread the gospel.

Elsewhere, he writes that he is Greek to the Greeks, and a Jew to the Jews.

That sounds insincere to modern ears.

But what Paul did was put aside his own so-called rights of self-expression, and instead, acted in ways that let him have conversations that led to Jesus. 

He pleased others, so they would listen to Jesus.

He pleased others, not because he thought he was insignificant, but because Paul knew that Jesus was more important.

He pleased people to please Jesus.

I Corinthians VI: Whatever

I Corinthians VI

 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. (I Corinthians 10:31 ESV)

Whatever

Let us reclaim the word, ‘whatever.’  Today when we hear someone say, ‘whatever,’ it usually is dismissive, patronizing, or sarcastic.

It is a word that minimizes, ignores, and ends a conversation.

“Did you clean your room?”   whatever.

“I can’t afford this meal!”  whatever.

“Why won’t you listen to me?” whatever.

“You hurt me…”  whatever.

But in this verse, ‘whatever’ is inclusive, optimistic, directive, and hopeful.

Christians have a lot of things to do.  We have jobs, communities, families, relationships, tasks, commissions, opportunities, and challenges.

And WHATEVER we do, we get to do it for God!  Because He created our world.

WHATEVER we do, we get to do it for God! Because He deserves our devotion.

WHATEVER we do, we get to do it for God! Because we belong to Him.

Isn’t that a better “whatever?”