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“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 1:11-13).
It was a nervous plane ride to Texas for some. Not for me; I’m used to traveling by air. But for the man seated in the same row, with an empty seat in between, it was uncomfortable and unfamiliar. “I haven’t flown since 9/11,” he said. In my fatigue, all I could babble was, “things have changed, haven’t they?” He asked me a couple of questions before disappearing into an uneasy stare towards the skies from his window seat. I disappeared into my Christian book and was all too happy to have no further dialogue. Though he was pleasant enough, I wanted to lose myself in the lofty thoughts of great theologians and apologists. Shame on me…God had a different plan.
Given my small bladder and that a friend was going to pick me up immediately upon landing, I decided to go to the restroom (as if one can get any rest in the bathroom of a commercial airliner). I laid down my book on the empty middle seat and made the trek to the back of the plane. With the flight nearing its conclusion, I didn’t expect any more conversation. But I was very wrong. The blue-collar gentleman next to me was about to startle me from my missional slumber and into my Great Commission mandate.
“Are you are Christian man?” he inquired. “Well, yes, I certainly am…are you?” He paused and mumbled, “I think so.” I was unprepared for this turn of events (that’s the norm for me) and tried to gather myself. But I failed to come up with a coherent response. So I quickly asked God for wisdom and guidance. Soon my thoughts began to organize and I was empowered to speak again. But I could only think to say, “God wants you to know for sure. In the Bible, John wrote a letter for this very purpose.” Even though silence ensued, at this point I knew that I had nothing to do with my retort – the Holy Spirit had taken control.
Then came a flood of questions and answers. He had been baptized, gone to church, left the church, had faith, lost his faith, had hope and now doubted. He believed he was a good man but knew, deep in his being, that wasn’t enough. He understood that it was about a relationship with Jesus and not about religious dogma and practice. He knew the Bible held the key to understanding and knowing Who held his future. He comprehended that he was a sinner, that he must cast himself upon God’s mercy, and surrender all of who he is to all of Who God is. All I could then do was to ask if I could pray for him. He appreciatively said yes.
Suddenly I was reminded of Jesus’ encounter with the religious of his day:
“One of the scribes approached. When he heard them debating and saw that Jesus answered them well, he asked Him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”“This is the most important,” Jesus answered: Listen, Israel! The Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. “The second is: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
Then the scribe said to Him, “You are right, Teacher! You have correctly said that He is One, and there is no one else except Him. And to love Him with all your heart, with all your understanding, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, is far more [important] than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered intelligently, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:28-34).
Perry is not far from the kingdom of God. How many teeter on the edge of hope and assurance? Many don’t embrace the simple yet profound words of the Apostle John: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. The one who doesn’t have the Son of God does not have life. I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” And we most fully know that we know that we have Jesus’ life, His new life, His eternal life when we “Love the Lord [our] God with all [our] heart, with all [our] soul, with all [our] mind, and with all [our] strength. [And we] love [our] neighbor as [our self].”
I am praying for Perry. I pray that Perry knows that he knows that Jesus is His and Jesus has him – now and forever. And I pray that one day I will see him in Heaven and we can talk about how wonderful Jesus is…and that bumpy flight between Nashville and Dallas. The one, I hope, where he began his pilgrimage from doubt to assurance. When he affirmed in his head and his heart that he loved Jesus above all else – with all that he is, with all that he has, based upon all of Christ’s worth.
So, what about you?
“O my God, I say, take me not away in the midst of my days– you whose years endure throughout all generations!” Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you” (Psalm 102:24-28).
Whoever wrote Psalm 102 (some say David, some say Asaph) was extremely insecure. But, if we are honest, aren’t we all? We look for affirmation from various things and people – academic credentials, jobs, spouses, ministries, family, possessions, supervisors, financial savings, etc. – wanting to feel good about ourselves and our situation. This writer was no different. He understood the fleeting nature of his life (Psalm 102: 2, 11) and was in the midst of a time of great turmoil, pain, and affliction. Even worse, he felt God was uninvolved (102:2) and had abandoned him in anger (102:10). The psalmist was, by any definition, insecure about himself and his circumstances. Although maybe not to this extreme, can you identify? I sure can.
I’m so glad the Bible shows God’s people with “warts and all.” They were frail and filled with foibles. And so are we. Insecurity is such a common theme in fallen humanity that, I believe, this passage and others give us guidance on how to deal with our lack of confidence. In this Psalm, like us, the writer tended to look at himself rather than God. When he turned from his feelings and looked at the facts, He saw the greatness and goodness of his God. Not in himself or his circumstances did he find the salve to soothe his insecurity. It was in the immutability of God.
And what is God’s immutability? Maybe the word “unchangeableness” would be easier to understand. In his systematic theology, Wayne Grudem (if you don’t have one, get it) defines this attribute of God by explaining that “God is unchanging in His being, perfections, purposes, and promises, yet God does act and feel emotions, and He acts and feels differently in response to different situations.” Beyond being changeless God is also timeless. Both of these concepts are found in the psalmist’s consolation in this passage (see 102:26-27). In the midst of his weakness, this child of God chose to cling to God’s ultimate prominence and infinite power as opposed to his own limitations. The Psalmist understood that contemplating our God’s immutability is a wonderful antidote to our insecurity. His comforting conclusion is found in verse 28: “The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.”
So what’s the application? In ourselves we are insecure (and have every reason to be). But as blood-bought followers of Jesus our security and identity are found not in ourselves but in the unchanging immensity and integrity of God. And this becomes a reality when we embrace that “who we are” is found only in the person of God’s son, Jesus. And, even more amazing, His identity has been placed into us. This is Paul’s thought when he says in Colossians 2:6-7, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” Walking in Him means that, no matter our situation, we are persevering in faith-filled hopefulness and trusting He is at work in us. In other words, Jesus, and nothing else, is our identity and security! We know this because we, “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). This means that part of His good news is that, no matter how imperceptible it may be, He is building us up!
As we battle our insecurity with the immutability of God that is experienced through our union with Christ, let’s ponder James 1:17-18: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.” Consider what makes you feel whole, fulfilled, or complete. Is there something outside of Jesus that is your identity or security? Ask God to reveal and imprint the sufficiency of Christ in every aspect of your life and pray that you never look to anything or anyone else to make you feel complete.
Insecure? Let’s find our identity in “Jesus Christ [who] is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). The God who promises that He never changes His mind or breaks His promises (Numbers 23:19). He is the One that has “granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4). Our immutable Lord is worthy of our faith – He can be trusted in our weakness. For through Him we have the confidence that only comes because we have “Christ in [us], the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah…“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah” (Psalm 46:1-4; 10-11).
Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God” – has comforted many a Christ-follower. And rightly so – it stands as a reminder that in the stiff winds of strife, suffering, and sorrow there is a sovereign God who still rules and reigns. And One who cares for and guides His chosen for His glory and their eternal good. Because of the power inherent in this command, we often forget the quote above is but the first half of this verse. It is also sometimes lost on us what the overarching theme and message of this song is. So what is the context here? What does this sentence infer? And, maybe most importantly, what does the phrase “Be still,” which has been the subject of much debate, actually mean? All of this, I believe, has a very practical application for us and does a great deal to help us to more fully know the God who is “our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Working from the back of Psalm 46 to the front, let’s take the last question first. According to Hebrew scholars (trust me, I’m not one of them) the term translated “Be still” (raphah) is interpreted in various ways. Literally, it could be translated “to be weak, to let go, or to release.” It also suggests to cease, desist, or surrender (hence the HCSB translates this verse as “Stop [your fighting]”). In order that you are encouraged to read on, that you know this isn’t just some academic discourse, this makes a huge difference.
This verse is telling us the posture necessary to know God (which should be our greatest goal) is one of weakness, dependence, and capitulation. Don’t miss the point: this verse is not just saying that we are to find a solitary place, get quiet, and ponder God. It is telling us that humbling ourselves before Him is the means to knowing Him, being gripped by His greatness, and finding strength based on His activity, comfort, and providence in our trials. This humility represents a spiritual disposition that ought to characterize those to whom God’s unfailing promises have been given. For a New Testament point of reference, read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount description of those who are the blessed dwellers in His kingdom (Matthew 5:3-6).
It is this kind of broken posture that leads us to better understand the nature of a God we can know, one who is described in the last half of verse 10 as “[the] God [who] will be exalted among the nations, [who] will be exalted in the earth!” This dictate - “be still” – forces us to think on two critical points: we are finite, and God is infinite. In other words, He is God and we aren’t! That being the case, we need to assume an attitude of weakness, dependence, and surrender so that we can “come, behold the works of Jehovah” (v. 8). Know that He is God, the psalmist cries! Know this practically, spiritually, and emotionally; not just intellectually. Our God is the ruler of the kingdoms of this earth and the all-powerful Creator of the universe. He has not lost control.
This leads us to the greater context of “Be still and know that I am God.” We see the works and witness of this great God is the 9 verses that precede our focal text. God has revealed the manifestations of His character, His acts of might and mercy, so that we might know Him and that we may enjoy a quiet confidence in Him who gave us his Son. Spiritual serenity, the psalmist indicates, ought to be cultivated in midst of the difficulties we face in this life. This inner calm that the writer professes does not come from a lack of troubles; instead it is nurtured in steady, deep reflection on the ways God has intervened in history on behalf of his people (see Romans 15:4). It is God’s work in the past that provides assurance in our present and our future. So, when our world seemingly crumbles around us, the call from Scripture is to not flinch, but to have faith in this great God of ours. Stand still, He decrees. Not because of a self-made confidence, not because we can cope or deal with life’s uncertainties, not because we have a plan. Instead, be strong and calm because of what we know about our God.
Now we see a certain progression as we work from the back to the front of this comforting passage. Brokenness leads to a greater knowledge of our incomprehensibly mighty God. Our faith in God is confirmed (and affirmed) as we recall His history of great works on behalf of His chosen children, including us. This means, no matter our situation or circumstances, as one of His beloved, we can be at rest and experience the tranquility that comes only from knowing that “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Therefore, we will not fear even though the world around us convulses and we struggle under the heavy weight of our troubles. For “[He is] God. [He] will be exalted among the nations, [He] will be exalted in the earth!” And we can never be separated from His loving care. So in humility and faith-filled dependence, let’s “be still, and know that He is [our] God…The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Although I in no way would promote myself as a great apologist for biblical faith (But shouldn’t we all be defenders of our belief system?), I do know that our worldview, the framework or lens through which we view life, is critical. It, it many ways, defines who we are (our character), determines our behavior (our conduct), and predicts our sense of well-being; happiness in this life and hope in our death (our contentment). One might say that they have no worldview but that is illogical. Having no worldview is a worldview in itself (much like saying that you have no opinion is an opinion in itself). So what is your worldview?
According to Ravi Zacharias – probably the most eloquent, articulate, and influential Christian apologist of our day – one’s worldview can be condensed into 4 simple questions:
- What does one believe about the origin of all things, including life?
- What is the basis of one’s morality or ethics?
- What does one consider the basis of their purpose?
- What one believes concerning what happens after death?
This makes a lot of sense…even to me. Paul, the greatest human apologist that has ever lived, said to the church at Philippi that he was defending (which is what the word “apologist” means) and confirming the Gospel (1:7) and was called to the defense of God’s good news (1:16). So, looking at only his letter to that church, let’s see Paul’s answer to these 4 questions.
Does Paul believe that Jesus (therefore God) is the sovereign ruler (and therefore creator and sustainer) over all?
“…Christ Jesus,who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant,being born in the likeness of men.Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (2:5-11).
“…the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (3:20-21).
“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (4:19).
What was the basis of Paul’s morality (his character and conduct)?
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel…” (1:27).
“Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…” (2:3).
…that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…” (2:15).
What was Paul’s life-purpose?
“…as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith…” (1:20-25).
“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ…that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…” (3:7-8, 10).
Where did Paul find his contentment – happiness in this life and hope in his physical death?
“…as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better” (1:20-23).
“…holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me” (2:16-18).
“I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus” (3:14, HCSB).
“But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself” (3:20-21).
So what is your worldview? Or, in other words, what is the framework by which you think and live and hope. What determines your character, conduct, and contentment? Given his answers to these 4 essential questions, I agree with Paul. And I pray that you do too.
“And [the son] arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.…the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate…And they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:20-22-24).
There is only one A&W root beer left in our refrigerator. After over a decade of a 12 pack being kept cool, I won’t be buying more anytime soon. I don’t drink root beer; my son does. But Samuel has moved away to graduate school, has his own apartment, and is looking for long-term employment. His frequent and treasured visits to the Wolfeden will be less common. Samuel is 23 and a man. He has now left home to make his mark in the world. He is moving forward to answer God’s call on his vocation, as he presently understands it. As we all know, this is sometimes difficult to determine due our sinfulness and human limitations. But he is trying, and he is seeking. God knows that it took me nearly 50 years to figure this out and still I sometimes wonder if I have.
As unwelcomed as this is to a parent, this is the way of life. I, too, left home for undergraduate studies and then, later, 7 hours away to seminary. Children grow up and move on. They find their way; they find their place. They discover, we earnestly pray, exactly where God wants them to be, doing precisely what He wants them to do. This is not an exact science and I pray forgiveness for any barriers that I have unwittingly created in Samuel’s pursuit of a life full of loving and serving his Savior. Mercifully, I’m confident that our God is big enough to overcome my poor choices and lack of wisdom. Parenting, as I have been consistently reminded, is not an exact science either, and is subject to the frailties and foibles of those who are blessed to parent.
Samuel isn’t going to a far country to sew his wild oats and waste his life – he’s only going 3 hours away to continue his studies at a Church of God university. He will carry on with his studies in psychology and today is his first day of classes. Why psychology? Maybe it’s to figure himself out or to understand and help others. Probably both. Maybe it’s to undo the ill-effects of my parenting. No matter the reason, he feels this is what he must do to grow up and move forward as an independent, responsible adult and a contributor to our culture and Christ’s kingdom. If, in the end, Samuel is pursuing his greatest purpose – to glorify God and enjoy Him forever – then he really isn’t leaving home at all but, instead, finding His God-ordained dwelling place. With that in mind, I wish Samuel our Lord’s best, fruit for his labor, and the joy of Jesus. It’s the least I could do after all the delight he has brought to me.
Don’t think for a second that he is a prodigal. Nothing could be further from the truth. I chose this passage because of the father’s reaction to His son’s return, not as a commentary on why Samuel left. It’s because, when he returns to visit, I will react in a similar fashion. No, there won’t be a splendid robe or a special ring and shoes. But a cow will have been sacrificed and the grill will be prepped for the finest steak his father can cook. There will be a celebration – probably muted by biblical standards, but a joyous event nonetheless. But there will be that root beer – the one that has remained in the fridge awaiting Samuel’s homecoming. And there will be another 12 pack already purchased, stored, and cool, in the hopes that he lingers for awhile and comes back again soon.
Samuel Wolfe, Rebekah and I, like the father in Jesus’ parable, longingly look forward to once again watching you drink that A&W, savoring a specially prepared ribeye, chatting about things both important and not, and enjoying the gladness that comes from you blessing us with your presence. We are so very, very proud of you! Godspeed!
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin.The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:31-36).
One of the most glorious truths that a Christ-follower can cling to is that we are free. Jesus said, “…you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). Paul reiterated the importance of our freedom in Christ on numerous occasions but devoted nearly an entire letter, Galatians, to this truth. That epistle is punctuated with the proclamation of 5:1: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” So, concentrating on Jesus’ comments in John 8 and Peter’s thoughts in 1 Peter 1:18-23, let’s explore 3 critical aspects of the freedom found in our faith in Jesus.
First, what are we freed from? In 1 Peter 1:18 Peter says it is the empty (or futile) way of our former life. Due to our inherited sin nature that was “handed down to [us] from [our] forefathers,” we were once enslaved to sin. We were formerly held captive by the god of this world and unable to break free from the allure, pleasure, and bondage of our sinful rebellion against God. In our unregenerate state, we were so imprisoned by our wicked ways that the Bible describes us as blind and dead. Paul summarizes this, and alludes to our only hope for freedom, when he stated, “But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe” (Galatians 3:22).
Second, what are we freed by? When you think of someone being kidnapped and taken hostage (think of one of your favorite police or detective shows), it is typical for the suspects to demand a ransom for the victim’s freedom. They usually want cash…and loads of it. But, in God’s economy, it takes more than perishable things (and money, by the way, IS perishable) like silver and gold to ransom us from our slavery to sin. It takes the ultimate currency; the shed blood of Jesus. As Peter clearly states, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). We also know that “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin” (Hebrews 9:22). So Christ’s blood is the only payment possible by which both our forgiveness and freedom could be purchased. His sacrifice has ransomed us and therefore He is our Redeemer.
Thirdly, what are we freed for? Looking at 1 Peter 1:22-23, we see that we are not freed to go our own way…that’s what we are freed from: “Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God.” A. W. Pink said it this way: “Spiritual freedom is not a license to do as I please, but emancipation from the bondage of sin and Satan that I may do as I ought.”
I think a story might be helpful here. Although probably more fiction than fact, this legend has often been told about Abraham Lincoln:
One day when passing the slave auction, Lincoln noticed a young black girl about to be sold. Moved by her circumstance, we are told he bid for her and won. Immediately he told the shocked adolescent that she was free. She quickly began to ask questions.
“What does that mean?”
“It means you are free,” Lincoln replied.
“Can I now say whatever I want to say?”
“Yes, you can say whatever you want to say.”
“Can I be whatever I want to be?”
“Yes, you can be whatever you want to be.”
“Can I go wherever I want to go?
“Yes, you can.”
The girl, overcome with emotion, paused and finally said, “Then I will go with you.”
You see, Jesus has ransomed us and freed us from the bondage of sin so that we can be with Him and be like Him. That’s what the Apostle is telling us in 1 Peter 1:18-23. We are not freed to go on our own way. We are freed to go His way and go with the power He now gives us to overcome that which once enslaved us. When Jesus once asked, after a particularly difficult teaching, if His disciples were going to desert Him along with so many others, Peter’s response says it all: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68-69).
Peter knew what we must know. Our Savior has freed us from sin so that we might follow Him.
Knowledge precedes faith.~Francis Schaeffer Many people think that faith and knowledge are opposites. Atheists often attack Christianity by criticizing a “faith” that they say is not supported by, or even contradicted by, evidence. Some Christians seem to agree with them. They support their view with verses like 2 Corinthians 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight (ESV). Here’s the problem: to interpret this verse in such a way, one has to take it out of context. To interpret faith as meaning a blind leap …
Well worth reading!
“The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness” (Isaiah 57:1-2).
There are some things in life we find difficult to understand. Although the Bible is a book of answers, sometimes its truths leave us with even more questions. There are some things that remain a mystery and we wait in faith for the answers. Many of these answers, however, will come after we enter glory. One of those unanswered curiosities surfaces when a devout Christ-follower perishes while still in their youth, or their prime. Lately, it seems, this has often been the case. I know this isn’t happening more frequently than normal, but sometimes there appears to be a rash of such unexpected deaths and we shake our heads as we try to figure out God’s plan. However inadequate, I’m compelled to try to explain this phenomena - the mystery of Christians who, for us, die too soon.
Although not exhaustive in its explanation, Isaiah 57:1-2 does give us some insight into why one Christian might leave this earth well before we humanly expect it, while others (and sometimes unbelievers) are left behind. Concerning this passage, Matthew Henry stated, “The righteous are delivered from the sting of death, not from the stroke of it…They are taken away in compassion, that they may not see the evil, nor share in it, nor be tempted by it. The righteous man, when he dies, enters into peace and rest.” This makes sense: God, in His divine plan, spares His precious children from the sin, suffering, and sorrow that would await them if they lingered in this fallen world.
Beyond this, to God, there is no dying too soon. The writer of Hebrews indicates that our passing is an appointment (Hebrews 9:27). Jesus said we can’t add one hour, much less days, to our lives (Matthew 6:27). I do, however, sometimes wonder if we can reduce the days of our lives. Nonetheless, it seems as if the days of the righteous are numbered: “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life” (Psalm 39:4). From all of this I surmise that, beyond our present knowledge, there is a day that a sovereign God has determined that we should enter into His presence. That day is a precious one to Him (Psalm 116:15). And it should be to us as well.
Paul knew that any day might be his last (Philippians 1:20-26) and, to him, that was a great thing. He also realized the opportunity to stay here and serve his King was good as well. This is the best way to live and face our mortality. When our purpose is to serve, worship, and glorify our Lord this can happen in an imperfect sense here, but in a perfect sense in Heaven. One is good, the other is better. Therefore, to those surrendered to Christ, this is a win, greater win scenario. For those who treasure Christ, dying is no tragedy. Either way, He is glorified and we, eventually, are glorified with Him.
Lastly, speaking of glorifying God, our death may be our greatest testimony to His greatness and His preeminence in our lives. Jesus alluded to this when he spoke to Peter about his eventual departure. In a passage reminiscent of Paul’s words about living to serve and dying to gain the greatest treasure imaginable, we read: “Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me” (John 21:17-19).
That last phrase is God-inspired advice and well worth remembering - whether it is today, tomorrow, or to eternity – just follow Jesus. What I’ve shared here is not the complete answer to the original question… just a few biblical thoughts. I don’t have this issue resolved. Nor will I in this life. But I do know this; whether full of life or facing death, we are called to follow Him. To follow Jesus in the here and now and to follow Him into His presence. And may we glorify Him in both. Doing so makes this question really seem rather academic. In the end, for those who follow Jesus, all is well and all ends well. For the Christian, the best is always yet to come!
It’s so hard to fathom – 2012 is upon us. Where has the past year gone? How quickly the pages of the calendar turn. Given life’s brevity, here are some thoughts on what our focus should be as we enter into a new year and, hopefully, a new season.
My son was born just yesterday. Not literally, but figuratively. He’s 23 now – grown, mature, and independent. But it seems like just a second ago that I held him for the first time and smelled the newness of life. As joyous as it has been, my time with him has quickly vanished. But, if you think about it, all of our lives are rapidly disappearing – just like a mist. The years have sped by and picked up steam as they have progressed.
That is what James is referring to in the 4th chapter of his epistle to the scattered believers of the 1st century:
“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins” (James 4: 13-17).
The word for mist in this passage is a picture of when we breathe out on a cold winter day. There is a vapor that forms but speedily dissipates and vanishes. Right before our eyes – it is there and then it is gone. Once we exhale this mist, it forms and evaporates before we can get our hands around it. Such is life – fleeting, temporal, and picking up its pace. It is here today and gone tomorrow and we never seem to quite catch up to it before it has left us behind. Subconsciously, we want to believe that this life will go on forever but, in reality, we know that our existence on this earth is quickly moving toward its final scene. Suddenly, we are more than half way through our life expectancy (if we should even consider such a thing) and we begin to ask some very serious questions. To name but a few:
- Is this all there is to life?
- Is this but a dress rehearsal for eternity?
- What will we be able to present to our Lord when we do meet Him?
- Has our life been spent (wasted) on the trivial and temporal?
- Have we pursued our own earthly pleasure and comfort above eternal rewards?
The conclusions we reach can be quite sobering. Thus James gives us great insight as to how we are to live in these fleeting days of our lives. He says:
- Don’t plan based upon what we want but, instead, be led by God’s plan.
- Don’t let money dictate what we choose to do and be in this life.
- Only God knows our earthly future and we must trust Him in all things.
- This life passes with such rapidity that we must have our eyes focused on eternity.
- With eternity in mind, we must always do the right thing and not the most comfortable or convenient thing.
And, by the way, the correct answers have little to do with “us” having “purpose” in our life but they have everything to do with finding pleasure in Him and glorifying Him. Finding Him as the end and not just the means is the only suitable paradigm for those who want to have meaningful and true answers to these compelling questions. The real issue, in view of the magnitude of eternity, is not wasting this life given to us by and for Him. Paul says:
“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:15-18).
That is why, given this critical issue, I’m drawn to the words of Jesus, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it” (Mark 8:35). May we all be compelled to lose ourselves and our vanishing life here for His sake. May we surrender to storing up treasures in Heaven for His glory. An eternity of joy awaits those who do. Let’s choose this now – before this life is gone and we face the Savior who laid down His life for us. That meeting will be here before we know it.
CbC’s 2011 Blog in Review: 6 Continents and 24 Countries!
January 1, 2012 in Captivating Concepts, Comments, Questions, and Criticisms | Tags: 2011, 2012, 24 countries, 6 continents, amazing, blog, Captivated by Christ, gift, God, gospel, heaven, Jesus, ministry, review, world evangelism | Leave a comment
Welcome to 2012!
Our God is an amazing God! What started out a couple of years ago as “journaling posted on the internet,” the Captivated by Christ Blog has been blessed beyond measure. Incredibly, the Lord has directed readers from 6 continents and over 20 countries to this site during 2011. We will only fully know how God has moved in this ministry when we reach Heaven and enter into His presence.
Thanks to all who have shared with me in this simple ministry, one which seeks to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. I pray that He uses this small gift to spread His kingdom and exalt Himself. May the beauty of Jesus and His Gospel be trumpeted to all peoples. And, if He is willing, may He use this work to do so in an even greater way in the new year.
Happy New Year and grace to you!
The information below is furnished by the fine folks at WordPress - here are the numbers:
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
Click here to see the complete report.
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