There are many truths in the Bible, but one thing that we need to be careful of is pulling things out of context. There is nothing new under the sun and the book of Job is a perfect example of this. There are many professing ‘christians’ that understand their relationship with God as an unbalanced relationship. They believe that if they do good things and treat others the right way that they will end up in good health and live a happy life. Sadly this is not biblical and is the outcome of teachers who are wolves in sheep’s clothing. Though these wolves do not have sharp teeth they are leading many astray to a place where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Does this sound familiar to any of you?
“Lo, God will not reject a man of integrity, Nor will He support the evildoers. He will yet fill your mouth with laughter And your lips with shouting. Those who hate you will be clothed with shame, And the tent of the wicked will be no longer.”
- Job 8:20-22
This is coming from one of Job’s friends named Bildad. I am sure many of us have heard this before in our life, or something like it. It sounds like it is well intended but what is Bildad really implying. Like many religions today we find that Bildad believes it is up to him to decide how the Lord interacts with him. If Paul or any of the Disciples had the same thought as Bildad they would had probably thought they were doing something wrong.
We find a great response in Job 9:2, “In truth I know that this is so; But how can a man be in the right before God?" Job gets to the heart of what Bildad is saying and shuts it down. Job is saying, “You are not God, and you are not equal to Him.” We find that the false gospel that preaches work based salvation or blessings is really a teaching that is preaching you are a god and have power to manipulate the God. Job’s faith reveals to us that no matter, good or bad, God is in control. We may not fully understand why these things occur but our faith should not waiver.
Job continues his rebuttal to Bildad,
“It is all one; therefore I say, ‘He destroys the guiltless and the wicked.’ If the scourge kills suddenly, He mocks the despair of the innocent. The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; He covers the faces of its judges. If it is not He, then who is it?"
- Job 9:22-24
To end with these last few verses in mind let us strive to remind ourselves that God is in control. Those who may appear to be righteous because life is good does not mean that they are saved and that they may end up with those who appear wicked. God is the ultimate judge! We must remember that God is in control and that if we rely on our works to save us we are far from being saved. Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I do believe that works come from a saving faith in Christ, but without Christ they are meaningless and lead to death.
Finally, I want to encourage all of you to read the book of Job. If you can, read it in one sitting to grasp the full picture of what is going on. Look carefully at the differences in Job’s speech and his friends. Lastly grow deeper in your thoughts of God as you read the last few chapters.
THINK! Do you have a Bildad in your life? Are you a Bildad? Do you believe in the God of the Bible or a god that relies on you? Do you believe God is in control of everything?
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Why mud pies?
Many people enjoy the writings of C.S. Lewis. Over the last month I have seen an increase in interest in his work. The bookstores have more of his books on hand and I have found myself being more intrigued by his writings. Maybe I am just more interested now, than ever before, and so it is more obvious. Either way, many will agree that Lewis’s writings are timeless and still speak to those who have faith and not, Christian and non.
Before this great interest in C.S. Lewis I had heard/read a quote by him that always resonated with me. The quote speaks of those, who if they had only known of what was out there for them, would be greatly surprised by what they are settling for.
"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
As a Christian this quote greatly resonates with me. If you are not a Christian and are reading this, please hear my heart. I cannot imagine a life without the knowledge of God. I know this may sound superstitious but it is true. I do not believe myself to be a superstitious person, and if I had the time to sit down with you I would try and express the facts the Christ was a man, which history has shown, and that he could be one of two things. One a man who claimed to be God, which we would call a lunatic or two, he was God in the form of a man. But this is for another time.
As I read 2 Peter 2, I was reminded of this story by C.S. Lewis. The chapter ends with this in verse 22:
"It has happened to them according to the true proverb, 'A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.'"
Peter is discussing the person who hears the gospel message and then returns to his sinful ways. Peter Mentions prior in verse 21, "For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them."
When I think of Lewis’s quote, it is easy to think that no one would ever want to return to the mud pies in the slum, but this is exactly what Peter is saying. Peter is saying that people will, and uses proverbs refering to animals. Man thinks that he is free; he believes the lie that he is free when he is allowed to have sex whenever and with whomever, drink as much as he wants, and do whatever he wants. Many people will argue that ‘religion’ restricts them from living a free life, but the very thing that they profess to allow them to be free makes them a slave. God grants freedom from sin, from addiction, from a life of emptiness.
The Bible tells us that we are either a slave to sin or God. The thing that many don’t realize is that being a slave to sin leads to a life of a tormented soul, always wanting something more. Being a slave to God, understanding the context that it used, means that freedom is granted through a gracious heavenly father that restricts us like a good earthly father would because he understand the lifelong consequences that comes with sin.
There is so much more to say, and there will always be more to continue to talk about. I hope that this note has encouraged you to look at your life in a new way. Are you settling for mud pies?
THINK! What would you say you are a slave to? If you do not believe in Christ, why? If you do believe in Christ, why? If you are a Christian, can others tell?
Before this great interest in C.S. Lewis I had heard/read a quote by him that always resonated with me. The quote speaks of those, who if they had only known of what was out there for them, would be greatly surprised by what they are settling for.
"It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
As a Christian this quote greatly resonates with me. If you are not a Christian and are reading this, please hear my heart. I cannot imagine a life without the knowledge of God. I know this may sound superstitious but it is true. I do not believe myself to be a superstitious person, and if I had the time to sit down with you I would try and express the facts the Christ was a man, which history has shown, and that he could be one of two things. One a man who claimed to be God, which we would call a lunatic or two, he was God in the form of a man. But this is for another time.
As I read 2 Peter 2, I was reminded of this story by C.S. Lewis. The chapter ends with this in verse 22:
"It has happened to them according to the true proverb, 'A DOG RETURNS TO ITS OWN VOMIT,” and, “A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire.'"
Peter is discussing the person who hears the gospel message and then returns to his sinful ways. Peter Mentions prior in verse 21, "For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them."
When I think of Lewis’s quote, it is easy to think that no one would ever want to return to the mud pies in the slum, but this is exactly what Peter is saying. Peter is saying that people will, and uses proverbs refering to animals. Man thinks that he is free; he believes the lie that he is free when he is allowed to have sex whenever and with whomever, drink as much as he wants, and do whatever he wants. Many people will argue that ‘religion’ restricts them from living a free life, but the very thing that they profess to allow them to be free makes them a slave. God grants freedom from sin, from addiction, from a life of emptiness.
The Bible tells us that we are either a slave to sin or God. The thing that many don’t realize is that being a slave to sin leads to a life of a tormented soul, always wanting something more. Being a slave to God, understanding the context that it used, means that freedom is granted through a gracious heavenly father that restricts us like a good earthly father would because he understand the lifelong consequences that comes with sin.
There is so much more to say, and there will always be more to continue to talk about. I hope that this note has encouraged you to look at your life in a new way. Are you settling for mud pies?
THINK! What would you say you are a slave to? If you do not believe in Christ, why? If you do believe in Christ, why? If you are a Christian, can others tell?
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
"Works" is a word in the Bible
"… work out your salvation with fear and trembling"
- Philippians 2:12c
I have been confronted with the question, “does this verse allude to the fact that we need to work out our salvation?” The answer is NO. I know when I was a young Christian it was easy for me to make rules for myself so that I can be more ‘holy’ but this isn’t what the Lord’s plan is nor is what this verse is saying.
I often encourage people to read a book of the Bible in its entirety, allowing the person to see the big picture of the letter as it was intended. Context is important. This being said, we know Paul is writing to believers that are saved because of Philippians 1:6 -
"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."
So, how does God perfect this good work in them and in other believers today? We find the answer in the verse right after working out our salvation in verse 2:12, in fact it is actually a part of the same sentence. It reads like this (Phil. 2:12c-13):
"… work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
There is action (will and work for His good pleasure) in the one who believes in God, because God will enter in them. If the God of the universe, the power that raised Christ from the dead, lives in us we will begin to work. Many people in the church cringe when they hear the word 'work.' What we need to remind them and ourselves is that the Bible uses this word.
Paul is saying that there is a Sanctification process in all those who have God living in them. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)” Paul shares that our salvation and new life begin here and now but there will be a day when we are before our Lord. We need to be fearful, as a child is fearful in love towards its earthly father, to live a life that is transformed by Him. This is Sanctification; this is what it means to be more Christ like.
THINK! Do you make rules to make yourself more 'holy'? Is selfish motive the reason why you want to perform for God or is it God in you stirring your desires to serve? When was the last time you shared the Gospel?
- Philippians 2:12c
I have been confronted with the question, “does this verse allude to the fact that we need to work out our salvation?” The answer is NO. I know when I was a young Christian it was easy for me to make rules for myself so that I can be more ‘holy’ but this isn’t what the Lord’s plan is nor is what this verse is saying.
I often encourage people to read a book of the Bible in its entirety, allowing the person to see the big picture of the letter as it was intended. Context is important. This being said, we know Paul is writing to believers that are saved because of Philippians 1:6 -
"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."
So, how does God perfect this good work in them and in other believers today? We find the answer in the verse right after working out our salvation in verse 2:12, in fact it is actually a part of the same sentence. It reads like this (Phil. 2:12c-13):
"… work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”
There is action (will and work for His good pleasure) in the one who believes in God, because God will enter in them. If the God of the universe, the power that raised Christ from the dead, lives in us we will begin to work. Many people in the church cringe when they hear the word 'work.' What we need to remind them and ourselves is that the Bible uses this word.
Paul is saying that there is a Sanctification process in all those who have God living in them. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. (Philippians 3:20-21)” Paul shares that our salvation and new life begin here and now but there will be a day when we are before our Lord. We need to be fearful, as a child is fearful in love towards its earthly father, to live a life that is transformed by Him. This is Sanctification; this is what it means to be more Christ like.
THINK! Do you make rules to make yourself more 'holy'? Is selfish motive the reason why you want to perform for God or is it God in you stirring your desires to serve? When was the last time you shared the Gospel?
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