What’s the Point?

“Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory.” -Isaiah 6:3

Good evening son,

You and I recently had a conversation about the battle between good and evil. We discussed how in recent years, evil has become more noticeable and more aggressive, if only in the headlines we read and how we’ve experienced it in this country, at least compared to what used to be not that many years ago. What I experienced fifty years ago and what you experienced twenty five years ago, is nothing compared to what your children are facing and will face today and in the future. During our conversation, I mentioned that Satan and God both desire our worship, and that this battle between good and evil is the result. You then asked, rhetorically I imagine, “What’s the point?” The short answer is, that in and through it all, God receives glory.

King Solomon struggled with the same question, and wrote about it in the book of Ecclesiastes. After he’d asked what’s the point or why, over and over again, he concluded that everything in this world is vanity, or meaningless, but at the very end of the book he wrote this, “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep his commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether it is good or evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14) Since I’ve had time to ponder your question, here’s a longer answer with a bigger picture view as I understand it. To better understand this battle, you must first recognize the difference between the spiritual world, of which you’re familiar, and the physical world, in which we live. One being eternal and one being temporal.

Because of John’s writings in Revelation, we get a glimpse of how things are in that spiritual realm and how they ought to be here. Taken to heaven in the spirit, John wrote of what he saw there, of how all creation, constant and never ceasing, gives glory and honor and praise to the God of the universe. All creation, all living creatures, giving him who sits on the throne, glory and honor and thanks. Why? There are two main reasons. One, because of who God is:

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)

God has no beginning, no end. He is. Time was invented for our benefit. With God, there is no time. As he told Moses to tell the sons of Israel on whose behalf he was sent, “‘I AM has sent me to you.'” God has always been and will always be. There is only one Lord God Almighty, and he has existed forever.

The second reason God deserves all honor and glory and praise is because of what he’s done:

“Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)

So, God created everything, for his glory. All the stars and planets and universes and solar systems, and every living thing, including and especially humans, he created. For his glory. Although there are many verses in scripture that describe God’s glory in creation, Paul sums it up well in Colossians 1:16. Speaking of Jesus, who was there at creation, Paul says, “For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities–all things have been created by Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.” We have no problem worshiping, praising, honoring, adoring, rock stars, athletes, movie stars, and British royalty, simply because they can dunk a basketball or sing or act, and yet, how much more should we honor the God of all creation? The whole earth declares his glory, so why is it so hard for humans? I’ve described the good, all things God, but what about the evil? It is that evil which explains the answer to the previous question of why humans struggle so much to declare God’s glory.

Evil started in heaven, with that being we call Satan or Lucifer or the devil. At one point, Satan wanted to make himself equal with God, to steal some of God’s glory. Here is how Satan is described in Isaiah 14: 12-15:

“How you have fallen from heaven, O star of the morning, son of the dawn! You have been cut down to the earth, you who have weakened the nations! But you said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God, and I will sit on the mount of the assembly in the recesses of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’ Nevertheless you will be thrust down to Sheol, to the recesses of the pit.”

God said this to Isaiah the prophet, “I am the Lord, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images.” And because Satan tried to steal God’s glory, he was cast out of heaven. Here is how it is described in Revelation 12:7-9:

And there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels waging war with the dragon. And the dragon and his angels waged war, and they were not strong enough, and there was no longer a place found for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

So, even though Satan was cast down to the earth, his desire for glory was not satisfied. His first act, after God had placed his creation in the garden, humans made in his image, was to corrupt Adam and Eve by deception and lying, as Satan is the father of lies. He questioned Eve as to what God had instructed her about eating from the tree in the middle of the garden and what would happen if she did, and then deceived her with the big lie, “You surely shall not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” And thus, sin entered into the world, separating man from God. And Satan continues to deceive man, in an effort to destroy him. He knows his eventual destination, hell, and wants to take as many humans with him as possible. Satan brought to earth all death, destruction, sickness, sorrow, pain, and suffering. All evil belongs to him.

Paul describes the spiritual world, and the ongoing war, in Ephesians 6:12, For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

This battle rages all around us. The book of Job gives a glimpse into how Satan tries to turn humans away from God, and how he can only do as much as God allows him. And yet, after all Satan did to him and his family, Job did not lose his integrity and sin against the Lord. And through it all, God was glorified. And after a few thousand years of Satan corrupting the earth and man, God placed himself in the middle of it all, in the form of his Son, Jesus Christ, to solve the issue once and for all, to reconcile man back to himself. And what did Satan do? He tempted Jesus by offering him all the kingdoms of the world if he would just worship him (Matthew 4). But Jesus resisted. And when Jesus hung on the cross, Satan thought he’d won. But because of the resurrection, Satan and death were defeated, and Satan no longer has the power over man that he once did. We no longer have to fear the one who can destroy the body, but cannot destroy the soul.

So, what about America in the year 2024? Why is evil so prevalent now more than in the past. Jesus talked about what happens when a demon is driven from a man in Matthew 12:43-45, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through dry places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with itself seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it be also with this evil generation.” Year after year, more Americans turn away from God and go their own way. I believe a nation is much like that demon possessed man described by Jesus. As the nation turns away from God, his Spirit is quenched and loses its influence, and the resulting void is filled by evil spirits. We can see it happening all around us. A nation once filled with Christians, serious about their faith, a people who once gave glory to God, who once worshipped him and honored him, no longer do, and the country isn’t the same.

And in the midst of it, Christians suffer. Much like they have for centuries. Paul wrote to the Philippian church, encouraging them to, prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world... (Philippians 2:15) If we do, this too will glorify God.

Paul also wrote in Romans that our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God. Put another way, without evil, we wouldn’t know good. Apart from God, mankind cannot do good. Apart from God, man has no morals. It is only because of God’s influence that we aren’t living in a dystopian hell on earth. But as mankind chooses to turn away from God, as he has so many times throughout history, Satan becomes emboldened and evil flourishes.

So, what does it all mean? What’s the point? The end of the story has been written. Jesus will return and Satan will be cast into the abyss for 1000 years and then into the lake of fire and brimstone, to be tormented forever more (Revelation 20). And those who choose Satan over God will join him there. However, those who choose the Savior of the world, Jesus, will reign with him forever in God’s presence, in heaven. Meanwhile, Satan tries to deceive as many people as possible. And every time a sinner repents and gives his life to the Lord, God is glorified. And every time anyone resists the devil’s temptations, God is glorified. And when a man lives a life of integrity, as Job did, not letting Satan deceive him, God is glorified.

Paraphrasing your brother, this life is just preparation for a destination. The sad truth is, each of us chooses his own destination. God does not force us to give him glory and worship him, he gives us free will, but he does force us to choose. Over time, God has demonstrated who he is, good. Satan has demonstrated who he is, evil. The choice is stark. It isn’t ambiguous. And when someone chooses Jesus, God is glorified.

That’s the point, my son.

 If you enjoyed reading this post, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

“Turn off that light!”

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? -Psalm 94:16 (NIV)

The message this past Sunday came from the gospel of John and a section subtitled: Jesus Is the Light of the World. The key verse was John 8:12, where Jesus said, “I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life.” But what does this mean, Jesus being the light of the world? The preacher laid it out in three sections; the light reveals truth, the light leads to life, and the light provides guidance. What I want to focus on here is another thing the light does; it exposes darkness.

Shortly after the well known verse from John 3:16, where Jesus explains just how much God loves the world, he lays out the stark truth for all to hear in John 3:19-21, “And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Have you ever wondered why so many people hate Christians? After all, followers of Jesus go around practicing good deeds, so why hate them? They aren’t perfect, which they will readily admit, but they try to stay in the light and live a life pleasing to God. Traditionally they’ve built hospitals and universities; they’ve adopted babies, fed the hungry, practiced charity, put their lives on the line sharing the good news of Jesus and his saving grace to a lost world. So why the animus? Read the quote from John chapter 3 again.

I assume you know what it feels like to be sound asleep in your darkened room, only to have someone come in and flip on the light switch. You cover your eyes and in anger yell, “Turn off that light!” Similarly, no one wants their evil deeds exposed to the light, and when they are, the reaction is much the same. Not only do the wicked not want their deeds exposed, they don’t want anyone to impede their efforts, and the truth is, followers of Jesus are in the way. Much like Lot was in the way when the men of the city tried to have relations with the two angels who came to visit him (Genesis 19). We humans sin because we want to, and whatever we desire, we think we should have. Forget self-control. And like a two year old, we do not want to hear the word no. Temper tantrums aren’t reserved for two year olds.

Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, reminding them of who they once were, and who they had become. About those immoral people in the world, Paul wrote these words in Ephesians 5:7-12:

Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

I recall a time, back when newspapers were a thing, reading the section titled, Police Reports. Over time, I noticed a pattern in the time of day these events occurred. Inevitably, these infractions of the law took place in the darkness, many of them in the middle of the night, but certainly after 10:00 pm. Which made me think of those times when I lived in the darkness and engaged in immoral living; my deeds were almost always conducted at night, most often late at night when the rest of the world was sound asleep. When wanting to get drunk as an underage teen, I certainly didn’t seek out a men’s Bible study group on Saturday morning as the place to pop open a cold one. Rather, my like minded comrades and I waited until the dead of night to perpetrate our misdeeds. On a dark country road, far away from prying eyes. There is cover in darkness. Speaking of my former life, here’s what Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:1-3:

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Paul encourages us to expose the evil deeds of darkness. Why do you think it’s so easy for Christians to spot evil? In my case, because I once lived it. But for most of us, because living in the light trains us to discern evil. In the light, we recognize darkness all too well. Some might say, “Why don’t you Christians just mind your own business, keep your mouths shut, and get out of the way?” One question I have in response is, who will speak for and defend the innocent?

1. When powerful men and women want to secretly traffic innocent children for their sexual perversions and pleasures, who is it that exposes them in shame? There’s a reason Jeffrey Epstein’s client list remains hidden to this day.
2. When women want to pay others to kill their innocent, inconvenient babies in the womb, up until the time of birth, who is it that stands in the way? Who is it who builds and staffs pregnancy crisis centers? And why is it so many women seek the government’s approval via the law?
3. When politicians in government want to legalize drugs and prostitution, to fulfill their lust for more money, who is it standing in the way?
4. When pedophiles and perverts want to inculcate schools with their perverted ideology and propaganda, who stands in opposition?
5. When adults want to physically mutilate children, to accomplish something that cannot be done, joining these disturbed individuals in their fantasies, who is it that speaks the truth?
6. When the culture wants to change the definition of words and normalize deviant behavior, who is it calling them out?

In Ezekiel 22, the prophet brings the word of the Lord to the people. During this time, the culture of Jerusalem was rotten; people served false gods, engaged in sexual immorality and lewd acts, shed innocent blood, despised God’s holy things, and Israel had become a reproach to the nations and a mocking to all the surrounding lands. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? It sounds much like America today. And here is what God instructed Ezekiel to say to the people (Ezekiel 22:30):

“I looked for someone who might rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. I searched for someone to stand in the gap in the wall so I wouldn’t have to destroy the land, but I found no one.” (NLT)

Think what society would be like, what the rich and powerful and sexual predators would get away with, if not for Christians willing to speak up and be heard, if not for those willing to stand in the gap. No wonder they hate us. We’re in the way. I can hear them say, “If it wasn’t for those &%#$%+@ Christians, we could get away with just about anything.” And it’s true. Who else cares? Some might say that the law protects our children. Until the laws change. And they have and will. Man’s laws will never equal God’s righteousness.

Regarding the light, Jesus had this to say about his followers in Matthew 5:14-16:

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Christians are called to do more than shine the light in the darkness, we’re to be the light in the darkness. We are called to live in a way that glorifies God, to be different from the world. But beware. Jesus said that everyone who does evil hates the light. However, take comfort, for as Jesus said, “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you.” (John 15:18) As long as you don’t shrink back, but stay strong, you’ll remain in their way. So, gird your loins and remain true to your calling. And remember the words of the Lord as spoken through Isaiah the prophet, “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness…”

Jesus also has warnings for those who do evil and lead others astray. From Matthew 18:6-7: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” (NKJV)

On that note, one more quote I’ll leave with you to ponder. This from Hebrews 10:31- It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Here are some lyrics from an old hymn I used to love singing, back when we sang the old hymns:

The whole world was lost in the darkness of sin,
The Light of the world is Jesus!
Like sunshine at noonday, His glory shone in;
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee;
Sweetly the light has dawned upon me;
Once I was blind, but now I can see:
The Light of the world is Jesus!

Praise the Lord for the Light of the World, Jesus Christ.

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

The Director

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players;” -William Shakespeare

A Story

With production nearing its final stages, the director gathers all the actors and crew together to review his final checklist. Surrounding him are men and women, in costume, ready to perform. With script in hand, he barks out commands and shouts questions, ensuring all the players know their lines and everything is in its proper place.

At one point, the director claps his hands and shouts into his megaphone, “I need to see all the soldiers first. Come on, all you Roman soldiers gather around.” Several men, wearing helmets and breastplates, with swords and spears in hand, circle around the director. “Okay, men. We’ve already been over the scene where you arrest Jesus, but I want to finalize a couple of the other scenes. So, when Jesus is in custody, awaiting trial, what are you men doing?”

One of the soldiers speaks up. “We’re to give him a beating.” Some of the men laugh, but quickly silence themselves when they receive the director’s angry glare.

Temporarily chastened, the soldiers stand around and wait, while the director flips through his script, reading the minute details, and then says, “Yes, that’s the gist of it. You give him a beating, but that’s not all. It says right here you’re to mock him, spit on him, strike him in the face…” He pauses as he reads further. “And it also says you’re to pluck out his beard.” Moans are heard coming from the soldiers. The director shakes his head and thinks, Pluck out his beard. That’s rough. He refers back to the script and continues, “Oh, hold on. Before you do all that, you must first scourge him.”

One of the soldiers says, “What’s a scourge?”

The director says, “You know, one of those whips with bits of stone embedded in the tips. It’s designed so that when you whip him with it, the sharp pieces rip his skin as each stroke of the whip is retrieved. The script says that his appearance must be marred. Can you gentlemen make sure his appearance is marred?”

In unison, all the men cry out, “Yes, sir!”

The director continues, “Okay I think we’ve got that down. So, the next scene is when he’s on the cross. Do we have a cross?” Someone in the back affirms there is a cross. The director reads more of the script. “It says here, he’s to be with criminals in his death. Do we have any criminals scheduled for crucifixion?”

One of his assistants says, “Yes, sir. There are two criminals scheduled for death on the same day.”

“Perfect! Okay then, we’ll have the two criminals hanging on either side of him. That will make a nice shot as the sun goes down in the background. Now, there’s one last scene for you men. When Jesus hangs on the cross, there are several things you must do. First, after hanging in the hot sun, he’s going to be thirsty and want something to drink. You’re to give him vinegar.”

One of the soldiers says, “Vinegar! Why vinegar?”

The director glares at the man, while slapping the script against his leg. “Because the script says so, that’s why!”

Noticing one of the men holding a spear, the directors says to him, “At some point, you take your spear and thrust it into his side. And make sure there’s plenty of spilled blood.”

One of the other men says, “We’re supposed to break his legs, too.”

The director shakes his head. “No, no, no. You don’t break his legs.”

The man hangs his head and says, “But why? We always break their legs. It helps speed up the dying process.”

The director says, “I don’t care what you always do, it says right here, no broken bones.” There’s a bit of mumbling, and as the men begin to disperse, the director says, “Oh, and one last thing,” as he grabs three stragglers, “I want you three men to cast lots for his clothes. Got it?” The three men nod their heads and the soldiers all fade into the crowd.

The director then calls out on his megaphone, “I need to see Judas.” When Judas arrives, the director says, “Now, you’ve been chosen to betray Jesus. How will you go about it?”

Judas says, “Well, I planned to go directly to the chief priests and the elders and offer to betray Jesus into their hands, for a price of course. I’m going to ask for a king’s ransom, since they seem determined to arrest him.” The director listens to Judas while reading the script at the same time. “You can ask for whatever you want, Judas, but it says right here, they’re only going to offer you thirty pieces of silver.” Judas, disappointed, shuffles off to await his big moment.

The director then calls out, “I need to see the disciples.” Once the disciples are gathered around, the director says, “Now, when Jesus is arrested, I want you men to scatter and hide from the authorities. And from that moment on, you’re to observe from a distance. You’re all afraid. Got it?” Peter starts to say something, but John elbows him, and Peter remains silent. The disciples all nod their heads and shuffle away.

The director now calls out, “I need to see the crowd. Those listed on the script as “members of the crowd,” please report to me now.” A few minutes pass and when the director is surrounded by a crowd of extras, he says, “You people have a couple of crucial scenes. First, when Pilate brings Jesus out and presents him to you, all of you are to shout out, “Crucify him!” repeatedly. Whatever Pilate says, you repeat that line. And do so vehemently, as if you despise him. This needs to sound authentic.”

One man in the crowd raises his hand. The director says, “What?” The man says, “Why should we despise him? He never did anything to us, except heal us and feed us and teach us. Why should we hate him without cause?”

Exasperated, the director flings his script onto the dusty ground. “You don’t need a reason to hate him! You people will do exactly as the script says. You’ll gnash your teeth and scream for his death, like those who despise the man. This is a crucial scene and I need everyone to feel the emotion. Do you understand me?” The crowd mumbles their assent.

The director continues, “Now when Jesus is hanging on the cross, you are to mock him and jeer at him and say, ‘Save yourself! You said you’re the Son of God, come down off that cross.’ And then add, ‘He trusts in God, let Him deliver Him now, if He takes pleasure in Him.'” And looking to his left, he says, “You two criminals, while hanging on the cross, you’re to join in with the crowd and say the same things they’re saying.” The two criminals shrug their shoulders and nod their heads.

After several meetings, the day is nearly done. But the director still has one more player to meet. Jesus. Before he raises his megaphone to call out for him, Jesus is already standing before him. “Oh, it’s you. I assume you don’t have any questions, but I thought I would go over your scenes with you before the call to action. You don’t have many lines, but let’s run through this together, shall we?” Jesus nods. “So, when you are arrested, you offer no resistance, and when you’re brought before the authorities, you don’t defend yourself, but remain silent. And you have several key lines when you’re on the cross. Are you comfortable with your lines?” Jesus nods again. “Oh, and don’t forget, on the third day there will be some of your followers coming to the tomb. You must be gone before they arrive. Are you ready for this?”

Jesus, with a far away look in his eyes, says, “Your will be done,” and then turns and walks away.

The director, standing alone now, says, “I never heard a man speak like that man.”

All the players are now in their places, and as the director sits in the director’s chair, he’s confident that things will unfold exactly as he’s planned. Surveying the scene one last time, he raises his megaphone and shouts, “Action!”

Just outside of Jerusalem, a crowd of people line the road, waving palm branches and shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.”

Just then the director jumps out of his chair and shouts into his megaphone, “Cut! Cut! Cut! People, Jesus can’t enter Jerusalem on foot. This is his grand entrance. Who forgot the donkey?”

*The scenes in this story were all pre-written (the script), hundreds of years prior to the birth of the Messiah, with most of the prophecies coming from Isaiah 53 and Psalm 22, but also from Zechariah and others. God, the Director, and Author of the script, left nothing to chance. Everything that happened surrounding the arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus, was by design. Nothing was accidental. As we celebrate Easter week, let each of us remember that the resurrection of Jesus is the culmination and fulfillment of all scripture. And because of God’s eternal plan, we who have placed our lives in Jesus’ hands have hope for a future. An eternity with God and His Son. And if you want to know the rest of God’s plan, I encourage you to read the script.

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

A Drowning Man

 “…and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him…” Matthew 14: 30-31

I’ve spoken with many Christians who struggle with how to present the good news (gospel) to someone not of the faith, for that is our mission. What is the best way to share your faith? Is it a specific verse? Do you need to explain all the mysteries of God? What if they challenge what you say? To simplify things, I encourage the men I talk with to personalize the good news. For who knows your story better than you? I suppose it would be best to define the terms. First, what is the good news, and second, why is it good news?

For me, the story is a simple one. At the age of twenty five I was crushed under the weight of my sin, overwhelmed with guilt and shame. I had sinned against someone I loved, against my fellow man, and against the God of the universe. I found it difficult to breathe. I lost my appetite, eventually losing twenty one pounds. I was desperate to be saved. But who or what could save me? No brilliance of mankind could save me. No self help guru. No billionaire. No amount of riches or possessions. No amount of education or learning could save me. There is only one to whom I could turn. Jesus. The truth is, Jesus is the only one who offered. For in Acts 4:12 is says of Jesus:

“And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved.”

I was underwater, drowning in my sin and unable to save myself. And unless you can walk on water, so are you my friend. The words of this old hymn describe my condition well:

 I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me– now safe am I.

Not only was there no man on earth, no pastor or priest, no amount of money, no books or wisdom, no amount of forgiveness from those I’d hurt that could save me, the truth is, there is no one else who offers salvation. It is the reason he came. It is the reason he died. Another old hymn describes my resulting exaltation well:

We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Why do I bother to share the good news? Like all Christians, I don’t want anyone to feel in life the way I once felt. Lost, with no hope. Overwhelmed by sin and guilt and shame. “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Maybe your sin isn’t as great as mine, but it only takes one. Why do I share the good news? Because I don’t want anyone to spend eternity in torment, excluded from the presence of God. I won’t try to browbeat you. I won’t try to force you to believe. I won’t convert you at the edge of a sword. I will simply offer my life as an example. I once was lost. Now I’m found. Never to feel the guilt and shame of my sin again. This offer from Jesus is for everyone. I’m certainly not special or deserving of saving.

The scripture at the top of this post is from Matthew, from the story of Jesus walking on water, and Peter, for a brief time joining him, only to sink beneath the waves. And like Peter, I too cried out, “Jesus, save me!” And Jesus reached out his hand.

Will you be saved? It won’t cost you a thing. The price has already been paid.

If you enjoyed this piece, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

Cognitive Dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance: occurs when a person believes in two contradictory things at the same time.

I recently heard a sermon preached from the book of Hebrews that briefly touched upon this verse: “For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.” -Hebrews 4:15

Him being tempted like we are, makes Jesus, our high priest, relatable to the common man, you and me. If he had sinned, he couldn’t be the perfect sacrifice for our sins and redeem us; he would be as flawed as we are. On the other hand, if he wasn’t tempted in all things as we are, our sin couldn’t be held against us and we might rightly say to him, “If you would have faced all the temptations I have faced, you would have sinned just like me.” However, he was tempted, just like us, and he didn’t sin, unlike us.

And then the preacher dropped in this verse from James: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone.” -James 1:13

This is where the speaker ran into trouble. How can this verse agree with the verse from Hebrews? If Jesus is God in the flesh, how was he tempted by sin, if God can’t be tempted? Are these two verses contradictory? The preacher did his best to explain it away and intimated that Jesus was tempted like we are in some ways, making the statement appear generally true. Which still doesn’t explain the meaning of the verse. So, here are the two questions to be answered: 1. Was Jesus God? 2. Was Jesus tempted in all things as we are?

First, was Jesus God? Through the testimony of many eyewitnesses, from the prophecies of long ago, and from the mouth of Jesus himself, we know that Jesus was both fully God and fully man.

Jesus said, “I and the Father are one,” (John 10:30) and “He who has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:8). He also said, “Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me; otherwise believe on account of the works themselves.” (John 14:11) His miracles alone proved his deity.

And referencing a prophecy from Isaiah, written more than 700 years before his birth, is this passage from Matthew: “Now all this took place that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet (Isaiah 7:14) might be fulfilled, saying, ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which translated means, ‘God with us.'” (Matthew 1:22-23)

“And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus (or Joshua, from the Hebrew root meaning, “the Lord is salvation“), for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

“…For that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:20)

This testimony from one of the twelve apostles, “Thomas answered and said to Him, ‘My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28)

There are plenty of more verses from scripture that speak of Jesus’ deity, but I will stop here. In summation, if Jesus were merely a man, I wouldn’t worship him, nor would I place my eternity in his hands. As it is, I do, and I have.

Moving on to the second question. Was Jesus tempted in all things as we are? Let’s see from scripture.

In Matthew chapter four, we see Satan (described as the tempter) tempting Jesus to test God. Taking him to the pinnacle of the temple, Satan urged Jesus, “If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, ‘He will give His angels charge concerning You’; and ‘On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'” Later, the tempter came at Jesus again and tempted him by promising him all the kingdoms of the world, “…if You fall down and worship me.” In each instance, Jesus did not give in to Satan’s temptation.

In the garden Jesus was tempted to thwart God’s will “…if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me;” but did not succumb to the temptation, “…yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt.” In front of Caiaphas and Pilate, Jesus was questioned and tempted to lie, knowing that if he said what these men wanted to hear, he would save himself. And yet he told the truth. While being arrested in the garden of Gethsemane, he was tempted to seek revenge and release, “Or do you not think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels?” And yet he allowed himself to be arrested.

Of course, Jesus wasn’t tempted by pornography, but as a man, he was tempted by those things that have always tempted mankind. Satan is strategic, and we’re not all tempted in the same way, but if I place myself in Jesus’ shoes (sandals in this case), I can see where he was likely tempted sexually; Jesus was often surrounded by women, some of them immoral (Mary, the woman at the well, the woman caught in adultery), who were physically (“…she began to wet his feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with perfume” -Luke 7:37-38) and emotionally (Martha and Mary when Jesus raised their brother Lazarus from the dead -John 11) intimate with him; he was tempted to lose his temper in anger and revenge (who wouldn’t be, after being mocked, beaten and spat upon); he was tempted by wealth, power, pride; in all things tempted as we are, and yet without sin. He was tempted in the flesh (fully man), but overcame temptation in the Spirit (fully God).

Paul talks about the battle between the Spirit and the flesh in many of his writings, but this passage from Galatians 5:16-18 sums it up well: “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” Jesus, fully God (Spirit) and fully man (flesh) was led by the Spirit and walked by the Spirit, and because of this, he did not give in to the desires of the flesh.

I’ll share one other thought on this; if God can’t be tempted, in the person of Jesus, as we are, then God surely cannot die. Yet Jesus did die (in the flesh) but he overcame that as well (by the Spirit).-Romans 8:11

If you enjoyed this post, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

In What or Whom Do You Believe?

“There are none so blind as those who will not see.” John Heywood 1546

Recently, while watching a police procedural from the 1990s, I recognized the lead actress as being a well known star, in both movies and television. Curious, I looked her up to see what other shows she was known for and then got into the biographical section and her personal story. In an interview she gave, about the time this show was made, she said she was an atheist. Twenty-one years later, in an interview for a well known magazine, she said, “I am quite spiritual. I believed in fairies when I was a child. I still do sort of believe in the fairies. And the leprechauns. But I don’t believe in God.” My first thought upon reading this was a verse from Paul’s writings: “When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things” (1 Corinthians 13:11). This woman was sixty-six years of age when she talked about believing in fairies and leprechauns. And what proof did she have for the existence of fairies and leprechauns, as opposed to the evidence for the existence of God?

I don’t blame children for believing in fairies and unicorns, in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. This usually comes from their parents. But children grow up and become adults. Don’t they? Why is it so easy for someone, in her later adult life, to believe in fairies, but not in God? It might have something to do with accountability. If you believe in fairies, what is required of you for doing so? Nothing. If you believe in God, however, you cannot escape accountability, which is why, as an unchurched heathen, although I knew there was a God, I wanted nothing to do with him for just that reason. I had things to do and wanted no one telling me I could or couldn’t. 

Not believing in God, certainly has nothing to do with proof. Which fairy or leprechaun had 66 books written about them and their activities, by 40 different authors, over a period of 1500 years, on three continents and in three different languages? These books (that form the Bible) record account after account of God interacting with mankind and demonstrating his power. I don’t recall reading any firsthand accounts of humans interacting with fairies. Or any fairies walking on water. Or fairies healing a blind man. Or any leprechauns parting the Red Sea. But with all that first hand, eye witness testimony, people still refuse to believe. Paul wrote in Romans 1:20- “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.” It’s as if people are waiting for God to come down to earth and show himself. Oh, but he did. And while he spent time here on the hearth, Jesus demonstrated his power, his divine nature, through many signs and wonders, and was even raised from the dead. And still, many would refuse to believe in him then, as many still refuse today.

I can hardly blame the actress, though. This kind of thinking comes with the territory. Artists in general are inclined not to believe in God, and this includes authors. As a writer, I read many books, and in most instances, the authors of these books, through their protagonists, express a disbelief in, or at best, an indifference to God, and certainly a disdain for those who do believe. While reading a mystery recently, one of the characters was being pursued by someone who intended to kill them. At one point, the author writes this about the pursued:

“…she put on a burst of speed and prayed–prayed to gods she did not believe in, and to the powers she had decried all her life, prayed for deliverance.” How does one pray to that in which they don’t believe? Ironic, isn’t it?

I’ve heard an old military saying, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” The idea being that when death is imminent, and you’re faced with your own mortality, you grasp for anything to hold onto, for someone to save you. And when this reality finally confronts you, fairies and leprechauns are not the answer you seek. When facing death, God becomes very real. It’s easy to go through life and ignore God, it’s much harder to ignore him when the end of your life is staring you in the face.

Jeremiah 5:21- “Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not; who have ears, but hear not.” In Acts 17, Paul said this to the men of Athens, “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” This man, Jesus. Immanuel. God with us.

Throughout history, God has revealed himself, again and again. Hebrews 1:1-2- “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

The times of ignorance are over. God has given us all the evidence we need. It’s simply a matter of recognizing his authority and realizing that he is God and we aren’t. With all of the evidence for God, I wonder if those who claim not to believe in God really mean it or are just trying to convince themselves. Ultimately, you can believe in many things and in many people, but there is only one who will save your soul.

Psalm 14:1- “A fool has said in his heart, ‘There is no God.'” Don’t be a fool.

If you enjoyed this article, you would likely enjoy my book, Pondering God.

Judgment Day

“The Father’s arms are open wide.”

It came about in those days that the sons and daughters of man gathered before the judgment seat of Christ, to present themselves to the Lord and give an accounting for their lives. My days on earth had ended, and I found myself in a place like heaven, a vast place with no sky above, and a hard surface beneath my feet, with the appearance of white sapphire under my left foot and onyx under my right. Off to my right was an expansive darkness, and to my left was a brightness that pained my eyes if I gazed too long, and yet it attracted me just the same.  

I stood in a long line of people, at the place where darkness meets light, with myriads of people in front and many more behind. The line in both directions stretched into the distance, eventually disappearing on the horizon. Many of those around me carried vessels in their arms, while others dragged or pulled various articles, large and small, behind them. What they contained, I didn’t know. Many of the others in line, like myself, came empty-handed. A nervousness pervaded the multitude, as each individual proceeded forward, anticipating the inevitable encounter awaiting them at the front of the line. 

Eventually, the line dwindled, and I drew close enough to see a figure in the near distance. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire; and his feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been caused to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. No one needed to tell me his identity. I knew. Jesus. More beautiful and awesome than my earthly imagination had ever conjured.

When each person finally stood before him, although I was too far away to hear what was said, a brief conversation ensued, and then each person set forth, many to Jesus’ left (my right), into the outer darkness, and some to his right, into the radiant light. Those heading into the darkness left his presence with head and shoulders bowed, and the sound of wailing trailed behind them as they eventually faded into black. In contrast, those entering into the light did so singing a new song, joyful and exuberant.

At one point, there remained in front of me only three men. The first man stepped up to the Lord and laid a sealed glass jar at Jesus’ feet. “Forgive me of my sins,” I heard him say, “for they are few.” Then Jesus pointed to his left and said, “Depart from me, for I never knew you.” The man bowed his head and shuffled off, into the dark.

The second man, pushing a wheelbarrow, approached Jesus, and dumped the contents of the wheelbarrow at his feet. “Pardon me sir, for my sins have burdened me for far too long, and I seek your forgiveness.” Again, Jesus said, “Depart from me, for I never knew you.” And the man went away grieved.

The third man, struggling with a huge trunk, dragged it behind him and then dropped it at Jesus’ feet. “Forgive me,” he said, “for although my sins are many, with this trunk barely able to contain them all, I have still sinned far less than many others more evil than me.” For the third time, Jesus said to the man, “Depart from me and go to the place prepared for Satan and his demons. I never knew you.” This man also went away dejected.

Seeing what had happened to these three men, left me heartbroken. For I knew that the measure of my sins exceeded them all. Resigned to my fate, I stepped out of line and started off, into the darkness alone. Before I’d gone too far, a voice thundered behind me, “Where are you going, my son?”

I turned, and found the Lord standing very near to me, so close I could reach out and touch him. I fell to my face, with tears streaming down my cheeks. “Please forgive me,” I cried.

Not daring to look up, I sensed his presence as Jesus knelt beside me, and then, gently he lifted me to my feet. As I stood before him, I trembled. He said, “Why did you leave the line and not come before me?” 

I stammered, “When I saw the other men, and what happened to them, I knew my sin was far greater than theirs. Not a jar’s worth, or a wheelbarrow, or even a trunk could hold them all. No, my sins would fill an entire boxcar.”

Jesus said, “You are right my son, it would take a boxcar.”

Just then, a train whistle sounded in the distance, and the rumble of the train’s wheels grew louder as it drew near. When the train engine pulled up beside us, it came to a hissing stop. Trailing behind the engine was one lone boxcar. Jesus took me by the hand and led me beside the train, and then to the boxcar door. As he slid the door open, I peered inside. Empty. My mouth hung open in shock. Where had all my sins gone? Jesus pointed to the boxcar. On a plaque affixed to the side of the railcar, were these words:  

Ron Bay

Sins Forgiven

December 1982

Tears of joy filled my eyes, and once again I fell at the Master’s feet. And once again he knelt beside me. He said, “Do you now understand?” Still confused, I hesitated, and so he explained. “Those three men, and all the others, bringing their sins before me on this judgment day, sought forgiveness too late. For all the years they lived on earth their sins meant nothing to them, and they ignored the salvation I offered. They chose to live life on earth apart from me, and so, they will spend eternity the same.”

I said, “And those in line, the empty-handed, what about them?”

Jesus said, “Like you, they recognized their sin during their lifetime on earth, and sought forgiveness in me. They came empty-handed because their sins were forgiven and I remembered them no more.”

I was speechless, but couldn’t move, unsure of what came next. Jesus smiled, pointed to his right, and said, “What are you waiting for? Go, enter into the joy of your Master.”

And so I did, skipping and singing as I journeyed into the light.

I pondered these things for a week or more, prior to putting my thoughts to paper. The sermon this morning was on Hebrews chapter one, focusing on the preeminence of Jesus Christ. Fitting I suppose, since without him, I too would end up spending eternity apart from God. The final song this morning was also fitting, and as thoughts of Jesus, redemption, the weight of my sin, and his wonderful grace flooded my mind, I found this chorus difficult to sing, with tears of joy, not sorrow, choking my voice.

O come to the altar

The Father’s arms are open wide

Forgiveness was bought with

The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Which led me to another line in the song:

Oh, what a Savior

Isn’t He wonderful?

Sing hallelujah, Christ is risen

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” -2 Corinthians 5:10

If you enjoyed this, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

A Crying Shame

“Because He first loved me.”

Recently, I read an article about a man who was publicly exposed in a sin, and the writer of the article made sure to emphasize how despicable the act was. When I read these words, “How could that man do such a thing?” shame washed over me. For I too had once committed a similar sin. In my case, thankfully, my sin remained hidden, and has now for more than fifty years. I take no pride in what I’ve done, the many times I’ve sinned against God. Quite the contrary, I only feel shame. Truth be told, I have many other skeletons in my closet, that if exposed, would bring me much embarrassment and ridicule. In my heart, I know I’ve been forgiven. David wrote in Psalm 103:11-12, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Praise God for his grace!

But still, the images of my sin remain in my mind, locked away, never to see the light of day. I can do nothing to remove them, and sometimes the memories of what I’ve done return. I’ve thought of what it would feel like to have all my sins exposed, like the man in the article, me standing naked before the world. It seems that most of the sins I commit, or have committed, are of the hidden variety, but even though they may be hidden from man, they are not hidden from God, the one I’ve sinned against. The sobering reality is, God knows my every deed and thought. Hebrews 4:13, “ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” After reading the article, I began pondering God, and soon a story from scripture came to my mind. It seems there was an “immoral woman,” with much to be ashamed of, who came to Jesus. What she did, is written in Luke 7:36-50.

Jesus was invited to dine in a Pharisee’s home. A woman in the city, described as a sinner (and who wasn’t?), or an “immoral woman,” (indicating sexual sin) found out Jesus would be eating at the man’s home, and so she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and while Jesus reclined at the table, scripture says, “…and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume.” What a beautiful picture this is. Why would she do that? Why would she weep at Jesus’ feet? I believe I know, because I too have wept tears of repentance at the feet of my redeemer. And I look forward to the day I can meet him face to face in heaven, when he will wipe away all my tears. Like the man who wrote the article, the Pharisee was disgusted by this immoral woman, and shocked that Jesus would allow her, a sinner, to touch him. This woman’s sins had been exposed to the world. Everyone knew she was a sinner. But Jesus, knowing the man’s thoughts, confronted him with a parable.

Jesus said to the Pharisee, “A certain moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. Which of them therefore will love him more?” The man guessed correctly when he said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” Jesus commended the man for answering correctly, and turning toward the woman, he said to the man, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Jesus then said to the woman, “Your sins have been forgiven.

This woman knew who she was. A hopeless sinner. She came to Jesus for just that reason; she needed forgiveness for the sins in her life, the many sins that would not leave her mind. She was forgiven much. I too have been forgiven much. Jesus has forgiven my innumerable sins, most of which man will never know, which is why I love him so. As Paul wrote in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” And that is why I sing this song, with tears in my heart:

O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
O how I love Jesus,
because he first loved me!

If you enjoyed this article, you might also enjoy my book, Pondering God.

Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ…” -2 Corinthians 5:10

This truth from 2 Corinthians is unavoidable. As we must all face the Grim Reaper’s sweeping scythe, so we will all stand before the Lord. And we will stand alone. No family. No friends. The full verse from 2 Corinthians says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” This verse led me to another one from Hebrews 4:13, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” A different translation says this, “And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give an account.” Laid bare. Naked. Ouch!

This concept disturbs me. Must I stand naked and alone before the Almighty God of the universe? To give an account for everything I’ve done? I realize he already knows everything I’ve ever done, every thought that has entered my mind. But to stand before Jesus and justify my entire life? To give an answer for all the disgusting things I’ve thought and done? Terrifying. Which leads to another verse from Hebrews 10:31, “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” I know. Then to whom or where shall I run? Where can I go to hide my shame? And then Job gets in on the act and seals my fate with these words from Job 34:21-22, “For His eyes are upon the ways of a man, and He sees all his steps. There is no darkness or deep shadow where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves.” Nowhere to hide. I’m doomed.

This idea of being naked and ashamed reminds me of two stories, one from my teenage years and one from Genesis. When I was a teenager, I had a recurring dream, a nightmare really. In the dream, I was in a classroom, sitting at my desk, with several other kids seated around me. Some were boys, but the majority of them, and more noticeable to me (of course), were the popular, good looking girls. At some point in the dream, I realized my clothes were gone and I was either wearing only my tighty whities or was completely naked. All the other kids, especially the girls, pointed their fingers and laughed at me, mocking me in my shame. In the dream, I panicked. I tried, but could not cover myself, and even though I wanted to escape, it seemed I was glued to my chair. I had nowhere to run and nowhere to hide. Each time I awoke from this dream, my clothes were drenched in sweat and my heart beat a mile a minute. I’m sure there was a psychological explanation for the dream, but needless to say, the thought of being naked in front of others frightened me.

The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis is not only sublime, but instructive. From their story, we have much to learn. Concerning nakedness and shame, the account gives us two different views. Shortly after God created woman, there is this line from Genesis 2:25, “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” They were naked and not ashamed. Unlike me in the dream classroom. Now, why were these two not ashamed of their nakedness? Why am I ashamed of mine? Reading further, after Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, there is this account from Genesis 3:7-10, “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ And he said, ‘I heard the sound of Thee in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.’ And He said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?'”

I have a thought, and then a question. Adam and Eve could no more hide themselves from God than you or I can. Or as David asked rhetorically, “Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence?” Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. So, what changed for Adam and Eve, to go from being naked and not ashamed to covering up their nakedness? The answer is sin. The knowledge of evil. They were ashamed of and tried to hide from their sin. The same reason I tried to cover myself in my dream. I was ashamed of my nakedness and wanted to cover it up.

It is true that we all must stand before the judgment seat of Christ, alone, and give an account for everything we’ve done. It says so in scripture. But somehow, I’m not afraid. But why am I not afraid? How can I go before the judge of the living and the dead and not be ashamed of my nakedness? Of being exposed? I’ll let the scriptures speak for me. From 1 John 4:17-18, “By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” I don’t have to fear that day when I face the Lord. For I will not receive the punishment due me. “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:11-12) The blood of Jesus covers my sin. As the old hymn says it, “Rock of Ages cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.” His love is the antidote for my corruption. And in him, I’m forgiven. In Jesus, I have somewhere to run and somewhere to hide. In the arms of my redeemer.

If you enjoyed this piece, you may also like my book, Pondering God.

The Christmas Gift the World Didn’t Want

During yesterday’s sermon the preacher focused on the nativity scene and the sweetness surrounding the birth of the baby Jesus, which is the norm this time of the year, but unlike the typical view of the manger scene he threw a little reality into the mix. He said that there were some characters missing from the scene who should be standing right next to Mary and Joseph and the donkey; one in particular being King Herod. Having him there would cast a considerable dark shadow on the celebratory nature of the event, but isn’t that the reality of it? Shouldn’t Herod be included? After all, Matthew’s gospel account of Christ’s birth mentions Herod specifically and repeatedly, and it isn’t a good reflection.

The truth is, the birth of the new King of the Jews wasn’t good news to the existing king or to the religious leaders of the day. Matthew says this about the reaction to the magi, “And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.” So troubled in fact that he lied to the magi to ascertain the whereabouts of this baby, presumably to worship him, and when his lies didn’t fool them and God warned them not to return to Herod, he blew a gasket, or as described in Matthew, “Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi.” Meanwhile, Joseph had also been warned by God to flee with his family to Egypt, far away from Herod and his ire.

Something has always bothered me about this entire affair; why was a tiny baby such a threat to a powerful king such as Herod? And the reaction to Jesus didn’t end with Herod. He was perceived as a threat by the Jewish religious leaders as an adult, and their response was to kill him. But why was he a threat? He went about healing people, and preaching love and forgiveness. He taught his followers “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.” He taught to love your neighbor and your enemy. To turn the other cheek. To do good deeds and put other’s needs before your own. It seems to me that kind of person wouldn’t be a threat to anyone. In fact, it seems like that type of person would be the model citizen and role model. Why the strong desire to rid the world of Jesus?

And as I thought about it, other things started to bother me and led me to further questions. After Jesus was gone, and with him the threat to those who had him killed, his followers went around doing good deeds and preaching the name of Jesus. And Peter and Paul and Stephen and a host of others were martyred. Why? What was threatening to the authorities about doing good and preaching in Jesus name? If what they were preaching was truth, shouldn’t the leaders have acknowledged it and joined them in their worship and devotion to this new king, but if what they were preaching was a lie, then why not let them blather on and let the lie be exposed? Why kill them? And why did Nero feel threatened by a bunch of weak, powerless followers of a dead man when he was the most powerful man in the world? And why then did he turn them into torches and feed them to the lions?

Looking at the world today, I read of Christians continually being put to death, as has been going on for millennia. And even in the “Christian friendly” United States there has been an ongoing effort to silence Christians via the courts and legislation and popular culture. To eliminate their ideas from the public square. To minimize their beliefs and eventually have them bow down to the state as a replacement god. Ultimately, to have them deny their faith or suffer the consequences. A people who in reality are the best citizens, the most giving, the most well-behaved, the most loyal, and yet…

After much contemplation, I came up with some answers to my own questions. The “world,” Satan’s dominion, as represented by the powerful, the tyrannical, the despots, the evil leaders then and now, hates Jesus and what he represents. King Herod was only the first to feel threatened. An evil king if there ever was one, he is remembered as the one who on his death-bed had his political insiders killed so that there would be mourning throughout the land when he died. Men like Herod cannot tolerate any allegiances to anyone else. Their jealousy knows no bounds. And they cannot tolerate their evil deeds being exposed. When John the Baptist called out Herod (progeny of the original) for sleeping with his brother’s wife, Herod had him beheaded. It won’t do to expose the powerful. This holds true still today. When politicians lie and deceive and cheat and are found to be corrupt, the last thing they want is a constituency that recognizes right from wrong. One that exposes their wrongdoing. They can’t tolerate a citizenry clinging to their antiquated views or believing the words in their outdated bibles.

Jesus came as light, and as such exposes the darkness, and the darkness cannot tolerate the light. Nor can the powerful tolerate allegiance to another. John says it best in his gospel, “And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.” The sad history of mankind.

But the good news is that there were many called out of the world, millions of us, who actually love the first and greatest Christmas gift and celebrate the event still. People who saw their sin exposed and desperately wanted to be forgiven. I am one of those who comes to the light. And my allegiance is to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords; first and foremost. And I realize that I’m a threat “against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” But I know what Jesus knew, what Paul and Peter and Stephen also knew, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?”

Oh, there was one other thing missing from the manger scene. In order to complete the scene there should have been a cross standing next to the baby Jesus, alongside Mary and Joseph and the donkey and Herod. Merry Christmas and happy Easter.