11/29/2017
Do you understand that Jesus Christ had to die in order to secure your redemption, or do you think He was just a mythological character meant to describe morality to us in a how-to book called the Bible? Friends, the account is real, and not a story; it is the single greatest event to occur since creation... complete with all the miracles, wonders, suffering, awe, and yes, death.
“"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”John 16:12-14 ESV
In this Politically Correct, feel good, world we live in today any reference to the reality of suffering is being systematically eliminated, and the Bible is just another PC target of that agenda. This isn’t a modern dilemma, but has been going on since the early 1900s when Oswald Chambers preached and wrote about it. Let’s listen to his description of the problem...
“The type of Christian experience in the New Testament is that of devotion to the Person of Jesus Christ. Every other type of Christian experience, so called, is detached from the Person of Jesus. There is no regeneration, no being born again into the Kingdom in which Christ lives, but only the idea that He is our pattern. To-day He is being dispatched as the Figurehead of a Religion, a mere Example. He is that, but He is infinitely more; He is salvation itself, He is the Gospel of God.” - Oswald Chambers
Jesus is not just an example of purity and righteousness... he is the embodiment of it. Our lives are not merely plays in which we act out a feel good faith or religion, it is the true essence of a real faith embodied in suffering, joy, and obedience to a God. The ramifications of failure are massive and can be devastating, but setting all else aside to follow Jesus is eternity manifest in us by a very real encounter with grace.
When I was a young boy I used to play on the playground with the other kids. In our group there was one boy in particular who would change the rules whenever the game turned sour for him. He had to feel like he was winning, no matter what it took. The unfortunate reality was that by cheating he had already lost... there was no victory for him. Cheating doesn’t make you a winner, it is just an illusion of winning, and in the end you are judged by that.
This is feel good Christianity... you might think that you have changed the rules, but the rules are set by a much higher power... they are set by God the Father. So when churches, denominations, pastors, or laypersons modify the Word of God, and feel like they are doing well... they are not. Truth is always truth, no matter how fervently we argue against it. The sun is always hot, the moon is cool, love triumphs, and a true equation proves itself every time.
“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”Philippians 2:12-13 ESV
Prayer:
Father, I thank you for your unchanging truth, and the comfort I find in it. I thank you for your judgement and the truing up of all those who wander from your righteous will. Holy Father, keep your hand on me, and guide me in your unwavering truth, and in obedience to your Word. Never let me rationalize your intentions as I try to make straight your winding road. Keep my eye on you at all times Father, and I pray that my hand will never lose its grip on yours. There is no decision that you make which can be overturned, or set aside... you are omnipotent, and unfailing. I praise you Father for your goodness and grace. I keep my eyes on you always and shout your glory and praise with my mouth, and signal it with my lifted arms. You are my God and your blessings my Amen.
Rich Forbes