The City of God

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. ¹⁴ For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 11: 13-16.

As one listens to the news and looks about this world, we are reminded daily that we live in a fallen world where the systems of law and order are broken down by sin and evil. We live each day in the midst of a cosmic battle that rages unseen between the forces of good and evil. Every human being gets to decide on a daily basis whether he or she will choose between the ways of the Lord or the pursuit of one's own selfish desires to fulfill one's lust of self. For those who choose the path of the narrow way, we are often left to feel like strangers and exiles on this planet. What each of us wants more than anything else is to find a homeland. A place of peace and sanctuary from the assaults upon one's life and security. A refuge from death and a purpose for living.

There is Good News! The place for which we long and for which we were made actually exists! But, it is not of this earth. Only by faith in the one who made us and created us may we come to understand that there exists a City which is the fulfillment of every desire of one's heart. When we are beaten up, knocked down and standing in the shadow of the valley of death, there is still this hope that transcends human understanding. It is a hope that there is a place that we can call home for all eternity. It is the City of God.

Giving Thanks

O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalms 30: 3-4

"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

I Thessalonians 5:18

As we enter into our annual season of Thanksgiving it is so easy to focus on all the fun, frivolity and trimmings of the turkey season. But, giving thanks is an attitude. Learning to live one's life by being able to give thanks in all circumstances is one of the secrets of life. There are times when life comes crashing in on each of us. But our thanksgiving in this life is not situational based upon whatever circumstances one finds himself or herself in at the moment. Even in the darkest part of the journey, if one chooses to look with the eye of faith there are reasons to celebrate and to give thanks. Life, of any kind, is one of the reasons to give thanks. It is not about us. It is about a God who is holy and righteous. It is because of him we can give thanks in Christ Jesus in all circumstances.

May the Lord bless you and keep you and make his face to shine upon you in this season of thanksgiving.

Scripture

"When you come, bring the coat that I left with Carpus at Tro'as,

also the books, and above all the parchments."

2 Timothy 4:13

Paul's words to Timothy not to forget the parchments resonate with me. Why is it that those who preach and teach are so devoted to the written word? Perhaps it is because the divine Creator spoke the world into existence by the "logos" (the "word"). In fact the proclamation of John is that this creative force, the word of God, became flesh in the form of Jesus Christ. Yet, God himself did not write a book about himself. Instead he entrusted his message to men and women to testify as to His wishes and desires. The Bible's multiple authors testify to the same thing. They were witnesses to the account of God's interaction in human history.

I suspect that the apostle Paul would be shocked today that his personal notes and letters are the basis of our Scripture. And, yet, how do we determine what is true today? Isn't it by the testimony of eye witnesses to the event that is in question? I believe that the plan of God is revealed in his Word. Studying and reading it are ways that one can gain insight and understanding. Ultimately, God puts his seal upon a believer's heart by the power of his Holy Spirit. But, seeing the Word in action as revealed by others is one way that we can grow spiritually. History is a flashlight that can give one insight as to how one arrived at where they are today.

There is No Other

Sometimes it is simply best to let the Bible speak in its simplest terms. The one consistency of the revelation of the Bible is that God is one God. For example,

Deuteronomy 4:35 - To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him.

Deuteronomy 4:39 - know therefore this day, and lay it to your heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.

1 Kings 8:60 - that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no other.

Isaiah 45:5 - I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I gird you, though you do not know me,

Isaiah 45:6 - that men may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Isaiah 45:14 - Thus says the LORD: "The wealth of Egypt and the merchandise of Ethiopia, and the Sabe'ans, men of stature, shall come over to you and be yours, they shall follow you; they shall come over in chains and bow down to you. They will make supplication to you, saying: 'God is with you only, and there is no other, no god besides him.'"

Isaiah 45:18 - For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it a chaos, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other.

Every one of these scriptures stands for the proposition that there is only one God. The great paradox in Christianity is the trinity. How could God be one and be Spirit and flesh at the same time. Yet even the New Testament makes the statement of the gospel that the claims of Jesus are exclusive to him:
Acts 4:12 - And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

We cannot explain it from a human perspective. It is the reason that faith is the avenue of understanding through a personal relationship with a living God. We believe that God rewards those who seek him. His declaration that there is no other is not a threat; but, a simple statement of fact. We must trust Him on this one and learn that what the Lord wants more than anything is a relationship that allows us to follow him as Lord and Savior. He sent his son to give us that chance. We believe that his creation is not chaos; but, that there is order and meaning in life.

Facing the Tests of Faith in LIfe

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed'nego answered the king, "O Nebuchadnez'zar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace; and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. ¹⁸ But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image which you have set up."
Daniel 3: 16-18

The story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego was one that I learned at the youngest of ages. God delivered his servants from the fiery furnace in a miraculous manner. But, the Bible also tells us that sometimes deliverance comes in the form of death. That is what happened to John the Baptist. Sometimes God's plan brings glory to Himself though our deliverance. And, sometimes He does the same through martyrdom.

In Matthew 11 we read the John has been sitting in a dark prison during the second year of Jesus' ministry. I can picture John scratching his head and thinking to himself, "Wait a minute. I thought I was the forerunner of the Messiah?" So he sends a message to Jesus asking, "Are You the Coming One; or, do we look for another?" (Luke 7:19) From John's perspective, the Messiah was going to set up the Davidic kingdom and throw those pesky Romans out of Israel. Yet, here John sat, in the dark, in prison, waiting. Soon thereafter, Herod ordered John' s death by having his head cut off. Anyone want to volunteer to be a forerunner? And yet, every Christian who confesses that Jesus is Lord and who is born again of water and of spirit into the kingdom of God is given the job of a forerunner.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego emerged out of the flame without a trace of the fire and the smoke. They were unscathed by their experience. John was not so fortunate. Yet, ultimately they, like we, all end up in the same place. The question is not how long we live; but, how we live life while we are here. Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us whether it is out of the fiery furnace or from the grave. We simply need to live life with the confidence of a faith in a God that conquers all of our trials...even the trial of death.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
James 1: 22-24

Friday night I was sitting in the audience at the Christian Family Services, Inc Annual Dinner listening to Dr. Jerry Jones address. One of the points he made really struck a chord inside of me. He pointed to Matthew 25 and the judgment scene. The question being asked by Jesus was why didn't you take care of me?

And the answer given was:
"'Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?'

Then note the answer of Jesus:

'Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.' And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Judgment was based upon what they did NOT DO. It had nothing to do with what they believed. James got it right as set forth above. If we are in the battle we have be "doers" of the Word. Someone can memorize the scripture but if they don't put it into practice, it is meaningless. While no one can earn their way into heaven by good works, faith without works is dead. The focus of the gospel is upon those who are in need. It really is good news to those who are hungry, thirsty, alone, naked, sick or in prison.

Hearing the Shepherd's Voice

¹ "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; ² but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." ⁶ This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. ⁷ So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸ All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. ⁹ I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. ¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. ¹⁴ I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, ¹⁵ as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd.

John 10: 1-16

This passage tells us that those who are called know the voice of the good shepherd. There is within each of us that small, still voice that knows what is right and what is wrong. If one ignores it long enough, the result is spiritual deafness. Psalms 46:10 says that we must be still and then we will know that the "I AM" is God. If we listen with spiritual ears, we can hear the voice of the Creator from within. He is a God who laid down His life for us in order that we might find the door to salvation. It is easy to worship a God who loves us and is willing to die for us. His flock is larger than we understand. But, in the end there will be one flock and one shepherd. Wherever God has a child, we have brothers and sisters.