These may be mutually exclusive, but we can give it a try.
Do you remember the elections for student body president from high school? The candidates tried to outdo each other with promises calculated to gain votes. Some promised to institute one day weeks. Others guaranteed an A for every class that the student attended, and some even if they didn’t attend. Others pledged that school lunches would be reduced to 25 cents. The opponent went one better with a free lunch for everyone. And on and on and on.
I was reminded of that as I read the litany of Democratic candidates for the 2020 election and their campaign promises. They are no more reasoned and researched than the high school students’ platforms. And they are no more likely to be instituted than our high promising teens.
What I think is funny is that most reasonable voters recognize this foolishness and are mildly or even wildly amused. But our wanna-be's continue to multiply and prattle on and on and on.
One statement I heard struck me with its complete candor and accuracy. Our friend from 2016, Bernie, promised that he would never appoint a justice to the Supreme Court that would abolish abortion. Well, what do you know. I agree with Bernie completely. In fact, I would go so far as to project that he will never appoint a SCOTUS Justice ever. Thanks for the reality check, Bernie. That is refreshing among all the blather arising from the candidate corps.
What strange thoughts run through one’s mind at night. At least I have some strange ones. Does a mole make any noises? I was writing about lions and their roars. Then later, the wandering, wondering mind pounced on this idea like a lion on an antelope. What noise would a mole make?
Next thought. I think Cynthia Tobias said this. “We would think a lot less about what others think of us if we realized how seldom they do.” Right on.
Just a thought on prophets. One of the least mentioned of the Old Testament prophets is found in 1 Samuel 17. This prophet accurately predicted the outcome of the day’s battle and the demise of his enemy. Check it out.
45 “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”
Notice verse 46 specifically. This prophet warned his adversary that he would go down and his head would be removed. His supporting army would be wiped out. And what happened? Was this a true prophet? Read on...
48 Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.
50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.
You guessed it. Our prophet was none other than Jesse’s son, David, from Bethlehem. David “complied” with or met every requirement of a prophet. First he was faithful to what had been said before. He did not contradict any previous revelation from God. Second, he did not lead the people away from God. And third, he was completely accurate in his predictions. They came true exactly as he had stated.
So when we read other documents produced by him, we can be assured that those are likewise, “God breathed.” This is in spite of some of his stumbles, nope, sins. But when the Lord spoke through him, it was reliable and authoritative, just as the messages received from other prophets. God spoke through him. I want to hear more.
One last thought. Often Christians are called narrow minded or overly exclusive when we claim that there is only one way to God. That way is through Christ Jesus. As I was reading the Bible today I was in I Samuel 18:18. The context of the story is that David is being invited into Saul’s family, although surreptitiously, Saul was anticipating that his bargain with David would lead to the Philistines killing the shepherd boy.
David asked, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” That triggered an interesting thought. Saul had to invite him into his “house.”
Now refer back to our initial question. Heaven, or God’s house, is what we are being invited to enter. It is God’s house. He sets the conditions under which we can enter, just as Saul outlined the price that David had to pay to be included in his family.
God invites us into His family and consequently, to join Him in heaven for eternity. Just as any one of us would be offended if someone approached our door and demanded entry, so God is offended when admittance to His house is dictated in opposition to His direction.. He has clearly outlined the conditions, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.” (Acts 16:13) Anyone and everyone who attempts to enter by any other claim or manner is considered a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)
The “reasonable” argument is on the side of exclusion. It is unreasonable to expect admittance to anyone’s home when the supplicant refuses to comply with the owner’s specification. We are all familiar with the “No shirt, no shoes, no service,” placard often visible in the window of an establishment. Is the operator unreasonable, or merely exercising his prerogative as owner?
The Lord graciously invites all to come. And like the father in the story of the wedding feast in Matthew 22, the host invited the guests to come. Incidentally, he provided the proper attire. The guest had refused to accept the required clothing and was dismissed–well let’s be frank here–he was ejected.
If some refuse to accept the Lord’s invitation, their only option is to go to “another heaven.” And I am certain that it is not a nice as the one to which we refer. I’m dressed and going. You come too.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Thursday, May 2, 2019
From Levirate Marriage to Living Again
Jesus was the master of “reading” what people said and interpreting what they are thinking and really need to hear. The Gospel writers understood and conveyed this in their accounts of His life. A perfect example is found in Luke 20:27-37. Incidentally, Matthew (Chapter 22), Mark (Chapter 12) and Luke (below) all record this conversation. Reading Luke.
Now there came to Him some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection), 28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 30 and the second 31 and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman died also. 33 In the resurrection therefore, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”
34 Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him.”
Luke began his record of this confrontation with the observation, “... the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection).” So this entire discussion will be about life after death. But they began with a mundane inquiry about unfortunate brothers and their wife. They evidently were employing the reductio ad absurdum logical analysis. This argument suggests the disproof of a proposition by showing an absurdity to which it leads when carried to its logical conclusion. (The convoluted description is Webster’s definition.) The absolute absurdity of this scenario of life after death would preclude any such existence. They were right! That is, if their logic held up.
Jesus answered. Let’s follow His careful refutation to their ridiculous proposition. In the Matthew and Luke accounts He prefaces His answer with the analysis of their faulty logic.
Matthew 22:29
But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
Mark 12:24
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?”
Inaccurate presuppositions will generate preposterous conclusions. They were deficient in their understanding of the Scriptures. And since the Scriptures reveal God and His power, their ignorance caused them to underestimate or discount His power. Consequently, the conclusion was spurious. (I love to use that word.) Jesus was too polite to say that their ignorance was showing, but that conclusion was evident to the observers.
Often we encounter similar challenges today. They begin with, “How can a good God...?” And Jesus’ introduction applies to this query in the same way. Whenever a challenge begins with “a good God,” we know that there is a preconceived conclusion that God would not do whatever they are protesting. This is the logical fallacy called a straw man. The elements of the question are defined in such a way that there is only one answer, the one the questioner is propounding.
“A good God would not send anyone to hell. A good God would not allow such a tragedy to happen. A good God would not create or allow evil.” And Jesus’ response would be the same, “You do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
Several current instances can be cited. In the immediate past week or so, terrorists murdered over 250 worshipers at an Easter service in Sri Lanka; a synagogue was attacked in Southern California, killing one person and wounding several others; and one last tragedy was here in Middle Tennessee. Seven people were murdered by a felon out on parole. Ironically, he was subject to re-arrest for violation of his parole. The officer had not yet received a signed warrant. How could a good God let such things happen? This can be applied to literally every weather intrusion into our calm and peaceful lives, auto or other accidents, crimes against innocents, and other “natural disasters.”
The operative term in this question is “good.” Good, in their definition is one who would not allow such things to happen. So when they do happen, there are only two conclusions. Either God is not good, or there is no God at all. But Jesus answered even this loaded question.
Jesus’ two-pronged evaluation is applicable in all of this. Romans 8:28 gives us the Scriptural foundation for evaluating the “power of God.”
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
We can summarize this as “Know the Scripture and know God.” Our first step is to understand the Scripture. “God causes” which means that in all of this He is in control. God does not cause these things to happen, but He causes the results to be “for good” for those who love Him and are called and living according to His purpose.
Joseph testified to that very thing in Genesis 50:19, 20.
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
For those not in our Genesis class, and those as well, since we are not there yet, Joseph had been kidnapped and taken to Egypt. There he had been a slave, then thrown into prison for a crime that he did not commit, and ignored for several years. When his brothers, the perpetrators of these injustices appeared before him, years later, Joseph proclaimed his understanding of the Scripture’s description of God’s power. God can take even the most egregious circumstances and use them for good. Here it was the preservation of the nation of Israel. Just a small thing in the line of the Seed.
Our recent celebration of Easter is another example of this. God’s Son, Jesus was murdered, crucified on a Roman cross. How can that be “for good?” Three days later, we understood. He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever. What a story! What seemed to be “bad,” turned out to be for good. And not just any old good. This was salvation for everyone who believes in Him.
Joseph and the resurrection also illustrate another critical truth: The revelation of “good” may not be immediate. We may have to wait for the culmination of God’s work, but it will definitely be worth the wait. Adverse circumstances do not disprove the existence of God, they actually confirm it. As we see God working out “good” from seeming insurmountable difficulties, we witness His great power and love.
Michael Rydelnyk made a salient and germane comment on this. Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden in a state of untested holiness. It had never been proved. So when Satan tempted them and they fell, they failed and sin entered the human race. (1 Corinthians 15)
This is bad, right? If there had been no evil in the world, none of these bad things would happen. But, as Dr. Rydelnyk pointed out, since sin had entered the world, and death by sin, the stage was set for the battle of the ages. When Jesus died and was resurrected, He defeated and will ultimately abolish death and evil. That is the message in Corinthians.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Adam brought sin and death into the world, but Jesus will ultimately destroy it. And in the meanwhile, He has decisively defeated it, and Satan. The story has to play out, but in the end, God will triumph, to His eternal glory. And we have the privilege of cooperating with Him.
In today’s meditation, Jesus went from Levirate marriage to eternal life. Joseph went from the pit to prison to the palace in Egypt, to explaining God’s superintendence of the welfare of the Nation of Israel. We may have to be patient, but we can trace God’s intervention in tragic human events to ultimate good in and for us. And we can go from despair to a personal relationship with God. We will not doubt the existence of God, or His good intentions. He will destroy all evil forever. And, as an extra bonus, we get eternal life–with Him.
The more we read His love letter, the Scriptures, the better we will understand and appreciate His power. Read the Bible, it is good for the soul. Don’t let your ignorance show.
Now there came to Him some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection), 28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 30 and the second 31 and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman died also. 33 In the resurrection therefore, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”
34 Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him.”
Luke began his record of this confrontation with the observation, “... the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection).” So this entire discussion will be about life after death. But they began with a mundane inquiry about unfortunate brothers and their wife. They evidently were employing the reductio ad absurdum logical analysis. This argument suggests the disproof of a proposition by showing an absurdity to which it leads when carried to its logical conclusion. (The convoluted description is Webster’s definition.) The absolute absurdity of this scenario of life after death would preclude any such existence. They were right! That is, if their logic held up.
Jesus answered. Let’s follow His careful refutation to their ridiculous proposition. In the Matthew and Luke accounts He prefaces His answer with the analysis of their faulty logic.
Matthew 22:29
But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
Mark 12:24
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?”
Inaccurate presuppositions will generate preposterous conclusions. They were deficient in their understanding of the Scriptures. And since the Scriptures reveal God and His power, their ignorance caused them to underestimate or discount His power. Consequently, the conclusion was spurious. (I love to use that word.) Jesus was too polite to say that their ignorance was showing, but that conclusion was evident to the observers.
Often we encounter similar challenges today. They begin with, “How can a good God...?” And Jesus’ introduction applies to this query in the same way. Whenever a challenge begins with “a good God,” we know that there is a preconceived conclusion that God would not do whatever they are protesting. This is the logical fallacy called a straw man. The elements of the question are defined in such a way that there is only one answer, the one the questioner is propounding.
“A good God would not send anyone to hell. A good God would not allow such a tragedy to happen. A good God would not create or allow evil.” And Jesus’ response would be the same, “You do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
Several current instances can be cited. In the immediate past week or so, terrorists murdered over 250 worshipers at an Easter service in Sri Lanka; a synagogue was attacked in Southern California, killing one person and wounding several others; and one last tragedy was here in Middle Tennessee. Seven people were murdered by a felon out on parole. Ironically, he was subject to re-arrest for violation of his parole. The officer had not yet received a signed warrant. How could a good God let such things happen? This can be applied to literally every weather intrusion into our calm and peaceful lives, auto or other accidents, crimes against innocents, and other “natural disasters.”
The operative term in this question is “good.” Good, in their definition is one who would not allow such things to happen. So when they do happen, there are only two conclusions. Either God is not good, or there is no God at all. But Jesus answered even this loaded question.
Jesus’ two-pronged evaluation is applicable in all of this. Romans 8:28 gives us the Scriptural foundation for evaluating the “power of God.”
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
We can summarize this as “Know the Scripture and know God.” Our first step is to understand the Scripture. “God causes” which means that in all of this He is in control. God does not cause these things to happen, but He causes the results to be “for good” for those who love Him and are called and living according to His purpose.
Joseph testified to that very thing in Genesis 50:19, 20.
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
For those not in our Genesis class, and those as well, since we are not there yet, Joseph had been kidnapped and taken to Egypt. There he had been a slave, then thrown into prison for a crime that he did not commit, and ignored for several years. When his brothers, the perpetrators of these injustices appeared before him, years later, Joseph proclaimed his understanding of the Scripture’s description of God’s power. God can take even the most egregious circumstances and use them for good. Here it was the preservation of the nation of Israel. Just a small thing in the line of the Seed.
Our recent celebration of Easter is another example of this. God’s Son, Jesus was murdered, crucified on a Roman cross. How can that be “for good?” Three days later, we understood. He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever. What a story! What seemed to be “bad,” turned out to be for good. And not just any old good. This was salvation for everyone who believes in Him.
Joseph and the resurrection also illustrate another critical truth: The revelation of “good” may not be immediate. We may have to wait for the culmination of God’s work, but it will definitely be worth the wait. Adverse circumstances do not disprove the existence of God, they actually confirm it. As we see God working out “good” from seeming insurmountable difficulties, we witness His great power and love.
Michael Rydelnyk made a salient and germane comment on this. Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden in a state of untested holiness. It had never been proved. So when Satan tempted them and they fell, they failed and sin entered the human race. (1 Corinthians 15)
This is bad, right? If there had been no evil in the world, none of these bad things would happen. But, as Dr. Rydelnyk pointed out, since sin had entered the world, and death by sin, the stage was set for the battle of the ages. When Jesus died and was resurrected, He defeated and will ultimately abolish death and evil. That is the message in Corinthians.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Adam brought sin and death into the world, but Jesus will ultimately destroy it. And in the meanwhile, He has decisively defeated it, and Satan. The story has to play out, but in the end, God will triumph, to His eternal glory. And we have the privilege of cooperating with Him.
In today’s meditation, Jesus went from Levirate marriage to eternal life. Joseph went from the pit to prison to the palace in Egypt, to explaining God’s superintendence of the welfare of the Nation of Israel. We may have to be patient, but we can trace God’s intervention in tragic human events to ultimate good in and for us. And we can go from despair to a personal relationship with God. We will not doubt the existence of God, or His good intentions. He will destroy all evil forever. And, as an extra bonus, we get eternal life–with Him.
The more we read His love letter, the Scriptures, the better we will understand and appreciate His power. Read the Bible, it is good for the soul. Don’t let your ignorance show.
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