Word of the Month - Attributes of God: Present

 

Attribute n. - a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

[See the rest of this series.]

Jeremiah 23:23-24  Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.

The big fancy word for this is omnipresent, which just means that God is present everywhere at once.  So, simply put we may say that “God is present” and that will be as true for you as it is for me regardless of our separate locations.  It will also be true of all the other places on earth, the planets, space and heaven. 

That stretches our human minds much farther than usual, doesn’t it?  We tend to focus more on the “present with me and mine” aspect and tend to forget the bigger picture.  Probably this is because it is so much bigger than what we can grasp, but also I suspect that we are just a lot more interested in our own little lives than in all that “out there”.  Sometimes I feel like my thinking is rather cramped.

But, the reality of God’s presence is that He is not limited by our finite thinking.  He is present everywhere at all times whether or not we think about it or understand it.  He is not hindered by our small minds, and that is a very good thing!

Isaiah 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

 

Even when We Don’t “Feel” Him

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Our unbelief does not hinder Him being present either.  He is present with us regardless of how we feel about it.  We may not always sense His presence or nearness, but He is still with us. 

Imagine if your mother or friend or spouse were with you and you kept telling them they weren’t there because you didn’t feel like they were there.  That would be rather awkward wouldn’t it?  Sometimes we do feel like someone is with us in body but their mind is somewhere else – they’re really not with us.  God isn’t like that.  He is with us and He is present in Spirit and fully aware of everything in the situation, but He is not present in body.  So, it is even more awkward for us to insist that He is not present; but there are times we still feel that way.

I think part of the reason for that is that we are not drawing near to Him.  There is a sense in which God is present with us and yet we don’t feel close because we have failed to obey the command to draw near to Him.

James 4:8  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

The problem here seems to be the sin when we look at the whole verse.  It’s like a father keeping his mud-encrusted son at arm’s length.  The father is still present, but there can’t be close fellowship because of all the dirt.  Once the son is cleaned up (confessing sin, 1 John 1:9), then that closeness can be restored.  But the father was there all along.

And, so is God. 

He is even present with those who are not His children by faith in Jesus Christ because He is literally, not figuratively, everywhere at once.  So, for those who are not born again, He is as near to them but they don’t know it because there is no relationship there.  Even so, they are as close to that nearness as simply calling on Him for salvation.

Acts 2:21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

And the name that must be called upon is Jesus Christ -

Acts 4:10 & 12  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole…Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

He is no farther away than the name of His Son to anyone who will believe – anyone who calls upon the name of the Lord.  That is an amazingly wonderful thought!

 

“I Am with You”

Matthew 28:19-20  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

If you remember, “you” means “you plural” – “you all”; and “thou” means “you singular” – “you right there, yeah, I’m talking to YOU.”

So, from these two passages we can see that the Lord Jesus has promised to be with us as the church, as His whole body; and He has promised to be with us individually.  We might say separately and together.

It is interesting that in Matt. 28 He said “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”  That is in the present tense – I AM – which reminds us of His name, “I AM THAT I AM” (Ex. 3:14), and of the fact that Jesus said that “before Abraham was, I am.” (Jn. 8:58)  The Lord is present in all time now.  That is something that we cannot comprehend with our human minds.  He is not only present in all space, He is present in all of time simultaneously.  It kind of makes my head hurt to even think about it.

It is also interesting that in the context of the above verses He is with us as a group as we go and preach the gospel and teach the things He commanded us, but He is with us individually where we meet the needs of this life on a day-to-day basis.  This reminds me of a line from a poem by Elizabeth Barret Browning:

“I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.”

Only, the Lord Jesus loves us far more deeply than a woman could ever love a man, and He truly knows the level of each day’s need for each and every one of us.  This is because He is truly present with us in a way that no human can ever be with another human, and He loves us in a way that no two humans ever loved each other.

One way that He is with us is in the person of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.  Though Jesus left physically, He gives us His Spirit to be with us and in us when we are saved.

John 15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

In fact, this was the very reason that Jesus Christ came – to make it possible for us to have God with us at a level and in a way that had not been before.

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

It is through the birth, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ that we can truly have God with us.  Though He was present always, and though He was with some in the Old Testament in a close way, there is a new nearness for the believer after the cross than there was before.  We can now have boldness to come before the throne of God at any time in any place because He is as close as….well, the presence of His Son!

Hebrews 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 8:1  Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;

Near, so very near to God,
Nearer I cannot be;
For in the person of His Son
I am as near as He.

So dear, so very dear to God,
More dear I cannot be;
The love wherewith He loves the Son -
Such is His love to me.

- Catesby Paget

 

Conclusion

God is so very present in this world that not even a common little bird can die without Him knowing about it.

Matthew 10:29  Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father.

How can we doubt His presence with us when He is present with the sparrows?  Surely we can believe Him and His infinite interest and presence with all His creation.  And, yet it is strange how quickly we forget…

It is strange we go on living our everyday lives
So carelessly, stumbling, dully we plod
Our commonplace paths, and forget that we walk
Every day, every hour, in the presence of God.

- Martha Snell Nicholson

Word of the Month – Attributes of God: True

 

Attribute n. - a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

[See the rest of this series.]

 

As we look about us it is good to remember that though the world is full of lies and uncertainty there is One True God and He has given us His absolute truth in His Son and in His word.  This is the attribute that I suggest we think upon this month – that God is true.

John 18:37-38  Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth?…

This is an age old question that man had been constantly trying to answer.  The tragedy of history, and also the present, is that very few really want the correct answer.  They want philosophy, humanism, false religions, theories, lies, entertainment and so much more.  (Yes, there are people who would rather be lied to and entertained than to know the truth.)

God has answered this question for us, however.

The One True God

God has declared Himself to be the true God.  Because He is the true God, He, and only He, is able to do this.

Jeremiah 10:10  But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.

1 Thessalonians 1:9-10  For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

All the gods that are worshipped in this world are false and are nothing.  There is only one true God, and that is the God of the Bible, the LORD God Almighty.  He is all-powerful and living and He is able to deal with all of this earth and all that the nations have done or will do.  There is none besides Him.  He alone is the true God.

Humans Are Liars

We read in Romans 3:4,  …yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

All of mankind are liars.  I know there are some people who are obsessed with being truthful, but they have fallen short.  I found out for myself that it is impossible in this sinful world.  The most simple lies we tell regularly are when people ask us, “How are you?” and we answer, “Fine” or “Doing good”, when in fact we are not fine or doing good. But, we know they don’t really want to hear how we feel so we feel compelled to hide behind this falsehood.  

I remember years ago when a friend of our family’s told my mom that her son had never lied to her, that he was always truthful.  Later my mom pointed out to me that she should not have said that because there is no such thing as a child who never lies.  She said to me that she was concerned about that lady’s claim and the bad fruit that might come from her mistaken view of him.  But then, perhaps the lady herself was the one who was lying.  Who’s to say?

John 3:31-34  He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

As earthly beings, we speak earthly things.  This includes not always telling “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”  Jesus Christ was sent by His Father to speak the truth of God to us, and whoever believes His testimony is saying that God is true. 

Humans Mishandle God’s Truth

Mankind also has a way of mishandling the truth.  They may deny it outright, as with atheists, evolutionists, and many who are offended by God’s definition of sin.  They may use the truth to justify their lies or give themselves credibility, as with cults and –isms that have elements of truth which they use to deceive people into thinking their lies are true. (Examples: the Roman Catholic Church, the Latter Day Saints [usual disclaimers apply], Seventh Day Adventists, Torah keepers, the Patriarchy Movement, Jehovah’s Witnesses, etc.)  By incorporating a large or small portion of God’s truth into their belief system, they hope to justify the lies that they also teach.  (I speak of the systems, not the individual followers who are often ignorant of the deceptions that they have been taught.)

Romans 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Romans 1:24-25  Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Changing the truth of God into a lie could almost be called an epidemic.  There are so many ways this is played out.  We see the effects of this throughout U.S. culture: from the Bible publishers who make horrible changes to the word of God and publish and sell it as “God’s word”, to those who justify sexual deviations by denying what the scripture says, to those who declare that God approves of their political agenda because they are “right”.  At least some of these are present in some other countries as well.  It is no wonder then that we see a world that is given up to uncleanness and to dishonoring their bodies (and I don’t think this just means sexual things as there are so many other ways this is appearing in Western culture now).

God Is True and His Ways Are True

God is not only the true God, He is also true and His ways are true.  Being the true God means that He is the only God, the only real God.  When we say that He is true and that His ways are truth, this speaks to us of what kind of God He is.

Psalms 86:15  But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Revelation 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.

Deuteronomy 32:4  He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

One of the tough things to deal with regarding God’s ways being true is that we don’t always understand His ways.  We read in Isaiah 55:8-9,  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  This can make it hard for us to understand His truth at times.  But, this is OK because this is an aspect of God that we must take by faith rather than through our own flawed reasoning.  Because God is true and we are not, we must accept His word over our own false thoughts.  This is the way of safety and of truth.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Jesus Christ, as the Son of God and God in the flesh, is the way and the truth.  If we would come to the God of truth, we must come through Jesus Christ or we cannot come at all.  The true God whose ways are true has given us one true way by which we can come to Him, and that is through the person of His Son!  This is wonderful and miraculous!

John 8:31-32  Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Truth and freedom are available to all who will believe on the the Lord Jesus Christ!

God’s Word Is True

John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

If there is no version of God’s word available that is true, how can we know that God is true?  If we have a true God who is a God of truth He must have a true word and, we can only come to know Him in truth through His true revelation of Himself.  This is one reason that the devil has worked so diligently to corrupt the true words of God.  We believe and are sure that God has preserved His word in the Received Text of the Greek and the Masoretic Hebrew and through a number of translations based upon these texts in various languages.  I do not have time or space to delve into this subject deeply here but one outstanding indication that many of the English, and other language, translations are not true is that they contain lies and/or they make God a liar. [Further reading on this subject.]

When God gave David the promise that his house and kingdom and throne would be established forever (2 Sam. 7:16) David replied before God, and part of what he said was, “For thou, O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, hast revealed to thy servant, saying, I will build thee an house: therefore hath thy servant found in his heart to pray this prayer unto thee.  And now, O Lord GOD, thou art that God, and thy words be true, and thou hast promised this goodness unto thy servant:”  2 Samuel 7:27-28  David believed that he would receive this promise because he knew that God’s words are true.  We also must believe that God’s words are true if we would receive the promise of eternal salvation.  You cannot call God a liar and know His truth at the same time.

We read in Psalms 19:9,  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

The judgments of the LORD are true and consequently are fully trustworthy. 

“We may trust Him fully
All for us to do;
They who trust Him wholly
Find Him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehovah, hearts are fully blest
Finding, as He promised, perfect peace and rest.”

- Frances Ridley Havergal

2 Thessalonians 2:13  But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Conclusion

John 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Because Jesus Christ is the Son of the true God,

and because He is the way, the truth and the life,

and because He is the word of God (John 1:1-14) and God’s word is truth,

it is no wonder that He is inseparable from our way to God and that He IS our way to God.  You cannot have the truth without the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the true God and the true God in the flesh.  Your eternal life depends upon it.  John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Let’s meditate upon the the true God and His Son who is the truth, and upon the true word of God through which He reveals His truth to mankind.  If we will focus on the truth, the lies will be self-evident.  As darkness is expelled by light, so lies are exposed by the truth of God – both in our own lives and in our view of the world.  In a world full of lies, this is a profoundly reassuring truth.  And, our salvation depends upon it.

1 John 5:20  And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Word of the Month – Attributes of God: Safe

 

Attribute n. - a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

No. 10 in a series.

 

Proverbs 21:31  … safety is of the LORD.

There are a lot of reasons why we worry about safety.  Tragic world events remind us of the fragileness of what we might call public safety.  Crime, domestic violence, civil unrest, and various things can cause concern for personal safety of ourselves or those we know and love.  The tales of religious figures and Christian leaders who commit crimes or do evil deeds against others, especially women and children, may cause fear also. 

The fear of not being “safe” is one of the most powerful motivating factors – both for good and for evil.  Seatbelts, the abolishment of using mustard gas in war (theoretically), safety seals on jars, and so many things have happened to provide safety.  On the other extreme we see genocide and the casting out of whole groups of people who are seen as “unsafe” (the Holocaust and some refugee situations being prime examples).

The only source of real safety is the Lord.  I’m including it as an attribute because He is safe.  In the midst of all of the things that make us doubt our safety, we can know that safety is from Him.

Safety is from the Lord.

Psalms 4:8  I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.

Proverbs 21:31  The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

So many people offer plans whereby we supposedly may be “safe”.  Our families and children will be safe if we follow the plans of certain men and women.  Our nation will be safe if we will just elect so-and-so or follow a certain political ideology.  Our world will be safe if we eliminate this or that.  Our future will be safe if we make these plans or do these things.

The truth is, if the Lord doesn’t give safety, all the efforts of man are in vain.

Psalms 127:1  Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.

Foreseeing evil (Prv. 22:3) may have its merit, but your safety will be from the Lord regardless of what plans or measures you take.  Yes, there is a time to seek out safety (from violence, from fear, from famine, from abuse, etc.), but ultimately it is the Lord who will provide that and lead you to that.

He is safe to trust.

Proverbs 29:25  The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Many of the reasons people fear for their safety or the safety of their families are because of the fear of man.  This is a powerful fear.  It will lead people to become refugees.  It will lead people to take their families and hide away in remote areas or cross whole continents to find a “safer” place.  It will lead people to live the lives of hermits, to leave the city or the country, to change their whole way of life, to stockpile many things.  And, to be clear, there are sometimes just reasons for these actions, but at other times there are not.

1 Thessalonians 5:3  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Sadly, we often find that man’s plans for peace and safety only lead to destruction.  The survivalist movement is largely based upon the fear of man and man’s plan to answer that.  Many parents who have tried to raise their children with the perfect formula to produce “good, godly adults” have found to their sorrow that the end was destructive in some way or another.  People have fled to far places in search of safety only to find that they are not welcome or that their safety is not guaranteed in the place where they ended up.

Psalms 118:8  It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

There is also the problem of political and military plans that are supposed to bring us “safety”.  If we could just elect this person or that person, or have a change of government, or conquer this enemy then everything would be safe.

Psalms 33:16-19  There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength. Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy; To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.

The host of soldiers and the horse is the equivalent of modern day military might.  The modern machines and armies are just as vain for safety as the horse and hosts, as history has proven over and over again.

Fearing man is a snare – a trap.  It will lead us to do things that are extreme and not profitable for us, our families or our nations/tribes.  It can get us into all kinds of trouble. 

By contrast, putting our trust in the Lord is safe.  No matter where we are or what evil men we fear, if we are trusting the Lord we are safe.  No, it does not guarantee that nothing “bad” will ever happen to us or our families, but when we are in God’s will – trusting Him – He will lead us and keep us and only allow such things as He sees fit to come to us. 

Sometimes it’s hard to grasp that, isn’t it?  But, we are safe in His hand.

Psalms 119:117  Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.

We can also trust Him with our enemies and those who would do us evil. 

Psalms 12:5  For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

He is able to overthrow the enemy, as the history of Israel shows us in scripture.  Other times, He allows the enemy to conquer for His own reasons, and sometimes keeps His own safe even in the midst of that, as with Daniel and his friends who survived and lived successfully in the court of Babylon.  Sometimes we fear terribly what might become of us in some situation, and yet God is able to overrule the wicked if He sees fit.

Our future is safe with the Lord.

Psalms 78:52-53  But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

Sometimes the place that God leads us may look very dangerous.  Walking into that parted Red Sea must have been frightening to some of the Israelites, but it was the safest way for them to go, the only way of safety actually.  As they stood on that shore with their enemies behind them and this strange way through a sea before them, the future must not have looked very safe to them.  But, it was because it was the Lord’s way.

The Red Sea

When the Children of Israel crossed the sea,
It comforts my heart to know
That there must have been timorous ones
Who faltered and feared to go;

Feared the ribbon of road which stretched
Ahead like a narrow track,
With the waves piled high on either side,
And nothing to hold them back.

Nothing to hold them back but a Hand
They could neither see nor feel;
Their God seemed distant and far away,
And only the peril real.

Yet the fearful ones were as safe as the brave,
For the mercy of God is wide.
Craven, and fearless,
He led them all
Dry shod to the other side.

And I think of the needless terror and pain
We bring, to our own Red Sea.
Strengthen Thy timorous ones, dear Lord,
And help us to trust in Thee!

Martha Snell Nicholson.

I remember a story from a missionary to Surinam, from years ago.  There was a witch doctor, or whatever they called him, who was angry at the presence of the Gospel there and he planned a display of his Satanic power to impress the people.  Word was put out that he would walk on broken glass and walk in a fire.  (Fire walks seem to be fairly common demonstrations of devilish power.)  The missionary heard that some of the weaker Christians had gone to this event and the Spirit of God moved him to act.  He went to the devil dance, and under the power of God he took off his shoes and socks, walked through the glass and stamped out the fire.  Then he stood there, unharmed, and rebuked the Christians who were present for their unfaithfulness and distrust of the power of God.  From a human standpoint, that seems like a very dangerous place for him to be, and it was.  But, in the power and will of God he was completely safe, just as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were in the fiery furnace and Daniel was in the lion’s den.

The far future is completely safe with the Lord as well.

Zechariah 14:4, 10-11  And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south…All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem: and it shall be lifted up, and inhabited in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananeel unto the king's winepresses.  And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.

It has been many a long year since Jerusalem was safely inhabited, but God has promised to bring this again with the return of Jesus Christ.

Most importantly, it is safe to trust Him with our eternal salvation, which is almost too far in the future to comprehend.

Proverbs 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.

Romans 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The name of the Lord Jesus Christ becomes our strong tower of safety when we call upon Him for our salvation.  His name alone is the safe hiding place of our souls.

"For Thou Art With Me"

I know not when I go, nor where,
From this familiar scene;
But Christ is here and He is there
And all the way between;

And, when I pass from all I know
To that dim, vast unknown,
Though late I stay, or soon I go,
I shall not go alone.

By Annie Johnson Flint [altered]

Lastly, there is safety in knowing God’s word and wisdom.

One thing that can preserve us from the snare of trusting men, following men’s plans, and fearing what the future may hold, is to know God’s word and to follow the wisdom He has given us through it.

Philippians 3:1  Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

Reading, studying and teaching God’s word over and over again will give that safety of knowing what He really did say.  By this we will have the ability to examine what men say.  Acts 17:11  These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

We find the wisdom of God speaking in Proverbs 1:31-33,  Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.  But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Then we read in Proverbs 3:21-23,  My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion: So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck. Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

All of this means work and study.  We cannot expect to know the will of God and the wisdom of God if we do not know the word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15-16  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Conclusion

To paraphrase an old poem:

Safe, so very safe with God,
Safer I cannot be,
For in the person of His Son,
I’m just as safe as He.

Hebrews 7:24-25  But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.  Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Word of the Month - Attributes of God: Love

 

Attribute n. - a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

No. 9 in the Attributes of God series.

The subject of the love of God is such a vast one that I have been hesitating to actually write about it.  One could write many articles, even books, and still barely scratch the surface.  As I mentioned at the beginning of this series, this is not a theological study, so I’ve decided to just share some thoughts that came to mind on the subject of love.

1 John 4:8  …God is love.

Love is a little hard to define.  The definitions I read didn’t impress me overly much, especially when considered in relation to God’s love.  Some people view love as strictly a feeling.  Others have defined it as a choice.  Personally, I think there is something of both about it.  Since it is so hard to define, I think we should consider some aspects of love as we find it in scripture.  These are given in no particular order as to importance.

Love is giving and generous.

John 3:16-17  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

Real love gives good gifts.  It gives itself.  It gives its best possessions. This is the love that God has shown to us.  In particular, He gave us His best beloved – His only begotten Son.  In Jesus Christ, God has given us many wonderful things as well.  Ephesians 2:4-6  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-17  Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

He has also given us His Spirit. 1 John 4:13  Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

Love is not blind.

From John 3:16-17 we also see that true love is not blind.  God loved us, but He also saw the problem.  He saw our sinful, lost condition.  He loved us while we were still sinners, when we were unlovely and ungodly.

Romans 5:6-9  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

Love is sacrificial.

So continuing on from the verses in Romans 5, we also see that love not only gives, but that it is sacrificial, even unto death.  God gave His Son to die, and Jesus Christ was willing to die for us because of His great love for us, even when we were still sinners.  There is nothing that we could ever do to earn a love like that.  It had to be given to us by God when we still didn’t understand it or the extent of our need.

John 15:13-14  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

We are His friends if we are born again and walking after His Spirit, but Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners, as Romans 5 tells us.  This is beyond our human comprehending.  We can only receive it by faith because it is past understanding.

Love forgives.

Without the forgiveness of God we cannot ultimately benefit from His love.  His love, and the sacrifice He gave to save us, can only be applied through His forgiveness of our sins which separated us from Him.  This forgiveness comes to us through grace, repentance and faith, and ultimately through the drawing of His Holy Spirit. 

Acts 20:21  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

One of the most beautiful examples in scripture that we have of this is the parable of the prodigal son.  The father, though he didn’t go out and drag his wayward child home against his will, was watching for the first small sign of repentance.  He saw his returning child “a great way off” and ran to meet him.  That means his father-heart was watching constantly for his son’s return.  This is such a moving picture of God’s love for us.  It is wonderful how the father met him with love and forgiveness, not with accusations.  The father knew that the son’s repentance was real and he accepted it without rebuke.  This is a God-like forgiveness, and it stems from His amazing love.

Luke 15:17-24  And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Love begets love.

1 John 4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

One of the wonderful aspects of God’s love for us is that when we accept it, it causes us to love Him in return.  This is not always true of human love, it seems to me. 

How could we help but love God considering all He has given us in His love?!  And yet, there is this mysterious thing about it because, if we don’t accept His love and believe He loves us, we can’t love Him in return.  We must acknowledge His love for us first, and we must receive the free gift that His love offers us – His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 13:34-35  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Not only will God’s love for us teach us to love Him, but it will cause us to love our fellow believers.  We are commanded to do so, because to some degree love is a choice, as this verse indicates.  But, if we truly love the Lord, we will want to obey His commandment to us.

1 John 5:1-3  Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1 Peter 1:7-8  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Love is safe.

1 John 4:18  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

One of the most mind-boggling aspects of God’s love is its immense safety.  In some instances human love can be intensely safe, but we all know that it can fail us too, for all flesh is grass (1 Peter 1:24-15).  But, with God’s love this is impossible.  We may not always understand what He is doing or why He is doing it  (Rom. 8:28), but the promises that He has given us about His eternal love are so sure, so unnegotiable, that it is only our own human weakness that ever causes us to question His love for us.

Romans 8:35-39  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Regarding human love we read in Song of Solomon 8:6-7,  Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.  Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned. 

If this is true about the love between a man and woman, it is infinitely more so with the love of God.  His love is stronger than death. (Jesus arose from the grave for our eternal life, so that we need not fear death.)  God’s love cannot be quenched; it cannot be drowned, as it were.  And, most truly, we cannot buy God’s love.  …[A]ll our righteousnesses are as flithy rags before Him (Isaiah 64:6).  He would condemn all our efforts to earn His love.

Jeremiah 31:3  The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Love serves the beloved.

The Lord Jesus Christ showed us His love, not only by dying for us, but by living for us!  He willingly served His disciples, and He told us to follow His example.

John 13:13-16  Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:15,  And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.  In the spirit of God’s love for him and for us all, Paul was glad to spend and be spent for other believers, even when he knew that they might not appreciate it.

Galatians 5:13  For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Luke 16:13  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Conclusion

I can’t conclude with anything better than this:

1 John 4:7-12  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Word of the Month- Attributes of God: The Judge

 

Attribute n. - a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

No. 8 in the Attributes of God series.

NPS Photo by Michael Quinn (Grand Canyon National Park, Cape Royale).  Use of this photo in no way indicates the owner’s approval of the content of this blog.

Daniel 7:9-10  I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

When I see pictures of the Grand Canyon I see a lot of rugged beauty.  I also see an awe-inspiring display of the power of large amounts of water.  But, one thing this amazing natural wonder reminds me of is God’s wrath on sin.  As the waters receded from the high country of northern Arizona and its environs, this spectacular gorge was formed deep into the earth.  That water primarily came from the run off of the Genesis Flood, and the Flood was God’s judgment upon sinful man.

In thinking about God as the Judge, I think that this aspect of His nature is one reason that sinful man tends to resent and even hate Him.  Because God is the Creator, because He has put certain cause-and-effect laws into place, ultimately He has the right to judge His creation.  He made it, He made the rules, and He has the right to be the Judge.  This rubs sinners all the wrong way.  The natural man does not want to acknowledge that he/she will someday give account before God Almighty, even though this consciousness is obviously present in all mankind.  In order to try to “escape” it, many devices are used – false religions to salve the conscience, denial of God and His rights as Creator, willful ignorance, imaginary alternate scenarios, etc.  But, they cannot escape by these.  This world in on a one was street to a meeting with God, and there is only one way to escape the righteous judgment of God – a personal relationship with Jesus Christ who already met the requirements of the Judge.

Psalms 50:4-6  He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that he may judge his people. Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. And the heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself. Selah.

God Is The Judge

It also occurred to me that God is THE Judge.  There are not many judges when it comes to the final judge.  There is only one and He is the Lord God Almighty, the great I AM.  He is not fickle and capricious as the Greek gods.  He is not irrationally vengeful like the gods of many religions.  He is not ignorant and half informed as most human “gods” tend to be.

Humans like to be judges of many things.  There are the mob vigilantes who attack “villains” through social media, picketing and worse.  There are kings and popes and men in high places who want to manipulate the history of the world for their own evil ends.  And there are many, many people in between.  People feel empowered by the ability to judge others.  People also feel threatened by those who judge them, whether unjustly or not.  This is one reason why so many tend to beat each other over the head with Matthew 7:1,  Judge not, that ye be not judged; while ignoring John 7:24, Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. 

Judgment is a very touchy subject, there is no getting around it.  Many things have been named “The Judge”, a movie, a T.V. show, a gun, etc.  “Appearing before the judge” is meant to strike fear into people.  But the most offensive Judge to human pride and sin is The Judge of all the earth.

The first mention of the Lord by this name is in Genesis 18:25,  That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?  Here Abraham was pleading for Sodom and Gomorrah for the sake of his nephew Lot who lived there.  He was reminding God that slaying the righteous with the wicked was not something that a righteous judge would do, and he calls Him “the Judge of all the earth”.  This is a point that causes “all the earth” a lot of irritation and angst because they don’t want a righteous Judge to be the final and only Judge who will determine their eternal destiny.

Again, the Lord is called “the Judge” by Jephthah in Judges 11:27,  Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.  He was rebuking the children of Ammon for trying to start a war with Israel at the time.

We see in several places in scripture where people asked that the Lord judge between them and someone else as Jephthah did.  Another example is when David was speaking to Saul after he had cut off the skirt of Saul’s garment in the cave and was trying to prove to Saul that he was not seeking to kill him. 1 Samuel 24:12  The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee… 15  The LORD therefore be judge, and judge between me and thee, and see, and plead my cause, and deliver me out of thine hand.  Placing such situations in the hands of the righteous Judge is a wise thing to do if you know you are not in the wrong. 

We read in Psalms 75:7,  But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.  For those that do not have peace with Him through Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:1), this is a very disturbing fact.  In fact, this is a problem for some who claim Christ because they want to be “set up” as something important on their own terms, not the Lord’s.  It is hard to be “put down” when we think we deserve a more important place in our world.

Paul specifies again for us that the Lord is the righteous judge.  This is so important to remember in this world of distorted justice.  2 Timothy 4:8  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

And, finally, we see that He is the Judge of all.  Hebrews 12:23  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

The Hope of A Righteous Judge

As mere humans we have no power against so many of the evil things that are in this wicked world.  Jehoshaphat prayed in 2 Chronicles 20:12,  O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee.  Our only hope amidst so much evil is the righteous Judge.  This judgment may be now in some current form, if God so wills, or we may have to wait to see it in the final judgment.  For those who are the children of God by faith in Jesus Christ, the hope of judgment by the Judge of all the earth should be a great comfort.  The fact that He is righteous and there will be no corrupting of justice with Him should explain to us why He has told us through Paul,   Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Romans 12:19

We read in Psalms 9:7-8,  But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.  This is a powerful statement, but it is also one of the things that most frightens fallen mankind, because somewhere inside them, they know they don’t have what it takes to stand in that day of judgment before God Almighty.  I believe this is one reason we see so much hate and thrashing about trying to change the rules and make a different “plan”.  It is fear of the truth about who God is and His power to judge them and their works.

Here are some more passages regarding God’s judgment on sinful mankind.

1 Samuel 2:10  The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.   (Hannah’s prayer)

Psalms 94:2-3  Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph?

Psalms 10:17-18  LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:  To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.  This is a wonderful hope!  The day is coming, and perhaps not far away, when there will be no more oppression by man!  A wonderful, wonderful promise!

Isaiah 33:22  For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us.  Though we may suffer in this life, ultimately we are on the side of the Judge of all the earth and He will even all scores, He will avenge His children.  He will save us. 

2 Timothy 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

Psalms 98:7-9  Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.  Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Acts 17:31  Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.  (That man is the Lord Jesus Christ.)

John 12:48  He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Psalms 82:8  Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

God Deals with His Own

Ezekiel 18:30  Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin.

One last point that we should not fail to remember is that God will also  judge His own.  He will not judge them in the same way that He judges the world but, as Christians, we still have to answer to Him for our lives both now and at the judgment seat of Christ where our works are judged.

Romans 14:10-12  But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

2 Corinthians 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

A particular word of sober warning is given to husbands and wives in Hebrews 13:4,  Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

1 Peter 4:17-19  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

In Conclusion

The fact that God is the Judge of all the earth, the righteous Judge and the final Judge should give us peace, confidence of deliverance in His right time, hope of a better future, and it should inspire us to  …walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.  1 Thessalonians 2:12 

 

Revelation 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Word of the Month- Attributes of God: Unchanging

 

Attribute n. - a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

[See the rest of this series.]

Table Mountain, South Africa

Malachi 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

We live in a world that is constantly changing.  People change.  Life changes.  Nations change.  Churches change.  Many of the changes we see are discouraging, sad, or frustrating.  It can become overwhelming at times.  It seems like this would be a good month to think about how God does not change!

There is a human philosophy that “change is good” and therefore we should always embrace it.  This, however, is not consistent with scripture.

Change Can Be Bad

Proverbs 24:21-22  My son, fear thou the LORD and the king: and meddle not with them that are given to change:  For their calamity shall rise suddenly; and who knoweth the ruin of them both?

Being given to change and constantly craving change is a form of discontent.  People who are always needing change to feel satisfied with their lives have a hard time being still and knowing God.  If they don’t get the change they crave, they will make it happen themselves, even to the point of making trouble for themselves and others. 

In the context of this verse, though, it appears to me that God is talking about those who are looking for change in their government.  Those who are given to change in their leadership (like voting in a new leader every 4 years?) tend to get themselves in trouble over the long haul.  Those who are constantly looking for some new candidate to “save the country” (America) are doomed to disappointment in this day and age.  We should not be constantly focused on rescuing our nation through some new leader and change.  That is what the present administration promised the U.S. when it came into office, and this change has not been a blessing.  That is what Adolf Hitler offered Germany when he came into power and it didn’t work out well either!  God has good reason to tell us not to meddle with them that are given to change in the area of governments!

Daniel 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

This passage is likely speaking of the Anti-christ, the man of sin who will rise up to lead the world in the last days.  It clearly says that he will think he can change times and laws.  “The times, they are a changing”, as the saying goes.  The laws are changing as well.  This could be a trend that will only increase if we are close to the return of Jesus Christ.  It is inevitable, but it is not pleasant for those who follow the unchanging God.  Sometimes laws may change for the better, but the indication of this passage is that the changes are away from God and truth.  We see this in many places today.

Romans 1:22-25  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

We also see a lot of this these days – the changing of the glory of God into the image of man and creatures, and changing the truth of God into a lie.  This covers all the bases; from heathens and the world who deny the glory and truth of God and live for their idols, to the modern church that follows every trend and wind of doctrine (Eph. 4:13-14).  We see God’s truth being adjusted and redefined constantly in Christendom, and then we are surprised when the world wants to redefine it?  Really?

[By the way, this is one reason that my husband and I hold to the King James Bible.  We believe that we should have a translation of scripture that reflects the unchanging God.]

Change Can Be Good

Some change is necessary or unavoidable: change like the cycle of life as loved ones die and new ones are born, the passing of the seasons, the changes of life from aging, etc.  But, some changes are definitely good, even from our limited human view.

Philippians 3:20-21  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

This is a wonderful change!  To have our vile bodies changed to be like His is truly a change that we can look forward to with joy.  This amazing change is spoken of again in 1 Corinthians 15:51-53,  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

We also should be changing now in our daily walk with Christ.

2 Corinthians 3:18  But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

This is about growth and being conformed to the image of God’s Son (Rom. 8:29).  While this change is a good and blessed change, it can also be painful and unpleasant as it occurs (Heb. 12:11).

Hebrews 7:12  For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

This is speaking of Jesus Christ and how He was a priest of the order of Melchisedec, not of the tribe of Levi.  That there was a change of the law is to our benefit because it allowed one – Jesus Christ – to become our high priest, and through Him the veil has been rent and we have access to the holiest place (Heb. 10:19-21), something that was not available under the O.T. Law.

God Is Unchanging

In the midst of all the change that goes on around and in us, it is of great comfort to know that God does not change.  He may work with different people differently, He may deal with different situations or groups differently, but He Himself is the same forever.  What is sin before Him today will be tomorrow and 100 years from now and 1000 years from now.  His mercy will be new every morning, which is why we are not consumed by His wrath on sin which also does not change.   

Lamentations 3:21-24  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

The fact that the Lord does not change should give us good hope.  We can know that as He kept many, many promises yesterday, He will today and forever.

Hebrews 6:17-18  Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath:  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

The counsels and oaths of God are immutable – they can’t change.  In other words, it isn’t just that they won’t change, they actually cannot change.  Because He is also eternal, that means that His promises are also eternal.  He is not going to keep His promises to us today and tomorrow “change His mind” and stop.  He is not a liar – it is impossible for Him to lie. 

James 1:17  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

With the Lord there is not even a shadow of turning.  I believe this comes from the idea of the sundial.  If you stand and watch a sundial you will, after a little bit, begin to notice that the shadow is moving – turning – on the face of the dial (marking off the minutes).  But, the Father of lights doesn’t change.  The shadow will never move, there will be no varying with Him.

Sadly, I think there are some people who actually resent the fact that God is unchanging, even among those who profess to be Christians.  They would like us to believe that God is thoroughly modern and changes with the times because that gives them license to change as well.  But, according to scripture the Lord would have us reflect His unchangeableness as we follow Him.  1 Corinthians 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Psalms 102:24-27  I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed:  But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end.

This earth we live on and all that is in it is destined to pass away, to wax old like some piece of clothing and have to be changed. (So much for “saving the earth”.)  But, God Himself will remain the same.  This is perhaps the most extreme change that can come – to have all this earth and all that we know of life and living perish and be changed is beyond our comprehension as mere humans.  But, the Lord Himself shall endure.  He will not change.  He is the only being or thing in existence that will never change.  Even the heavens shall pass away (2 Peter 3:10), but the Lord will not.  Do you see why our hope must be in God alone and in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ?

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Psalms 46:1-2  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;

When everything else is failing, falling apart and changing, it is the Lord alone whom we can trust to be the same – always and forever. 

This month let’s try to focus on the fact that God is unchanging, even as we hear of the many changes that are happening in our world today.  Let’s take comfort and hope in knowing that there is one place where we will never find change.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

- Thomas Chisholm

Word of the Month- Attributes of God: Humor, A Merry Heart

 

Attribute n. - a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

Someone might wonder why I’m writing about God having humor or a merry heart.  It is something that I got to thinking about awhile back and I just thought I’d write about this month.  Maybe someone needs this.

This attribute of God is one that is easy to overlook in some ways.  It may be mentioned in connection with some of His creations, but I’m not sure we always see how it affects our relationship with Him directly.  However, if you have a friend who has a sense of humor, as we call it today, you will be affected by it.  If God is your friend, you will find His humor affecting your life at times as well.  (Are You A Friend of God?)

First of all, we know God does have a sense of humor and a merry heart based on some of His creations.  There are things in creation that are too comical or funny to be made by a Creator who didn’t have a sense of humor!  There are many animals that are just funny to look at, and there are many more that sometimes behave in ways that make us laugh.  And, then too, who could love the cuteness of little kids without seeing God’s merry heart?

In the King James Bible this kind of humor is called a merry heart (not to be mistaken for the merriness in relation to the use of alcohol, which is the most common use in scripture.)

Samuel Johnson defines merry as “…Pleasant; sweet; agreeable; delightful; charming…Laughing; loudly cheerful; gay of heart…Causing laughter…to be jovial…”  [This is “gay” as in “a state of happiness”.]

Here are some verses to consider:

Proverbs 15:13  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 17:22  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

James 5:13  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Since we are created in the image of God, we can safely say that the Lord must have a sense of humor, especially since this type of merry heart is spoken of as a good thing.

Another way we know God has a sense of humor is because of some of the things that happen in scripture that are actually laughable.  The first one that comes to my mind is Balaam with his donkey.  Here he was beating the poor animal unfairly, not knowing that the donkey was in fact saving his life, and what does God do but loose its tongue and let it speak.  What’s even funnier is that Balaam answered her back as if it were perfectly normal to have a conversation with one’s donkey.  (Numbers 22:22-31)  I like the last verse in that section where Balaam “fell flat on his face” when he finally saw the angel!  I can just see that in my imagination. :-)

There are other stories that have humorous elements.  There’s Barack who refused to go to war without Deborah, so God allowed a woman (Jael) to slay the most important person in the enemy’s army (Sisera).  (Judges 4 &5) 

It’s also kind of funny when Darius comes to the lion’s den to see if Daniel survived the night.  Daniel 6:20-21  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.  Somehow that just tickles me. 

How many other places have you seen humor in the Bible?

We also can see the Lord’s sense of humor in how He interacts with us sometimes in life.  He does not laugh at us.  That he reserves for the wicked, curiously enough.  Psalms 37:12-13  The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.  The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.  (Also see Psalm 2) But then, we seldom enjoy being laughed at, so that does make sense in a way.  No, the Lord’s humor with His friends is always of the kindest and gentlest sort.

A friend of mine went through a number of years of difficult depression.  She was having a particularly bad time at one point and her daughter came to take her out shopping in hopes that it would help her.  My friend was complaining to her daughter how she just couldn’t cry.  She felt that if she could just have a good cry she would feel better, but for some reason she couldn’t cry and she was quite annoyed.  When they were getting out of the van at some point during their excursion, my friend hit her head so hard on the door frame that she instantly burst into tears.  She immediately remembered her complaint earlier and she saw what the Lord was doing.  She had a very friendly relationship with the Lord and she just said, “That wasn’t funny, Lord.”  But, she knew it was.  She told the story to illustrate how God does have a sense of humor – and also that we should be careful what we say.

I also have two friends who originally came from other countries who absolutely vowed and declared that they would “never” marry an American – particularly a white one.  They both married Christian, Anglo, Americans and are confident that it was the Lord’s will for each of them. :-)

My mom has a story where the Lord made her retract her words as well.  We were traveling across southern California on our way to Los Angeles when we passed a town in a desert area that was, to my mom’s eyes, particularly bleak and depressing.  She made the comment, “Anyone who would live here would have to be crazy.”  My dad admonished her to be careful what she said.  Sure enough, we ended up within miles of that exact location in just a few months.  We lived there more than five years.  My dad had his fist pastorate there and that church was so loving and patient (having had a hard time getting any pastor to come at all), that my parents count those as some of the best years of their life.  That just makes me smile. :-)

I have my own little story.  Texas is notorious for dry spells, often followed by lots of rain.  We seem to either be praying that it will rain or that it will stop!  Well, we’d been having a really long dry spell in the recent drought (now over), and I was feeling really discouraged about it.  One night it came up as my turn to pray for rain again.  I told my husband that my faith was too weak to pray for rain and he was going to have to do it.  Well, the next morning it was raining when I got up.  I went to the front door in my housecoat and noticed that the rain running off of the roof was beating my potted plant pretty badly.  I went out the door to move it and the door swung shut behind me.  The knob is one that does not unlock when you twist it to open it, so it was still locked!  There I stood on the front porch, locked out of my house; it was raining and the spare key was hidden where I had to walk out in the rain to retrieve it.  I could see the humor in what the Lord had done to me, and as I set out to retrieve the key I told Him, “I deserved this.”  :-)  I had to walk in that rain that I didn’t have the faith to pray for the night before!

One of my favorite martyr stories seems appropriate here.

John Bradford, who, while studying Law in London, heard Latimer preach a powerful message which directed him to the ministry, became Chaplain to Edward VI.  With the accession of Queen Mary, he was arrested for seditious utterances and heresy and sentenced to be burned at the stake.  On the day of his death he displayed great courage.  Kneeling and praying, he took a burning piece of wood in his hand and kissed it, and as the flames arose he looked up to heaven and prayed:

"O, England, England! repent thee of thy sins, repent thee of thy sins.  Beware of idolatry, beware of false antichrists; take heed they do not deceive you."

Then Bradford turned to a young man who had also been condemned to die for his faith, and as the flames crackled, Bradford said to his suffering companion:

"Be of good comfort, brother, for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night."

From Last Word of Saints and Sinners by Herbert Lockyer, p.151

Somehow those last words of his indicate a warm and hearty friendship with his Savior.

There are many little ways that we can sometimes see the Lord’s merry heart in His dealings with us.  Some of these things are things that only you will know about because He knows you so well and can show them to you in just the way that will make you smile or laugh.  Like an affectionate friend, He will do little things for you from time to time to cheer your heart and give you a chuckle just between Himself and you. 

Do we pay attention to His little tokens of friendship?  Or are we so busy or distracted with the complications of life that we are blind to His merry heart?  It is something we should consider because a friendship that is cultivated and warm will naturally have those things.  If we aren’t noticing, we’re probably not paying attention like we should.

Proverbs 15:15  All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

Word of the Month- Attributes of God: Forgiveness

 

I have made a page for this series over at The Home Maker’s Corner so that links to all the attributes we cover can be found in one place.

Attribute n. - a quality or feature regarded as a characteristic or inherent part of someone or something.

Psalms 130:4  But there is forgiveness with thee, that
thou mayest be feared.

One of the most wonderful things about the God of the Bible, the one true God, is that He offers us forgiveness.  I think this is something that we often fail to appreciate at its full value.  Jesus did make it clear that some people understand the value more than others, but it appears to me that this is because some people understand the reality of their own sinfulness more than others.

Luke 7:47  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

Why is a God who forgives so important and one to be feared?  I have written before somewhat on this subject.  Please read this past post for the importance of having A God Who Forgives.

The basic idea in fearing a God who forgives is that we are people who need forgiveness, and most or all of the gods of other religions and the humanized “God” of many “christian” groups do not offer the kind of forgiveness that the Bible says God Almighty offers us. Why would we want to fear a god who can’t forgives us our sins – ALL our sins?  We don’t need to fear God as some ogre who will wreck havoc upon us based on His own whimsical ideals without justice and holiness.  We fear Him in awe and holiness because He is holy and just, and yet He desires to forgive us if we’ll come to Him in humility and repentance through Jesus Christ.

Acts 13:38  Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins:

Ephesians 1:7  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

1 John 2:12  I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

Acts 26:18  To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Romans 4:3-8  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

You see, forgiveness is not something we can earn by works, otherwise it is no longer grace and God owes it to us.  Forgiveness comes through the righteousness that is imputed (To charge; to attribute; to set to the account of… Source) to us through faith in Jesus Christ.

It is a tremendous blessing to have our sins forgiven by the the Lord – to know that our sins are forgiven!  We’ve already discussed that God is eternal and that any offence against Him is an eternal offence.  This is one reason that we need the eternal forgiveness that only He can give us.  God has always been a God who forgives (many O.T. references) but He made the final atonement possible through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:10  By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

I read something recently where a couple had talked to a lady who appeared to believe that Jesus was a great comforter, but she didn’t see any need in Him as a Savior.  She was not interested in having her sins forgiven because she seemed to like them just fine.  She just wanted comfort for the trials of life.  What good is a comforter to sinners without forgiveness of sin?  We can’t be comforted while we remain unforgiven because sin and guilt and shame are all tied up together and none of those will allow us to experience true comfort without true forgiveness.

1 John 1:8-9  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

There is great comfort in knowing that we are forgiven by God and cleansed from all our unrighteousness.

One interesting thing a brother pointed out once in a sermon we heard was that God knows not only our past sins, but all the sins we are going to commit.  We need to trust Him to forgive us from all of our sins.  Some might stumble over this and think that because God knows and will forgive our future sins that gives us license to sin.  It does not.  We do not sin that grace may abound (Rom. 6:1-2), nor do we sin because we know God will forgive us later.  When we fear Him because He can forgive sins, we will desire not to sin against Him further.

Some people seem to almost think that when we’re born again all of our past sins are forgiven and taken care of, but somehow we’re responsible for all the future ones.  In other words, once we’re saved we’re responsible to keep ourselves saved by not sinning any more, or perhaps doing some kind of penance for sins we commit.  This is impossible.  If Christ died for our sins, either He died for them all, or we never needed a Savior in the first place and could have saved ourselves.  If we can take care of some of our sins, we could have taken care of all of them.  No, we can’t take care of any of them.  All of our sins were future when He died so how can we mark a time at which point we are now responsible.  He promised to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  For us today every bit of that was future when He said that.  Long before we were even born He knew every sin we would commit before we were saved AND after we were saved, and He is faithful and just to forgive us because He promised He would be.

Some years ago Josh Harris published a story he wrote about going into a room where there was a huge filing system with a card for every sin he had ever committed.  He opened these and was shamed and horrified to find all these things recorded is such detail.  As he looked, he was astonished as he began to notice that Jesus Christ’s name was being substituted for his name on all of the cards.  In other words, Jesus was taking responsibility for what he, Josh Harris, had done.  This is a poor, emaciated view of what God has really done for us in the way of forgiveness.  Jesus doesn’t sign His name to our account, He wiped out the account!  There is no record in His sight!

We’re told in 2 Corinthians 5:21,  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.  He became our sin, He didn’t just write His name to the charge.  He paid the price in full and closed the account and destroyed the record, so to speak!  He made us the righteousness of God!  That completely blots out any accusation of sin because God is completely righteous.  But, of course, we can only have this righteousness in Him!

Colossians 2:13-14  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

He blotted out the ordinances that we had broken – the just accusations of all the ways that we had broken the laws of God.  He nailed them to His cross and He does not remember them. 

Hebrews 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Did you ever stop to think about how limiting our human memories are - not in the sense that we forget, but in the sense that we remember?  Oh, that’s a whole other story, isn’t it?  God can offer us His God-like forgiveness because He can make Himself forget.  He can choose not to remember.  That is a forgiveness beyond our human comprehension, and I think that is one reason why we tend to not believe the enormity of it.  If we can remember our sins, surely God must.  But, He chooses not to!

I remember how conscience-stricken I was when a heard a brother talk about how it is a sin to repeatedly confess a sin over and over to God (a specific sin that we committed at a specific time).  His thought was that the Lord has said He does not remember it, so we are reminding Him by bringing it up over and over again.  This man saw that as sin in reminding God of something that He said He had forgiven and forgotten.  I really struggled with this and it was at that point that I often prayed when confessing sin to the Lord that He would help me to believe that I’m forgiven.

Psalms 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

As it has been pointed out many times, the east and the west never meet.  If you go east, you will continue going east indefinitely.  And so also with going west.  This is the distance between us and our transgressions.

If you still have struggles and doubts about being forgiven, you may be encouraged by reading this article I wrote over at The Home Maker’s Corner: Forgiven.

Conclusion

God is not forgiving “all by Himself” as He is “good all by Himself”.  Forgiveness, by the very definition of what it is, requires another party – the offender.  A God who is holy, just, pure, and undefiled but has provided a way to forgive those who have sinned against Him – ah, that is an awe-inspiring God, that is a God to be feared and worshipped with reverence.  Every one of us can stand and say, “Guilty as charged” to our own sins before God, but through faith in Jesus Christ and the astounding work He accomplished by dying on the cross for us, we can also say, “Forgiven”.  This is too big for me to explain.  I cannot get my little brain around it.  I have to take it by faith.

However, this forgiveness of God’s does press us for further action.

Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

The God-like forgiveness that we have received through Jesus Christ should inspire us to show that same forgiveness to our fellow believers. 

As we go through this month, let’s try to keep in mind

1. the greatness of the forgiveness that an Almighty God can offer us,
2. our great need for forgiveness, and
3. how we can extend that forgiveness to others – either as fellow believers, or by pointing unbelievers to the source of true forgiveness.

Psalms 103:2-3  Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities…