When We Are Lepers In Our Own Eyes!

"Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked
 deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins
 and detestable practices!" - Ezekiel 36:31

A true penitent is a sin-loather. If a man loathes that 
which makes his stomach sick, much more will he loathe 
that which makes his soul sick! It is greater to loathe 
sin—than to leave it. The nauseating and loathing of 
sin, argues a detestation of it. 

Christ is never loved—until sin is loathed. 

Heaven is never longed for—until sin is loathed. 

When the soul sees its filthiness, he cries out, "Lord, 
when shall I be freed from this body of death! When 
shall I put off these filthy garments of sin—and be
arrayed in the robe of Your perfect righteousness! 
Let all my self-love be turned into self-loathing!"

We are never more precious in God's eyes—than 
when we are lepers in our own eyes! 

The more bitterness we taste in sin—
the more sweetness we shall taste in Christ!

- Thomas Watson from "The Doctrine of Repentance" at Grace Gems.

Instant Gratification Bible Study!!

Now that I have your attention it s time to get serious.  I apologize for intentionally deceiving you but I knew that the title would be a catch.  The truth is that there is NO such thing as a "genuine" instant gratification Bible study.  Now, yes, there are Bible studies out there that boast of such claims but they are lying.  It is impossible to come to the Bible with a few minutes (sometimes seconds) of your time and think that you are going to glean from the Word what God intends for you.  

Today, while I was driving I began to think about studying the Bible and to what I could liken this discipline.  Some would say it is like searching around in the dark for something hidden.  To that I would say that to those who do not know Christ they are correct.  The unbeliever is wandering around in the dark when reading the Word because they do not have the Spirit of God enlightening them to help them to understand the truths of the Bible.  It is only through the light of the Spirit given to us through Christ that any of us are able to glean any truth from the Word. (1 Corinthians 1&2)   Others would use the ouija board method of thumbing through the Bible and wherever their finger lands is what God wants to say to them.  Besides the ridiculousness of this idea of Bible study, it is not what God intended.  Neither God nor the Bible is a magic eight ball, rather the Word of God is God's communication(revelation) to His people, revealing who He is, what He has done, what He is doing and what He is going to do.  In light of that, "How are we to study God's Word?"

The best illustration (as of right this morning) that I found to mirror the process of Bible study is the work of mining for gold.  We live in a culture, society, and time consumed with instant gratification.  We want what we want when we want it.  Fast food, microwaves, constant media interaction, credit cards, consumerism, next day shipping, and the like are all evidences of this overwhelming truth.  Unfortunately, Christians have allowed this mindset to infiltrate the church and their spiritual life.  We want shorter sermons and less singing in church, and in our spiritual lives we want instant growth and instant understanding/wisdom.  I see the problems in the church as a result of the impatience of Christians in their spiritual life.  Spiritual maturity/growth and biblical understanding do not come in a instant nor does it come over night.  It is something we are to strive after/work for.  When we do, we will reap the benefits God has for us.  2 Timothy 2:15 commands, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." To tie this to he illustration:  a gold miner does not simply walk into the mine and pick up the gold and his job is done nor does he expect this to be so.  He must first extract the ore in large chunks and break them down into smaller pieces.  Once this is done the miner must pan through (as shown in the picture) the pieces to separate the gold from waste.  Needless to say, the process is exhaustive and only by following this process will the the miner yield the desired results.  Similarly a Christian that comes to the Bible to study is seeking after gold/treasure and can be found only through diligent and disciplined work.  We must labor for the truth, not because it is so hard to find but because it is incredibly valuable and worthy of effort.  We are seeking after the very thoughts and words of God.  If He is worth our very life is not His Word deserving of all our effort and attention?  Though  it is tempting to follow after the world and seek the easy (supposedly but it is a lie) way out, resist because the fruit of your labor will be beyond compare.  Spend the time, use the resources, seek the guidance of the Spirit but more than anything be patient.  Wait on the Lord, let Him transform you through every word studied and fall more and more in love with the Savior of your soul everyday.

Rethinking Christmas - Part I

This year I have sought to rethink or recover Christmas. I have faced a great deal of opposition in my attempt but I believe it is something that must be done. Every Christian is called to discern whether the things that they do is founded in scripture rather than merely following the influences of the world. In my search for the true way in which to celebrate Christmas many traditions have been called into question. It is not that I want to be a grinch (which I have been called) nor am I trying to do away with many of the good and beneficial things that are involved with Christmas. My aim is to celebrate Christmas in the best possible that brings glory to God alone in the most biblical way. In our society the existence of pluralism has caused most to think that if something is not inherently evil then it must be good and okay to partake of but the problem is that God gave us a best and when we are not constantly seeking after His best then we are not only hurting our selves (and missing out) but we are sinning against God by rejecting what He has given us to do. Now that I have given my explanation of what I am attempting to do here is my first issue:

SANTA - SOVEREIGN SAINT OR SACRILEGIOUS SYMBOL?

"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments."
- Exodus 20:4-6 (NASB)

The Bible says that we are to have no other gods besides the one true God. We are not to crave an idol, worship nature, or make up a god that fits to our liking. Since the Fall of Adam and Eve mankind has time after time been guilty of breaking this commandment and I believe the guilt continues. The modern day deception of the story or believing in Santa Claus falls into this category. I know that many will read this and begin to burn with indignation, wanting to verbally tear me apart and I understand. How could someone question the telling of children about Santa? It is not that hard when we look at scripture and the true reason (meaning) of Christmas. From the birth of Jesus Christ people have celebrated Christmas by praising God for sending the Savior into the world as payment for our sins. That is the historical and biblical reason for Christmas, no matter what cultural or spiritual background you are from. But for most around the world Christ has faded from our focus with Santa stepping into the spotlight. Children are raised being told that Santa is going to come to their home and bring them gifts. At the same time, those raised in Christian homes are taught that God is real, that He is the Creator, Sustainer, and that He sent Christ to be born of a virgin for forgiveness of sins. For that I am thankful but how is a child supposed to process this determining fairy tale from eternal truth. Sadly a child is not. With our cultures influence through media, children are receiving more messages about Santa and consumerism attempting to trump the belief in God and Christ. If we look at what we teach children about Santa we can see that we have created a god out of him. Like the the songs says, "he knows when you are sleeping/awake, when you've been bad/good so be good for goodness sake." Just in those little phrases we have made Santa into an omniscient and moral being. Then if you look at all the stories that revolve around Santa we find that he controls time and matter making him out to be sovereign and omnipotent. The only thing that he lacks, it seems, in comparison is omnipresence but as fast as Santa visits the world he comes close. Is Santa sovereign or is God the ruler of all things? I know you are probably thinking what is wrong with this guy and his deal with Santa? (Did he not get what he asked for?) It is nothing like that. I think that first and foremost the manipulation of an innocent child's mind is wrong and a lie that we will be held accountable for to God. (And no I am not a Puritan but the Bible says "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak , they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. 37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." - Matt. 12:36-37 NASB) This is especially dangerous in our pluralistic culture where every belief has been leveled out to be equally true. When we teach a child about God and Christ while at the same time we are telling them about Santa we are setting them up for unbelief. Eventually they are going to find out that Santa is a lie, either from you or a punk friend but when they do what do you think will happen to their belief in God? Of course it will be questioned. Well if my parents, in whom I trust have taught me about God and Santa and now Santa has turned out to be a lie what about God? That is a great tragedy that many kids, teenagers and adults are dealing with as I write. Giving gifts and surprising kids is good but when we shadow those things with a lie Christmas is lost and we are only celebrating the consumerism of our culture. So what if you are a parent that has already followed after the influence of the world - you can still do what is best! Confess to your children, tell them that you lied and that you were wrong and begin to explain and celebrate the true reason of Christmas. What a wonderful teaching moment for a parent to have with their children. It is a great lesson of repentance and a change of life that God desires from all of us. Remember parents, you will be held responsible for how you raise/train your children before God. Next if you are a parent and have not began the Santa story with your children yet, stay strong in your faith and stay close to the word of God. It is our only foundation on which to stand. And do not be condemning toward those that do Santa but help them one on one (not in front of the kids) to understand that God had something better planned for us than deception. Then for those that have been raised to believe in Santa as a child and now understand the true mean and reason for celebration - do not be bitter toward your parents. Forgive them and love them trying to show the truths of God's word through your actions. Many times we love to find truth and jump to condemn anyone else who does not see/understand it but we must be patient, as God is with us, as to bring them to understand God's best (His truth).

Just in closing I want to tell you a true story to bring this home:
A little girl had been disobedient to her mother. The mom came to her and told her that she had been doing wrong and the girl sadly turned her head to the side and began to mumble. Her mother thought that she was praying and saying that she was sorry for being bad. Well she was praying and she was apologizing for being bad but she was praying not to God but to Santa Claus because she did not want him to not come to her house.

That story among many others is just a small reason why the lie of Santa is so awful. God gave us the best, His Son, Jesus Christ born of a virgin as our gift for salvation. That is why we celebrate Christmas and the ultimate gift giver - God. Please think about theses things and search God's word for the truth.

Conquered by Christ

This was posted at Desiring God yesterday:

The only statement Timothy McVeigh left behind when he was executed in Indiana, June 11, 2001, was a handwritten copy of the 19th century poem “Invictus” by William Henley.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Henley’s life (1849-1903) almost exactly parallels that of Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) who said that the modern world had rendered God irrelevant so that we could legitimately say, “God is dead.” Corresponding to God’s demise was the rise in Nietzsche’s thinking of the “Übermensch.” This was the air that Henley breathed.

Would that Nietzsche, who went insane the last 12 years of his life—and Timothy McVeigh, who claimed the rule of his soul till he lost it—had both seen the beauty of being ruled by Christ. It is fitting that a virtually unknown poet of the early 20th century, Dorothea Day, should write the counterpoint to Henley’s poem. “Invictus” means “unconquerable”. Dorothea Day’s poem is called “Conquered.”

Out of the light that dazzles me,

Bright as the sun from pole to pole,

I thank the God I know to be,

For Christ - the Conqueror of my soul.

Since His the sway of circumstance,

I would not wince nor cry aloud.

Under the rule which men call chance,

My head, with joy, is humbly bowed.

Beyond this place of sin and tears,

That Life with Him and His the Aid,

That, spite the menace of the years,

Keeps, and will keep me unafraid.

I have no fear though straight the gate:

He cleared from punishment the scroll.

Christ is the Master of my fate!

Christ is the Captain of my soul!

Which will be true of you?

Blessed Birthday - Regretful Reality!

Within a few hours my 27th birthday will be here. I have no problem with the idea of getting older so the numbers do not bother me. I am thankful to God for the chance to serve Him while on this earth and for another year to do so. I am not looking for gifts or "Happy Birthdays" from all whom I see, but I seek something of much greater and lasting value. Sadly I do not think that I will receive this gift this year. The title is Blessed Birthday but a Regretful Reality for me. I am not trying to be pessimistic but it is edifying to take a look at your own life to see what God sees and not just what you want to see. What I want for my birthday is for God to be able to say "Well done, good and faithful servant." Those words would be an unimaginable pleasure to hear but I fear that God would have other words for me - maybe questions: How much have you loved My Word? How many of My people have you served and loved? Who have you told of the gift (salvation) that I made for you? Is there less of you and more of Me showing in your life than last year? What kind of steward have you been of the resources and talents that I have given you? Where is your treasure - in Me or in the fading flowers of the field? I could go on but I think that you get the picture. Do not get me wrong, I am extremely thankful for the blessings and grace that God has given me to live this past year but I regretfully admit that I have not pleased God in the way in which He deserves. Do not pity me in this confession but use this as a plumb line for your own life. How would you be able to answer the questions of God? We must seek to die to ourselves daily and to glorify Him in all things. It is a life long process but complacency always seeks to hinder our progress. Self examination by the Word of God is one of our greatest weapons against it. "Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?" (2 Cor 13:5 -NASB)

Living Magnifyingly!

1 Sing to the LORD a new song;
Sing to the LORD, all the earth. 2 Sing to the LORD, bless His name;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. 3 Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples. 4 For great is the LORD and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols ,
But the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name;
Bring an offering and come into His courts. 9 Worship the LORD in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity ."

- Psalms 96:1-10 (NASB)

Before I begin I must give credit where credit is due: I must thank and acknowledge John Piper as the originator of this illustration. It is a wondrous picture of the differences of how many of us reveal God to the world and how it ought to be done.

When we think of the word magnify, our minds tend toward the use of a microscope. In using, we place a tiny specimen underneath the eye of the microscope to bring it to the point of human comprehension. It is so small originally that the human mind cannot conceive of its attributes. For many of us (especially unknowingly - though not an excuse) this is how we portray God to the world. Our lives are tuned a microscopes because our view of and love for God is so small. So when the world looks through us (our lives) they see a small God not worthy of glory and praise. No wonder the world thinks followers of Christ are stupid and merely filling an emotional void. But there is another way in which we can magnify. The telescope accomplishes this purpose. When we aim a telescope at an unfathomably sized object in space, the object seen through the scope is seen in a comprehensible way. We are able to view gigantic planets and stars bigger than anyone could imagine and further away than technology can take us. This is how the Christian's life ought to be. Our lives should be as telescopes to the beauty and power of the God of the Bible whom no human mind can completely grasp. That is why we are to be telescopes - so that the lost world can see the God who created all things and is sustaining all things by His ultimate strength. When we act as though there is no hope the world sees God as small but when we live hoping in the wondrous promises of the Faithful Lord in all circumstances we reveal how truly amazing and worthy of all honor and praise God truly is. So I ask you: Is your life a microscope or a telescope revealing God to a lost world?

Why Is It Good News?

Paul declared to the Athenians:


"The God who made the world and all things in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands; nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and exist , as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.' "Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man. "Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."
- Acts 17:24-31 (NASB)

What a beautiful presentation of the gospel! For ages past the word "gospel" has been portrayed as meaning "good news," and I agree with this definition. My problem lies in the way in which we have offered this "good news" to the lost. For so long we have sought to make the "good news" more desirable by adding to the message of the "gospel." We have attempted remove the wrath of God, that abides upon every unbeliever (Romans 2:1-11), from the "good news" and replaced it with the question of "don't you want to go to heaven, or don't you want to be happy or have joy and peace?" Where is the "good news" when there is no bad news. How can a person rejoice and embrace the "good news" if they had no idea that there was something bad awaiting them? The "good news" would not be good at all but merely strange or silly talk. Look at Paul's message: First, it begins by establishing who God is - the Creator of all things, the Sustainer of all things, the Sovereign over all things and Supreme God over all things. Secondly, Paul admonishes the Athenians to repent, but he does not stop there. He goes on to explain why - they must repent because God will judge all people everywhere according to righteousness through Jesus Christ. Then Paul finishes by establishing who Christ is and what took place. How dare Paul tell them that God is going to judge them. Would not that make them turn away from the "good news?" The fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross for us so that we could go to heaven would not be "good news" if we did not understand that the wrath of God was storing up against us because of our sin. That is key to the "gospel." It is not "good news" to a person that does not know that there is a problem. The problem is their sin, which is first and foremost against God. Once this is presented, which can be done through the presentation of the Law of God (Ten Commandments - Gal. 3:24) then the "gospel" of Christ's life, death and resurrection for our salvation to remove the wrath of God from us, will be such glorious news that they will cling to it as the most precious treasure (Matt. 13:44-46). That is the biblical way to present the "good news" and the only true way. Search the Word, see how Christ did it, and begin loving others enough that you deliver to them the true "gospel" of salvation.