2004-04-02
Good Morning Cherished Readers,
This morning, I’m led to begin a new segment of this series on True Faith called “A New Perspective.” Anyone who has spent much time in the Scriptures, particularly the New Testament, knows that something is blocking the understanding of truth in the person who has rejected Christ or whose time to come to faith hasn’t happened yet. Paul aptly describes this in 1 COR 2: 14, “Whoever does not have the Spirit cannot receive the gifts that come from God’s Spirit. Such a person really does not understand them; they are foolishness to him, because their value can be judged only on a spiritual basis.” The next two verses reveal the great contrast which comes with faith in Jesus Christ. 1 COR 2: 15-16, “As the Scripture [IS 40: 13] says, ‘Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give Him advice?’ We, however, have the mind of Christ.” No, we can’t give Christ advice, but it is through the Holy Spirit that true believers can stretch toward God’s perspective on everything. What a gift that is!
I’m taking several classes right now, ones on the book of Genesis (a review for me), Christian Ethics, and in particular, a Beth Moore course called “Beloved Disciple” on the writings of the apostle John. A decent teacher never stops being a student, in my humble opinion. A discussion arose in the latter course that is worth sharing. One very bright student in this class spoke to the group about her view (and mine) that there is a great clash already in progress, one which has not yet reached its crescendo, between a God-centered belief system and a man-centered one. People are brought to the place in their lives where they simply must take sides in this. There is no such thing as rationalizing some kind of a compromise or having the use of false doctrine change the inevitable. It’s like trying to be a little pregnant; one can’t do this. What happened at the Super Bowl half-time entertainment recently is an example of how low the man-centered element of our society is reaching. On the other hand, a person like the courageous Mel Gibson, who is willing to sink $38,000,000 out of his own pocket to bring our society a fine movie like “The Passion of Jesus Christ,” is fighting the good fight. I chose examples that most of us have heard about, but the clash going on is happening at every level of our earthly lives-just as the Scriptures have prophesied it would.
One big question that I am led to take up is: Why can’t mankind achieve peace on earth? It’s a huge question. Despite brilliant, talented people, feats in medicine, technology, and science, the “information superhighway” to improve communication, the organizing of far-reaching projects of mercy and rehabilitation, and the United Nations to make countries accountable to each other for their policies and actions, wars rage on, assassinations happen, and every kind of evil is still with us. I certainly don’t have all the answers for this huge question, but it occurs to me that as self-stated true believers, we may still be part of the problem. God loves us and is rooting for us to stop sinning, but have we done that? The Sermon on the Mount fuels hope for peace on earth. The problem for Christians and Messianic Jews is professing belief in Christ’s teaching without making Christ the King of our lives. How hard it is for mankind to yield up control of their lives to Him! Hard, yes, but not impossible. We are told in MT 7: 13-14, “Go through the narrow gate, because the gate to hell is wide and the road that leads to it is easy, and there are many who travel it. But the gate to life is narrow and the way that leads to it is hard, and there are few people who find it.”
There are some people who frankly have broken my heart, for having this problem. Some are Christians, but some are good people who are not. Take for example, Mahatmas Ghandi. He was a loving person who held to the belief in non-violence. He endeared himself to many people in his life time and won the hearts of the down-trodden and oppressed with his peaceful lifestyle. But, even with all of this, Ghandi and other people like him have been unable to change people’s hearts to yield up control of their lives to God, Who is the only One with the power to transform a person’s heart-to give him a new perspective. The people Ghandi tried to reach may have tried to “turn the other cheek” to the British, but they couldn’t live peaceably amongst themselves. Sadly, the human heart remains sinful, full of greed, desire for power, and willing to do all kinds of evil. GA 5: 16-17 helps us to understand why. “What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. For what our human nature wants is opposed to what the Spirit wants, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to what our human nature wants. These two are enemies, and this means that you cannot do what you want to do.” Ghandi never believed that Christ was God Incarnate, even though he appreciated some of Christ’s teaching. One truth stands above all. JN 14: 6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through Me.”
Is this situation hopeless? I don’t believe so. With the new perspective God gives us through Christ’s teaching in places like the Sermon on the Mount [MT 5-7] and through the action of the Holy Spirit, people can have their hearts changed to mature spiritually and conform to the standard He has given us. True believers are not likely to bring peace on earth, but they can be assured of eternal joy, fellowship, and peace with God.
PRAYER: O Lord, we find ourselves in a cruel and evil world challenged to sin by its pressures on us. Even the very best motives of mankind can’t seem to change this. And yet, You give us the power and authorization through Jesus Christ to live in this world and to eschew its temptations to sin. You are a loving, just, and compassionate Lord, Who has sent His Spirit to dwell within us and to guide us through the land mines of temptation to sin set for us. IS 54: 16b-17, “’I create a soldier, who uses weapons to kill. But no weapon will be able to hurt you; you will have an answer for all who accuse you. I will defend My servants and give them victory.’ The Lord has spoken.” Because You have loved us enough to give us Your teaching in the Scriptures, Your Son to die on the cross for our salvation, and an open channel of communication with You through prayer, we can dedicate ourselves to being victors in the spiritual warfare You have fitted us to wage. Our lives on earth won’t be easy, but the reward for staying on the hard path that leads to eternal life is more than worth the suffering, pain, loss, and disappointments we have along the way at the devil’s hand. You assure us in RO 8: 16-18, “God’s Spirit joins Himself to our spirits to declare that we are God’s children. Since we are His children, we will possess the blessings He keeps for His people, and we will also possess with Christ what God has kept for Him; for if we share Christ’s suffering, we will also share His glory. I consider that what we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.” We stand before Your throne today to acknowledge Your great accomplishments and attributes, to confess our sins, to praise and thank You, and to beseech You to let us stand with You in union with Christ, knowing that we as “prisoners in Christ’s victory procession” will be used “to make the knowledge about Christ spread everywhere like a sweet fragrance” [2 COR 2: 14]. In His holy name, we pray. Amen.
In next week’s message, the Holy Spirit leads me to begin discussing some different outlooks on the Sermon on the Mount. It is my hope that these will further define what traits a true believer has and further illuminate this mounting conflict between the two belief systems. I would be remiss if I didn’t cite 2 COR 10: 3-5 another time. “It is true that we live in the world, but we do not fight from worldly motives. The weapons we use in our fight are not the world’s weapons but God’s powerful weapons, which we use to destroy strongholds. We destroy false arguments; we pull down every proud obstacle that is raised against the knowledge of God; we take every thought captive and make it obey Christ.” In addition, the Spirit reminds me to give His special assurance of His care, presence, and power when we yield our lives to Him. IS 35: 4, “Tell everyone who is discouraged, ‘Be strong and do not be afraid!’ God is coming to Your rescue, coming to punish your enemies.” I have a new friend who has had a heart transplant. For awhile, her doctors thought she was rejecting her new heart. But, her latest heart biopsy showed that she is not. What a blessing! That’s only one example of God’s presence in my new friend’s life and in mine. This week, we each need to examine the many ways that God exerts His presence in our individual and congregational lives. It is my hope that you will be blessed when you do this, as I have been.
Grace Be With You Always,
Lynn