Savory Salt and Brilliant Light!

How would you describe our world and our beloved USA? Two words come to mind for me…decaying and dark. Yes, I would liken it to decaying flesh. The stench and putrefaction is not yet fully realized…death; however, has been. Furthermore, our country and world is groping aimlessly in darkness so great one can actually feel it. Blindness pervades throughout our land. Our world and our country are grappling with problems so complex we can hardly define them, much less conceive solutions to solve them. Yes, decaying and dark are the two images that come to mind when I think about the spiritual climate of our world. It is a sober and disconcerting matter to contemplate.

OUR PROBLEMS
Too pessimistic and harsh an assessment, you say? Well, in every sector of our culture abides abundant evidence of decay and darkness. This foreboding emergence can be seen in society, religion, families, economics, politics, and international affairs. If you doubt me, then consider the international corruption associated with every major political figure recently and presently bopping across the world’s stage. The geopolitical jostling for international respect, the mad scramble to secretly develop nuclear weaponry, the disastrous efforts to prevent rouge states from developing nuclear capability, the gross miscarriages of diplomacy, the ineffective military swats motivated by political expediency, genocide, terrorism, mass starvation, and the general international betrayals of trust are only a few confirmations of our bottomless sinfulness. We all stand absolutely bankrupt before the overwhelming spiritual poverty of our shipwrecked world!

Will you dare to take a good look at the dysfunctional paraplegia that grips our own USA? Education, welfare, health care, and government spending/budgets are actual and disturbing issues of national weightiness. Jamie J. Huston, a college and high school teacher, in an article entitled The Five Worst Problems In America Today–Revisited (April 3, 2009), identified these national problems about five years ago: “#5: Government Size and Spending,… #4: Individual Fiscal Irresponsibility,… #3: Decline of Morality in the Media,… #2: Decline of Literacy and Education,… #1: Decline of the Traditional Family” (Gently Hew Stone, http://gentlyhewstone.com). His astute observations remain an accurate description of our principle challenges. 

Also consider how that which is truly good is considered wrong and how that which is intrinsically evil is regarded as acceptable in our American society at large. Moral subjectivity and legal anarchy rule anymore; beloved, this is a freighting reality! Homosexuality, gay marriage, and the legalization of drugs are fearful issues, and the social, legal, health, and national implications of such miscarriages of responsibility have not been gravely thought through. Our list of nastiness continues with matters like ignoring/disregarding the Constitution of the USA by officials elected to uphold it, promoting a proclivity for selective law enforcement, and using government agencies (IRS) as battle axes against political opponents. The blatant disregard for existing laws while opting to unilaterally legislate from the bench in our court system has become roundly fashionable, and unilateral legislating has become the modes operandi for the oval office as well. Congress simply does not count and does not matter when it comes to actually accomplishing anything of real value for the American people. Our woes escalate with the unjust criminalizing of victims while routinely mollycoddling the criminals, and the solution to prison overpopulation is haphazardly releasing prisoners back onto the streets before their sentence expires. Reform, reform again, reform yet again...and again at the tax payer's expense is the standard procedure. Beloved, these exploits of ineptitude are violently serious miscarriages of justice for the honest law-abiding American citizen. This is only a sample of our challenges; a representation—just a few from the spectrum of issues we struggle under the weight of as a nation. Beloved, this is darkness and decay fiercely emerging!

Pause at the office door of any reputable economist and they will tell you the prognoses for our national economy are not as good as originally hoped for. The economy is relatively flat; growth is hampered by unfortunate policies and a persistently depressed housing market. Derek Thompson, a senior editor at The Atlantic, where he oversees the Business Channel, writes,

Washington's dysfunction is indisputable. But it is not America's first, second, or third biggest problem. Those are (1) the lingering effects of the housing bust are still impoverishing families and economic growth; (2) globalization pushing down wages for work that lives along a worldwide supply chain; and (3) essentials like health care, education, energy, and housing getting more expensive while families have to work longer hours just to keep up with microscopic inflation. (Feb. 22, 2013, The Atlantic, http://www.theatlantic.com/business)

Visit the average main line denomination Protestant pastor in his study down at the church and he will confirm that church attendance is down on average, thousands of churches have said their last amen and have closed their doors permanently, and hundreds of pastors quit the ministry annually. While Evangelical churches remain resilient, denominational Protestant congregations are declining and less Americans feel impressed to identify themselves with Christianity (Stetzer, Oct 1, 2013, http://www.christianitytoday.com). Matters like spiritual passion, moral purity, and Christian doctrinal orthodoxy have declined in emphasis, perspective, and practice throughout our culture. Churches are mistakenly overly infatuated with worldliness, formalism, explosive growth, emotionalism, entertainment, and pragmatism. Pure evangelism, biblical edification, supernaturalism, and doctrinal soundness all have been sacrificed on the alters of tolerance and political correctness. 

Consider talking to the average unemployment office and they will chirp unemployment numbers are down. Allan and Brian Beaulieu likewise view unemployment as declining. Actually, the unemployment rate is down to 6.6% (about 10.2 million workers) in January according to the Bureau of Labor (http://www.bls.gov/news.release). The U6 rate is currently 13.0%, which is substantially lower than the peak of 18.0% in March 2010. Though these are positive developments, the needs for employment greatly persists (http://www.industryweek.com). Yes, there are twice as many frustrated job seekers as there are active job seekers!

Though my portrayal of our world sounds pessimistic, it is roundly accurate and any perceptive soul can easily validate what I have written. In light of the present social, religions, economic, and political climate, we as a nation are decaying in utter darkness. I spell out these facts and observations because I wish to convey a complete appreciation for the size of our struggles in the USA. There is an abundance of supporting evidence for my opinions—we are witnessing the onset of massive darkness and decay. Except God have mercy and help us, we are absolutely hopeless.

MY PROPOSAL
My purpose here is not to contribute to the despair and gloom, but to offer a palpable hope. If our world is decaying, then what we need is salt to prevent any further decay. And if our world is enveloped in thick darkness, then what we need is light so we can see our way ahead. That’s right we need salt and light; to be more specific, we need savory salt and brilliant light. Consider the insightful and compelling words of our Lord Jesus, as He addresses His followers during the Sermon on the Mount. Christ declares,

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15, Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16, Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount was addressing His disciples, His followers, and those who are adherents to His message and teachings. They were facing some pretty ruinous and dark days themselves as they struggled under foreign rule. For the disciples, such adherence, obedience, commitment, and discipline made them like Christ—savory and brilliant in the midst of decay and darkness. If we continue to hear His Word and govern ourselves accordingly, we will be salt and light in these needful times as well. From the divine perspective, it is actually Christ in us making us savory salt and brilliant light. We must continue to grow in true likeness to Him and God will use us to make a greater impact in the individuals we love, our homes, the cities we live in, our country, and even our world.

The mandate, according to our Savior, is for His followers to be savory salt and brilliant light! Salt in a decaying life or society preserves it from complete decadence and ruin. Light in a dark and confused person or home point the lost wanderers to the Light of the World, Jesus Christ (Jn. 8:12-20). If we are savory and brilliant we will have a potent impact, but if we are impure and dull we can scarcely be perceived as having any real answers or solutions to mankind’s greatest problem—sin. However, savory salt and brilliant light enthusiastically commend our Lord Christ to the lost most forcefully and convincingly. Salt is good, but savory salt is better! The more Christlike we are the greater our potential impact in the lives of those we minister to. Let us obey our Lord fully and "have salt in yourselves" (Mark 9:50). In addition, let us seize fresh opportunities to share Christ with others; He is our world's most profound need.  

Yes, salt preserves, but it must make contact with the people, society, the world in which we live in order to have its greatest impact. We do not become worldly to make an impact, but we must make contact with people, ideas, philosophies, and institutions in order to influence them for Christ. Isolation is not God’s plan, and the best insulation is a rich godly character. The point of impact is not exclusively through our words and arguments, but through Sermon on the Mount Spirit-filled character! Sermon on the Mount Christians will have a palpable impact for good on anything they come into contact with. Salt confined to a salt shaker is not Christ's design for us. Societies and nations are decaying from the inside out, and from the very top to the bottom. The only thing in this world to hold back the decay and putrefaction is Jesus Christ through savory Believers. Choose to be a force for God by being savory—distinctively Christ-like in character!

Consider this helpful insight from MacDonald and Farstad,

The Christian is like a city that is set on a hill: it is elevated above its surroundings and it shines in the midst of darkness. Those whose lives exhibit the traits of Christ’s teaching cannot be hidden.
He did not intend that we hoard the light of His teaching for ourselves, but that we share it with others. We should let our light so shine that as people see our good works, they will glorify our Father in heaven. The emphasis is on the ministry of Christian character. The winsomeness of lives in which Christ is seen speaks louder than the persuasion of words. (Believer’s Bible Commentary)

Therefore, be authentically and distinctively Christian—obviously Christlike—in heart, word, and deed. Make the choice to become a Sermon on the Mount Christian at your very core. Such Believers are salty and they bear meaningful light. Let each of us live out the realities of our faith and God will use us to influence not only our world, but the world for Him. Christians do not belong in the closet, but in the public square as testimonies to the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. Let them see Christ that we may share Christ; this is how it works! This is a ministry of not only doing right, but most importantly being the right type of person. When this is the case, God, our Heavenly Father, is represented well and glorified accordingly. Then He is free to work among us in our beloved homes, cities, states, and country. The problems we face as a nation and the world are much bigger than we are. Ultimately this world longs hungrily (but ignorantly) for its true Savior, Lord, and King! Only when God intervenes can things truly change for the better. He will do His part; let us make sure we are doing our part as salt and light. That is, savory salt and brilliant light! God has not given up on this world, so why should we?

Continuing Faithfully

 Continuing incessantly…persisting repeatedly! This is the healthy attitude and discipline of those Believers who go the farthest exploring the wonders and treasures of Christ. While spiritual maturation is largely accomplished by the Spirit's effective use of the Word in our lives, there is yet the need for genuine commitment and diligence on our part as the people of God. God never devalues discipline and perseverance in the Word; actually He elevates and highlights it as a desirable quality repeatedly (1 Cor. 9:24-27; Gal. 5:23; Titus 1:8; 2:2; 2 Peter 1:6). Now notice what God said in this regard to the nation of Israel.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2, Command the children of Israel, that they bring unto thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamps to burn continually. 3, Without the vail of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the LORD continually: it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. 4, He shall order the lamps upon the pure candlestick before the LORD continually. (Lev. 24:1-4)

Keeping the purest oil in the lamp, and ensuring the lamp is always burning (providing light in the Tabernacle) in the Presence of the LORD is what God required. Obedience to this regulation demanded precision, exactitude, unfailing faithfulness, commitment, and a deep respect for the privilege of service so close to the symbols of the very presence of God. In order to obey this command, Israel and the priests specifically had to be painstakingly faithful.

Sometimes Believers espouse a notion that growth into Christ's image is automatic over the process of time and the Believer rather passively arrives at greater maturity. Again it is true the actual growth is effectuated by God, but the Believer must cooperate, extend effort, invest themselves, sacrifice, deny the flesh, make weighty decisions, investigate the Word, yield more of their time, energy, treasure, and strength to this end. When we recognize that the grace of God is at work in us and through us this does not promote less diligence and commitment. No, it demands our finest efforts as we venture in concert with God's work in us (Phil. 2:12-13). Consider Paul's statement 1 Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” His service and spiritual progress were a product of God's efforts mingled in a fantastic way with his own diligence--a concerted effort and not a solo.

Among other things, the Spirit of God’s ministry of illumination is portrayed by these symbols (Lev. 24:1-4) so common to the Tabernacle service of Israel long ago. The Spirit helps Believers understand the Word and appreciate the essential weight of the spiritual wealth availed to us (Jn. 14:17, 26; 1 Cor. 2:9-16). He enables us to grasp what is entirely important to God even when we human beings naturally have no use for the idea, concept, or truth! As students of the Spirit and His Word our souls are renovated and filled with the treasures of God's wisdom! How blessed we are to be on the campus of this university! We must faithfully look to Him to correctly perceive, grasp, and appraise spiritual matters as we execute the will of God. This is why we are challenged repeatedly to "walk in the Spirit" (Gal. 5:16), and be "led of the Spirit" (Gal. 5:18), and encouraged to pray "in the Holy Ghost," (Jude 20). It is the expressed ministry of the Spirit of God to lead us Believers as we explore God's truth (1 Cor. 2). Beloved, this is the finest education in the universe. We do not merely learn how to make a living (which is a good thing), but we are trained in how to live for all eternity! Now, this is the greatest thing. Too often we settle for the good and never venture to embrace the great.

Yes, as a perceptive Believer you understand this is a grand and peerless opportunity being afforded each of us. But, before we can do this we must examine ourselves to ensure we are ready to proceed. Ask yourself these probing questions. Do I habitually value or under-value the privileges of knowing, approaching, and serving God? Do I take holy opportunities for granted or possibly hold them in contempt? Do I casually dismiss responsibilities God considers vital? Would I be comfortable with God treating me, the way I routinely treat Him? Obviously, faithful devotion is roundly important to our great God; this fact cannot be denied. But, is such persevering consecration something I value?

Prove the Sincerity of Your Love....

 What is it that stirs, stimulates, and inspires us to take action? Is it a desire for distinction, prestige, or the nature of the need? Could it be we are driven by professionalism, reputation, or to sustain a certain image? What about heroism or courage? Perhaps it is humanitarianism or old fashion kindness that moves us to share ourselves, time, and substance with another. Can we know our love is sincere—free of any pretense? Paul identifies just three specific motivations that often fuel followers of our Lord Jesus. Certainly there are other high impetuses such as hope, faith, and God’s glory, but here he writes,

I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. 9, For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)

The actions of our hands are rightly tethered to the motives of our hearts. We well understand our motives and actions matter greatly to God. On the one hand, we can simply act on a command out of respect, obligation, and a pure sense of responsibility. In another scenario, we may strictly follow the very good examples of worthy models who have done right and well in the eyes of the Lord. Still yet, we might possibly take action because our hearts are genuinely filled with the love of God. “Sincerity” (2 Cor. 8:8) uncompromisingly demands harmony between the heart and hands! Anything else is a form of pretense—a kind of hypocrisy.

Clearly these motives are not mutually exclusive; of the three options (duty, example, and love), love is the highest. Accordingly, note the essential nature of this higher impulse and what distinguishes agape-love from the others. This love is “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 8:9). While it is true that love moved our Lord to leave the excellent glories of Heaven, become a man, live as a servant, persist penniless, and suffer through Gethsemane, Gabbatha, and Golgotha (Rom. 5:8); this love is a form of “grace” towards us undeserving sinners (2 Cor. 8:9). In our passage this “grace” is demonstrated through literally giving Himself entirely, selflessly, and sacrificially for our spiritual welfare. Calvary is the most extravagant and epic form of generosity to ever walk across the stage of history (John 3:16)! Who then can justifiably withhold anything from Christ Jesus?

We too can give of ourselves out of pure obligation, to follow worthy examples, or out of this holy sacrificial love. This brand of love exemplified and exercised by our Lord is portrayed in the Word as one of the highest motivations for Believers (1 Cor. 13:13).  Agape-love is characteristically selfless, sacrificial, unconditional, generous, serving, and transforming. Such love could only be inspired in us by the Lord Jesus Christ who is most gracious! It is a substantial undertaking then “to prove the sincerity of your love.”

Do I Seek To Please God or Men?

Make it your aim, as you serve the Lord, to always please Him and not merely people. The Apostle Paul wisely exemplified this truth, in 1 Thessalonians 2:4, “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” How vital for us to remember that it is God who has afforded us the many opportunities we have to serve Him and others. Therefore, we must labor and invest ourselves for His grand approval upon our lives of service. This in no way implies a lack of consideration for people’s legitimate needs or concerns. While it is a wonderful thing to satisfy the expectations of those we serve, ultimately we must answer to Christ.

You see, it is God who tries the hearts of His servants. He, with infinitely clear insight into the motives and desires of our hearts, will carefully examine us. He is fully aware of the reasons behind our actions. If we undertake holy tasks with unholy ambitions of pride, self-aggrandizement, fortune, or prestige, surely the Lord God will know this and smite our hearts accordingly. MacDonald observed,

A steward is obligated to please the one who pays him. Preachers may sometimes be tempted to hold back the full truth for fear of repercussion from those who contribute to their support. But God is the Master, and He knows when the message is watered down or suppressed. (Believer’s Bible Commentary)

Therefore, can our false humility go undetected? Is it possible our fear motivated ‘initiatives’ could be exposed by God? Is it possible our anger and frustration-based decisions will be subject to the discerning fires of an all-knowing Lord? The answer must be an absolute YES, if we are honest with ourselves!

Often Christian work is prosecuted on the basis of the normal, well established, and conventional wisdom of a movement, denomination, fellowship, or association. Unfortunately, our man-made traditions drive us to do the same things in the same way while expecting different and positive results. Someone described this as the definition for insanity! Pleasing the Lord first and foremost may demand breaking with mere human traditions no matter how well established they may be. The problem is many matters are viewed as biblical when really they are only traditional, contemporary, or cultural. This struggle is not new at all. No, truly biblical requirements are not of human origin and must be upheld. Traditions, whether ancient or contemporary, should be examined to determine their real value, but in many instances they may need to be discarded!

When we stand before Christ at the Judgment Seat of Christ, what people preferred or thought will not matter much at all. What did our Master require? What does the Bible actually say and teach? This is the issue most pressing to us as His slaves. Our loyalties should be to Christ first and foremost and not the group we identify ourselves with. It is God who has entrusted us with the Gospel; therefore, we are supremely accountable to Him. This is a marvelous and freeing realization. Our Lord has simplified matters for us. We have but one Lord and God to please.

In addition, we are not left without examples of authentic devotion and consecration to God’s will. The Apostle Paul executed a ministry of incredible freedom under the Mastery of Christ. Also in John 8:29, the Lord Jesus said, “And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.” Christ was sent with a definite purpose and object; He habitually lived and served to always please His Father who sent Him. It was God’s way…period. Our Lord enjoyed special fellowship and communion with the Father through His devotion to His will. Certainly decisive discernment and spiritual power were His in abundance due to His commitment to execute God’s plan. Christ Jesus provides an imminently appropriate Model of faithfulness and fruitfulness for us today!

Then finally, the wise King Solomon reminds us in Proverbs 29:25, that “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Being too overly concerned with political correctness and pleasing everybody is not how we demonstrate a trust in the LORD. There is no real safety to be had in capitulating to the sheer whelm of fickle souls or societies. Serving in the fear of the Lord can protect and preserve us from serious mistakes—actions that are deeply offensive to HIM. We are far too concern about mere men being happy with us, while we readily diminish the pleasure of God in His servants’ full obedience to Him. Speak and share the gospel of our Lord as one who has been commissioned by Almighty God. Beloved, escape the snares and traps that accompany the fear of man by serving in the fear of God. 

Again make it your life’s goal, as a servant of the Most High God, to always please Him in all things. If we can please people as we passionately pursue God’s pleasure first, then wonderful. If we must choose between pleasing God and men, then for me the decision has been made. Though we will live with the consequences of our decisions, we will also live with the rewards and benefits of them as well.   

Give God Your Lemons

I recall while in high school, a football coach barking this admonition at me, “Son, when life hands you a lemon, make lemonade! Now, get back out there!” His forceful counsel was the classic encouragement to make the best out of a bad situation. In affect ‘Coach’ was saying, be resilient, get tougher, refuse to quit, and turn this thing around to your advantage. In our modern marketing savvy world, I would be further encouraged to not only make good lemonade, but sell it at a nice profit!

All of this is well and good…in a certain way, I suppose...but…. One important ingredient is missing. What? Assurance, a guarantee…a sure promise is what is missing. The advice of my coach is purely dependent upon my efforts, strength, wisdom, and determination. You see in a purely human scenario, there is no one bigger than life who can guarantee everything will work out good in the end and ultimately. As Christians, we have a God who promises beneficial final outcomes no matter how many lemons life dumps on us! Consider this clear promise of God writing by the Apostle Paul,   

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:28, 29)

Often when we are working through heartbreak, tragedy, disappointment, frustration, and bereavement, we find ourselves wondering…. Why? Why THIS? What "good" could possibly come out of THIS? God permits such challenges to invade our experiences to mold us into the image of His darling Son, Jesus Christ (8:29). As perplexing as it may seem, our Majestic LORD even has beneficial designs for pure chaos! Christ-likeness is His goal for us. He can even use bad things to mold and shape us into good (Christ-like) people. Our Lord is bigger than life!

 Joseph understood the way God works and fully embraced His will. He viewed  his experiences at the hands of his brothers and the time in Egypt as a sovereign choice and activity of a caring God. He firmly believed the ordeals he suffered were for his good and the good of others.  In Genesis 50:19-21, Moses writes,

And Joseph said unto them [his brothers who betrayed him], Fear not: for am I in the place of God?  But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Because Joseph’s perspective was riveted on God’s designs, he realized his sufferings were beneficial to him personally, and the nations working through that awful enduring drought. He was freed from any entertainment of revengeful notions, bitterness, and hatred towards his brothers. He could treat his betrayer with extraordinary kindness because he believed God was handling the entire situation! Yes, Joseph understood the way God operates in a broken and fallen world. He believed with his entire being that God can overcome evil with good. Beloved, God was making lemonade with Joseph's lemons!

Not everyone in the Bible possessed such a clear perspective about troubles. Jacob, Joseph’s father, did not understand the way God works in troubles and he battled his burdens. Jacob struggled miserably during challenging times. In essence, his lack of faith and insight stirred him to resist, complicate, and belabor the outworking of God’s designs. He was reluctant to give God his lemons. Note the record in Genesis 42:35-36, where Moses says,

And it came to pass as they [Jacob’s sons] emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me.

In spite of Jacob’s past experiences, He did not have this confidence in God’s sovereign watch care over his concerns! In Jacob’s eyes trials, suffering, bereavement, and tragedy were just awful distresses that served no beneficial purposes at all! No doubt, Jacob was reaping some of the harvest of his deceptive youth; this is a safe assertion. One writer summarized Jacob’s lament over his circumstances in this way,

Joseph was gone; Reuben was disgraced; Judah was dishonored; Simeon and Levi had broken his heart; Dinah was defiled; Simeon was currently in prison; his beloved Rachel was dead; famine threaten the family.  Then came the demand from Egypt that young Benjamin must appear there before its governor before any additional food supplies will be authorized. Old Jacob wept and said: “all these things are against me.”

But he was completely wrong! God Almighty was busy working all these developments together for Jacob's good. It certainly did not seem this way at the time, but that does not change the truth. We can take the perspective of Jacob and struggle with hardnesses for the remainder of our days, or we could embrace them like Joseph realizing that troubles can be used of God to bring about the best outcomes! God is bigger than life, and He makes great lemonade! The Apostle Paul agrees in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, affirming,

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Beloved, God is continually arranging every event in life for our ultimate good and His glory (Rom 8:28).  No one handles the worst things a broken world can belch out at us transforming them into “good” like God can! I know the pains and sufferings we have experienced may argue against this truth, but they are powerless to change or diminish it. Do not believe your pain; believe your God. Again the Apostle Paul says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). Again God's purpose is to use even pain to conform each of us to the likeness of His Son, Jesus Christ (8:29). Yes, God uses the Bible, Christian teachers, faithful biblical counselors, pastors, and good schools, but He also uses the dark experiences of life as well. Do not respond to this with perplexity; respond with faith in the character and promises of God.

Now, does this passage hold up under close scrutiny? Does Romans 8:28, 29 really promise all that I claim it does? Well, I did a little extra research and read after many other writers concerning these incredible verses/promise. Here is what I came up with as we consider Romans 8:28, phrase by phrase:

·       The Surety: “And we know”: the idea of the word “know” is absolute full perfect knowledge. We should be absolutely confident that God is working all things together for our good.

·        The Quantity: “that all things”: every experience and every event without any exceptions. This is full-orb and comprehensive—all encompassing! No development, situation, or circumstance is excluded. All means all!

·        The Activity: “work together”: refers to being fellow-workers or helpers together on a project—cooperating in a certain task—working in concert. The same idea is clearly conveyed in Mark 16:20, “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Thus, our Lord uses every circumstance as His “helper,” “co-worker,” or “partner” in the task of making us Christlike, and to bring Himself glory. He is fully able to produce beauty from ashes!

·        The Longevity: “work together”: the verb tense indicates a continuous working influence. God’s work is always a present action which reveals how He is in full CONTROL of our lives and everything that touches them for the entire length of our earthly existence and on into eternity! His attention is constantly on our spiritual welfare!

·        The Quality: “for good”: a reference to our ultimate good, of course. Thus, that which is good in its character or construction is good in its effect! It is a good God bringing about a good end for His children. The nature of our final destiny can only be described as good because a good God is on our case! The following verses illustrate this truth; they employ this same word “good.” Consider Matthew 7:17, “Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.” Now look at Luke 8:8, which says “And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” With God, it’s all good!

So you have some challenges huh? Yea, me too. I know it seems there are times in life when an entire grocery cart full of lemons has been dumped on you all at once. For you life has been one giant lemon! It has turned completely sour...there is no sweetness anymore.... I mean the car is broke, the rent is overdue, your faith is wobbling, your job is laying folks off, and your heart has been broken for months.... Lemons, lemons, more lemons! Life only gives you more lemons, and you are tired of people telling you, "When life hands you lemons make lemonade." They don't understand, and they don't know what you have been through, or what you are dealing with. They have no clue about what you have been navigating for years...things have been messed up for decades now. You're tired of trying only to realize another failure.... You have concluded that life is against you. Life's a giant lemon and you have grown to hate the sour taste of it all!

From your past you can recall some hard times, but for a long time you had the hope things would get better. The problem is...it never really did...in fact things got worse. Even though you tried hard to make life work...things only got worse and then worse. What can you do? Is it really hopeless?

Well, believe it or not there is hope and a special promise from God with your name on it. Yes, my friend it is safe to hope again because of the promise of Romans 8:28, 29. But understand your hope is not in how hard you try or how smart you are. It is in the Lord the great "Lemonade Maker!" Instead of trying to make your own lemonade, give God your lemons and trust Him to sweetened life and remove the bitterness that is presently stealing your joy and peace. Beloved, it is time to give God your lemons.

So, there you have it; God makes fantastic lemonade. Therefore, give Him your lemons…all of them. Come on...give them to Him. Place everyone of them in His capable hands. Do not hold on to a single slice. Since God is bigger than life, he can make lemonade with your lemons. You are assured of this by the promises of God. Beloved, our lives are not controlled by impersonal and insensible forces such as luck, chance, karma, the stars, the alignment of the planets, or fate! Nor are we merely “dancing to our DNA!” No, we are in the omnipotent hands of Almighty God. He can make lemonade with our lemons! Stop talking about your lemons. Stop comparing your lemons with others. God knows what to do with lemons; He designed them! Therefore, even now...give Him your lemons. Yes, give Him your "stale lemons." Those that have been lying around your life perpetuating your failures, mistakes, and problems from your past, give them to the Lemonade Maker. Give the Lord your "old lemons;" all that bad stuff from your childhood that has haunted you throughout your life must be surrendered to Him. Yield it over to the One who works it together for your good. Give Him your "rotten lemons" all that absolute junk that you are convinced has no useful purpose or value at all. If you feel it is too late for you and nothing can be salvaged in your situation...still give God your "rotten lemons." Be assured He knows what He is doing. Give God your "fresh lemons;" that stuff that went wrong last week, last night, or this morning. Let the God Who is bigger than life turn your lemons into sweet refreshing lemonade! Can't your life use some refreshing about now? Isn't it time for some fresh hope and promise? Beloved, we are assured of this. Refresh your tired and perplexed soul with this incredible truth! Drink deeply from this well of promise, hope, grace, and assurance (Rom. 8:28, 29). Our wonderful, personal Lord, is too loving to be unkind, too powerful to be incompetent, and too wise to make a mistake. What Great ASSURANCE we have throughout our lives because of Him! Now, about those lemons…. 

Why Is The Tongue So Difficult To Control?

Why Is The Tongue So Difficult To Control?

I recall an extremely dark day in my early teen years…if only I could erase my vicious rant from my family members’ memories. On that shameful occasion, I bellowed out some dreadful things to an entirely innocent person. We were playing baseball at my aunt’s house, and things were going well for the most part. Many of my family members and cousins were having a great time in a friendly game of baseball. That is until I was supposedly tagged out on second, when I clearly was safe. It was one of my cousins (a cancer patient) who tried to tag me out, but actually missed me altogether as I heroically slid into second base. I was safe. My cousin felt he had tagged me out when he caught the ball returning from the outfield. He had indeed reached for me in a rather clumsy attempt, but he was clearly too slow and too late. Accordingly, I insisted I was safe by a mile!

We started to argue…the confrontation rapidly escalated a few decibels. Inside, I felt justified regarding my claim, but a strange form of mercy within me felt it wrong to haggle too harshly with my very sick cousin. I was angry, perplexed, defensive, and frustrated…I could not freely defend myself because of his cancerous condition. It was not a fair argument…then he pushed me…. My entire insides were fuming, but this same strange mercy restrained me from reacting in kind. In a matter of seconds both teams were arguing…the situation continued to degenerate!

Finally, my aunt attempted to bring the sad state of affairs under control. Trying to resolve the matter, she addressed me directly. I was so angry that I took aim at her and fired off the harshest retorts I could muster. Everything I wanted to say to my cancer plagued cousin, but somehow could not, I mercilessly unleashed on her. My poor aunt was sandblasted by a barrage of the vilest sarcasms I have ever belched out in my entire life! She was undeniably disconcerted at my venomous histrionics as I stormed and thundered on. All the while, she was careful to maintain a safe distance between herself and me. I even recall real fear registering in her eyes…. The entire scene was categorically explosive… an extremely painful memory. I still have difficulty believing I actually did this.

My pride, my willful defense of myself…somehow, the embarrassment I felt, the sense of injustice, and yes an untamed tongue on a seriously violent rampage. These memories are still painful as I record them; I am deeply ashamed of my behavior. The extreme forms of disrespect…the degree to which I gravely dishonored my parents as I lambasted the sweetest aunt I have. My actions were exceedingly sinful. She did not deserve the way I treated her; in fact, no one did.

While I understand there were many dynamic elements influencing that event, one fundamental component was my failure to control my tongue. As you know, my problem is deeper than what I actually said. But, why is the tongue so difficult to control? How is it that I lost control of my tongue hurting some of the dearest people in my life? This is not my only story about a lack of tongue control, but it was one of my worst. The fact is my problem is quite universal. Note the words of James,

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:7 & 8)

James recognizes that we have been effective in training animals in remarkable ways, but the human tongue remains untamed, wild, and therefore dangerous. Many can vouch for the impossibility of controlling the tongue by mere human strength because it is restlessly unruly and deadly poisonous. It was D. A. Carson who said,

The tongue, then, is restless. Restlessness is a characteristic of the demonic world and evil, while peace is a characteristic of God and his good kingdom. The tongue is always wanting to say something; often poison that produces death. The murders committed on behalf of a tyrant come about when he issues orders. We experience something similar on the personal level when we speak evil and realize that it has brought death to us rather than life.”(Carson, D. A.: New Bible Commentary)

Yes, we all have stories similar to mine where we said some pretty awful things that we later regretted. Several things can be noted in relation to taming the tongue and bringing it under control based on the words of James.

TONGUE CONTROL IS NOT ACHIEVED SOLELY THROUGH HUMAN DISCIPLINE

We assume we can train and discipline ourselves to control what we say. That is, we make up our minds and determine to change. We bite our tongues refusing to retaliate. We vow to never say certain words again. The list could go on for a month! While the motive is good, the method is ineffective for the most part. Effective change can never be found in the strength of our flesh. The Spirit’s control of the heart and mind of the believer is the key. He generates love, longsuffering, meekness, and temperance in believers’ character effectively limiting the restless nature of the tongue (Gal. 5:22, 23; 2Pet. 1:6, 7).

Human discipline is a good thing and is not to be diminished in any way. In fact we must decidedly cooperate with the Lord to experience real change. God gives us heavenly wisdom which is marked by righteousness and peace, and therefore militates against worldly wisdom which breeds confusion and conflict (Js. 3:13-18). The Spirit of God’s contributions to our change is most important (Wiersbe). Only the Spirit of God can curtail our speech by His influence on our thoughts, values, beliefs, and motives. Do not miss what I emphasize here…the control of the tongue is an inside job wrought by the Holy Spirit!

WE MUST ACTIVELY STORE UP THE RIGHT KIND OF SUBSTANCE IN OUR HEARTS

This may sound a little strange at first, but the Lord Jesus said,

O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. [36] But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. [37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. (Matt 12:34-37)

Obviously, Christ felt the tongue was connected to the human heart, and that the mouth utters what is in the heart. If we have deposited healthy ideas, belief, values, and thoughts in our hearts and minds, then that is precisely what we will say. If we have saved up evil things in our hearts and minds then that is what comes pouring out of our mouths most effortlessly. If good goes in then good will come out; if garbage goes in then garbage will come out! Our Lord calls us to sober considerations regarding what we say. Speech is a weighty matter in the eyes of the Lord and James clearly views tongue control as a mark of genuine spiritual maturity.

Once again our Lord echoed this same concept in Luke 6:43-45, where He said,

For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [44] For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. [45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

The nature of the tree determines the kind of fruit it will bear. It is only within the precincts of our new nature that we can exercise tongue control. Our new nature is the good treasure God has placed within us. In addition, we must fill our hearts with God’s Word, Bible truths, godly values, and yield to the Holy Spirit. He can use us to bring delight to others, and we will be like refreshing fountains and trees to those we speak with. The focus must be upon God and His Word, which are able to renovate our hearts and minds. We must fill ourselves with God’s truth and frequently bring our minds to the old Book for training, indoctrination, and values orientation. Thus the new nature will dominate our personality and lives.

THE PROBLEM, OF COURSE, IS NOT THE TONGUE; IT IS THE HEART

The best strategy for problem solving is to get at the heart of the problem. My wife is a strategist and analyst and one of her favorite statements is “Don’t waste your energy on symptoms; get to the heart of the issue.” When it comes to the control of the tongue, the key is to get at the heart of the problem because the heart is the problem.

First examine the condition of the heart. Take a serious heart examination. Be sure to make a thorough go of it because it is easy to have “bitter envying and strife” in our hearts (James 3:14). Again remember the words of our Lord Jesus, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man” (Matt. 15:18). Though it may be utterly humiliating, we have to admit that we have gathered and appreciated some pretty wicked stuff in our hearts. For some of us, we like our sins or do not consider obvious sins to be sinful any more. We rationalize our speech failures explaining away any responsibility for the way we handle people with our words. We like intimidating others with the things we say so as to prevent people from seeing our fears and vulnerabilities. Speaking our minds with brutal frankness is highly valued by some of us because we desire respect above all else. With our words we conceal, hide, and camouflage the truth to save our honor, and retain the respect of those we wish to impress. If anger and fear rule the heart then it is certain the Spirit of the Living God does not.

Maintaining a clean heart has not been a controlling value in our Christian experience. We have not kept short accounts with God, and we have actually enjoyed some elements of sin. In fact, we have provided safe harbor for certain pet sins in our souls. But only transparency with God and honest confession of sins to Him assures us of a clean heart (1 John 1:5-2:2). We need not go through the remainder of our lives pretending and living lies. Truthfulness with God will set us free!

Secondly, we must undertake serious efforts to safeguard our hearts recognizing their influence on our decisions. The wise King Solomon says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23).  We know the “heart” is the wellspring of our actions in life (Luke 6:45), therefore it must be guarded and kept pure with great care.  The word “heart” includes our intellect (understanding, Prov. 10:8; discernment, 15:14; reflections, 15:28), our emotions (Prov. 12:25; 13:12; 14:10, 13), our values (Matt. 6:21) and our will (Prov. 5:12). This is nothing less than the very core of our innermost being! The heart must be guarded!

God characteristically begins with our innermost being, and then gradually works His way outward to our behavior. He targets the heart first. God focuses on the inner life, the mind, the thoughts, the motives, values, and the desires. This is because the heart is the fountain from which our actions spring—“the issues of life.” Discipline requires that we select carefully what we put into our minds and hearts. Beloved, this directly applies to our interactions with any media source or outlet. There is an abundance of trash in or on every media outlet known to mankind. We must find healthy ways to participate while being decisive about refusing the junk. Be very thoughtful about what you tolerate and are willing to live with.

One writer explains that if the fountain is pure, the stream that flows from it will be pure. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. So through Proverbs 4:23, God emphasizes the importance of a clean heart and thought life. The inner person has to be right, because that is the source of all else; but outward behavior is not just left to work itself out by chance. We also have to pay attention to speaking correctly, looking straight on, and walking with exactness. This is a matter of discipline. God will certainly do His part, but we must discipline ourselves to consistently execute our responsibilities as a matter of faith in God and His truth. Respond faithfully to what God is doing deep within and act on his commands with zeal and commitment. While the human tongue is impossible to tame for mere human beings, it is no match at all for the Lord.

Thirdly, I leave you with an examination tool. I do not recall how it came to me, but it is a helpful tool for self-examination. I have used it with good results and confidently pass it on. Let’s examine ourselves with these questions: 

·         Do I teach others things that I have not obeyed myself? 

·         Do I criticize others behind their back? 

·         Is my speech consistently clean, edifying, and kind?  

·         Do I use “minced oaths” such as gosh, golly, gee, jeepers, good heavens, heck? 

·         After a solemn church meeting, do I engage in levity talking about football scores?  

·         Do I pun on the Scriptures? 

·         In retelling a story, do I exaggerate in order to impress people more?  

·         Do I habitually tell the truth, even if it means loss of face, friends, or finances?

Since that dark and ugly summer day so many years ago, I have had other failures with my tongue. Most of them have been with the people I love the most. I hate hurting folks…especially those I love. Therefore, it is wise to keep at it daily so as to reduce the number of verbal infractions. Faithfully stay in the Word and walk in the Spirit so as to avoid saying things that bring discredit to our Lord and the Christian Faith. Put some effort into memorizing the Word so that healthy content is in the thoughts. Study and meditate on Bible truths in order to deepen the impact of Scripture on motives, desires, and values. It would also be wise to limit the amount of time with television and movies! Take serious precautions with the internet. Select your music with care, and decisively refuse the soul-pollution commonly passed off as music. Many times the lyrics are debased, wretched, disrespectful, and inundated with sensual innuendo. I am far from perfect in all regards, but I can honestly say, I am no longer that guy from that awful summer afternoon long ago. 

Deepening Your Love for Your Spouse!

 

Unfortunately many married couples are not experiencing a deepening love for each other; they simply endure or put up with one another as they pretend they are not drifting away from each other. It is not that they woke up one morning and decided to grow the distance between themselves and their mate. It just happens…. Amidst holding down a job (often both members work), raising the children (including supporting their extracurricular activities), and involvement in our church and communities a couple can easily grow apart. Regardless of the specific factors couples do grow in different directions; if this inclination is not resisted it could result in a dissolution of the marriage. Why? It is because the couple no longer knows each other, they have less in common, and their independent interests are affording them different opportunities. In the worse cases, a love triangle materializes as the devil manipulates and exploits the existing vacuum. Clearly, this is not the plan of God. 

With the cultivation of a deepening love these woeful scenarios can be avoided. It has been well said that it takes three persons to make a marriage work. This includes you, your spouse, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ brings His companionship, promises, spiritual dynamics, tried and proven wisdom, and real hope to a marriage. Each couple must decide to bring themselves…their entire self to invest into the relationship. A couple must also decide that there is something far more important than either of them or the marriage. What? The glory and honor of God! We should do all for the glory of God; this includes sustaining the right kind of marriage (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17, 23). Yes, building love, respect, and mutual service into a marriage is worth it because such will honor our Savior and Lord.

According to the Apostle Paul the love of Christ can be experience in relationship with other Believers. In fact, we cannot experience it alone. It is through Spirit-guided interactivity that the love of Christ is realized most fully. It simply does not happen in isolation. It is through being loved and receiving love that we learn how to love. Being loved deeply is essential to learning to love in deeper or more comprehensive ways. Consider Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian Church two thousand years ago,

May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:18-19)

In what ways can we know Christ’s love, even though we don’t fully understand it?  It seems like an oxymoron, but the promise of the passage is very real and attainable. One key is to recognize that we learn, experience, explore, discover, and receive more in relationship, interactivity, and correspondence than if we were alone. Paul conveys this simply by saying, “able to comprehend with all saints”…. Spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growths are dwarfed in isolation; they can be accelerated in the right kind of interpersonal expression and community. It is healthy for each spouse to admit their need for the other to know, grow, and show the love of Christ. Express this often to the Lord and your spouse. The humility, selflessness, and service orientation it breeds is extremely healthy for Christian growth and the marriage.

As we look closer, we note how Paul was praying for Believers to have power (inner strength from God), and to be rooted and grounded in godly-love (Eph. 3:16, 17). This creates an atmosphere where Believers are deeply established in love and are being nourished and refreshed in Christ. This all transpires through Christian interaction and holy fellowship. Thus, it is together with all the saints that we are able to grasp how wide, long, high, and deep the love of Christ truly is. These are measurements describing the immensity of Christ’s love—it is actually incomprehensible and inexhaustible! However, we can know experientially the love of Christ, which far supersedes all knowledge (Phil. 4:7). The more we Christians know about Christ Jesus, the more amazed we will become at Christ’s love for us. The benefits of such knowledge are compounded and realized through our interactivity.

Christ’s love is to be realized on the experience level in each of us Believers and in relationship (Eph. 4:13). Such an experience actually influences each participant to love each other. Regarding our position, Believers are already viewed as one in Christ; experientially we are to love each other as one in Him. This truth readily applies to our relationship with our spouse. Legally a couple is one, but they must grow to become one in actual experience. The love of Christ, though it is incomprehensible in many degrees, can be shared, realized, experienced, given, and received in the context of relationships. Why not experience the love of Christ with your husband or wife. The key is to grow in your knowledge of Him—experiencing His love. In doing so, we grow in our capacity to love another God’s way. Those who are loved, can actually share love, express love, experience love, and receive love in relationships. The impact on a marriage is a deepening loving life with your spouse. Certainly this will glorify our Lord. Make the choice, spend some time, and invest the energy to deepen your love for your spouse.

Born of The Spirit: What is Wrong with My First Birth?

Like many of you, I have spent most of my Christian life telling people how they too can become a Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ. It has been a privilege to represent our Lord and show folks from the Bible how they can know the forgiveness of sins, become acceptable to God, receive God’s very own nature, and anticipate a home in Heaven. Some have been astonished to learn that all of this is free to us sinners when we repent placing our faith in Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Like the Lord Jesus in John chapter three, I am sometimes surprised to discover what people are relying on to establish a relationship with God. Far too often it is something they have done or are doing that they believe secures their salvation. Nicodemus was a religious man, a Pharisee, and even a religious ruler of the Jews, God’s chosen people. He was well trained in theology and biblical studies; people looked to him for spiritual wisdom and insight. He, however, still did not hold the key that would unlock the kingdom of God to him. I find there are many like Nicodemus in the world.

During evangelistic efforts, I will ask people, “Have you ever been born again?” Some have responded, “Yes I have.” Then they usually share with me a story about a ‘life changing experience.’  Many times it entails a great sickness, a tragic accident, surviving a recent war, or an awful emotional trauma. Through their experience, they began to view God differently, and looked to Him regularly. While it is good they turned to God for help in their time of need, this in itself does not establish a saving-relationship with God. This is not a new birth by the Spirit; it is only a life changing experience! Such behavior will not result in new life, forgiveness of sins, the reception of a new nature, or going to Heaven. This is not the glorious imparting of divine life and awakening of the human spirit salvation experience. A life altering experience is simply just that; any one can get the same results from a car accident that left them paralyzed! 

Then there have been occasions when I asked that same question, “Have you been born again or born of the Spirit?” And the answer was an honest, ‘No’. These individuals never heard of such a thing even though they were familiar with Bible stories and had great respect for God and Christianity in general. Yet this topic is of the utmost importance because Jesus insisted it was absolutely necessary for everyone to be born again!  He made it unmistakably clear that it was impossible to truly know God without experiencing the spiritual birth! Note His distinct words,

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again (John 3:5-7).

Each and every one of us are unfit for a relationship with the holy God of heaven because our first birth was of a human and earthly source—sinful flesh! However, we can be prepared by God for an eternity with Him through a divine birth (a rebirth) from the heavenly Source—The Spirit! We must be born of the Spirit of God, to have eternal life in a saving-relationship with God, forgiveness of our sins, and the hope of God’s heavenly home. There is absolutely NO hope of salvation without the spiritual new birth experience. Let us examine this further by considering a few pertinent questions. The first one is:

What Is Wrong With Our First Physical Birth?

Before we can realize the need for a second-spiritual birth, we must first realize what is wrong with our first-physical birth. Unless we understand exactly how sick we are, we will be unwilling to see a doctor for his healing help!

Now clearly we all have been born physically or “born of the flesh” and if we are required to be “born again” then it implies that we were born wrong the first time. Something about our original birth rendered us unfit and unqualified for an eternal relationship with a holy God. So, what was wrong with our first natural birth?

WE HAVE THE WRONG SPIRITUAL FATHER

You see we all, as human beings, share the guilt of the first sin of Adam back in the Garden of Eden. The act of imputing Adam’s sin to all his children is taught in Romans 5:12-19. The Apostle Paul declares that God credits the guilt of Adam’s sin to all other members of the human race, “By one man’s disobedience many were made sinners.” Is there any evidence of this being the case?

First, death is proof of mankind’s universal guilt of sin. Through Adam’s offense judgment came to all humanity, resulting in utter rejection and total condemnation of the entire human race. All were tainted by this propensity to resist God, refuse God, and rebel against Him. Because of that one man’s offense, death reigned like a tyrannical king who forced his rule upon everyone ever born (Gen. 5). This affords undeniable evidence that sin had invaded the world—people are still dying today. Consider what God’s Word says, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (Rom 5:12). Again it says, “Therefore as by the offence of one [Adam] judgment came upon all men to condemnation… (Rom 5:18).

Secondly, the fall of Adam resulted in the fall of the entire human race. “For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners… (Rom 5:19). Sin, like an aggressive contagion, spread through every human generation naturally. Since Adam is the father of the human race all of his children are tragically infested with sinful motives, desires, behaviors, and eagerly rage to rebel against a holy God.

You see, Adam’s relationship to the human race is that of the federal head; he was the leader-representative of all mankind.  When he sinned, we all sinned. In effect, we all received credit for his sin and are guilty. Therefore we were born spiritually dead and are destined to die physically. Death is the evidence that we all are guilty of the sin of Adam.  When our Federal head sinned God justly condemned him and every one he represented; we all received credit on our spiritual accounts for Adam’s sin. “For as in Adam all die…” (1 Cor. 15:22).

This representative role of Adam can be likened unto the role of our presidents. Whenever the federal head (president) of the U.S.A. make a statement, a claim, or a commitment to the UN or another country, he automatically obligates each of us tax paying Americans regardless of our individual opinions or views. The entire country will be charged with that commitment or that responsibility in the eyes of the UN or that country. So it is with Adam’s sin, we stand obligated for his actions and we all will reap the consequences of His gross failure.

Thus, we are unprepared to enter an eternal-relationship with God because our first birth (physical and natural) is from a sinful source. It is rooted in Adam, an earthly source, who SINNED! In such condition, we our sentenced to death in Hell forever because we remain unfit for an eternal relationship with God in Heaven! Sin is the culprit.

WE HAVE THE WRONG SPIRITUAL NATURE

Also everyone born physically has Adam’s natural inclination to sin. Consider the following biblical statements. In Genesis 5:3, Moses says, “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth”. Adam’s children possess his likeness and image. This involves the propensity to sin and rebel against God’s authority. David informs us in Psalm 51:5, that our sinfulness is inherent and inborn, “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Even from our very conception, we receive a natural inclination to rebel against God. Again the Psalmist of Israel said in Psalm 58:3, “The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.” This is so true, and we all can identify with the reality it conveys. None of us had to be taught how to lie, we all did it naturally. In fact, lies still define us all! This is plain evidence of our sinfulness. The Apostle Paul clearly explained how our sinful behaviors are rooted in the core of our beings, our very nature. Consider what he said in Ephesians 2:3, “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” Wrath is pronounced upon fallen sinful humanity because of our sinful nature. The Lord Jesus also distinguished the first birth from the second birth to impress us all with the absolute need for the second birth. In John 3:6, Christ said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Sinfulness is a part of our natural makeup and it requires a supernatural change to fix the problem.

Again have you ever noticed that you do not have to teach a child to sin (lie, steal, be selfishness, disobey, and rebel)? It comes very naturally to them because they, like us, have inherited Adam’s inclination to rebel against God, His order, and His Word.  Have you noticed how difficult it is to teach children right things—how to love God, and to read their Bibles faithfully, to attend Church regularly, and to pray to enjoy communion with God? All of this is undeniable evidence of our SIN NATURE!

As such, we are disqualified to enter an eternal relationship with God because our first birth, physical, is from the wrong source, Adam. We have a sin nature that is anti-God. It is not so much the individual sins that we commit, (though these are awful!) but the fact that we have a sinful orientation that drives us to indulge in the wrongs that so violently offends a holy God! 

In short we cannot embrace an eternal relationship with a righteous God in our natural state because we have the wrong father and the wrong nature. Unless God undertakes to change us, we are condemned forever to the Lake of Fire without any other recourse or hope for all eternity. This is why the new birth through faith in Jesus Christ is so vital to our spiritual welfare. Again, the Lord Jesus insisted that we must be born again.