The Forecast Is…

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Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him [Jesus] asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’

Matthew 16:1-3a

As I write this blog, the outer bands of hurricane Ian are beginning to batter the coasts of Florida. The weather prognosticators are giving their predictions as to where it will make landfall, and the trek it will then take as it moves inland. Evacuations are being issued, and people are being strongly encouraged to move to safer locations until the storm has passed.

Many are giving heed to these warnings. Windows are being boarded up. Outside items are being put in safe locations. Cars are being packed with the things family members need to get through a few days in hotels or with family or friends who live far enough away to be safe.

It is amazing how accurate weather-forecasting has become. With all the modern technology our meteorologists are able to make precise predictions about weather patterns several days in advance. When storms such as Ian approach we are watching and listening carefully to predictions based on their ability to predict approaching weather patterns.

Jesus spoke of this very issue in the passage quoted above. By observing the sky we can make a determination of what kind of weather to expect, and then make preparations based on that knowledge. Many are making preparations today for the approach of Ian.

However, reading weather patterns and making predictions based on that knowledge is not what Jesus was talking about in this passage. Note carefully that Jesus’ statement was in response to the Pharisees and Sadducees asking for a sign from heaven. But His response goes further.

‘Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.’ And He left them and departed.

Matthew 16:3b-4

Jesus now gets to the point. He is not talking about looking at the skies to determine the present weather pattern. He is speaking of something far more important. He is speaking to His hearers (and readers) of the importance of being aware of the signs that point to the reality of whom He really is, and of the preparations that need to be made in light of that knowledge.

Right now, based on the knowledge being given by weather prognosticators, people are making preparations for the approaching storm. There is coming a day and an event that is so much more important than that. There is coming the day of the approach of the Lord as He comes to call His bride, the church, out of this world. After this, the world will be thrown into a time of tribulation such as it has never seen before.

The signs are everywhere. It is becoming more and more obvious to serious students of the Bible that the coming of the Savior is drawing near. Are we paying attention? Are we making preparations for that coming day? Have we looked to the teachings of the Word of God and made personal preparations for His coming?

The forecast is clear: the Son of God is coming. No one knows the day or the hour. But it could be any day and any hour. Have you made proper preparations by trusting in the saving work of Jesus Christ? It is He, and He alone, who can give you safe passage. Trust Him today. There is no time to delay.

Blessings!

Do You See Clearly?

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It is hard to be optimistic when you have a misty optic.”

Vance Havner

How is your vision? I started wearing glasses at ten years of age. Each time I went for a vision examination, the optometrist would test each eye individually to determine the prescription needed to attain 20/20 vision. He would then write a prescription for glasses which would address the need.

I had gotten several pairs of glasses from the age of ten to the age of twenty-one. I went to a different optometrist that year, and once again the exam was made of each eye and the prescription was determined to give me 20/20 vision. However, this was the first time that after the examination was completed, the doctor put a beam of light on the wall and asked if I could see it clearly. I answered, “Yes, I see both of them clearly.” Dr. Price looked at the wall, then looked at me, and said, “But there is only one dot of light on the wall.” But no, there were two distinct dots of light, and I saw both of them clearly.

For the first time in my life, it was discovered that I had double vision. Oh, I had perfect vision in each eye, but when I looked through both eyes I saw a ghost image – double-vision. With the use of prismatic lenses, I had true 20/20 vision and saw clearly for the first time in my life. My vision has worsened through the years, and I have now gone from single lenses to bifocals and now to trifocals, but with each new prescription I have been able to maintain 20/20 vision. I see clearly.

At another time in my life, I had developed poor vision of a different kind. I viewed life through the lens of the world. I saw things from an earthly perspective. Please note that I used the indefinite article “an” and not the definite article, “the”. The reason is quite simple: there is not just one earthly perspective, but there are many. In my past two blogs, I have discussed the subject of a worldly mentality as opposed to a mentality which is based on the Word of God. In those blogs I discussed the fact that the world has a plethora of political systems which are embraced by different people groups around the world. And these distinct political systems are vastly different, with very little in common. Those constituents of one political system see nothing good in other systems that do not agree with them.

As one studies the different political systems around the world then it is easy to get confused, perplexed and bewildered by the contradictions that are clearly evident between those systems. Each of them will make truth claims, but those claims are clearly contradictory to the truth claims of other systems, and the result is that we are no longer able to see clearly. There are too many opposing voices clamoring for our acceptance and allegiance.

There was a time in which I was completely confused by the different voices of American politics. At one time in my life, I could have been rightly described as a far-left liberal. As a young adult, I was caught up in the anti-government, anti-establishment, anti-war, movement that was such a huge part of the American landscape in light of the Viet Nam war. Even though I was not a political activist, if you would have asked me at that time in my life if I was a conservative or a liberal, or somewhere in between, I would not have identified with any of them. I liked to view myself as a free-thinker, not conforming to any political agenda. I did not see clearly.

But then something miraculous happened. On Tuesday evening, September 13, 1977, I was gloriously saved by the amazing grace of God. My perspective immediately changed. I no longer looked at things through the lens of a fallen world, or a faulty political system, or would-be political “saviors”, but I began to look at the world through the lens of Scripture. Instead of allowing the Bible to be interpreted by the world, I began to interpret the world through the lens of the Bible. I changed from the state of having a misty optic, not being able to see clearly because of the confusion in the world, to being optimistic, seeing the world through the truth of Scripture.

Admittedly there are many things that happen in this life that cause a state of confusion and perplexity. If we try to interpret the Bible through the lens of the world, then we will be left in a state of perpetual uncertainty. But if we interpret the confusion of the world through the lens of the Bible, we will begin to see clearly that this worldly system is moving steadily toward it’s God-appointed climax. We do not need to be distraught, discouraged, down-trodden and distressed because of the chaos and confusion of the world, but we should be encouraged as we see the world moving toward it’s climactic conclusion as appointed by God.

Do you want to see clearly? Great! Then turn to God’s Word, and allow the uncertainties of the world to begin to make sense as we learn the certainty of God’s unfolding plan.

Blessings!

A Change of Seasons

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Each year, as spring begins giving way to summer, I begin to dread the coming heat and humidity of another hot season in the Carolinas. I have never been a fan of summer, as my body does not do well in the furnace of June, July and August. As soon as those heat waves of summer begin to wash over us, I begin dreaming of the coming of cooler days to once again visit us.

Well, here we are. The page on the calendar has now been turned over to September. Those most loathed days of sweltering heat have now begun to subside, and the mid-nineties have given way to mid-eighties. This, too, is a bit hot for my liking, but at least the temperatures are moving in the right direction – at least in my estimation. I am so looking forward to the colors changing from the many hues of green to the golds, and reds, and oranges of fall. Teresa and I usually take an annual trek to the mountains of western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee to view this spectacular sight. It never grows old, and we never tire of the drive to see the beauty of the landscape.

The changing of the seasons always reminds me of the creative genius of our great God. He created a majestic earth for us to enjoy. He created beauty in all things. As Teresa and I have traveled around our beautiful country through the years of our married life, we have such diverse majesty as we have traveled from one state to another. Each is filled with its very own personalized grandeur. From the beautiful beaches of the Carolinas coast to the lush forests of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, the terrain of these two states is truly awe-inspiring. As one travels west across the southern states of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas, there is never a moment of boredom as the topography constantly changes. Then, the piney forests of eastern Texas gives way to the barrenness of west Texas, and the deserts and canyons of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah. The majesty of the Grand Canyon is a sight that cannot be imagined – it must be experienced first-hand. Going north from there one begins to see the silhouettes of the Rocky Mountains looming majestically and gloriously against the backdrop of the blue Colorado sky. The Grand Tetons, and Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming are a tourists paradise.

This is just a small sampling of the beauty of this great nation. Again, showing the wonder of God’s creative imagination. He could have created a planet with no variation, no changes in terrain or scenery, but He chose to make it a planet with beauty at every turn. And then, to add to the enjoyment of His human family, He threw in the changing of the seasons.

As we once again witness the marvel of summer morphing into fall, let’s not be so busy that we cannot stop and smell the proverbial roses along the way. Take a moment, or a day, or a week, or even a month, to enjoy the majesty of His glorious creation. And let’s allow the beauty of the creation to draw us close to the Creator. He did, after all, intend this for our enjoyment and pleasure.

And in a spirit of praise for His goodness, let’s bow our heads and hearts and say, “To God be the glory, great things He has done.”

Blessings!

Citizens of Heaven

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“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 3:20

In my last blog I addressed the subject of the kingdom of the Lord. Jesus Christ, being the King, rules over His kingdom, which is not of this world, but, as I mentioned in my previous blog, is “other-worldly”. When an individual is born again into the family of God through faith in Jesus Christ, he/she instantly becomes a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom. Being citizens of His kingdom means that we are representatives of that kingdom which Jesus rules.

Let’s think for a moment about the concept of citizenship. As a citizen of the United States of America, I have all the rights, protections, and privileges that come with that citizenship. Being a citizen of a free republic gives me the privilege of striving to attain my full potential, and of enjoying the benefits that will result from that potential. It offers me the protections that come from being a citizen, but it also comes with the strict warning that if I do not abide by the constraints of the law that I will suffer the consequences of breaking that law.

Being a citizen of the US also means that I adopt the cultural practices of the country. This is where the tension begins for one who has been born into the family of God and has become a citizen of heaven. We now abide in two different “kingdoms” and are called to be subject to two distinct kings. I am not referring to earthly kings, but rather to the one who is referred to in Scripture as the “god of this world” and the “ruler of the powers of the air”. Satan is the one who actually rules the worldly systems, be it a specific political system, societal system, the religious system, etc. When I speak of “the” political system, this is an all-inclusive term which would include all political systems of the world. Therefore, being a citizen of a particular nation means that I am under the rule of the god of this world.

So now, being a citizen of the US, and also a citizen of the kingdom of the Lord, I am placed into a position of conflict when the demands of one kingdom are diametrically opposite to the demands of the other. This happens quite often. This is the reason the Bible admonishes us to make sure we are living as good representatives of our heavenly citizenship.

So, how is the citizen of heaven supposed to live in dual citizenship with the world? Read carefully the words from the pen of the apostle John:

“Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”

1 John 2:15-17

Note especially the words “passing away.” The present worldly system, ruled by the god of this world, is already passing away. This includes all aspects of the world. It is temporary and will one day cease to exist. Those who have placed their hopes in the world will pass away with it.

But, the one who does the will of God will abide forever. What a stark contrast! Citizenship in a worldly kingdom will pass away, but the kingdom of the Lord will abide forever. Those who have entered into a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ, will live forever in that kingdom ruled by the righteous King Himself.

So why is it that many who profess to be citizens of the kingdom of the Lord place so much emphasis, and spend so much of their time, and invest most of their energy, on the things of this world? We are not to give ourselves over to the desires of this world, as John asserts, but are to live our lives for the glory of our King.

The apostle Paul says in Colossians that we are to set our minds on things of heaven. But too often it seems that many believers are so enthralled with the things pertaining to this life that they give little to no thought of the things pertaining to the kingdom of the Lord.

We are to live our lives with the intent of being good citizens of both kingdoms, but the kingdom of the Lord should always take precedence over the kingdoms of the world. We are never to look at any of the world’s systems – political, societal, cultural, and religious – to provide salvation that we so desperately need. Being good citizens of heaven will mean that we are the best citizens of earth there are, being law-abiding citizens who do our best to represent our Lord in the best ways possible.

But we are to make sure that our first priority is to live as citizens of heaven being the best representatives of our Lord we can possibly be.

Blessings!

The Kingdom of the Lord

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Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

John 18:36

A friend from back in my high school days responded to last week’s blog, asking that I would consider writing one on the topic of Jesus’ kingdom, and specifically how His kingdom is not of this world. Then, as a follow-up to that, how, or even if, Christians are to be involved in political systems/ideologies while not being part of those systems.

First, let’s think about Jesus’ statement in the verse quoted above: “My kingdom is not of this world.” There are a few observations that need to be made from these words. It is obvious that Jesus truly believed that He had a kingdom. This may sound overly simplistic, but it is imperative that we grasp the significance of this Biblical truth.

Second, Jesus came into the world on mission to establish His kingdom. However, He makes it crystal clear that His was not like other kingdoms. All other kingdoms were “of this world”. They had geographical boundaries. They were ruled by kings who operated from the perspective of worldly philosophical and political biases. For the most part these worldly kings gave little to no regard to Biblical truth, but rather operated from worldly wisdom.

Jesus’ kingdom was vastly different. Thus, His statement about His kingdom not being of this world. His, rather, was an “other-worldly” kingdom, based, not on worldly political biases and philosophies of men, but on the truth of God’s Word. It would have no geographical boundaries as do earthly kingdoms but would be a universal kingdom made up of every individual who is submitted to Jesus’ offer of salvation. Those who accept this offer become citizens of His kingdom. Thus, they become citizens of Jesus’ kingdom while continuing to be citizens of the nation to which they belong. I am a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom while at the same time a citizen of the United States of America.

So how am I to relate to and be involved in the political process of my earthly “kingdom” while also being a good representative of Jesus’ kingdom? I am, after all, to do all that I do for the glory of God, so how do I relate to both, and be involved in both, at the same time? I will strive to answer that by making several personal observations.

First, my commitment to Jesus Christ and to being a good citizen of His kingdom is priority number one. I must not allow my involvement in the political process of the United States to take precedence over my commitment to Jesus’ kingdom. My citizenship in His kingdom is eternal, while my citizenship here is only temporal. We must keep things in their proper perspective.

Second, being a good citizen of Jesus’ kingdom demands that I be a good citizen of my earthly citizenship. The thirteenth chapter of Romans teaches clearly that God has established earthly governments to provide security for their citizenry. As long as I adhere to the laws that govern our land I will be in good standing with those in authority over me.

Third, this dual citizenship will sometimes cause a certain level of stress as the kingdoms will sometimes be in conflict with one another. When the apostles were arrested and ultimately commanded to never preach in the name of Jesus, their response was simply that their commitment to Jesus Christ took precedence over their commitment to the earthly kingdom to which they belonged. If there comes the time that any earthly kingdom demands of its citizenry acts or actions that are contrary to God’s Word, citizens of Jesus’ kingdom must always obey Him rather than the dictates of man.

Fourth, my commitment to Jesus’ kingdom must always take precedence over my allegiance to my earthly citizenship. I love my country. I am sincerely proud to be a citizen of this great nation. But as I talk with people, it should be evident that I am first and foremost a citizen of Jesus’ kingdom, and my allegiance is to Him above and beyond any and all commitments I make to my country.

Fifth, I can, and should, be involved in the political processes of my earthly kingdom without being a part of that political system. The apostle Paul was led by the Lord to speak with the rulers of his day. He did so for the purpose of presenting them with the truth claims of the Gospel, not for the purpose of adapting the Gospel to those earthly kingdoms. The best way we can be involved in the political processes of our earthly kingdom is by striving to be good representatives of Jesus Christ in the process, and not be believing that one particular political persuasion will provide salvation for the nation.

There are those who seem to believe that republicans would lead us back to the principles upon which this nation was founded. Others believe democrats would provide the solution to our nation’s ills. While others believe that it is time for a complete overhaul of the political system by throwing them all out and putting an entirely new slate of politicians in office.

As citizens of Jesus’ kingdom, we must guard ourselves against thinking that our hope rests in an earthly political system. We must maintain the understanding that we are citizens of two kingdoms simultaneously, and that our commitment to Jesus’ kingdom must always have priority. We can and should be involved in the political processes of our earthly kingdom by being good representatives of Jesus Christ in that process.

Yes, we can be in the world – even the world of politics – but not of the world. Blessings!

In the World, but Not of It

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“I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.“

John 17:14-16

“Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1 John 2:15

Followers of Jesus Christ – sit up and take notice! The verses quoted above are words spoken by Jesus Himself and are of the utmost importance to us in coming to an understanding of our role “in” the world. Jesus gives explicit instructions concerning the believer’s behavior in, and attitude of, the world and the things of the world.

To understand Jesus’ words properly, it is imperative that we strive to understand His use of the word “world”. There are three different ways “world” is used in Scripture. First, “world” is used in reference to the creation – heaven and earth. John says that Jesus “was in the world, and the world was made through Him” (John 1:10). This is clearly a reference to the creation: the world being representative of the physical earth.

Second, “world” is used in reference to the people who inhabit the world. Reading further in John 1:10, we are told that Jesus “was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.” Here we see two distinct meanings of the “world”. The first, as stated above, is a reference to the creation, but then the statement, “the world did not know Him”, is a clear reference to people who have the ability to “know” Jesus.

And third, “world” is used to refer to the world’s system(s). It is representative of those ideological, philosophical, theological systems of belief that determine how one views the world. Thus, the words of Jesus quoted above, telling us that we are not to love the world or the things of the world. Why? Simple: to do so pits one against God, as the “world’s” ways are in direct opposition to God’s ways.

This presents the believer in Jesus Christ with a constant source of friction. We live in the world: the physical world of creation, and the world of humanity. We are bombarded with ideological shifts, philosophical shifts, cultural shifts, societal shifts, etc., which are all capable of causing major shifts in the way we think, believe, and behave.

For the believer in, and follower of, Jesus Christ, we are to go to the Bible for our beliefs and behaviors. We are to look at everything through the lens of Scripture, determining how we are to live our lives in light of cultural and societal shifts that are contradictory to the teachings of the Bible. If culture or society tells us something is right, but the Bible clearly states that it is wrong, we are to follow the teachings of Scripture.

I am fully aware that there are multitudes who would argue against my assertions. Some would say that the Bible was written to different people, in a different place, during a different historical era, for a specific purpose relative to them, there, and then. Thus, it has no significance for us today, since we are not them, and not there, and not then.

But for believers, we are to understand that the Bible is God’s Word, and it is eternally the same. If God said that something was sinful for them, there and then, then it is still sinful for us, here and now. The dictates of Scripture do not change with the ebb and flow of cultural change, but is constant, unchanging, and settled. Therefore, what the Bible calls sin is sin, at all times, in all places, among all people. Cultural and societal shifts that would state otherwise must be rejected by those who identify themselves as disciples of Jesus Christ.

We live in a world of constant change. Believers are admonished to guard themselves against the onslaught of the world’s systemic shifts that would lead us to embrace beliefs and practices that are clearly forbidden in Scripture. But to be a true disciple of Jesus means that we submit ourselves to the authority of His Word and obey Him rather than the world.

We live in the world, but we do not have to be part of the world. Let’s commit ourselves to the clear teachings of Scripture. Let’s be in the world, letting His light shine through us to the world, so that we can be a viable witness for the world. Blessings!

A Time of Reflection

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Let me begin by apologizing for being out of the loop for a few weeks. My wife and I have both been dealing with some health issues, and I have gotten a little behind on things.

That being said, I would like to share some very personal thoughts with you in this blog. Let me begin by sharing with you some of the events of the past few months. About four months ago I started having episodes of dizziness which were accompanied by a fluttering heartbeat. These continued to worsen, and eventually became more severe to the point that I was blacking out. Hence a trip to the ER. After several tests they released me without determining anything wrong.

The episodes only worsened, until finally, on a Sunday morning as I was getting ready to head to church, I passed completely out. So, another trip to the ER. Another battery of tests, showing nothing of any concern. However, while the ER nurse was in my room, she noticed on the monitor that my heart was in an extremely strange rhythm, and immediately called for the ER doctor to come in for a review. They had already taken an EKG, but he immediately ordered another to check for any abnormalities. Nothing.

After a few more tests, I was once again released, with the order to wear a heart monitor seven days. After sending it back in for evaluation, I had to wait five weeks before getting an appointment with the cardiologist. He walked into the room, and his first words were, “You’ve got a serious problem! I’m amazed you haven’t already had a major incident because of your heart’s condition.” He then told me that he wanted me to go to the hospital immediately, and that he would implant a pacemaker the next day.

The pacemaker was implanted, and I was also put on a beta blocker – one to keep my heart rate from going too high, and the other to keep it from going too low. So far, this combination seems to be working well.

Now, to the personal thoughts and observations. I realize that there are multitudes of people who have much more serious health conditions than the ones I am dealing with right now. But to be honest, to hear a cardiologist say that he is amazed that I had not already had a serious coronary incident was rather shocking. I certainly knew something was not right, but I did not realize the seriousness of my condition.

I have always said that I believe death can come at any moment. The Bible says plainly that life is like a vapor – here one moment and gone the next. Intellectually, I embrace the truth of that statement. I have taught it, I have preached it, I have shared it in private conversations, I have spoken of it in times of striving to console those who have just lost a loved one to the stark reality of death.

But, when you are told by a heart specialist that he is amazed that you haven’t already experienced a major coronary incident, the reality of that Biblical truth becomes more real than ever before. And it causes us to think about things that, for the most part, we try to NOT think about. Specifically, our own impending appointment with death. In closing, let me share a few thoughts with you that I have been reviewing in light of these recent health issues.

First, I would encourage us to make sure we are prepared. The Bible teaches clearly the sobering reality that we will all die. Each one; everyone. No one will escape the tentacles of death except those who are alive at the time of Jesus’ return for His bride, the church. We must make sure that we are prepared for the moment we are called from this life.

And how are we to be prepared? By making sure that we are in a relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus said it plainly: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” We need to be prepared for our own impending death by submitting to the Lordship of Christ. He is our only source of eternal hope.

Second, in addition to being prepared, I would encourage us to make sure we are ready. The Bible teaches that Jesus could come at any moment, or that our death could occur at any time. We are to be ready to stand before the judgment seat of Christ by living lives that are worthy of His name. Jesus warned about living recklessly, giving no regard to the fact that He could appear at any moment. Be ready.

A third word of encouragement would be to strive to have no regrets. Sadly, I have sat with many individuals who are now faced with making funeral arrangements for a loved one, and all they can think about is the long list of regrets they have about their relationship with the one who is now deceased. We should all strive to live in such a way that we have no regrets when we are faced with losing a loved one, or, when we are faced with the reality of our own impending death.

Finally, I would suggest that we make sure the ones we love know that we love them. It’s a simple thing to say “I love you”. Say it. Over and over, say it. Every day, say it. Several times during the day, say it. I don’t think it could ever be said enough.

However, saying it needs to be backed up with our actions. Say it and show it. Make our love visible to those we say the words. I have made it a point to say those words to my wife at least once a day, every day. There may have been a few days out of the past 49 years that I did not speak those words, but it was never by intent. I want Teresa to hear me say it, and I want her to see me show it. I want to conclude conversations with my children by stating it clearly. Don’t take for granted that they know you love them. Let them hear the words.

Certain things happen in life that cause us to pause, evaluate, reassess, and perhaps correct. The events of the recent past have been just such a time for me. I hope and pray that these lessons will not soon be forgotten as I get back into the hustle and bustle of everyday life. And I pray that you, too, will reflect on these thoughts with the hope that we will all do a little better in being prepared, being ready, living with no regrets, and letting our love been seen and shared with those we love. Blessings!

Did Jesus Mean What He Said? Part 5

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Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”

John 6:53-56

What an unbelievably astonishing thing for Jesus to say! It certainly astounded and confused those listening to Him on that day and has continued to astound and confuse to the present day. How are we to understand these words of the Lord? Perhaps when you read them you are scratching your head in bewilderment thinking that we could not possibly be meant to take this literally, or even seriously.

There were those who listened to these words as they were originally spoken, and then walked away, turning their backs on this Man who obviously had lost His mind. Who, after all, in their right mind and with clarity of thought would ever utter such absurd words as these? Surely this is what must have been going through the minds of His listeners. The reaction of many shows their response to Jesus’ assertion.

Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying: who can understand it?”… From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

John 6:60, 66

Even then, on that day, the people were saying that this was a hard saying and asked how they were to understand it. And that sentiment has not changed even to the present day. We still admit quickly that it is a very difficult and hard saying.

However, Jesus actually explained the statement as He continued speaking. The text tells us that Jesus knew that His disciples were complaining about these difficult words, so He gave a clarifying statement which would alleviate their confusion. Read carefully this next explanatory remark:

He [Jesus] said to them, “Does this offend you? What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”

John 6:61b-64

Jesus was stating emphatically that there was a vital spiritual truth behind His words. Note carefully His statement concerning the flesh profiting nothing. In essence He was saying that even if they could, right then and there, turn to cannibalism, eating His flesh and drinking His blood, it would be of no profit to them. There is no benefit to that physical possibility. However, there is a spiritual power behind His words that shed light on this most profound and difficult saying.

Jesus said that the words He had spoken were spirit and life. There is a spiritual power behind the reality of His words. We actually observe this each time we participate in Communion. We are given a morsel of bread, and a cup of wine (or grape juice – according to our particular churches practice), and are told that we are partaking in the body and the blood of the Lord which was given for us. Symbolically we are remembering the Lord’s sacrificial death as we remember His body being bloodied and bruised, and His blood being poured out as He died for us. It is in that sacrifice that He ultimately gives life to those who believe.

Sadly, however, there are many today, just as there were on that day, who are offended by His words, and turn to follow Him no more. Genuine, sincere believers should never be offended at the words of Jesus, but should be ready, as Peter says, to bear testimony to His amazing, saving grace. And when, if ever, we are asked by an inquisitive person seeking the truth as to what Jesus meant when He said that we had to eat His flesh and drink His blood, then tell them quickly and excitedly that it was through the sacrifice of Jesus body, and the pouring out of His blood, that He secured our salvation. And it is through that sacrifice, and only through that sacrifice that we have the assurance of life.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Did Jesus Mean What He Said? Part 4

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And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.

Matthew 10:28

Another of those difficult to understand statements of Jesus is found in the verse quoted above. In this statement there are two extremely important words that need careful examination: fear, and hell. Both are used by Jesus in reference to a proper understanding of God, and for that reason we must strive to understand them correctly and be able to explain them clearly.

We will first focus attention on the subject of fear. The word is used twice in this statement of our Lord, the first of which is relative to fearing those who would do us harm. Jesus says that we should not fear those who can kill the body. In the context of this passage, it is clear that Jesus is speaking of those who are offended by the proclamation of the Gospel, and who respond by taking the life of the proclaimer of that good news. In the preceding verse Jesus says that we should proclaim loudly and publicly what we have heard, not fearing the ramifications of that proclamation – even if it cost us our lives. Thus, we are to be bold in our proclaiming the truth claims of the Gospel.

The second time Jesus uses the word “fear” in this verse is in reference to God. We are not to fear those who have the power to kill us, physically, but we are to fear Him who can kill us eternally. We are to fear God, who has the power of life and death, of heaven and hell.

This can be a rather confusing concept, to be sure. Some may take this to mean that salvation comes about as a result of a cringing fear of an angry God. It may be understood from this statement of the Lord that God is seething with anger against His human family, and He takes joy in sending people to hell. It could cause us to live in constant fear and anxiety of the possibility of doing something that would bring the wrath of God down upon us.

However, by understanding this verse in light of the overall teaching of Scripture would lead us to a different interpretation. The Bible does indeed speak of the judgment of God. We are to take seriously this aspect of God’s character. But at the same time, we are to understand that His wrath against sin was unleashed upon Jesus when He died on the cross. It was there that He paid the penalty for sin. Therefore, those who accept His gracious offer of salvation are no longer under the pronounced wrath of God but have experienced the saving grace of God. This should lead to the believer no longer living with fear and anxiety caused by the knowledge of God’s wrath and judgment.

The second word Jesus uses is one that has become offensive in our contemporary cultural setting: hell. Hell is seldom spoken of anymore, even in churches that are Biblically sound in other areas of doctrine and theology.

The Bible makes it abundantly clear that there are two places God has created for the eternal state: heaven and hell. Every human being ever born will spend eternity in one of these two places. There are no other alternatives. Jesus says that we should fear the One who has the power to destroy both body and soul in hell.

Hell is a place of eternal judgment against those who have rejected God’s offer of salvation that was made possible by the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross. It was there that the full weight of sin came crashing down upon Jesus, and it was there that salvation was secured for sinful man.

But hell is seldom spoken of anymore. And sadly, when it is spoken of it is oftentimes done so with the intended purpose of explaining that hell does not really exist. But to be true to the teachings of Scripture we must acknowledge the reality of hell, just as we do the reality of heaven.

Hell is a real place that will be eternally inhabited by real people. And Jesus states assertively that we should fear the One who has the power and the authority to destroy both body and soul in hell.

There are so many applications that could be made of this statement of the Lord. First is the truth that believers should not live in fear of death, even if it is a result of an act of aggression by someone else. Others have the power to kill – we see this happen all too often in mass shootings, murders, drunk drivers losing control of their vehicles and killing someone, etc. Those of us who have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ have no need to live in fear of what others may do to us.

Second, we are to have a healthy fear of God. Before salvation, that fear should be caused by the knowledge of impending eternal judgment. Non-believers are under the judgment of God and are thus going to suffer the eternal pangs of hell if they never come to repentance and faith. But after one receives the saving grace of God, the fear of His judgment is no longer needed, because the judgment we rightly deserve was suffered by Jesus on the cross, in our place. However, after experiencing the saving grace of God, we are to have a healthy, reverential fear of God. This fear should lead the believer to live a life of worship, awe, praise and adoration of the One who loved us, and gave His life for us.

And third, hell is real. Hell was created, first and foremost, for the fallen angels who rebelled against God in Satan’s attempt to overthrow God’s rule. Then it came to be the place of eternal residence for anyone who rejects God’s offer of salvation. Hear once again the words of Jesus:

Then He will say to those on the left hand, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels…”

Matthew 25:41

Let the words of Jesus be a warning: the judgment of God is a reality that must be taken seriously. Those who have rejected the offer of salvation are in danger of eternal damnation. God has graciously offered the means of escape from such an awful place of eternal anguish. My prayer is that each person who reads the words of our Lord will take the warning to heart, act accordingly, and be saved from the wrath to come.

Did Jesus Mean What He Said, part 3

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“Then another of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, let me first go and bury my father.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.'”

Matthew 8:21-22

At first glance, this seems to be an extremely harsh, cold, abrasive comment Jesus made to the would-be disciple. It sounds heartless and cruel for Jesus to make such a cutting remark as this. After all, it sounds as if the person making this request was sincere in his desire to follow Jesus – to be a true disciple. And it sounds as if he was simply wanting to take time to mourn his father’s death. What would cause Jesus to respond in such a way as this?

It is of great interest to note that this individual was already a disciple of Jesus. Matthew records: “another of His disciples…” So, in some sense this person was already following the Lord. Perhaps he was one who was following out of curiosity, having heard about Jesus and the remarkable things He was doing and saying, and was now following to learn more about this Man. Or it could be that he was genuinely striving to be a sincere follower and was now in a predicament that caused him to ask permission from Jesus to bury his father.

There are different ways this statement has been understood and interpreted, sometimes with the intent to soften the words of our Lord. One such approach views this as a request to be permitted to go home and bury his father, who has just passed away. He is only wanting enough time to go home and attend to the arrangements, and then go to the funeral, of his deceased father.

There are several reasons that this is probably not the intent of the would-be follower. It is very unlikely that he would be there, in that crowd, if his father had just died. He would have been there, by his father’s side, in those moments leading up to his death. He would have been tending to the needs of his family as they mourned the patriarchs passing. But here he is, amid the throng of people trying to get close to Jesus.

Many interpreters of Scripture believe that the man’s father was not dead but was perhaps at the point of death. If this is true then the request is not to go home and bury his father, but to go home and wait for his father to die. This could be in days, weeks, months, or even years.

However, at other times it is viewed as a stark demand of Jesus as He responds to this man’s request. He is simply, and profoundly, stating that this man’s concern should not be about burying his father, who was already dead and awaiting interment, but rather it should be about following Him. If this is the correct understanding, then Jesus was saying that this man should resolve to follow Him, and “let the dead bury the dead.”

So we see two distinct interpretations of this statement. Before attempting to make sense of it, we need to note a matter of extreme significance. Jesus says, “Let the dead bury their own dead.’ This is obviously a play on words Jesus used to make His point. How can someone who is already dead bury someone who has just died? It is obvious that Jesus’ words carried a specific meaning. Perhaps it would help us understand this confusing statement by inserting a couple of words (please note that I am not adding to the word of God, but rather giving an explanation of what Jesus’ intent may have been). Perhaps Jesus was saying, “Let the spiritually dead bury their own physically dead.”

There are actually two distinct “kingdoms” of God at work in this present era: the physical kingdom, and the spiritual kingdom. The emphasis of Jesus may have been that the would-be disciple was placing more emphasis on the physical kingdom than on the spiritual. Jesus would have detected this and may then have been responding to what He perceived to be an insincerity on the part of the man.

If this is the case, then Jesus was basically saying that total commitment to Him was the call of true discipleship, and nothing, even the death of a loved one. should take precedence over that. Perhaps we are to understand this as we did when discussing Jesus saying that our love for Him should be so great that all other relationships should seem as hatred in comparison. Here, He is instructing this man that His commitment to Jesus must be first priority in His life, or he cannot be a disciple at all.

The Bible instructs us to care for our loved ones, and to be there when difficulties arise. Yet, even in those adverse circumstances, our commitment to Him must come first. So, when it comes to every aspect and avenue of life, we must seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. Everything else will then fall in place in proper order of priority.