fencepostdigest

God is in the middle of everything – the good and the bad – and even in this present coronavirus pandemic. As sovereign over all things, He remains in control of everything going on in your space, too.

What we must first understand is that evil does not find it’s source in God and neither can evil take place without His permission. Remembering the story of Job we are able to recall that God allows Satan certain limitations in all that he does. He is powerful, but with constraints from God, and Satan is the source of evil and temptation.

In spite of all the strife and suffering affecting everyday life, God is there; He is everywhere. His presence is known in every hospital directing the work of doctors, nurses, and all other medical personnel who are treating the sick and comforting the dying.

God is also working through governments responding to this present and dangerous pandemic providing every world leader including President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, and the Coronavirus Task Force wisdom and guidance as they plot and plan their attack on this disease. Have no fear, for God is near.

Just as Jesus promised His disciples immediately before leaving this earth, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20. In this one short phrase, Jesus sums up His strategy for all that takes place. We can rest assured of His faithful and enduring presence.

Now, we may not like what is happening, but we can know that He is in control. What we do not accept is the human responsibility in ‘stuff’ that happens. Briefly, our sin is the reason for the presence of evil and disease which began in the beginning. Mankind disobeyed God, continued to disobey Him, and this disobedience has unleashed all sorts of havoc upon this earth. God’s design is to remind us of our responsibility to be faithful to His instructions toward righteousness which establishes His glory around us. Through obedience, He then blesses those who do so.

“There is no favoritism with God. All those who sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all those who sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For the hearers of the law are not righteous before God, but the doers of the law will be declared righteous.” Romans 2:11-13 HCSB. No, we are under grace and not under the Law. However, His instructions for us, His Law, is written upon the heart of every Believer and are designed to bring us His blessing when we follow Him.

Jesus is Lord.

“This, too, my friends, will pass.” This statement is, obviously, not original with me and everyone has used it some way, somewhere. In moments of sorrow, joy and in celebration, “this, too, shall pass.” Life will continue with or without us because life on this planet is not determined by human understanding nor ingenuity. Life has been determined by Creator God for in HIm all things exist, do they not?

Paul was in Athens preaching and Luke recorded what he said,

“Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you. 24 The God who made the world and everything in it—He is Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in shrines made by hands. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives everyone life and breath and all things. 26 From one man He has made every nationality to live over the whole earth and has determined their appointed times and the boundaries of where they live. 27 He did this so they might seek God, and perhaps they might reach out and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 For in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Being God’s offspring then, we shouldn’t think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image fashioned by human art and imagination. 30 “Therefore, having overlooked the times of ignorance, God now commands all people everywhere to repent, 31 because He has set a day when He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He has appointed. He has provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:23-30 HCSB.

In verse 28, the Apostle stated this, “For in Him we live and move and exist…” Absolutely nothing around us is determined by man’s genius or lack of it. Oh, we do make decisions about ‘this, that or the other,’ but primarily God ‘has this.’ Everything we say, do and think is predicated upon His sovereignty. This does not mean that he has already determined every single activity for us, but the manner in which everything turns out is determined for His glory. This story is about Him and not about us.

In 1964 Ralph Carmicheal wrote a song entitled, “He’s Everything to Me” which sort of says what I would like to say…

“In the stars His handiwork I see,

On the wind He speaks with majesty,

Though He ruleth over land and sea,

What is that to me?

I will celebrate Nativity,

For it has a place in history,

Sure, He came to set His people free,

What is that to me?

Till by faith I met Him face to face,

and I felt the wonder of His grace,

Then I knew that He was more than just a

God who didn’t care,

That lived a way out there and

Now He walks beside me day by day,

Ever watching o’er me lest I stray,

Helping me to find that narrow way,

He’s Everything to me.”

Have a blessed day, everyone,  for Jesus is Lord!!

“And consider your relative Elizabeth—even she has conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called childless. For nothing will be impossible with God. For nothing will be impossible with God. “I am the Lord’s slave,” said Mary. “May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:36-38 HCSB.

The most important phrase in the life of every Believer is or should be, “For nothing will be impossible with God.” This does not mean that there will never be some very difficult issues coming our way, but what we must know by faith is our God is living inside and is more than willing and able to defeat anything in our pathway.

God dried up the bottom of the sea for Moses, enabled David to kill Goliath, enabled Joseph to climb from a well in order to protect his family and to deliver Israel, enabled Samson to remove an enormous wall separating Israel from God, enabled Jonah to confront a sinful city, enabled two women to give birth to the Gospel of God and the list includes you and me.

Is there a wall? Walk around it. Is there water? Walk upon it. Is there a valley? Walk through it. Is there an illness unto death? He is the Savior. Is there, indeed, a giant? Stand over it. Because YOU are a Believer, He lives IN you, NOT beside you. He LIVES IN YOU!! Because of Him, you are empowered by Him and enabled by Him to accomplish all things through Him!! Already, you are victorious over sin and death. Your name is written in the Book of Life and you will live for eternity. “For nothing is impossible with God!”

Jesus IS Lord!!

“Jesus said again, “I tell you the solemn truth, I am the door for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.” John 10:7-10 NET2.

We are presently living in a world that could not have possibly existed 50 years ago and did not. We were just beginning to fly from coast to coast and a few flew across the pond in a few hours, the telephone hung on the wall or sat on a table, there were a few television stations and perhaps, but one, 3 major networks; ABC, CBS and NBC, no internet, computers, and color TV was not in every house. Oh, cars were made in Detroit, and Japan, Germany, and other European companies exported a few. Russia was our #1 Enemy. Vietnam was the News of the day. We understood what our relationship to our parents and elders was, “Yes, Sir,” and “Yes, Ma’am.” Things were different.

Sin was sin, evil was evil, and we knew the difference between right and wrong. Sin was to be avoided at all costs and did not live next door to Jesus in our lives. We sang “Victory in Jesus” and “I Love to Tell the Story,” and “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Thou Art.” We also sang songs with a phrase like, “The Devil can sit on a tack to stay…”  But these are not heard often if ever, today.

There were prophets allowed in pulpits with loud voices heralding the ugliness of sin and calling people to repent of their sin and “Come to Jesus!!” We heard sermons, often, about sin, Hell and the judgment of God, the crucifixion, resurrection and “Jesus is Coming Soon!!” Too many pulpits are now silent about these things. Why? “People will not come to our churches if they hear stuff like that!!”

Sin is more rampant today than ever before and many of our pulpits are much quieter and reserved than they once were. Preachers once sweated great drops of sweat because they preached hard and loudly against sin and proclaimed the Risen Christ and Glorious Return. His gift of salvation and righteousness is taught, but silently in the face of evil.

“And the gift is not like the one who sinned. For judgment, resulting from the one transgression, led to condemnation, but the gracious gift from the many failures led to justification. 17 For if, by the transgression of the one man, death reigned through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ!” Romans 5:16-17.

The gift of Jesus is eternal peace and life with Him, but the payment for sin is eternal death with the one, Satan, who is responsible for sin and death. The judgment of God is coming for those who neglect and deny the Christ, but righteousness and salvation are, indeed, the eternal and precious gift for those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!! For those who deny Him eternal death is their final destination. Jesus provides an abundant life of eternal grace and righteousness by faith in Him. Do you want to go to Heaven or do you wish to go to Hell? The choice belongs to you!!

Jesus is Lord!!

Paul wrote the following to his dear friend Timothy, “Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness, and purity. 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have, given to you and confirmed by prophetic words when the elders laid hands on you. 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress. 16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.” 1 Timothy 4:11-16  NET2.

By their actions, poor lost sinners demonstrate they have never born-again and are living a lie. Just as John also writes, “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us. 20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. 21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” 1 John 2:18-24 which agrees with what Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:18-21, “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” Confession and denial do not always refer to speech, but actions or life-styles often times are much more demonstrative than our speech.

Many years ago a widow of a deacon said, “My husband always lived according to what he said and spoke of how he walked. In other words, his walk matched his talk and his talk shadowed his walk. And we should do the same.”  And Jesus said it like this, “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.” Matthew 7:16-20 NET2.

I find it both sad and interesting that many in our culture, 2020, are deeply offended by these words of the Christ and call it ‘judgmental.’ The reason for this may be, and I think it true, more people are openly living in deep immoral sin which causes the general populace to become comfortable with it. Sin is no longer as dark as it once was and many who profess to be ‘Christian’ do not know the difference between darkness and light, sin and righteousness, right and wrong. And the fact may be that many who are Believers have become indifferent and therefore accepting of sinful behavior as well. In the local church there are many who protect the sinner and the sin itself by teaching that sin occupies the body of the Believer right next to the Holy Spirit. But listen again to the words of Paul to Timothy, “Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach. Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.” 1 Timothy 4:16. The Gospel of Christ empties itself of unrighteousness and is complete in the righteousness of God. “If we say we have fellowship with him and yet keep on walking in the darkness, we are lying and not practicing the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 16-7. This statement contradicts anyone who claims that sin is alive and well in the life of the Believer. I think I will stick with the truth of the contradiction of the lie of a false gospel and live in the Light of the true Gospel.

When people protect evil and unrighteousness the fruit of their life will eventually come to bear the fruit of it. For just as Jesus said, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.” Matthew 7:19-20. These poor and wretched souls will be eternally punished in the Lake of Fire. I hope you will not be there.

Jesus is Lord.

Holes are everywhere, of every kind of shape, size, depth, place, purpose and color. The need for a hole is up to every individual whether that individual be human, animal, insect, bacteria, nature or whatever. But just as the preacher in Ecclesiastes said, “Everything has a reason.” Ecclesiastes 3:1. And every hole seems to have a purpose when it is made and the purpose may change with the passage of time and this may very well depend upon the creature who passes by and has a sudden need for a hole. Such is the case concerning the brothers of Joseph who found themselves deep in a bowl of jealousy and they had to rid themselves of the reason for their jealousy. The name of the jealousy was Joseph whom they called ‘The Dreamer.’

“They said to one another, “Here comes that dreamer! 20 Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits. We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!” 21 When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them. He said, “Let’s not take his life.” 22 Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from their hands and return him to his father. 23 When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off his robe, the robe of many colors that he had on. 24 Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.” Genesis 37:24.

Jealousy can sometimes, as in this story, become hatred with intent to kill, but Reuben was not in favor of such drastic measures and insisted another avenue of disposing of their brother. The story moves quickly to a momentary end which really was the beginning of a very powerful and life-changing event for everyone, including the caravan of traders which took Joseph to Egypt.

However, let us stop for a moment and consider the place in which Joseph found himself and some of us might find our circumstances of life to be. This ‘Dreamer’ found himself in a deep hole, not of his making, but one of circumstance. And the only way out was up. Joseph’s dilemma was an exceptional one for the moment, but up was his only way of escape. His means of escape had to be not of his making, but as is noted in the tale, God does intervene. God was his only route of escape from a very, very dismal and dark situation.

The hole was most likely put in this place in the wilderness by someone desperately looking for water, a well. Obviously, no water was now present and darkness filled the void. We have no idea how big or how deep the hole was, but it was an enormous problem for Joseph. And most of us have been in those kinds of situations whereby our reasoning tells us that the moment is seemingly hopeless because without tools in hand helplessness surrounds the darkness.

Seeking God in Times of Trouble

The Bible does not tell us of what goes on in the thinking of Joseph nor what he was conspiring to do. With the information we do have our speculation could be most anything. But, let us return to us, to you. What have we done, what have you done when difficulties have encompassed our present moments? If we know God, if you know Him, what did we do, what did you do, and I ask myself to recall what I have done. We should ask God. Did we? Do we plead for His comfort, guidance and assistance? Are we not instructed in Scripture to seek HIm in time of trouble?

“Lord, I turn to You. 2 My God, I trust in You. Do not let me be disgraced; do not let my enemies gloat over me. 3 No one who waits for You will be disgraced; those who act treacherously without cause will be disgraced. 4 Make Your ways known to me, Lord;teach me Your paths. 5 Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; wait for You all day long.” Psalm 25:1-5.

Take a moment to discover how God will help you find a way out of your hole:

1. Trust in Him completely
2. Allow Him to free you from the intent of your enemy.
3. God will have His justice applied to them.
4. Tell Him of your present situation.
5. Allow Him to instruct your path.
6. Receive His instruction.
7. His instruction is always true.
8. He is your salvation at every turn.
9. Be patient.

This Psalm is enough to give you and me help in any kind of trouble because we belong to Him. We have trusted Him for our eternity, and this is a Big Thing. In the smaller things of life Jesus is more than able to secure our present.

Jesus is Lord.

Scripture references are from the HCSB translation

The age-old crisis of ‘Old vs New’ has been in existence for a very long time and we might call it ‘tradition.’ And no one likes a tradition better than you or me.

“He also told them a parable: “No one tears a patch from a new garment and puts it on an old garment. Otherwise, not only will he tear the new, but also the piece from the new garment will not match the old. 37 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, it will spill, and the skins will be ruined. 38 But new wine should be put into fresh wineskins. 39 And no one, after drinking old wine, wants new, because he says, ‘The old is better.’” Luke 5:36-39.

New stuff always stretches old stuff because the old stuff has become dried, twisted, bent and sometimes brittle, and the moment the new stuff is added to the old stuff…well, stuff happens. Mostly, the old stuff will rebel again the new stuff and all sorts of bad stuff happen. Normally the old stuff must bend and accommodate and the new must do a bit of the old stuff in order for the making of a new environment to take shape. Have you ever noticed just how difficult this is?

Webster’s Online Dictionary gives us 2 traditional definitions of the word “tradition:”

“a : an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (such as a religious practice or a social custom)

b : a belief or story or a body of beliefs or stories relating to the past that are commonly accepted as historical though not verifiable.”

However, look at the 3 definitions for ‘tradition’ from the 1928 edition of Webster’s Dictionary,

“TRADI’TION, noun [Latin traditio, from trado, to deliver.

1. Delivery; the act of delivering into the hands of another.

A deed takes effect only from the tradition or delivery.

The sale of a movable is completed by simple tradition

2.  The delivery of opinions, doctrines, practices, rites and customs from father to son, or from ancestors to posterity; the transmission of any opinions or practice from forefathers to descendants by oral communication, without written memorials. Thus children derive their vernacular language chiefly from tradition. Most of our early notions are received by tradition from our parents.
3. That which is handed down from age to age by oral communication. The Jews pay great regard to tradition in matters of religion, as do the Romanists. Protestants reject the authority of tradition in sacred things, and rely only on the written word. Traditions may be good or bad, true or false.

“Stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word or our epistle.”  2 Thessalonians 2:15.

“Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your traditions?” Matthew 15:2.”

I find it interesting that the 1928 edition of Webster’s Dictionary uses the Bible for  explaining the use of the definition of the word ‘tradition.’

What Goes In Comes Out

The following verses are used to help explain those coming from Matthew

“Then Peter replied to Him, “Explain this parable to us.” (Jesus then replies,) “Are even you still lacking in understanding?” “Don’t you realize that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is eliminated? But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a man. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, blasphemies. These are the things that defile a man, but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” Matthew 15:15-20.

The parable of the Old Wineskins tells us a great deal about those things that we hold sacred because they are passed from one generation to another. Far too often these things are not evaluated and then improved upon. We simply do it the same way over and over again without examining the evidence which could change things for the better. This does not mean the old ways and customs were and are not valid, but changing a part might improve the performance.

And there is truth to that idea as well. Look at what Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, “But we must always thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, either by our message or by our letter.16 May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal encouragement and good hope by grace, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good work and word.” Here the same Word of God and is inspired by His Spirit seems to contradict itself when speaking about traditions. What we now discover is that some traditions may not be as effective or profitable as others.

Some Traditions Are Not Truth

Some old traditions may get in the way of Truth if they are not well-examined for truth. These need to be exchanged for new ideas that better support God’s Word. In verse 14 Paul tells us to “stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught” because of the truth coming from God. Some of us are not in Truth because they are NOT ‘in Christ’ and these blind souls accept anything as being okay such as old traditions even though they are not of the Word of God. “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test. And I hope you will recognize that we do not fail the test. Now we pray to God that you do nothing wrong—not that we may appear to pass the test, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear to fail. For we are not able to do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.” 2 Corinthians 13:5-8.

Spiritual Crisis

Sometimes something new is introduced in life which causes a ‘ruckus.’ And when the chicken house is in a ruckus and feathers are ruffled, people leave the old house for a new one because a new rooster arrives and his new crow is not the same. The ‘pecking order’ is now different and some folks just leave. That is okay for those oldies who hang on to the oldies are in a better environment where their oldies are still in vogue. Nothing is wrong with this, but some traditions must change for new things to happen. New is not always better necessarily, but the new may serve a better purpose than the older traditions which may have served very well for a very long time.

The ruckus to which I refer may be a spiritual crisis that must be solved or simply resolved. The solution is that most in the chicken house will accept the changes and move forward whereas the resolution is that some simply move to another place. The crisis, indeed, is spiritual and the solution is that spiritual gifts are applied in order for the Body of Christ to move forward to the task at hand which is the Great Commission. For others, their spiritual crisis is resolved in moving to a place where their spiritual gifts can be applied to achieve the causes of the Great Commission.

The Body of Christ will find that traditions are best served in several locations because of the use of spiritual gift applications. Spiritual crises do not have to come to bad endings. However, not everyone can find solutions in the same place at the same time. Just a thought for the purpose of God in Christ Jesus is to honor and bring glory to Him. This is the reason we are here.

Jesus is Lord.

I have been asked along the way, “How did you know when God called you?” Early on, I was not certain how to answer that question, but the very first person to ask me was David Ray, the Pastor of First Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas. And this is what I told him, “I always wanted to be an architect and right now I am in the School of Engineering out here at Texas Tech, but, sir, I am struggling with math and math is sort of basic to engineering. God spoke to me during this week’s revival and that sermon last night sort of nailed it for me. The preacher said that sometimes when we are in the well with Joseph that the only way out is up and that is where I am now. I am in that well with Joseph and the only way out is up and only God can get me out.”

That is what I said then and that is what I will say now. The only way to answer God’s call is to follow Him the best way that you know. He will direct your path every time. There is no doubt when God calls, you will know, but you may not understand the mechanics of the call. I know that I did not. From the moment that I decided to follow what God had placed in my heart and I followed Him there was a sense of urgency from that moment to this day. I have never looked back nor wanted to change directions—ever.

Moses went to Egypt as did Joseph, but I never became the leader of much, at least, in the same sense of Moses. I have been sort of like those unknown names mentioned in the lineage of Jesus. Go and look for yourself. There are some names in that long list found in Mathew’s gospel that is only mentioned that one time. We know absolutely nothing about them, but they were important because they are listed in the lineage of the Christ. Me? I was an engineering student and a member of the ROTC when He called, but let me assure you, His call would have meant absolutely nothing had I not responded. However, He knew that I would answer in the affirmative and He made certain that I would not regret doing so.

Challenges have come at every turn from the moment I stepped out and said, “Okay.” I did not know where He would lead, but my expectations never materialized, but at this juncture of my life, I am able to look back and note everything I did would not have occurred without His direction, not one single thing.

I have been the pastor of several churches with my lovely and wise wife, Patti, standing alongside supporting me. God called her to Foreign Missions long before He called me into ministry. She never told me about her call until after He called me, and this was in 1978, more than 7 years after we were married. We went to Peru.

Many things happened in Peru, but, in my mind, one of the reasons He took us there is our adopted daughter, Rebecca Williford. I like to say that she found us and not the other way around. The moment we saw her in Monsefu, Peru we knew she belonged to us.
God is always right in what He does because He is Lord. BW.

Scripture references come from the HCSB translation unless noted.

2 Corinthians 5:16-19, “Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

What About Now?

Bugs Bunny asked Elmer Fudd, “What’s up, Doc?” And to his chagrin, Elmer could never really give a concise answer. Most people who reference themselves as being ‘Christian’ most likely cannot explain what it means to be ‘saved’ or to be ‘born-again’ because they do not know. Their answer might be something akin to this, “Jesus has forgiven my sin and I am going to Heaven?” But, are they able to explain “But, what about now?”

What does it mean to be saved, to be born-again? There is much, much more to the word than most people even imagine. In fact, these ‘most’ people most likely have the idea that nothing has changed except their former sins have been forgive. However, there is concept of what happens next. Sadly, these ‘most’ people only want to know that their former sins have been forgiven and have no thought of what should happen next.

Paul gives us a hint, “Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.” verse 16. In order shed some light on what the Apostle is explaining let us begin with the last phrase in these verses, “He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”

Reconciliation, What is This?

According to Webster’s Dictionary the word ‘reconcile’ simple means: “to restore to harmony,” which indicates a previous state of brokenness. In God’s Word the correct idea is sin, an act or way of life which is not in harmony with God’s righteousness and this is the reason, “There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:9-14. Jesus came to repair that which was broken, meaning the relationship between man and God. Man broke it and only God is able to repair the wound.

From the moment Eve entertained the temptation from the serpent in the Garden, the serpent being Satan, and she said to herself, “Surely God did not really mean that I would literally die if I take a bite from this fruit.” The moment she tasted, spiritual death was introduced into her life. She shared this shame with Adam and the now we experience ‘the rest of the story.’ Because Eve relented every person, including Adam, has been infected with the desire to do that which is displeasing toward God. And, we do. You and I do accept Satan’s temptation and break the sacred relationship we have with God and we must seek to be reconciled each time. We can do nothing, but only by His relentless grace of forgiveness are we able to know what it means to be restored to His righteousness, to be reconciled.

This is why Jesus was crucified. But we must not forget that after 3 days He was resurrected and then returned to Heaven. 

For this reason Paul writes, “We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Gentiles. Yet to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is God’s power and God’s wisdom.” 1 Corinthians 1:23-24.

However, simply because someone, perhaps you, has been ‘born-again’ does not mean there is nothing more to be done. Yes the rift for which one confesses Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord has been repaired, more sin will occur and there will continue to be brokenness unless efforts are made to not allow those things to take place. We will sin, but we do not have to sin. There are choices to be made and steps to be taken. Reconciliation continues.

There is work to be done. Again the Apostle writes words of wisdom for every Believer, “”Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, And which have not entered the heart of man,  All that God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. 11 For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, 13 which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.” 1 Corinthians 2”9-13.  As God repaired the rift He prepared and gave to us spiritual gifts through His wisdom which empower Believers to become that which we could not apart from Him.

Because We Are ‘In Christ’

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” verse 17. We have been reconciled to Him and the way we were is no longer. Those who have been born-again are new creations in Christ Jesus. We are made new because of His grace in order to perform good works, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10.

The difficulty that most people who claim to be ‘Christian’ face is the continuing reality of the dark world in which everyone lives. Our world is for the most part under the dominion of Satan and his minions which we face daily. But to do so without knowing how to confront difficult temptations cannot bring the joy, peace and fulfillment in life that Jesus has promised. “So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:7-10. The Thief is present, but in order to defeat him and experience the abundant life Jesus has promised we must learn to grow in His grace. And we are enabled because we are ‘in Christ.’ Sadly, most people do not know this and fail miserably every day. Their failure may indicate that they have never been ‘born-again.’

People who claim to be ‘Christian,’ but live in sin and apart from God do so because of their disobedience to the instruction of the Word of God, and are therefore miserable creatures. But for those who are actively pursuing the righteousness of God through the reading and studying the Word of God become righteous because of faith realized. Look at what Peter writes, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10. Because we belong to Him, He makes provision for our spiritual growth in order that the ministry of reconciliation which has been given us can be realized.

Jesus is Lord.

“So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, 13 for the one bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort—for the sake of his good pleasure—is God. 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world 16 by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. 17 But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you. 18 And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.” Philippians 2:12-18 NET2.

Pleasing God is Not Difficult

I have seen my share of people with excruciating painful expressions saying things, “I am afraid that I am NOT PLEASING to God!!” Sometimes I think people lost sleep over this traumatic experience for they truly did find it difficult to feel that they were NOT pleasing God. The point is simple, “Stop trying to please Him and just DO IT!!”

“How am I supposed to please a holy and sinless God when I am not so holy and certainly NOT sinless?” Obedience is the key to the problem. Obey His teachings and life will be what He expects you to be doing.  Paul wrote to the Philippians that obedience to finding joy in salvation. “You have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence.” verse 12. But, there is an activity that everyone must choose to be involved in: reading His Word for in there answers concerning how to live according to His principles are found. Simple enough. Jesus said this, “If you continue to follow my teaching, you are really my disciples 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31b-32.  Jesus was speaking to people who had heard about and heard Him personally teach certain things that would please God, but we have those things written down and we are able to read and study each of them. Just DO IT!!

I would suggest that everyone stop making ‘being Christian’ so difficult when the truth is in the pudding. Living for Jesus is not difficult at all.

“Living for Jesus a life that is true, Striving to please Him in all that I do; Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free, This is the pathway of blessing for me. O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee, For Thou, in Thy atonement, Didst give Thyself for me; I own no other Master, My heart shall be Thy throne, My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.” “Living for Jesus”– Hymn written by Thomas O. Chisholm.

Falling Into the Hands of an Angry God

The difficulty of pleasing God might be that we spend too much time attempting to please ourselves and/or other people rather than God. In the Old Testament, God gave the Israelites simple instructions to follow that would please Him, but they disobeyed His voice, angered Him and suffered the terrible consequences.

“Someone who rejected the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 How much greater punishment do you think that person deserves who has contempt for the Son of God, and profanes the blood of the covenant that made him holy, and insults the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 31 It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:28-31.

What I understand from reading the Word of God is that He desires for everyone to follow His commandments for He is serious about what He says. Most people seem not to care and, therefore, suffer the consequences. But we must understand that “The Lord will judge His people.” This is not a hoax and certainly not a fantasy. This is for real. But, pleasing Him is really not difficult and the results of following His instructions are wonderful.

Results of Following Jesus

Christ insists that we turn from sin and to stop desiring the things of this world. He said, “No one of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions” (Luke 14:33). We cannot love the things of the world and God at the same time (1 John 2:15). These verses (and others like them) are not written as options for the super-committed. They are requirements for all who follow Christ. But even those of us who seek to follow Him fully will face times when we wonder, “Am I making a mistake to give up all this to follow Christ?”

Christ calls His followers to turn from sin and the pursuit of the things of this world. He said,

“not one of you can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his own possessions.” Luke 14:33. We cannot love the things of the world and God at the same time, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 16 because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.” 1 John 2:15-16. These verses and others are not written as options, but are requirements for all who follow Christ.

We are encouraged to not be distressed over things that bring harm to us, but to rejoice in the things of God that offer and do bring hope for us.

Jesus is Lord.