Light has been an important part of the story since the beginning. God’s first recorded words were, “Let there be light.” Did you ever wonder what the light was? He separated it from the darkness and called the light “day,” but He didn’t make the Sun until later, so it wasn’t “day” as we know it. I believe he was talking about revealing His glory and goodness, which He separated from darkness, Satan and evil.
The writers of the Old Testament considered God the light. David wrote, “The Lord is my light” (Psalm 27:1). Isaiah encouraged the people to “walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5).
“God is light; in Him is no darkness at all.” The Apostle John tells us this is what Jesus taught his disciples (1 John 1:5). Duh! It seems like common sense. But does everyone really believe it?
Have you ever heard anyone ask, “If God is really good, why would he let this (my loved one die, me lose my job, etc.) happen?” Ever heard a friend say, “I just don’t believe God would send anyone to hell?” These people don’t believe God is light, and in Him there is no darkness.
The first thinks there must be something wrong with God, since bad things happen. Perhaps they have never been taught Satan and sin brought death and destruction into the world. They want to lay this on our good and gracious God.
The second doesn’t understand the holiness, the purity of God. Because they can live among sinful people, because they are sinful people, they can’t grasp that our Heavenly Father cannot have sin in His presence. They don’t understand the sacrifice of our Savior.
Unfortunately, many Christians fall into this second group. They have bought into the lies of Satan – who himself masquerades as an angel of light. Satan’s kingdom is darkness, but he lives in the shadows, slipping in, distorting the light.
God is light. Jesus admitted it when He said, “I AM the light of the world.” Those who believed He was the Messiah got it. Most didn’t. Some even claimed He was from the devil (Matthew 12:24).
God the Father hid the light from mankind. Oh, there were glimpses. Moses beheld the backside of the glory on the mountain. Daniel and Isaiah had visions that peeked through the veil, but for the most part, the light was hidden. Until the light came down to dwell among us.
He didn’t come down as a blinding light, where people fell down as dead. Instead, the light was translated from the language of ultimate, all-powerful glory into flesh and blood, a language we could understand. The light lived among us, showing them just how glory and goodness could be read in the language of humanity – how the glory and goodness could be spread throughout humanity.
“You are the light of the world,” He told his disciples. “A city on a hill can’t be hidden. Let your light shine, so others my see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16).
I’m afraid we’ve sung the children’s song too often. “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” Jesus never said anything about us having a little light. He said, “We are the light, and it cannot be hidden.”
Hiding the light, letting it shine, both sound rather passive. I like the way Paul talked about light. “Put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12). He could have said, “Put on the tunic of light,” or the “robe of light,” or even “carry a big torch of light.” Instead, he chose armor of light. We aren’t supposed to just sit around and let our little light shine. We are supposed to march that light right into the darkness of an evil kingdom.
Millions of people are trapped in the dark, and our job is to fight our way to them. It was Israel’s job. “I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Isaiah 49:6). But, they botched it, turning, instead, to embrace the darkness themselves.
Now, it’s your turn. Will you sit on a hill among all your other Christian friends, hoping the world will see? Will you hide under a basket of worldliness and sin? Or, will you suit up in the armor of light, and head out into a dark and evil world. Will you take the light, so God’s salvation will reach to the ends of the earth?
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
He Will
Do you have faith? If asked, how many of us would deny it? We might clarify and justify, but few of us would deny.
But what about at night? You wake up in the middle of the night – the pain of your loss, the fear of failure, the voice of uncertainty, they hover around you in the darkness. Does your faith clear the air and sing you back to sleep, or do you turn and toss, watching the glowing red numbers advancing towards morning?
Most of us have faith, but it is weak. We are like the official who came to Jesus in Capernaum. This man had heard of water becoming wine and healings happening. When his own son was nearing death, he thought more and more about this one named, Jesus.
“If Jesus can do these great things, maybe he could heal my son,” the man surmised. And so, he went to Jesus and asked. He had to have had some level of faith, but it was too feeble.
Jesus challenged him. “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” This man’s son was dying, and Jesus was more concerned with the man’s faith. “I don’t think you really believe.”
The official rose to the challenge. “Sir, come down before my child dies.” It was as if he said, “I didn’t come to see any signs. I came because you may be the only hope my son has. If you don’t come he will die for sure.”
Now it’s sounding more like faith, but Jesus throws down another test. “Go; your son will live.” He wouldn’t go with the man. Instead, He wanted the man to believe He would heal the boy – total faith.
What would have happened if the man had said, “Great, thanks for nothing?
I believed you could heal my son, but you won’t even make the effort. Obviously, I was wrong.” Or, what if he had said nothing, but turned around defeated and headed home. Of course it’s only speculation, but I think this man’s son would have died.
God is glorified when our faith is tested and found true. So, how is your faith? Too many in the church today have settled for an “I believe God can” faith, and God sends a challenge to strengthen it. The official’s son was healed the moment the official turned away from Jesus with faith that Jesus would heal him. But we pray, “God, I know you can do this, so please do.” We add “in Jesus name” to the end of it. And then we worry and wait.
God wants us to ask in Jesus name – the representation of His character and power. Jesus name – the name that has “all authority in heaven and earth” ascribed to our prayers. Can you really ask in that name, and just believe he might be able to?
Whatever you ask for in my name – Jesus, the name above every name – my Father will do for you. He doesn’t want us to believe he can. He wants you to believe He will. And so, “the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:7)
But what about at night? You wake up in the middle of the night – the pain of your loss, the fear of failure, the voice of uncertainty, they hover around you in the darkness. Does your faith clear the air and sing you back to sleep, or do you turn and toss, watching the glowing red numbers advancing towards morning?
Most of us have faith, but it is weak. We are like the official who came to Jesus in Capernaum. This man had heard of water becoming wine and healings happening. When his own son was nearing death, he thought more and more about this one named, Jesus.
“If Jesus can do these great things, maybe he could heal my son,” the man surmised. And so, he went to Jesus and asked. He had to have had some level of faith, but it was too feeble.
Jesus challenged him. “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.” This man’s son was dying, and Jesus was more concerned with the man’s faith. “I don’t think you really believe.”
The official rose to the challenge. “Sir, come down before my child dies.” It was as if he said, “I didn’t come to see any signs. I came because you may be the only hope my son has. If you don’t come he will die for sure.”
Now it’s sounding more like faith, but Jesus throws down another test. “Go; your son will live.” He wouldn’t go with the man. Instead, He wanted the man to believe He would heal the boy – total faith.
What would have happened if the man had said, “Great, thanks for nothing?
I believed you could heal my son, but you won’t even make the effort. Obviously, I was wrong.” Or, what if he had said nothing, but turned around defeated and headed home. Of course it’s only speculation, but I think this man’s son would have died.
God is glorified when our faith is tested and found true. So, how is your faith? Too many in the church today have settled for an “I believe God can” faith, and God sends a challenge to strengthen it. The official’s son was healed the moment the official turned away from Jesus with faith that Jesus would heal him. But we pray, “God, I know you can do this, so please do.” We add “in Jesus name” to the end of it. And then we worry and wait.
God wants us to ask in Jesus name – the representation of His character and power. Jesus name – the name that has “all authority in heaven and earth” ascribed to our prayers. Can you really ask in that name, and just believe he might be able to?
Whatever you ask for in my name – Jesus, the name above every name – my Father will do for you. He doesn’t want us to believe he can. He wants you to believe He will. And so, “the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:7)
Great Faith
Near the beginning of Jesus earthly ministry, he and his disciples were at a wedding. You know the story. The host ran out of wine, and Jesus’ mother turned to Jesus for help. He, of course, turned water into wine.
I’ve heard people say, “Jesus was such an obedient son, he did what his mother asked.” There’s no doubt Jesus was an obedient son, but technically she never asked for anything. She told him, “They are out of wine,” and then she said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
What kind of faith is that, to trust he would do something not even asked for? Can you imagine going to Jesus, and just saying, “Here is a need,” and then believing he would help with it? Jesus always responded positively to faith. When four men ripped open the roof to lower their paralytic friend to Jesus, he didn’t discipline their destruction.
Instead, seeing their faith, he forgave the man’s sin and healed him.
In one instance, a centurion, a Roman soldier, asked Jesus to heal his servant. His faith was so great, he believed Jesus didn’t have to go to the centurion’s house, but only speak. Jesus rewarded the man’s faith and the servant was well.
When the Canaanite woman, not a Jew, came and asked for help, Jesus declined. However, seeing the woman’s persistent faith, Jesus relented saying, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.”
But how many times do we also read the reprimand, “O you of little faith”? Storms on lakes, meals for multitudes, powerful demons, were problems with simple solutions for our Savior, yet for his disciples, these situations brought fear, confusion and discouragement.
What about you? Are winds and waves about to wash you away? Are you surrounded by a multitude of hungry people, longing for a taste of the bread of life? Is your servant sick?
The God who spoke the waves into existence can, surely, command them still today. Why do you doubt? The Savior, who sacrificed his own self, can still satisfy every need of everyone. Why do we live without forgiveness, without power or without wisdom? Do you doubt he can provide?
God rewards great faith. Can you imagine the joy of hearing these words from the Creator of the universe, “Be it done for you as you desire”? Knowing if He said it, it would happen. There is nothing that can overcome what He speaks.
Yet, even though this is true, how often do you doubt? How often have you felt God must be in heaven, shaking His head, saying, “O you of little faith”? You don’t ever have to hear those words again. Believe. Trust.
He is…the Mighty God…the Lord of Heaven’s Armies…a Mighty Fortress…Faithful and True…a Strong and Mighty Tower…a defender of the weak…Love…Life…
I’ve heard people say, “Jesus was such an obedient son, he did what his mother asked.” There’s no doubt Jesus was an obedient son, but technically she never asked for anything. She told him, “They are out of wine,” and then she said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
What kind of faith is that, to trust he would do something not even asked for? Can you imagine going to Jesus, and just saying, “Here is a need,” and then believing he would help with it? Jesus always responded positively to faith. When four men ripped open the roof to lower their paralytic friend to Jesus, he didn’t discipline their destruction.
Instead, seeing their faith, he forgave the man’s sin and healed him.
In one instance, a centurion, a Roman soldier, asked Jesus to heal his servant. His faith was so great, he believed Jesus didn’t have to go to the centurion’s house, but only speak. Jesus rewarded the man’s faith and the servant was well.
When the Canaanite woman, not a Jew, came and asked for help, Jesus declined. However, seeing the woman’s persistent faith, Jesus relented saying, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.”
But how many times do we also read the reprimand, “O you of little faith”? Storms on lakes, meals for multitudes, powerful demons, were problems with simple solutions for our Savior, yet for his disciples, these situations brought fear, confusion and discouragement.
What about you? Are winds and waves about to wash you away? Are you surrounded by a multitude of hungry people, longing for a taste of the bread of life? Is your servant sick?
The God who spoke the waves into existence can, surely, command them still today. Why do you doubt? The Savior, who sacrificed his own self, can still satisfy every need of everyone. Why do we live without forgiveness, without power or without wisdom? Do you doubt he can provide?
God rewards great faith. Can you imagine the joy of hearing these words from the Creator of the universe, “Be it done for you as you desire”? Knowing if He said it, it would happen. There is nothing that can overcome what He speaks.
Yet, even though this is true, how often do you doubt? How often have you felt God must be in heaven, shaking His head, saying, “O you of little faith”? You don’t ever have to hear those words again. Believe. Trust.
He is…the Mighty God…the Lord of Heaven’s Armies…a Mighty Fortress…Faithful and True…a Strong and Mighty Tower…a defender of the weak…Love…Life…
A Holy Priesthood
For sixteen years the temple had been silent, sacrifices stopped, worship suspended. Judah followed an evil king, Ahaz. He led them away from the Almighty and into idolatry. He led them to defeat and discouragement.
“But Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem… And Hezekiah his son reigned in his place… And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 28:27-29:2) One of Hezekiah’s first acts as king was to round up the Levites and priests so they could clean up the temple. Ahab had brought elements of the false gods into the temple.
The priests and Levites had to purify themselves, and purify everything in the temple. This was what God had appointed them to do. The rest of Judah couldn’t worship God in the temple – nor would God enter the temple – unless this was done.
Once things had been purified, their job wasn’t finished. They had to make sacrifices for the people – lots of sacrifices. “They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs and seven male goats” (2 Chron. 29:21). With these sacrifices complete, the people came and worshiped the Almighty.
But the job of the Levites and priests wasn’t over. They had to help the people restore their relationship with God. There were more
sacrifices. “The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep.” Wow! This was some tough work.
Obviously, if these men had been doing their jobs over the past sixteen years, this wouldn’t have been such a big ordeal, but they hadn’t. They had gotten lazy. They hadn’t been worshiping other gods, just going through life – eating, drinking, buying and selling – but not doing their job.
What about you? God has called us to be “a kingdom of priests” and “a holy priesthood” (Rev. 5:10; 1 Peter 2:5). Have you been going through life, or have you been maintaining the purity of God’s temple…your body? Have you been busy sacrificing so others can come and worship our glorious God? Have you been sacrificing so others can restore their relationship with the Father?
Priests stood between the people and God, working to bring them together. Without their work, there would have been disaster for the people. It was a tough job.
It still is. Almost five billion people in our world are moving, each day, closer to disaster – an eternal separation from God…in hell. Your Father has appointed you to stand between, to move them towards Him. If you saw someone drowning in a swimming pool, would you:
sacrifice the time it would take to pull them out?
sacrifice the discomfort of jumping in a cold pool with your good clothes on?
sacrifice your own safety, knowing they could pull you under if you weren’t careful?
Or, would you stand sadly at the edge, wishing there was someone to help? You are that someone. Make the sacrifice. Jump in.
“But Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of Jerusalem… And Hezekiah his son reigned in his place… And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord…” (2 Chronicles 28:27-29:2) One of Hezekiah’s first acts as king was to round up the Levites and priests so they could clean up the temple. Ahab had brought elements of the false gods into the temple.
The priests and Levites had to purify themselves, and purify everything in the temple. This was what God had appointed them to do. The rest of Judah couldn’t worship God in the temple – nor would God enter the temple – unless this was done.
Once things had been purified, their job wasn’t finished. They had to make sacrifices for the people – lots of sacrifices. “They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs and seven male goats” (2 Chron. 29:21). With these sacrifices complete, the people came and worshiped the Almighty.
But the job of the Levites and priests wasn’t over. They had to help the people restore their relationship with God. There were more
sacrifices. “The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the Lord. And the consecrated offerings were 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep.” Wow! This was some tough work.
Obviously, if these men had been doing their jobs over the past sixteen years, this wouldn’t have been such a big ordeal, but they hadn’t. They had gotten lazy. They hadn’t been worshiping other gods, just going through life – eating, drinking, buying and selling – but not doing their job.
What about you? God has called us to be “a kingdom of priests” and “a holy priesthood” (Rev. 5:10; 1 Peter 2:5). Have you been going through life, or have you been maintaining the purity of God’s temple…your body? Have you been busy sacrificing so others can come and worship our glorious God? Have you been sacrificing so others can restore their relationship with the Father?
Priests stood between the people and God, working to bring them together. Without their work, there would have been disaster for the people. It was a tough job.
It still is. Almost five billion people in our world are moving, each day, closer to disaster – an eternal separation from God…in hell. Your Father has appointed you to stand between, to move them towards Him. If you saw someone drowning in a swimming pool, would you:
sacrifice the time it would take to pull them out?
sacrifice the discomfort of jumping in a cold pool with your good clothes on?
sacrifice your own safety, knowing they could pull you under if you weren’t careful?
Or, would you stand sadly at the edge, wishing there was someone to help? You are that someone. Make the sacrifice. Jump in.
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