BAD NEWS; GOOD NEWS

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
— ‭‭John‬ ‭14:6‬‬

Our spiritual condition is a bad news, good news scenario. The bad news is that we are sinners separated from God—a universal condition that we are born in and throughout a lifetime of rebellious choices become entrenched in. Our final destination on that path is hell. Where is the good news?  It is this—God did not leave us in that state without remedy. We can be born again!  That second birth enables us to be in a right relationship with God and repentance brings us to right choices on a path that ends in heaven.

Without Christ, you are lost.  We are wandering farther and farther from God and closer and closer to the Abyss. That’s the bad news.  The good news is Christ is the Way.  Jesus came to be the bridge across the great divide between us and Holy God.

Without Christ, you are deceived.  That’s the bad news.  Our minds are twisted by error. The good news is Christ is the Truth.  His life that He demonstrated and the lessons that He declared revealed the truth about God and His ways.

Without Christ, you are dead in sin.  You are not merely sick, but dead, and dead people cannot fix themselves. That’s the bad news.  The good news is Christ is the Life.  He possesses resurrection power and by His Spirit will summon you through the Word of God to life.

If you have come to Christ, then rejoice and give Him praise. It was not because of anything good you have done, but the good in Him. That’s grace!

If you have not come to Him, will you hear His voice, and respond to His call today?

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD RECEIVED

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” (John‬ ‭8:12‬‬).

Consider the context of John 8:12.  

As the Kingdom of God is defined by light, the kingdom of Satan is dominated by darkness.  The previous verses (v.1-11) tell the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery, but the light of Christ shone upon her and changed her life forever.  The dominion of sin was overthrown. Jesus also exposed the self-righteous in His light, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (v.7‬). They all had to drop their rocks. The only One sinless who could have condemned her, chose to forgive her (v.11) and called her to a life of walking in the light.

In the next chapter, we read of a man blind from birth (9:1ff).  The Kingdom of God is defined by life, while the kingdom of Satan is dominated by death. That is the spiritual condition of all in this world by virtue of their physical birth who need a spiritual birth to open their eyes to the light of truth and life (see John 1:4-13).  We dwell in a shadowland of sin, spiritually dead in trespasses and sins. When the blind man received Christ, he became a new person.  Christ can break the bondage of darkness in your life and bring you into new life in Him!  It is the dawn of a new day.

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Eph.‭5:8‬).

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.’” (John‬ ‭8:12‬‬)

Seven times, in John’s Gospel, Jesus identified Himself with metaphors in which He connected Himself with Yahweh, “I AM.”  The one we will consider this week is Jesus claim, “I am the light of the world.”

Light means life. Without it, living things would die. The plants would shrivel and decay, and with that animals and humans would perish.

Jesus uses that to illustrate that He as the Light of the World gives life to the world. He is the source and sustainer of life—real life, eternal life. We cannot have it apart from Him.

Without that light we stumble in the darkness—lost and headed into the Abyss, and a doom that is the deepest darkness of utter despair. Yet, today the Light of the World beckons us to come to Him, and by following that Light we find eternal life.

There shines the Beacon of Hope. Do you see it?  Have you come?  There is a way out of the darkness!

PORTRAITS OF GOD: THE SUN

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield...” (Ps.84:11a)

As the light of our sun brings life, illumines our way, and dispels the darkness, thus does God, our spiritual Sun.  He is the source of life—without Him we could not survive.  He shines to show us the way—without Him we would stumble and be lost.  He overwhelms the darkness of sin and death.  It cannot stand before the majesty of His glory!

The sun which is the star at the center of our solar system, is far from the largest, brightest, hottest star in the universe.  That cannot be said of God, the Sun. He is a Sun who eclipses all other suns.  Ancient peoples worshipped the sun, moon, and stars as gods.  Yet, these are all created things, and our Sun is the Creator of all things—the only true and Living God.

This is our seventh and final portrait of God in the Psalms.  There are others, but we will end our study here.  The big question is why do we have all these word pictures?  Because God is so great that merely a few words cannot adequately describe Him. Yet, it is imperative that we know Him, for we will worship something, and only the knowledge of the true God will save us.

Do you know Him today?

CAN I TRUST THE BIBLE? The Experiential Testimony: The Miraculous Power of Scripture Promised, Part 2

The Word of God is alive.  It is not just inspiring—it is inspired.  The term means, “God breathed”—that is, just as He breathed life into Adam in creation, He has breathed into the Bible eternal life.  It has the latent power of God within its pages, waiting to be tapped.  David, in Psalm 19:7-11, extols the miraculous nature of Scripture.  In our previous study, we noted five dimensions of this dynamic force.  Today, we will observe five more promises.

The Word ENGRAVES THE TRUTH.  It is truth and when engraved on our hearts into conviction will produce righteousness in us.  The Holy Bible generates holiness as we digest its content and incarnate its commands.

Scripture ENRICHES THE LIFE.  When you are on your deathbed, will you call, “Bring me my checkbook” or “Read me my stock portfolio”?  No, you will say, “Bring me the Word of God.  Read me the Bible!”  It’s better than money.  It’s also sweeter than honey.

The Bible SWEETENS THE JOURNEY.  What’s your favorite dessert? Pecan pie, banana pudding, strawberry ice cream?  In David’s day, it would be honey.  I still like to saturate a waffle with it, making sure each square is full of nature’s sweetness.  Yet, David declares that there’s nothing sweeter than the Word of God!

This Book WARNS THE PILGRIM.  Paul reminds us that this is one of the great purposes for the documenting of the Old Testament stories.  

“Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.’ Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.”  (I Corinthians‬ ‭10:6-11‬ ‭NKJV‬‬)

Our pilgrimage in this wicked world is full of peril, yet God has erected warnings in His Word to remind us to exercise caution.  We are smart when we learn from our mistakes, but smarter to learn from the mistakes of others!

Then, the Bible REWARDS THE OBEDIENT. 

The promise of blessing from those who meditate on its message is oft repeated. 

“Blessed is the man 
Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, 
Nor stands in the path of sinners, 
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 
But his delight is in the law of the LORD, 
And in His law he meditates day and night. 
He shall be like a tree 
Planted by the rivers of water, 
That brings forth its fruit in its season, 
Whose leaf also shall not wither; 
And whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalms‬ ‭1:1-3)‬

“Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”  (Joshua‬ ‭1:7-8‬)

This is the key to being successful in all that we do.  Now, this is not a get rich quick scheme.  There is no promise you will always be healthy and wealthy.  But, it is assurance of having all you need to do all God wants—and that is true success.  

This is the miraculous power of Scripture promised!

OUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED

So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom.  (Psalm 90:12)

Our days are numbered—we just don’t know the number for certain.  Only the Giver of Life does.  He has said, however, that an average expectation would be 70-80 years (Ps.90:10).  Even so, Moses—the author of Psalm 90—states that the years will race by and all too quickly we “fly away.”  A wise man is one who contemplates the brevity of life and the gravity of eternity.  Now, Moses was exceptional—living to be 120—yet, he died.  These words seem to carry an even greater weight when we realize they are spoken by such an “old-timer.”  If he felt that life was too soon at an end, then how much more will we who in a few rare instances may make it to 100—though it may be that none who read these words will.  Since our days have been counted already in the all-knowing mind of a Sovereign God, then we ought to make our days count for something worthy—that will stand the test of eternity.

Every generation needs to run to God for refuge (v.1).   Mortal flesh can cast itself on the Eternal God.  He has created all things—including us—for a purpose, and when we discover that, and pursue it, then we can fill our limited time with meaning (v.2).  We can build a heritage of faith that will outlast our days on earth (v.16-17).  

Death is coming for us all (v.3).  That specter may lurk around the corner, ready to seize us with icy fingers before this day concludes.  We are like broken branches in a river at flood stage, swept away by the current of time (v.4).  We are like grass in the field, green and growing, then the Grim Reaper cuts us down with his scythe (v.5-6).

Death is all about us, for we live in a world under the curse of sin (v.7-11).  Even the best of people have succumbed to iniquity—and the wages of sin is death (Rom.3:23; 6:23).  We enter the world with a cry and we exit it with a sigh (v.9).  How appropriate—for this life is full of burdens and sorrows (v.10).

This could lead us to deny reality—to fight against it with Botox, silicone, facelifts, tummy tucks, and all the rest.  We can dye our hair and even replace it when it falls out, yet we are only fooling ourselves if we think that our deadline with death can be evaded.  Such troubling thoughts may drive some to seek to fog the brain with drugs, alcohol, accumulating material possessions, and experiencing carnal pleasures lest they contemplate their end.  That is folly—not wisdom!

The wise man embraces his mortality and sets his heart on preparing for eternity (v.12).  The man of God (the title affixed to Moses in the superscription) and the woman of God, as well, is driven to seek God with urgency and find the compassion He offers (v.13).  We will never know satisfaction in this life apart from Him—and the experience of His mercy (v.14a).  The sooner we seek that the better off we are.  God’s people are not immune from grief, but they find great reasons for gladness (v.14-15).  Our brief sojourn on earth can be a testimony of God’s activity and redound to His glory (v.16).  The work done for Him is of eternal significance and an enduring heritage (v.17).

Our days are numbered—let us make them count!

THIRSTY

Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You….  (Psalm 63:1a)

We have a thirst in our soul for God.  This is why humans are inherently religious—we know there is something else, something more—someone above and beyond us that we want to know.  Man was created with the capacity to walk with God—Adam and Eve did, until they chose the path of disobedience and then the fellowship was broken—infidelity disrupting intimacy.  God, in grace, reached out to His fallen creatures—and still does today.  We can once more know the Father through the Son by the Spirit.  Nothing else can satisfy the thirst in our souls.  We must drink from the well of salvation. It is the living water Jesus promised. 

We must also acknowledge that even as God’s people, we may foolishly turn from drinking deeply of God and pursue the world’s empty cisterns.  “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”  (Jer.2:13).

In Psalm 63, we find David in a place of barrenness, expressing this deep thirst for God (v.1).  God will seal up the Scripture, shut up the heavens to prayer, shrivel up the joy in worship—whatever it takes to intensify our thirst, and drive us in desperation to Him.  We find satisfaction in God only when we desire satisfaction in Him alone.  It is not a passion for what His hand can give us, but a desire to see His face and abide in His presence.  This is one reason why God sends troubles into the lives of His children—to drive us to Himself.  Trials have a way of diminishing our taste for the things of this world and elevating our thirst for the eternal.

David desired to see the manifestation of God’s power and glory (v.2).  It was not enough to hear about what God had done for others in the past—he wanted to experience it in the present for himself.   Listening to someone describe the sensation of drinking from a clear, cold mountain stream is not the same as taking a drink!  The testimony can make you salivate, but only the experience can bring you satisfaction.  Theologically, we may know the Lord is omnipresent in our doctrine, but experientially, we long to know Him manifestly in our daily life! 

This demands seeking God wholeheartedly in His Word and in prayer.  The corporate worship with the saints in the house of God can encourage us as we gather with others.  The sermons and songs can stir us to seek God.  It is in the daily quiet time—sitting before and open Bible and kneeling with an open heart in prayer, however, that will ultimately lead us into divine encounters.  This is the only way to know God’s power and glory.

The thirst for God will lead us to be satisfied with His love (v.3-6).  We will meditate on Him and rejoice in God—knowing His lovingkindness that is better than life itself.  We will experience the very life of God (v.7-11) and in so doing find true meaning in life.  Apart from Him, there is only an existence.  In Him, we rejoice—fully alive!  The presence of God does not alleviate all our opposition (v.9-11)—the Devil will see to that!  Yet, God is our Deliverer.  Having Him, we have the victory.  We must press on boldly to the throne room!

Stay thirsty, my friend—thirsty for God—and you will find satisfaction in Him!

THE LIFE OF LIBERTY

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  (Galatians 3:26)

Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty or give me death!”  He recognized there is no life apart from liberty.  This is true spiritually as well.  Jesus came to give us life and liberty.  He said, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”  What is this truth?  Our Lord responds, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”  Jesus came to give us life through a personal relationship with Him that sets us free from the shackles of sin and death.  Paul explains further concerning the life of liberty in Galatians 3:15-29.

This liberty is a promise of God (v.15-18).  The word, “promise” is used eight times in Galatians 3:15-29.  Specifically, this promise refers to God’s covenant with Abraham. God chose Abraham in sovereign grace, Abraham responded by faith, and God imputed righteousness (3:6).

Since the covenant preceded the law, the false teachers in Galatia said that the law replaced the covenant.  Paul counters this with an illustration from the secular world (v.15).  A contract between two cannot be negated later by someone not a party to the agreement.  Neither could it be argued the covenant was fulfilled when the law was given, because fulfillment was in Christ (v.16).   Abraham didn’t make the covenant and promises.  God did—unilaterally and unconditionally.

What is given by promise is not earned by obedience (v.17-18).  Like oil and water, they don’t mix.   The Greeks had a word for agreement between partners.  That is not the term used here. Salvation is based on God’s faithfulness, not ours.

If the law did not supersede the covenant of grace, then why was it given? That is presented in verses 19-22.   The law is a compass to show us how far we’ve strayed.  It is plumb line to show how crooked we are.  It is a thermometer to show how sick we are.  This is meant to drive us in desperation to Christ.  The expression, “confined all under sin” (v.22) means “lock up in jail.”  The law sentences us to death row, but that causes us to seek pardon.  We can’t escape, so we must have someone intervene.   Like a mirror, the law shows us we are dirty, but cannot cleanse us.

Children need supervision and a restricted area.  Baby-sitters and playpens set limits that are good for them.   We are put in protective custody (v.23).  We are given a tutor (v.24-25).  In the ancient world this was a slave in charge of minor.  He had moral supervision and was a strict disciplinarian.   This is what the law is to us.  The tutor’s task was finished when the child reached maturity.  The word, “sons” (v.26) means “of full age.”  Christians have outgrown the need of a playpen and baby-sitter.  Adulthood brings freedom from that.  Why would anyone want to return to infancy?

Instead, we are to “put on Christ” (v.27).  In Roman society, when youth came of age, they were given a special toga.  The child of God has laid aside the old garments of sin and put on a robe of righteousness.  In Christ, there is no distinction of skin color, social class, or sexual category (v.28).   The ground is level at the cross.  The Jews thought they were Abraham’s seed because of keeping the law. Paul says it is a relationship to Christ by faith that makes us heirs of Abraham’s promises (v.29).

Only Christ can free us from sin and death.  Call out to Him today!

THE SON OF GOD

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.  (John 1:14)

Jesus is the Godman—not half God and half man, but fully God and fully man—just as much man as if He were not God and just as much God as if He were not man.  He is the Only Begotten Son, Jesus the One and Only.  Matthew begins with His genealogy and stresses His royalty as the Son of David; Mark begins with His ministry and underscores His activity as the Servant of Jehovah; Luke begins with His nativity and emphasizes His humanity as the Son of Man.  John takes us back into eternity and stresses His deity as the Son of God.  John has three expressions He uses repeatedly in His writings: life, light and love.  Each one of these are characteristic of the Son of God. 

So we see Christ’s DIVINE LIFE.  In John 1:14, the aged Apostle John declares, “We beheld His glory….”  Christ Himself said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”  (11:25a)  In chapters 1-12 of John’s Gospel, we find this emphasis.  When the beginning began, Christ already was the Eternal Son—without beginning or ending.  John calls Him, “The Word.”  Words are how we communicate.  When God was ready to speak fully and finally to the world, He communicated through the living Word, Jesus—the Word made flesh.  Jesus not only made the claim, He manifested the credentials.  Seven “signs,” are featured in this book.  John didn’t claim to record all His miracles, but seven were selected and are called signs that demonstrate His Deity.

In John’s Gospel we also witness Christ’s DIVINE LIGHT.  John told us that “we beheld His glory….” Glory is the radiance of God—His Divine light outshining.  He said, “I am the light of the world.”  (9:5)  There are many mysteries of the Kingdom of God—hidden truths that Jesus came to reveal as the light of His teaching shone upon the disciples and He does in chapters 13-17.  When Jesus wanted to teach His disciples the essence of service, He didn’t just say it, He showed it, as He took a towel, girded Himself, and washed the disciple’s feet.  When they left the upper room He taught them about abiding in His life and love as a branch abides in the vine and bears fruit.  There are lessons about the Holy Spirit and a holy life.  He teaches them about the importance of prayer and unity as God’s children. 

John’s Gospel culminates in chapters 18-21 with Christ’s DIVINE LOVE.  John said that His glory was “that of the only begotten of the Father….”  To see Him was to see the Father.  God is love and therefore Christ is love incarnate.  He stated, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”  (15:13)  It was love that brought Him from eternity to earth on a mission to save sinners.  We see Him nailed to a cross to pay the price for our sins.  But, Eternal Love cannot be sealed in a tomb!  Christ in His resurrection glory appears to Mary, to ten of His disciples, and then to Thomas who had his doubts.  Those doubts were overcome!  Later, Jesus eats with the eleven and restores Simon Peter who had denied Him.  As Jesus was sent to seek the lost lambs, so He sends His disciples today on a mission of love.

WHAT THE MAN WHO HAS EVERYTHING NEEDS

 

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,

Before the difficult days come,

And the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

John Phillips tells the story how a spider descended on a single thread from a barn’s lofty rafters.  He wove his intricate web near a window.  It was an excellent choice, with many flies buzzing around, providing the spider opportunity to get fat and prosperous.  One day he noticed a stray strand reaching up into the darkness.  Forgetting its significance, he snapped the thread.  Instantly, his whole world collapsed.  That is what happened to Solomon.  In his youth, he maintained his connection with God—a strand reaching up into the unseen.  Then he grew prosperous and forgot the importance of that connection.  He cut the lines of communication with the Lord and his whole world caved in.  Ecclesiastes is a tour of the wreckage of a man who made shipwreck of his faith—a sermon from the lips of a foolish old king. 

This message begins with THE AUTHOR (1:1-11).  Solomon expresses such cynicism and despair.  Could this possibly be the same Solomon, who asked God for wisdom to govern?  Who constructed the temple for worship?  Who prayed such a magnificent prayer that the glory of God filled the house of God?  It was and it wasn’t—biologically he was the same person, but spiritually he was not.  His life was full, yet his heart was empty.  There is a God-shaped vacuum in every heart—a hole in your soul—that only God can fill.  Everything else is futile (v.2).  Solomon presents life from the perspective of a man “under the sun” (v.3).  We cannot make sense of life unless we view it from heaven’s perspective.   

Next, consider THE ACTIVITY (1:12-2:11).  Solomon tried to fill the hole in his soul, but he looked in wrong direction: “under the sun”—from a worldly viewpoint. He tried to fill his life WITH LEARNING (1:12-18).  Education is fine, yet it can lead to pride, “Knowledge puffs up” the Bible says.  Solomon tried to fill his life WITH LUST (2:1-2).  Solomon knew how to party hearty, but the next day he was still empty.  He had a thousand women—beautiful, exotic women, yet the sensations quickly faded.  He tried to fill his life WITH LIQUOR (2:3).  This foolish old king forgot what he had written (Prov.23:29-35).  Alcohol may take the edge off the pain, but when you wake with a hangover, then what?  He tried to fill the void WITH LABOR (2:4-6).  Many try to find fulfillment in their work.  How terrible it is to climb the ladder of success only to reach the top and find it was leaning on the wrong wall!  He tried to fill the hole WITH LUXURY (2:7-8).  He was the richest man who ever lived, yet that did not make him happy.  Happiness was as elusive as trying to grasp the wind (2:9-11). 

Now, we come to THE APPLICATION (12:13-14).  Solomon has come full circle—he has learned from his errors and now will help us.  REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR (12:1-7)  Now is the time—life will rush by like a leaf driven by the wind.  All of us have that appointment with death.  REVERE YOUR CREATOR (12:13-14).  After death it is too late for the sinner to be saved.  It will be too late for the Christian to make a difference.  Live on earth for eternity—that is wisdom!

THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”  (John 8:12)

One tremendous theme threads its way through the Gospel of John—the deity of Christ.  John wants us to know Jesus is more than a carpenter, greater than even the greatest of men, that He is indeed the Son of God.  Three wonderful words are woven into the text—light, life, and love.  Each one describes the essence of the Father and the Son.  Seven supernatural signs are selected by the writer to stress Christ’s deity.  Then, we have seven sublime statements where Jesus used the phrase, “I am,” which the Jews understood as the name of God, as He revealed Himself to Moses—thus, Jesus was claiming to be God Incarnate.  One of those statements is, “I am the light of the world.”

First, we consider THE LIGHT AS IT WAS REVEALED.  The purpose of light is to reveal—to shine out and to show up a thing.  Christ shines out the person of God.  When He claims to be the Light, He claims to be God.  Is He a liar, lunatic, or Lord?  Those are the only options.  He is either a deceiver, delusional or Deity.  John was an eyewitness to His glory revealed on the Mt. of Transfiguration.  Paul saw that Light and said He is the image of the invisible God (Col.1:15), and Hebrews 1:3 speaks of, “the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person….”  Christ shows up the path to God.  As the glory cloud led the Israelites through the wilderness, so Christ is the Light of the world to guide us to God (see 2 Cor.4:6).

Next, we note THE LIGHT AS IT WAS RECEIVED.  Consider the context.  As the Kingdom of God is branded by brightness, the kingdom of Satan is dominated by darkness.  The previous verses tell the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery, but the light of Christ shone upon her and changed her life forever.  In the next chapter, we read of a man blind from birth.  That is the spiritual condition of all in this world by virtue of their physical birth who need a spiritual birth to open their eyes to the light of truth and life (see John 1:4-13).  When the blind man received Christ, he became a new person.  Christ can break the bondage of darkness in your life and bring you into new life in Him!  It is the dawn of a new day.

Sadly, we find THE LIGHT AS IT WAS REJECTED.  So many reject the Light because of an obstinate darkness (John 8:13-19).  The darkness of unbelief is a stubborn thing (v.23-24).  At last, these who spurned the Light and sought the darkness committed the sin for which there is no forgiveness (8:48).  Christ offered Himself as their King, and they would cry, “We have no king but Caesar!” (19:15).  Jesus demonstrated the credibility of His claims by the miracles He performed, but they attributed it to the power of Satan.  Their obstinate darkness would take them into outer darkness.  That is how Jesus described hell—a dark pit of torment where the light of life is shut off—a second death; a place where the light of love is shut out—away from God’s gracious presence.

None have to go there.  The hymn beckons, “Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee....”  Have you?  Will you?