at his footstool

Isn't it wonderful when something as simple as a couple of words or a short sentence speaks immeasurably more than we ever thought? For example, John 11:35 is merely two words. I memorized it as a kid only because it was short and could be us for quick (and humorous) Sunday School answers. Being older, I see how the two words reveal a great deal about our God's ability to sympathize with us when we struggle through the pains and trials of this life. Knowing our God is one who wept, gives us comfort when we weep.

Today God saw fit for me to read Psalm 99. It's a short Psalm about His glory on earth throughout history. Verse five especially stood out; "...worship at his footstool!"

Christ reconciled us to the Father. We know walk in union with Him as children. This doesn't mean we are equal or walking the same plane. I tend to lose sight of this.

I treat worship (both public and private) as a concert venue. God is on stage solely for the view. He would stand on the floor, but then everyone would not be able to see Him well. The stage is perfectly set up so people can stand on the floor or sit in the seats and not miss Him.

The reality is God isn't even in the arena. Stadium seating does not exist as we are all standing on the floor. God isn't merely above us so we can see Him better. He is above us because He is holy (which comes right after the phrase above), and we are not. We are at His footstool because that's exactly where we belong. He is our Father and friend, but He is not our equal.

I used to teach while sitting on a stool as a lot of teachers do. Part of it is so students can see, but the main function is respect. They sit at the base of the stool to hear, receive, and learn. We worship in the same manner. Worshiping at God's footstool reminds us who we are when compared to God. It humbles us because we are dirty and disgusting sinners. It enables our hearts to receive His Word as life. It declares His greatness far above anything else in all of creation. It stirs us to kneel with our heads down as those unworthy. It reminds us it by His grace alone we worship at His feet.

I've been trying to worship with the mindset of standing next to my friend at eye level. God wants me kneeling at the feet of my King.

here comes the sun

A friend of mine frequently sings the praises of the song Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles. Personally, I am not a Beatles fan. I fail to comprehend the fascination with them. I don't really like their sound nor am I overly wowed by their lyrics. You need to have one of those two in order to reel me in. You won't them find anywhere near my top twenty bands/musicians of all time.

Anyways, he plays it on the guitar and/or makes me listen to it at various times we are together. I don't remember any of lines of the song except for "here comes the sun" sung over and over again (or so I feel). But recently I have found myself singing the line (since it's are all I know) almost every day for at least ten solid minutes. I even singing it in my head during our Easter sunrise service. Maybe it's because spring is here. Maybe it's because the wet April is giving way to May.

Just the other day I began thinking more as to the reason for these lyrics being stuck on repeat. I finished A Sweet and Bitter Providence last week, but the book has been on my mind afresh as of late. I know a lot of people suffering in one form or another. Right now God has seen fit to bring upon them a season of bitterness (in general not necessarily towards Him). Naomi experienced the same season when she left her home country, lost her husband, saw her sons marry non-Jewish women, lost both her sons, and went back home with nothing. She even changed her name from Naomi (sweet) to Mara (bitter).

But as we read the rest of the book, you can almost hear "hear comes the sun" being sung with each and every sentence. God was shining small rays of His sweet grace through the clouds of bitterness. It all started with Ruth clinging to Naomi as the first ray. By the end, the sun was bursting through in the form of a grandson who would fall into the familial line of Jesus Christ.

So be patient those surrounded by the dark clouds of bitterness. And pray for God to open your eyes to see His rays of loving grace shining through.

"Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say it's alright."

See, what a morning, gloriously bright,

With the dawning of hope in Jerusalem;

Folded the grave-clothes, tomb filled with light,

As the angels announce, "Christ is risen!"

See God's salvation plan,

Wrought in love, borne in pain, paid in sacrifice

Fulfilled in Christ, the Man,

For He lives: Christ is risen from the dead!

~See, What a Morning, Keith and Kristyn Getty

Christ is risen; He is risen indeed!

Good Friday

Two days ago I read the chapter entitled "God Dies" in Driscoll and Breshear's Doctrine. It gives detailed descriptions about the events of the cross alongside the blessings available to sinners because of it. Examining the full scope of the cross is a good practice any day, but especially this Friday.

Here are some of the physical pains Christ took upon himself for us: (taken from Doctrine, pp. 248-252)

Gethsemane: sleepless night of extreme distress and eventual betrayal by a close friend

Scourging/flogging: designed to tenderize the body of a victim using pieces of glass, metal, and bone; the damage is similar to the "results of a shotgun blast"

Falling under the weight of the cross: trauma compared to the chest trauma caused by a car accident when the driver is violently thrown into the steering wheel

Crucifixion: nails driven into most sensitive nerve centers; bloodied backed constantly scrapping against the wood, loss of ability to control bodily functions

There was much more facing Christ. And they were just as horrible. But He did not suffer through these things in vain.

At last, with this foul taste on his lips, Jesus said in a loud voice of triumph, "It is finished." At this moment, the atonement for sin was made and the holiness, righteousness, justice, and wrath of God were satisfied in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Jesus then said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!" Jesus reserved his final breath from the cross to shout his triumphant victory to the world by confirming that he had been restored to God the Father after atoning for human sin. (Driscoll & Breshears, pp. 252)

sovereignty over sin and evil

There is an aspect of the crucifixion we tend to overlook: God's sovereignty over the sin of man. While this may seem more confusing than comforting, God's sovereignty over our sin is a great comfort as we labor through this life. It is also a reason to worship Him, especially given where we find ourselves in the Christian calendar.

God doesn't sin. It is against His holy nature. But He is more than able to use the sins of man to accomplish His divine purposes. The cross is one of many examples, and the best one at that. Here we see God using the wickedness of man to murder His Son in order to bring salvation.

Is this really that big of a deal? As John Piper states, "If he cannot (govern sinful acts to serve His purposes), then there is no Christian gospel...There could be no crucifixion if there were no crucifiers" (A Sweet and Bitter Providence, pp. 115 & 117). Piper even goes on to state how God using our sin to serve His eternal purposes is a sign of His great mercy. God had every right to wipe out all of mankind for murdering Christ, but He chose to grant salvation through the very One they killed.

Practically we can find encouragement in God's sovereignty over the evil done by and against us. It has opened the door of salvation to all who place their faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross. And if God can take the most horrific evil done in the history of man (the murder of God) and turn it into the greatest blessing imaginable, what can He do with the evils facing us?

"Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand." Isaiah 53:10

what must we do in the holy place?

This question Christian presented to the men escorting he and Hopeful into the Celestial City. Their response is lengthy, but absolutely fantastic.

You must receive the comfort of all your toil, and have joy for all your sorrow; you must reap what you have sown, even the fruit of all your prayers, and tears, and sufferings for the King by the way. In that place you must wear crowns of gold, and enjoy the perpetual sight and visions of the Holy One, for "there you shall see him as he is." There also shall you serve Him continually with praise, with shouting, and thanksgiving, whom you desired to serve in the world, though with much difficulty, because of the infirmity of your flesh. There your eyes shall be delighted with seeing, and your ears with hearing the pleasant voice of the Mighty One. There you shall enjoy your friends again that are gone thither before you, and there you shall with joy receive even everyone that follows into the holy place after you. There also you shall be clothed with glory and majesty, and put into an equipage fit to ride out with the King of Glory. When He shall come with sound of trumpets in the clouds, as upon wings of the wind, you shall come with Him...Also when He shall again return to the City, you shall go too with sound of trumpet, and be ever with Him. (Bunyan, John pp.186-187, emphasis mine)

Now we don't know exactly everything awaiting for us in heaven. Part of the beauty lies in the unknown blessings ready to be given us when we arrive. But what we do know is clearly worth celebrating and praising God for. Good Friday is on Friday with Easter on Sunday. Because of the events from that weekend nearly 2,000 years ago, the above description far greater than a wishful thought. It is the hope and guaranteed reward for all who are in Christ.

I received an email containing a link to a news article (or blog on a news website) from a friend. The article was written by the professor who taught the theology class I attended my sophomore year in college. Needless to say, I was not overly fond of her teaching then, and I am continually less fond of it now. To her credit, my strong disagreements with her cultivated a love for God's Word as Truth in this world filled with fallacies everywhere you turn. It was the place I ran to each and every day before and after class.

In all honesty, the article made me more than frustrated. I intended on posting about it, and then going off on some of the things circulating amongst "Christianity"in the name of improvement. Thankfully God always has a better idea.

First He brought back the words I said yesterday about why I use my blog. I don't want it to be a place where I write things in order to gain a following or bring attention to myself. It's for myself to write, wrestle, learn, and grow. Those peeking in can take from it what they wish, but my prayer is that God is the one speaking more than me. I do that more than enough already.

Next, He turned my mind to His Word. What has been and what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 1:9). The "new" ideas people are conjuring up are not new at all. They've been shared before and God's Word proved true. I don't need to speak my own opinions, but let God's Word do all the talking.

Then, He turned me again to His Word. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9). God has a plan for everything. He allows lies and falsehoods to bring about His glory regardless of what we may think they are bringing. It's not an accident some of the same arguments shot down centuries ago seem to be rearing their heads once again. (side note: I started reading John Piper's A Sweet and Bitter Providence which is a detailed look into the story of Ruth. It addresses this exact issue. God allows terrible things to happen because through them He always is working for the good of His children and glory of His name. Two chapters in and I am eager to reread Ruth)

And finally, He directed me back to His Word. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:33-36). My job is not to try and figure anything out. My job to to praise Him because He is exactly who He is. I won't figure Him out completely anytime soon, and this should warm my heart towards worship. For only He is worthy because only He is high and exalted!

in the river

For those sick of my recent infatuation with Pilgrim's Progress I offer you these words of comfort: tough. Ha! But in all reality, I rarely ever write my posts for a given audience other than myself. There are times, like birthdays, where I hope the special person reads what I write. Otherwise, my intent is and always has been writing to myself. Those who choose to chime in and more then welcome.

I heard the passage given below in a sermon a few years ago. I honestly don't remember exactly what text was expounded upon, but I remember the pastor quoting this. He did so with great passion and conviction. He even came to tears halfway through. It made me want to read the book in order to experience the part for myself. As I drew near to it, my mind went back to that particular Sunday. My heart grew excited while reading it. My search was well worth it.

"You must go through, [the river] or you cannot come at the gate...For you shall find it deeper or shallower as you believe in the King of the place..."

Christian began to sink, and, cried out to his good friend Hopeful.

"I sink in the deep waters; the billows go over my head; all the waves go over me!"

"Be of good cheer, my brother; I feel the bottom, and it is good."

"Ah! my friend, the sorrows of death have compassed me about: I shall not see the land that flows with milk and honey..."

Hopeful therefore here had much ado to keep his brother's head above water...Hopeful also would endeavor to comfort him, saying:

"Brother, I see the gate, and men standing by to receive us."

"It is you, it is you they wait for; you have been hopeful ever since I knew you."

"And so have you."

"Ah, brother, surely if I were right He would now arise to help me; but for my sins He hath brought me into the snare, and hath left me."

"My brother, you have quite forgot the text where it is said of the wicked: 'There are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm: they are not troubled as other men, neither are they plagued like other men.' These troubles and distresses that you go through in these waters are no sign that God hath forsaken you; but are sent to try you whether you will call to mind that which heretofore you have received of His goodness, and live upon Him in your distresses...Be of good cheer; Jesus Christ maketh thee whole."

And with that Christian break out with a loud voice,

"On, I see Him again! and He tells me: 'When thou passeth through waters, I will be with thee; and through rivers, they shall not overflow thee."

(Bunyan, John pp. 182-184)

I may have stated before that Samwise Gamgee is my favorite fictional character in all of literature. Hopeful may be a close second. We all need friends like him as we wade through the rivers we must cross. They don't offer words of their own intelligence, but those straight from the mouth of God. Only such words can open our eyes to see Him who awaits to help pull us to the other side.

loving discipline

I did not anticipate jotting down as many thoughts as I have from Pilgrim's Progress. I've heard people say it's a book every Christian should read, but now I am slowly understanding why. I could describe the book as a look into my own life.

We like to throw around the term journey when talking about our faith. It's as if the final destination is our faith. We journey and struggle in order to gain a faith, which has already been gifted us in Christ. The book tosses aside the fluffy term we use today because this journey is all about striving towards the God's kingdom awaiting those in Christ. It's a painful, strenuous, difficult, humiliating, (add any other synonym for tough) more often than not, and yet peaceful, wonderful, beautiful, comforting, joy-filled (add any other synonym for pleasant) just when we think we've reached the end of our rope. All this makes the conclusion to our journey all the more magnificent. We are promised a welcoming into the kingdom where our King awaits us.

But along the way, there are valuable lessons teaching us to press forward with the hope we have ever before us.

So he led them back to the way which they had left to follow the Flatterer. Then he asked them, saying:

"Where did you lie last night?"

"With the Shepherds upon the Delectable Mountains."

He asked them if they had not the note of directions for the way.

"Yes"

"But you did not, when you were at a stand, pluck out and read your note?"

"No"

"Why?"

They said they forgot. He asked, moreover, if the Shepherds did not bid them beware of the Flatterer?

"Yes; but we did not imagine that his fine-spoken men had been he."

Then I saw in my dream that he...chastised them sore to teach them the good way wherein they should walk...So they thanked him for all his kindness, and went softly along the right way singing:

"Come hither, you that walk along the way,

See how the pilgrims fare that go astray:

They caught are in an entangled net,

'Cause they good counsel lightly did forget;

'Tis true they rescued were; but yet, you see.

They're scourged to boot; let this your caution be."

(Bunyan, John, pp.155-156, emphasis mine)

Discipline is never fun. But anyone who hangs around children (of any age) knows it's more than needed. God calls us His children. We don't listen and quickly forget His words to us. As a good Father will, He disciplines in love for our own benefit. It enables us to walk away singing of thankfulness because God's momentary discipline saved us from the greater pain of following our own way.

battles with shame

Yea, he put me so to it that my blood came up in my face, even this Shame fetched it up, and had almost beat me quite off. But at last I began to consider that that which is highly esteemed among men is had in abomination with God. And I thought again, this Shame tells me what men are; but tells me nothing what God, or the Word of God, is. And I thought, moreover, that at the day of doom we shall not be doomed to death according to the hectoring spirits of the world, but according to the wisdom and law of the Highest. Therefore, thought I, what God says is best, is best through all the men in the world are against it...Shame, depart, thou art an enemy to my salvation. Shall I entertain thee against my sovereign Lord? (Bunyan, John pp. 82-83)

Shame is not of God's Spirit, but our enemy. It works against us to bog us down in our sin. It places the focus on us rather than our crucified and risen Lord. Sin, along with shame, must be confessed and repented of (1 John 1:9), not used as a tortuous instrument crashing down upon us again and again. Faithful said it correctly, thou are an enemy to my salvation. Welcoming our enemy, in the name of piety, never nourishes our soul.

Christian reaches the cross

I never read Pilgrim's Progress before. I know the gist of the story and various events that transpired. I subbed for my injured mother yesterday, and I saw the book on one of her shelves. I began reading to see if it's as much of a "classic" as people say it is. I'm not even halfway through, but I love the images and words used to effectively describe the struggle facing us as we strive towards our real home. I have seen myself many times in Christian, especially his failures.

Last night I read Christian's reaching of the cross. What a beautiful picture. I won't elaborate on it, but simply recite it for I think enough is said in what Bunyan wrote.

He ran thus till he came to a place somewhat ascending; and upon that place stood a cross, and a little below, in the bottom, a sepulcher. So I saw in my dream that just as Christian came up with the cross, the burden loosened from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble, and so continued to do till it came to the mouth of the sepulcher, where it fell in, and I saw it no more.

Then was Christian glad and lightsome, and said with a merry heart: "He hath given me rest by His sorrow and life by His death." Then he stood still a while to look and wonder; for it was very surprising to him that the sight of the cross should thus ease him of his burden. He looked therefore, and looked again, even till the springs that were in his dead sent the waters down his cheeks. (Bunyan, John pp. 40-41)

gather me in

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!

~Matthew 23:37

After releasing the heavy load sitting upon my chest for the past few weeks God challenged me to hear some of the words He spoke to those who were dead and/or asleep. Some are encouraging, others quite the opposite. Considering I am a stiff-necked person, I am certainly going to need both. Considering Easter is a few weeks away. What better way to prepare for celebrating than to listen and meditate?

dead or sleeping

(Note of disclaimer. I am not trying to rub people the wrong way or ruffle any feathers. And I pray no one views this as sitting on a "high horse" or pedestal. I am just making observations from my own life, primarily, and the lives of many in our country when it comes to faith. It's been a struggle of mine since returning home.)

Over the past couple of weeks two passages seem to be pressing heavily upon my own heart. They come to mind during the quiet times throughout the day and in conversations with different people. For me, they are a much-needed burden as I see areas of my life where I see these two passages speaking directly. From there, I pray for them to be seen in a similar light by all who proclaim salvation as God's gift of grace through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ alone, namely those in this country.

Am I dead? Are we dead?

The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and, behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord God, you know"...Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, "Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off." ~Ezekiel 37:1-3, 11

Am I sleeping? Are we sleeping?

And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." And he took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. And he said to them, "My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch"...And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak"...And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. And he came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?"

~Mark 14:32-34, 37-38, 40-41

The more time I spent away from the "everyday-ness" of 21st century American Christianity the more my heart grieved over what I saw. The growing time gap between my trip and now grieves my heart as I see how quickly I jump right back into the stream. It reminds me I am as much the problem as anyone else. Before I can even think about pointing fingers, most of the blame falls upon my own head.

While away I saw a deeper longing for time in God's Word and prayer, genuine fellowship grounded in Jesus Christ, daily seeking out interactions with the lost to share Christ with them, heartfelt repentance over my many sins both large and small, an undeniable sense of the voice of God, and the active working of the hand of God, to name a few. I grasped Christ's words of experiencing His joy and knowing it to the fullest. My heart ached at the thought of leaving.

Since being home I fight myself to be in God's Word, agonize over taking time to pray, seek the comfort of myself more often than not, rarely engage with non-Christians (let alone seek them out), manage my sins as not being "all that bad," hear nothing, and see nothing, to name a few. I am distracted by way too many meaningless things. I convince myself the little time I have must be spent engaging in the tiny pleasures of this fleeting life. I rush through anything pertaining to spiritual growth because my time is "limited." I desire less and less of God as I seek to fill my life with more and more of the garbage handed to me on a silver platter. I am definitely longing, desiring, seeking, hungering, thirsting, and asking, only it sickens me when I get a glimpse of what exactly I am doing these things for.

Am I dead or sleeping?

Theologically, I can't be dead since by receiving Christ I received life from the Spirit. Practically the difference between being dead and asleep are trivial. Either way I am in desperate need of God's Spirit. Like the bones, I need Him to equip me with breath, sinews, muscles, flesh, and skin to give life to my body. Like the apostles, I need Him to come shake me until I arise from my slumber. Whether dead or sleeping, I am worthless. I am unable to perform any of the tasks He has graciously enabled me to do. I am living as an unfaithful and ungrateful servant whose life has been redeemed.

Are we dead or sleeping?

We burn books in the name of piety. We ignore false teaching permeating from the pulpit. We treat church as merely a social club. We lack knowledge of God's Word without seeming too bothered by it. We argue over trivial things, but let the important matters go unnoticed. We treat prayer as only for the gifted. We have no joy in our salvation making us useless in sharing with others. We fix our eyes on our needs, wants, pleasures, luxuries, and comforts at the expense of those around us. We'll do whatever it takes to get them even if it means sacrificing faith, family, and friends. We place responsibility for everything on anyone but ourselves. And I could keep going. Basically, we regard what this world has to offer with far greater worth than who our God is, what He's done for us, and what He expects from us. We are friends (bff's if you will) of this world and everything it wants us to treasure.

And along with these two passages, God brings to mind two others I know well in my head, but fail to grasp in my heart. They aren't nice encouragements for us to take our time in repenting of our sin. They are spoken in love, but God's love is clearly known to be tough when it needs to be.

But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

~Revelation 2:4-5

I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Revelation 3:15-19

Psalm 73

I found a greater appreciation for Psalm 73 after hearing it in a song. I find it to be all too accurate when describing my own life and struggles. I tend to look at those around me and wonder, "Why does life apart from God seem far easier than life with Him?" All the while I am ignoring the "beastly" arrogance growing in my own heart. I am not as near to Him as I think I am. I fail to grasp His promises and see His faithfulness anew each morning. As God's holiness draws these out, my cries slowly turn to visions of how God's nearness to me is of far greater value than anything in this world.

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped.

For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek.

They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind.

Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment.

Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies.

They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression.

They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.

Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them.

And they say, "How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?"

Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches.

All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence.

For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning.

If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed to me a wearisome task,

until I went into the sanctuary of God; then I discerned their end.

Truly you set them in slippery placed; you make them fall to ruin.

How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away utterly by terrors!

Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.

When my soul was embittered, when I was pricked in heart,

I was brutish and ignorant; I was like a beast toward you.

Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

For behold, those who are far from you shall perish, you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.

But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.