Tim Hayes – Page 58

He Shall Rule the Nations

In the midst of arguably the most interesting election year in history, what principles should guide our voting? What is government’s role, and what types of laws are pleasing to God? Should we try to legislate morality, or let people do what they want in their personal lives so long as they aren’t harming others?

When Messiah returns He will institute holy government: He Himself will rule the nations from Jerusalem … with a rod of iron. (Re 19:15) It seems to me unlikely that He will enforce a different Law than Torah; He delights in it and expects us all to do the same. (De 4:5-6, 8)

Torah is God’s plumb line, our metric for evaluating moral goodness. The fact that many resist and rebel against God’s Law didn’t keep Him from requiring Israel to obey it, nor will this keep Him from imposing it on the rest of Mankind. (Re 2:26-27) Whether we like it or not, Torah will eventually be the law of the land. (Mi 4:2)

It would appear then that laws are good or bad based on how well they align with God’s law, and governments are good or bad according to how they represent God’s holy standard of righteousness. (Ro 13:3-4)

The only real question then seems to be whether it makes sense for us to try to influence our culture and society to accept and conform to this standard or not. If “righteousness exalts a nation,” if “sin is a reproach to any people” (Pr 14:34), if we delight in God’s laws (Ro 7:22) and believe they are good (1Ti 1:8), and that anyone who breaks them is harming God, themselves and others (Ma 22:40), then the answer would appear to be “Yes.”

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The Unity of the Faith

What binds us together as saints? What should comprise the glue of spiritual community and fellowship? (Ep 4:3)

Bonding through doctrinal alignment may seem reasonable, but this hinders honest questioning for fear we’ll be shunned or disciplined. Believers afraid to disagree can’t challenge each other, or encourage critical thinking and intellectual integrity, core virtues in any godly walk. But having no common beliefs at all makes fellowship impractical. Where’s the balance?

Identifying the core doctrines enabling healthy fellowship, while acknowledging that we’re all at different places in our journey, seems like quite a challenge; yet the biblical criteria are quite simply stated: basic agreement on the nature and work of Christ (2Jn 1:9-10), and a general willingness to follow and obey Him. (1Jn 3:10) Fleshing this out in our complicated world is non-trivial, but at least the guidelines are clear.

Let’s not fear walking alone, yet also seek out godly community and humbly leverage honest differences to edify one another. Let’s pursue thoughtful like-mindedness (1Co 1:10), not cobbling together a superficial shallowness out of coerced doctrinal agreement, but bonding in our common passion to pursue the living God, and helping each other do the same, “till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (Eph 4:13)

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Be Found Faithful

When we say we’re going to do something, but then life happens and we’d rather not, what are the rules? When is it OK to change our mind?

OldFaithful — Old Faithful, Yellowstone National Park

Firstly, if no one’s affected then who cares? But anyone counting on us must approve or be compensated. It’s the golden rule in action; evidently, even God changes His mind like this from time to time. (Jon 3:10)

Simply stating our intent (“I will”) is not necessarily unconditional commitment; it’s not always a solemn promise … it’s not a vow. Most of the time there’s an unstated sense that we’re making a conditional promise, and that’s OK; life’s uncertain and we’re free to change our minds within reason.

Vows are different; we’re expected to think them through very carefully and only make those we intend before God to keep at all costs. (Nu 30:2) They imply a different level of commitment and thoroughness, one that’s not inconsistent with but enables the more flexible types of agreements that facilitate honest cooperation in an uncertain world.

Keeping our word is both a matter of love and a matter of dignity. God expects us to say what we mean and mean what we say. (Ja 5:12) This shouldn’t make us inflexible, but like Old Faithful, we must be dependable. (1Co 4:1-2)

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Presumptuous Sin

As there are degrees of sin, there’s also more than one kind; the Psalmist asks God to keep him from presumptuous sin. (Ps 19:13) There’s mercy for sins of ignorance (Nu 15:28); God overlooks them (Ac 17:30), but not lives of willful (He 10:26-27) presumption. (Nu 15:30)

Presumption is unwarranted intrusive or impertinent boldness; inexcusable forwardness; a readiness to presume; knowingly thinking, saying and/or doing things without right or permission. (De 18:20) Sin is the violation of God’s Law, Torah. (1Jn 3:4)

Presumptuous sin then is to willfully break God’s laws, or to be careless or neglectful in keeping them (Ps 119:4); it is to despise Jehovah God Himself (Lk 10:16), and it’s the worst kind of sin. (Ps 19:13)

Yet even if we’re not deliberately breaking specific Torah commands, inappropriate boldness, assertiveness or confidence may be presumptuous. For example, asserting our subjective opinion as verifiable fact is problematic unless we have legitimate evidence: only objective concepts are truly verifiable. Teaching our private interpretation of scripture as ultimate truth, thereby setting ourselves up as having apostolic authority (Re 2:2), unless we are divinely inspired and ordained by God Himself to do so (Ja 3:1), is evidently equivalent to being a false prophet, deserving of the death penalty. (De 18:20)

Like the Psalmist, let’s run from presumptuous sin! As it dominates us we become slaves to darkness (2Ti 2:25-26); God’s children don’t live like this. (1Jn 3:6-8).

And while we’re running from presumption let’s acknowledge that only God Himself can restrain us and keep us back from it; if God doesn’t help us here we’re all hopelessly wicked. (Is 64:6) But God is faithful (2Th 3:3) to help us become poor in spirit.

As we find ourselves becoming free of presumptuous sin, transformed, elect unto obedience and humility, this is the gift and grace of God (Ro 5:17): we’ve nothing to boast of (Ro 3:27) or take credit for (1Co 4:7), nothing to be proud of, nothing to glory in. (1Co 1:29) Let’s rejoice … and only in God Himself. (Je 9:23-24)

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The Word of God

Just as all religions aren’t the same, modern Bible translations are also different. How can we tell which one’s best? Why does it matter?

Well, if we’re not committed to obeying our bible then it really doesn’t matter; we’ll go with whatever happens to make us feel good … hardly noticing when it encourages men to abuse their families, as many of our newer English translations actually do.

SpringWaterMountain — Clements Mountain, Montana

But if we’re hiding our bible in our heart, meditating on it daily and conforming our lives to every word of it, then I think the version we choose makes a big difference: we should trust it as God’s inspired Word. Is any translation worthy of our trust? How can we know?

As it turns out, I don’t think we need a seminary degree to nail this one; no need to master ancient biblical languages. The consistency of the Majority text sheds invaluable light: most of our English translations are based on patent absurdity: The Syrian Recension.

Of the few that remain, the King James Version (KJV) empowered two Great Awakenings, was the backbone of the English-speaking world for nearly 300 years and is the only English bible to have ever been generally accepted as inspired by God’s people. In my humble opinion, this one’s a no-brainer.

The Bible isn’t just any old book; it’s alive and powerful (He 4:12); it cannot be broken. (Jn 10:35) God’s Word is food for our soul (Je 15:16), a light to our way (Ps 119:105), a map for our journey (1Ti 3:16-17), and the Spirit’s sword, our weapon of war. (Ep 6:17) Let’s choose our bible wisely; pick one we trust and obey it as the very Word of God to us. Our spiritual health depends on it.

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A Falling Away

Most evangelical Christians seem to believe the end of the age is upon us, that Christ’s second coming is just around the corner. I’ve found this common in bible-believing circles since the late 70’s … I’ve seldom met an earnest believer that felt otherwise. Evidently, Christians have been feeling this way ever since Christ departed, nearly two millennia ago.

Yet Paul begs us not to expect Messiah’s return prematurely. (2Th 2:1-2) Have we been overlooking something basic? Perhaps a little gullible in our exuberance?

God’s told us there’ll be a vast change in humanity prior to His return, a wickedness like nothing we’ve ever seen … what He describes as “a falling away.” (2Th 2:3) A city He calls Babylon the Great will rise to supreme dominance in world affairs, the cornerstone of global economic and political power, as well as the epicenter of a new global occult religion. These kinds of things don’t generally happen overnight; as of now, she’s nowhere in sight.

Yes, the world’s wicked (1Jn 5:19) and bad things happen: economies grow and collapse, global powers rise and fall, deadly new diseases appear, social norms drift and natural disasters disrupt it all … and it’s always been this way. (Mk 13:7-8)

Let’s be sane in the midst of this turmoil, no longer giving occasion to the world to mock God’s people by claiming Christ’s return is near. Let’s walk in wisdom, in hope, delighting in the goodness of God, knowing He’s sovereign and faithful, joying in Him and edifying one another.

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What Is Truth?

Two millennia ago, a Roman governor asked the Prince of Life a profound question: What is truth? (Jn 18:38) We’re still wrestling with the same kind of questions today. How do we identify truth? What does it mean? Why does it matter?

Truth is anything that is true … that aligns with reality. It’s good to be aligned with reality … the alternative, being at war with reality itself, can’t be good.

So when this Prince of Life (Ac 3:14-15) says “I am the truth,” (Jn 14:6) what’s He saying?

Christ is always perfectly aligned with all of reality … which makes Him the definition of truth itself; all truth is always perfectly aligned with Him. As we are aligned with Christ we are of the truth, in harmony with reality in all its shades and forms. (Jn 18:37) So as we cherish any lie we separate ourselves from Christ, misaligning our minds and hearts with reality.

Let’s value truth supremely, seeking it wherever we can find it. Buy the truth and never sell it, not for any price. (Pr 23:23) I alone will die with my beliefs — no one else; it makes me who I am. It’s the love of truth that parts children of light from darkness (1Th 5:5); everyone else will perish. (2Th 2:10-12)

Let’s walk in light, as He is in the light, and fellowship with Him. (1Jn 1:6-7) He is not just the truth, He is light itself. (Jn 8:12)

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Walk in the Light

To fellowship with God we walk in the light. (1Jn 1:7-8) What does this mean, to walk in the light?

Light enables us to see; we discern our environment as light reflects off of it. Similarly, God’s revelation in Creation (1Ti 6:20), in Scripture (Ps 119:105), and in Christ (Jn 8:12) enables us to see our spiritual world; as we meditate on Him in every circumstance of life, evaluating and discerning in light of God’s ways and laws, His truth reflects off all about us and enables us to see.

To walk in spiritual light then is to be aware of, inclined toward and aligned with truth, with God’s revelation in all its forms. It’s being honest and open with God, with facts, with science, with history, and with His Word — both Scripture and His Son — with all of reality, aligning ourselves with Him as best we can through truth … all truth.

It’s looking at all sides of every question without fear or bias, refusing to accept inconsistency and contradiction in our faith, prayerfully and humbly exploring every mystery, welcoming healthy debate and constructive criticism. It’s seeking Him as He is; not as we wish for Him to be.

Every lie we cherish becomes a stronghold of darkness; in neglecting truth we stumble away from God. He is light; in Him there’s no darkness at all. (1Jn 1:5) He invites us to come, to walk with Him in spirit and in truth, enjoying every moment with Him as a perfect gift. (Is 2:5)

As we ask God to reveal Himself in truth, He does; as we seek, we find; as we knock, the doors will open. (Mt 7:7-8) Buy the truth; let every place in our hearts and minds rejoice in His light. (Lk 11:36)

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A Sweet Savor

When we’re aligned with God, walking in the light with Him (1Jn 1:7), as others react to us they remind Him of His Son. (2Co 2:15) Just as Yeshua Messiah walked among men, we so remind His enemies of their deathly end that they can almost taste it, and in the elect we’re the fragrance of life itself. (2Co 2:16) God sees a delightful reflection of His Son in all of it, and is consistently glorified in us.

Who in themselves is worthy or able in this? What a privilege to be chosen out of this world, adopted and transformed by God! (1Jn 3:1)

Fearing to be ourselves in Messiah is to hide His glory; we can only reflect Him by being authentic as He works in us. (Php 2:13) We’re His workmanship, created in Messiah to glorify Him in words and deeds, works chosen for us according to His sovereign purpose before the dawn of time. (Ep 2:10, 2Ti 1:9)

Let’s unashamedly joy in our God, each in our own holy calling, priceless and unique, every moment a perfect gift to glorify His name, walking worthy of our God as a sweet savor of Christ.

Thank you Father, for always causing us to overcome in and through Your Son, and for spreading the sweet aroma of knowing Him everywhere through us. (2Co 2:14)

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Proud in Heart

There’s only one safe place in the universe: the place of humility, of lowliness. All who abide elsewhere are abominable to God and subject to punishment. (Pr 16:5) Certainly, there are degrees of pride … and so degrees of being loathsome to God. Where then do we dwell?

StairwayToDestruction — Arthur’s Steps in Edinburgh Scotland

Pride is thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought (Ro 12:3), and what exactly does that look like?

Refusing to accept the fact that we might, in fact, be the most evil person who has ever lived — this is pride. It’s rejecting the label: chief of sinners. The apostle Paul himself didn’t do this. (1Ti 1:15)

Being smug, conceited, overly pleased in ourselves; lifted up in our own sight; better than some other, this is the pride of life, and it’s entirely unacceptable. (Php 2:3) If we can look down on another with disdain (1Pe 2:17), with contempt (Ps 123:4), thinking we’d never do what they’ve done, we don’t know ourselves. Blind to our own sin we don’t grieve over it, we grow lukewarm, losing our joy and taking God’s love for granted.

Let’s be plain: if left to ourselves there’s no telling what we might be like. Any good in us is the free gift of God. (1Co 4:7) In our free will, apart from God’s restraining and enabling grace, we’re all totally depraved (Je 17:9); abominable, filthy, drinking iniquity like water (Job 15:6); we’re all as an unclean thing; all of our self exaltation is disgusting to God. (Is 64:6)

When saints see themselves as they are in the presence of the absolute purity and holiness of God, we abhor ourselves (Job 42:6, Is 6:5); we cry out with the Psalmist, “Keep back thy servant from presumptuous sins! Let them not have dominion over me.” (Ps 19:13)

If we’re not behaving as badly as another, this is the undeserved grace of God (1Co 15:10); we’ve nothing to glory in but Jesus Christ. (1Co 1:29-31) Forgetting this, taking any credit for ourselves, is pride.

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