THE GREATEST OBSTACLE TO FAITH

 Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

                 I have been reading Tim Keller’s book, Making Sense of God. It is a masterful response to the prevailing attitude in our society that belief in God is irrelevant. As I have been reading, I was struck with the reality that many people today have bought into the idea that they have the right to determine their own course in life. We have raised the autonomy of the individual to the highest level. Each person has the right to determine for themselves what is right and wrong. Each person has the right to set their own standards for how they conduct their life. No one has the right to tell another person what to do or how they should live. As a society, we have drunk deeply of the cup of selfishness and self-centeredness. We call it self-esteem, and guard it tenaciously.

                In light of this overwhelming acceptance of our autonomy, many people have outright rejected the idea of God. God can only get in the way of a person’s freedom to live life as they wish. So, instead of dealing with the idea that there might be an authority greater than ourselves, we jettison the idea of God as uninformed, prosaic, and outdated. People in ancient times may have needed the idea of a god to give them purpose and direction in life, but we have progressed beyond that. We are better informed about our world and better equipped to face life on our own. We have the right to stand on our own two feet and determine the course of our lives for ourselves.

                This “new” autonomy is the greatest obstacle to faith. I put “new” in quotes because it isn’t really new at all. The sin of Adam and Eve in the garden was the sin of striving for autonomy. If they ate of the tree of good and evil, then they would be like God and would not need Him anymore. I don’t think they really understood that that was what they were seeking, but that was the outcome. They didn’t realize what they were sacrificing to “stand on their own two feet.” The consequences of their decision were no at all what they desired.

                People today are still seeking autonomy; the right to be the master of their ship. They don’t want anyone else telling them what they can and cannot do. At first, this approach to life does seem freeing, but the consequences are almost always not what the person was looking for.

                Several years ago, I read a biography of Ty Cobb, one of the greatest baseball players of all time. When he was a young man, his father told him that he would not amount to anything. He spent his entire life trying to prove his father wrong. As a baseball player and as a person he was ruthless, striving, and unrelenting. He accomplished greatness as a baseball player, although his father didn’t live long enough to see it. He gained financial success. But his life was empty. Near the end of his life, he was asked what he would do differently if he could go back and start again. His response was telling. “I would have friends.” He was the master of his ship. He set his own course in life. And in the end, he came up very short of his goal. Instead of being fulfilled, he was empty.

                We all face the challenge of wanting to be autonomous. We all desire to set our own course and make our own decisions. Within boundaries, this is not bad, but if we stray beyond the boundaries that God has set for us, the consequences will be less than satisfying. Our desire of autonomy is the greatest obstacle to genuine faith. As long as we insist on sitting on the throne of our life, we will struggle with our faith in God.

                The first step to genuine faith is giving up our autonomy. Jesus made it very clear.

Luke 9:23-25

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?

                 But rather than losing our freedom, we gain a more fulfilling kind of freedom; a freedom without regrets. Jesus didn’t come to make our life difficult and a drudgery. He came to fulfill our life; to give is the abundant life. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:10) When we acknowledge God, through faith in Jesus Christ, we enter into a whole new life; a life that lasts for an eternity.

                As Tim Keller points out, all freedom has boundaries. When we live within those boundaries, we experience the joy and delight of our freedom. When we move beyond those boundaries, we actually forfeit our freedom. God has set the ultimate boundaries for life. If we will submit to those boundaries, we will discover amazing joy. If we refuse to submit to those boundaries, we may experience some temporary pleasure, but we will also face some unpleasant consequences.

John 3:16-19

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”

 

We Are God’s Masterpieces

 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. 

Ephesians 2:10 

                When my children were in elementary school, I volunteered to teach a simple art class once a month. It was called Masterpiece Art. It’s not that I’m an expert in art. The materials were all prepared in advance; I just had to make it come alive for the children. Each year we studied a different aspect of art. For example, we studied classic portraits, landscapes, and still life. We studied specific painters like Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Georgia O’Keefe.  One of my favorites was when we studied American western art.

                Much of what we studied would be classified as masterpieces. These were the defining works of particular artists. Each masterpiece bore the imprint of the artist. A Rembrandt is recognized by the style of the artist and is very different from a Picasso. Each masterpiece is unique. Although some artists painted the same theme over and over again, each painting had unique qualities that set it apart from the others. The untrained eye might think they were copies of one another, but the trained eye can clearly see the differences.

                We don’t often think of ourselves as masterpieces. We can see all of the flaws and the imperfections of our life. We look around and we don’t seem all that different from everyone else, at least on the surface. But the Bible tells us that we are God’s masterpieces. The word workmanship can be translated masterpiece. I want to invite you to attend spiritual masterpiece art class. Let’s explore some of the amazing qualities of God’s masterpieces.

We were created on purpose and for a purpose.

                Few of the great artists painted mechanically. What makes their art stand out is that they painted with purpose and direction. God doesn’t create generic people. He creates each of us uniquely, with purpose. God created us to do good works. Not just any good works, but good works in Christ Jesus. He created us to move in a direction that will demonstrate his glory through us.

We were created to reflect God’s image.

                A number of artists have painted self-portraits. They hoped to capture the essence of themselves and preserve it for all time. That is exactly what God did when he created us. We are the only part of creation that bears the image of God. Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27)

 We were created to reflect God’s glory.

                Every masterpiece reflects the skill and the passion of the artist. We were created to demonstrate the glory of God. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18)

 We were created to live in relationship with God.

                Every artist has a particular bond with their work. For the best artists, a painting is not just a piece of work, but an expression of themselves. God created us to have a special bond with Him. His love for us is so strong that He sent Jesus to redeem us.

                There is a famous painting by Rembrandt called The Night Watch. It has been known by that name for centuries. Recently some specialists in the preservation of art endeavored to clean the painting. What they discovered startled everyone. The painting was not a night scene after all, but a morning scene. Dust, dirt and soot from candles had so darkened the painting that it took on a totally different look than the artist intended.

                Because of sin, our masterpiece has been marred. God’s glory has been dimmed by the soot of the world. God’s image has been twisted. Christ comes into our lives as the master restorer. He comes to clear away all the filth of sin and restore us to what God intended. In fact, he actually creates us all over again. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

FINDING HOPE

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

                Into what are you placing your hope? That is a question we all need to consider. In the weird, unsettled times in which we live, we need hope. But what is the object of our hope? What is it that we are looking to to give us a sense of peace and confidence heading into the future?

                Many people have placed their hope in politics. If we can just get the right people in office, then the future will be okay. That sounds hopeful, but historically it has not played out so well. No matter which political party has been in power, the general sense of hopelessness has continued.

                Many people are placing their hope in science. Science has been the agent of progress. It has tackled many of the challenging questions that have faced humanity. It has had a significant number of “wins” along the way. But it has also unleashed a number of unintended consequences. It has often raised more questions that it could answer.

                Many people are placing their hope in human nature. If we just give people access to the right resources they will thrive. People are basically good. We can trust them to do the right thing. As much as we want to believe this, this too has proven to be a false hope. There are underlying issues within human nature that undercuts the positive outcome we are hoping for.

                Many people are looking to religion to give them hope. They are placing their hope in the mystery and the rituals of religion. They hope that by going through the outward activities of religion it will address their anxiety and fear. This too often falls short of the goal. Many people who have turned to religion to find hope have been disappointed and have turned away from religion.

                So where can we find genuine hope in our world? There is only one place where hope is to be found. It is to be found in the one who put this world together in the first place. It is to be found in the finished work of Jesus Christ. As Peter wrote, we have a living hope that is based on the amazing reality of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His resurrection validated all that He taught and did. His resurrection transcends all the realities of this world. It raises us to a new plane of existence.

                This hope is not wishful thinking. It is a solid confidence in what God has promised through Jesus. It is a guarantee that no matter what happens to us in this world we are still secure in our relationship with Him. As Paul says in 1 Timothy 4:9-10, This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

                Placing our hope in Jesus does not mean all of our problems will go away. It doesn’t mean that we won’t struggle with the issues of life. It does mean that we will have a resource to draw from during those difficult times. It means that we will have the confidence to face the trials of life with strength and determination. There will be times when we are afraid, but we can go to the one who can take away our fear. There will times when we feel weak and powerless, but we can go to the one who is all-powerful. There will be times when we feel confused and disoriented, but we can go to the one who can lead us onto the right path. Our hope is not in our circumstances but in the person of Jesus Christ, who is above all of our circumstances.

                When we place our hope in Jesus, we have a solid foundation upon which to stand. We can have sure footing in life, even when the storms crash around us. Our life is secure in the living hope we have in Jesus.

Romans 5:1-5

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

  

SECOND CHANCES

 Acts 13:13

From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem.

                 In my devotions today, I came across the story of John Mark’s failure to continue in the ministry with Paul and Barnabas. It is passed over lightly in Acts 13, but we know that it became a real point of contention between Paul and Barnabas. In Acts 16, we read that Barnabas wanted to take John Mark with them on their second missionary journey, but Paul was dead set against it. Their disagreement was so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas taking John Mark to Cyrus and Paul taking Silas as his new traveling companion. But that was not the end of the story. Somewhere along the way things changed between Paul and John Mark.

                Mark is mentioned in positive terms by Paul in Colossians 4:10 and 2 Timothy 4:11.

My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.) (Colossians 4:10)

    Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.     (2 Timothy 4:11)

                It is obvious that after Paul’s initial rejection of John Mark, he gave Mark a second chance, in which he proved himself as a worthy ministry companion. If that was the end of the story, that would be enough, but there is more. There is credible evidence that the author of the Gospel of Mark is none other than John Mark, the young man who disappointed Paul. God gave John Mark an enormous second chance to make a difference for the Kingdom, and he did.

                We tend to give lip service to second chances in our world today, but we rarely actually grant them. More often, we are looking for a reason to cut our ties with the one to whom we say we are giving a second chance. The old adage, “three strikes and you’re out,” is pretty universal.

                Jesus calls for a different approach. In fact, He insists on unlimited second chances. In Matthew 18 there is an interchange between Peter and Jesus that changes the dynamics of second chances.

Matthew 18:21-22

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?"

Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. 

                Peter thought that he was being very generous when he offered to forgive seven times. But Jesus blew the doors off of that. Instead, He said that forgiveness needs to be unlimited. Actually, that is really good news for all of us, because Jesus set the standard for His forgiveness. When it comes to second chances, Jesus has an unlimited supply. If we will honestly come to Him and ask for forgiveness, He will always grant it, no matter how many times we have come back.

                I am greatly encouraged by the story of John Mark, because I have needed many second chances in my life. I am so glad that God has not applied the “three strikes and you’re out” rule to my life. If He had, I would have been gone a long time ago. Instead, He continues to offer me forgiveness and reconciliation every time I come back to Him in genuine repentance.

                Of course, this is not license to go on disappointing God at will. As Paul says, we have died to sin, so we should no more live in it. What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? (Romans 6:1-2) What it does offer us is a safety net for when we fail; a place to go and be restored.

                Just as John Mark was given a second chance, so we have been given it as well. And because we have experienced the grace of God in this way, we should extend that grace to those around us as well. God did not give up on John Mark. He eventually used him to write one of the Gospels. God has not given up on us as well. We are all the recipients of Jesus’ second chances.     

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

 

MARKING TIME

 Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

                Time flies, as the old adage goes. The older we get, the truer that statement becomes. Although a single day may feel like it is dragging, the months and years seem to move on at light speed. We often look back and wonder what happened to the time.

                In Psalm 90, Moses reflects on life and the brevity of time. He seems to be struggling with what we struggle with; time flies. Listen to his words.

The length of our days is seventy years--

or eighty, if we have the strength;

yet their span is but trouble and sorrow,

for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Psalm 90:10

                 Moses’ conclusion is that we need to learn to value the time we have and manage it well. I think it is ironic that Moses said that the span of our life is 80 years, yet he lived to the ripe old age of 120. More and more people are living well past 80 these days. We know a lady who is 103. With this in mind it is ever more important for us to number our days.

                We can waste the time we have or we can invest that time. If we just coast along, we will look back on our lives and wonder where the time went. If we intentionally invest our time, when we are old, we can look back and rejoice over how we used our time. As a friend is fond of saying, life is about collecting memories. We are all collecting memories. Our memories will be filled with either joy or regret depending upon how we have used our time.

                Moses asked God to teach him to see his life in the right perspective. We need to same help. We need to ask God to teach us how to invest our time in things that matter. Paul challenges us to be wise in how we use our time. Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

                We only have so much time to make a difference in our world. The daily choices that we make will determine if we invest our lives well or foolishly. To be very honest, when we look back over our lives it will be a mixed bag. None of us are focused and on task all of the time. But we can determine to use our time wisely. We can look for opportunities to invest our lives in others and in ways that bring glory to God.

                When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment, he responded with a two-part answer. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

                The clock is ticking for all of us. We cannot stop it or slow it down. But we can maximize the time by living wisely. Then when we stand before God’s throne, we will hear those words, well-done good and faithful servant.

Psalm 34:12-14

Whoever of you loves life

and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue from evil

and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good;

seek peace and pursue it.

 

 

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

 Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

         When you have done something unwise or dumb, you may hear the retort, “What were you thinking?” I have often said that to myself, after I have made an unwise choice.

                We don’t often acknowledge the reality that the things that occupy our thoughts also shape our lives. Our thought life and our external actions are intricately linked. This usually manifests itself in negative ways, unfortunately. We think that someone is being rude to us, so we act rude to them. We think that we are being treated unfairly, so we complain and make a scene. We think we are not being valued, so we sulk. We think we are unloved, so we have a hard time loving others. Our thoughts have a profound impact on our actions.

                But this can work the other way as well. When I think that I am loved and valued, I can better love and value others. When I see the worth in others, I am able to encourage and bless them. When I think about God’s grace and mercy shown toward me, I am better able to extend grace and mercy to those around me.

                What we focus on in our mind manifests itself in our lives. Jesus made this very clear. You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. (Matthew 12:34-35)

                We live in a world that focuses on the negative. Constantly, day by day, we are bombarded with negative thoughts. Most of what we see on the evening news or read on the internet is negative. Because we are constantly exposed to this, we begin to internalize it. We begin to see the world through a negative filter. Our thoughts become dark and disturbing. This is exactly what Satan wants to accomplish. By focusing on the negative, he can keep us off balance and unfocused. We are tossed here and there by the latest controversy or tragedy.

                There is a better way. It is a two-step process. First, we need to intentionally, actively dispense with the negative. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. (Ephesians 4:31) We cannot be passive about this. It takes effort to banish the negativity that permeates our society. We can do this by eliminating, or at least limiting, the negative voices that fill our minds with negative thoughts. We have to stop feeding the negative.

                Second, we need to intentionally replace the negative with the positive. Just eliminating negative input is not enough. It leaves a vacuum that will suck the negative right back. Jesus addressed this in Matthew 12:43-45. "When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation."  Our negative thinking must be actively replaced with positive thinking. So Paul instructs us to reorient our thoughts and our actions.

    Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. (Philippians 4:8-9)

    Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

                We are all in control of what shapes our thinking and our actions. We are our own gatekeepers; only letting in what we want to come in. If we leave the gate open to the prevailing thinking of the world, we will plunge into a negative mindset. But if we guard the gate well, and focus on what God wants us to focus on, our lives and our actions will be transformed in a positive way. So, what are you thinking today?

Proverbs 4:23

Above all else, guard your heart,

for it is the wellspring of life.

 

ARE FAITH AND SCIENCE INCOMPATIBLE?

 Psalm 19:1-6

For the director of music. A psalm of David.

 The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

                It was dark as I sat down to do my devotions this morning. I opened my Bible and read the Psalm for this week, Psalm 19. The opening line of that Psalm is, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” As I looked out the window, I could see the first rays of the sun shining on the underside of the clouds, casting a red glow in the sky. The words of the Psalmist were being displayed in vivid color before my eyes.

                I have always liked science. From the time I was a young boy, I have been fascinated by exploring the world around us. I remember my excitement when I got my first microscope and was able to look at things in depth. Our drug store at the time had a science section and I would periodically by prepared slides to look at under my microscope. I also accumulated a few “science articles” in hopes of doing my own experiments. This fascination with science eventually led me to get a degree in biology.

                It was in high school that I first encountered the idea that faith and science were mutually exclusive. I could never embrace that notion. It was my faith in God that motivated my interest in learning more about our world. When I was in college, I was introduced to the concept that all truth is God’s truth. No matter what the temporal source, if something is really true, then it comes ultimately from God. Therefore, the study of science is just one more way to explore the wonder and greatness of God.

                As a part of my devotions, I have been reading John Ortberg’s book, “Who Is This Man?” Today I came across the following passage, which I want to pass on.

                “The worldview of Jesus is part of how science came about in our world. In our day, many people think that science and faith are enemies. But Princeton professor Diogenes Allen writes, ‘We have begun to realize from its very birth, science owed a great deal to Christianity.’

                According the Allen, there are attitudes Christianity has that were indispensable for science to be able to arise. Christians, unlike Plato, believe that matter is good, since God created it. So to study it would be good. The world was created by an orderly and rational God, and therefore there is reason to expect not chaos, but order and reason, law, regularity in creation, in nature. On the other hand, since God is free and omniscient, we could never predict ahead of time what it is that he would do, so we will have to investigate. We’ll have to experiment to find out.” (Who Is This Man? Page 68)

                Rather than stifling science, faith in God has been the catalyst for exploration at every level. The prevailing view today that life on planet earth is random and undesigned leaves no foundation upon which to build. Only when we recognize that God created a world of order and design can we truly understand what we are discovering.

                The heavens declare the glory of God! If we will open our eyes and really look at the world around us, we can see the fingerprints of God everywhere. If we take God out of the equation, we are only left with non-descript smudges that lead us to a dead end.

Psalm 24:1-2

Of David. A psalm.

The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it,

the world, and all who live in it;

for he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the waters.