Freedom is Good News Part 135

How powerful are words?  Concerning His own “words”, God said this, “Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will never pass away.”  Wow!  That is a long time. 

In our previous article I mentioned that God spoke and the heavens and the earth were created.  God’s words are powerful!!

Here is how the apostle John begins his gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.”  We may wonder what John is saying here but he goes on to explain, “(this Word) was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.  He came unto His own but His own did not receive Him.  Yet to all who receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God; born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.”  I think it is especially interesting that John is inspired, by the Spirit of God, to call the one who would become the Savior, by the term “the Word”. (John 1:1-14)

Yes, God’s word is the ultimate in power and authority.  It is by His words that we truly have life, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  That everyone of us can have access to this word of His is truly a gift from God.  We have access to the written word of God because down through the ages men have given their lives to ensure its availability.  For a very modest amount of money, we may have this treasure to hold in our hands! 

But we have access to the true and living Word of God, Jesus Christ.  It is interesting how the bible describes this access to the Living Word.  In John 6:44 Jesus says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.”  Earlier in this same chapter we read, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (John 6:37)  And then once more in verse 65, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has given it to him.” 

Access to this Living Word – Jesus Christ – is limited to the will of the Father.  I feel compelled to say, “Thank you, Father, for drawing me to your Son.” 

If you run across a new word that you have never used before, it is easy to get a dictionary and find its meaning.  (Oh, I know, nobody uses the dictionary anymore; you just ask your smart phone for the definition and bingo, you have it.)  But what if you want to come to know the true and living Word?  That is where the written word comes in.  Are you a curious person?  Are you one who wants to add to your knowledge?  The written word of God is a true treasure, filled with knowledge and understanding.  What?  It’s not easy, you say?  All things of value take hard work to attain.  But God is always there to help.  It may not be immediate, for God wants us to seek Him with all our heart.

Freedom is Good News Part 132

How much are you worth?  No, I am not interested in your monetary value, but I am interested in the intrinsic value of your life!  We could start off with a very familiar scripture and realize that we are “worth more than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:31); but that is not telling us very much.

So, how much is your life worth?  “He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.”  We have been looking at Isaiah 53 in our previous articles and this quote is a continuation of that piece of scripture; it is found in verse 5.

I had mentioned that Isaiah 53 is arguably the greatest prophecy of the crucifixion of our Savior in the entirety of the bible.  It fits so closely that many Rabbinical Jews do not know what to do with it – for they reject Jesus Christ as their Messiah and yet…..it fits!!

So, I ask again, how much is your life worth?  This “suffering Servant” of the LORD God, this Savior of all mankind, was nailed to a wooden cross for us; “He was pierced for our transgressions”.  This Son of God was beaten, spit upon and mocked; “He was crushed for our iniquities”.  This Redeemer died for you and for me; “Upon him was the punishment that brought us peace”.  “And with his stripes we are healed”, healed from the disease of unrighteousness, healed from the sins that lead to death! 

Do you begin to see just how much your life is worth?  God desires our redemption!  God desires that we accept His free gift of grace!  God, our Father, sent His only begotten Son as a ransom for our lives!  The bible tells us that God is “unwilling that any should perish, but that all might come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)  The love of God is not just good news, it is the greatest news that the ears of mankind could hear.

Isaiah continues in verse 6, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the LORD had laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”  God showed His love for us even when we were yet sinners; even when we turned away from Him; even when we desired nothing but our own ways to walk in!

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”  Have you ever wanted your own way?  Have you ever argued your own opinion to the point where you almost lost a friend?  By our human standards, Jesus had every reason to “open His mouth” and state His case – but He didn’t.  He submitted to the will of His father and, “He humbled Himself becoming obedient to death – even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8)  Hallelujah, what a Savior! 

And so I ask you, what is your life worth in God’s eyes?

Freedom is Good News Part 131

In Isaiah 53:1 the prophet begins by asking the question, “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?”  Have you ever come face to face with a question straight from the word of God and realized that you had to have an answer for it?  If we are serious about the word of God then our answer must be yes!

In the four gospels, for instance, Jesus asks some 300 questions.  The use of questions was a rabbinical way of teaching and Jesus was a master at it.  He had all the answers to every question posed to Him, after all He is the Son of God!  But in these four Gospels, Jesus was asked approximately 180 questions and directly answered very few of them.  His answers to these queries sometimes came with a question of His own as He attempted to get people to think for themselves.  Sometimes He answered with a scripture.

I opened this article with a quote form Isaiah and he would have us answer his questions; 1) have you believed his message?  And 2) has the arm of the LORD been revealed to you?  Maybe we should take the time and ponder these questions!!

In the original Hebrew there were no chapter breaks (these were added somewhat recently as an aid for us) and so we may look back a few verses to 52:10, “The LORD will lay bare His holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.”  I believe this is perhaps the answer to both questions.  The arm of the LORD has been revealed to all the nations and the message of Isaiah has to do with God’s salvation.

So let’s read on in Isaiah 53,  “For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground;  he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.  He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”  Who is this of whom Isaiah speaks?  Do we know this one?

Let’s read on, “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”  Logically speaking, there is only one who fulfills all of these statements – Jesus Christ!

In our previous article I made reference to a song, “Hallelujah, what a Savior”.  The first verse of that song is, “Man of Sorrows, what a name, for the Son of God who came, ruined sinners to reclaim!  Hallelujah, what a Savior.” 

There is more to this 53rd chapter of Isaiah that we shall take a look at.  It, along with the final few verses of chapter 52, is arguably the greatest prophecy of the crucifixion of our Savior in the entirety of the bible and it was written about 730 years before the birth of Jesus. 

Do you believe the message?  Has the arm of the LORD been revealed to you?

Freedom is Good News Part 124

I mentioned in our previous article that, “the grace of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Remember the short definition of grace we used last week?  “Grace is getting something that you do not deserve.”  Do any of us deserve eternal life?  Well, actually – NO, we do not.  Does that come as a surprise to you?  It should not be surprising if you are familiar with the word of God.  Because through the scriptures we are brought into a knowledge of God – who He is and what His will is for us, His children.  We come to see just what it is that God requires of us and just what God will do for us.

I have mentioned many times before that God desires a relationship with us, but that there is no way for us to enter into that relationship while we are dead in our sins.  Yes, it is axiomatic that we needed a Savior, a Redeemer, someone who would be willing to bear the burden of our sins – and that someone is Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.  This redemption from God fits within our short definition of mercy, “mercy is not getting what you deserve.”

Our God is a Holy God, this we know.  But do we truly realize that our Holy God cannot dwell with that which is unclean (unholy)?  We accept the blood of Jesus, we believe He cleanses us from our sin and we obey His holy and righteous commands so as to begin to form a relationship with Him.  And God promises eternal life.  If we will accept it, He gives us a “helper” to guide us in this path of righteousness.  Why do I say, ‘if we will accept it’?  Because many of us do not utilize this gift – this grace – of our Father. 

I know that some of this can be quite deep.  But it really only brushes the surface of the depth of the goodness and love that God has for us, His children. 

At His last Passover (sometimes called the last supper) Jesus says this, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to abide with you forever – the Holy Spirit of truth” (John 14:15-17).   Some translations of the bible say He will give us a ‘Comforter’ and the Greek word that Jesus uses actually has the meaning of ‘one who come to the aid, comfort or consolation of another’.  God in His goodness and His grace is willing to give to us repentant sinners, a piece of His very self to aid, comfort and console us.

In other words, God is rooting for us all the way.  He wants – yea even desires – that we successfully navigate this world around us, to keep our hearts, our minds and our eyes fixed upon Him. 

He has given us His only begotten Son.  He has given us His written instructions in the bible.  He has given to us the counselor; a part of His very being.  These are things that a hundred generations before us never were privileged to understand.

Yes, He loves us more that we could ever know.  Would you meditate upon these things?  Would you get on your knees today and visit with Him?  Would you thank Him for His GOOD NEWS?

Freedom is Good News Part 122

In our previous article we considered the statement ‘God is good’.  And I asked the question as to whether you might know someone who believes that the God of the Old Testament is mean, angry and harsh.  How would you answer them?

I might start off by quoting the verse from James 1:17 (the verse I ended with last week) “(God) does not change like shifting shadows”; or perhaps the verse in Malachi 3:6, ‘I the LORD do not change’; or maybe Hebrews 13:8, ‘Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever’.  These three scriptures are quite persuasive in letting us know that God did not change His ways from the front of our bibles to the back of them! 

It was Jesus Himself who told us that ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life’.  And in the letter of 1 John 4:8 & 16 we find out that ‘God is love’!  Peter chimes in with his second letter 3:9, ‘The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you; He is  not willing that anyone should perish, but that  everyone should come to repentance.’

Wow!!  This God we are called to serve really does love His creation – He loves us and desires that we abide with Him and His Son for all eternity. 

One thing we must know about God; He is a God of justice.  He told our first parents, Adam and Eve, what not to do.  They paid no attention and ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and then they denied culpability for the sin, “Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”  The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”  Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?”  The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” (Gen. 3:11-21)  This was the world’s first example of passing the buck. 

Again, God is a God of justice and so punishment needed to be meted out.  God went back up this ladder of blame and cursed the serpent first, then punished the woman and finally pronounced punishment upon the man.  Then God, in His mercy and love for His children, provided garments of protection and modesty.

Do you remember how God worded His one and only commandment to Adam?  “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and keep it.  And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” 

In a manner of speaking, they did die that day.  The special fellowship they had enjoyed with God in the garden ended and any promise of eternal life for them ended that day.  But on the other hand, the God of mercy and grace, bestowed upon them His forgiveness. 

Freedom is Good News Part 115

In the past couple of articles, we have seen that although the good news of the Gospel consists of the life, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, it does not end there.  In fact, the resurrection of Christ begins for us (upon whom the ends of the age have come) the realization of the good news that was prophesied in the Old Testament.  But this good news, in all actuality, never ends!  For it finds its fulfillment in the eternal life that is promised to God’s called, chosen and faithful followers.

Are you there yet?  Have you been called by God?  If called, then have you been chosen?  And so, if called and chosen, are you faithful?

These three categories, called, chosen and faithful, are found in the book of Revelation 17:14:  “And they will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings – and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers.”

To be with our Lord and King at that time, is news of such great joy that it is really inexpressible!  But you must be called, chosen and faithful!!

In Matthew 22:14, just after Jesus telling of the parable of the wedding supper, we read, “For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Does that concern you?  Do you wonder, sometimes; perhaps you have been called of God but for some reason haven’t been chosen of God?  I mean, why would God call someone and not chose him?

There are many ways in which God may call an individual.  Paul addresses this when he says in 1Cor. 3:6, “I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but it is only God who makes it grow.”  I must figure that everyone who is reading these articles are familiar with their bibles.  Perhaps many of you attend a worship service, at least from time to time.  Within the pages of the bible are many potential seeds that may be planted in the heart of the reader.  Within the words of a sermon or bible study are also many potential seeds.  And so it is within these articles, potential seeds abound. 

I mention that they are “potential seeds” because although they enter your brain through your reading or your hearing, those who are chosen of God are the ones that allow them to be planted within their hearts.  Remember the parable in Matthew 13 concerning the “Sower and the Seed”.  Some seed fell on the path to be eaten by the passing birds; some fell on rocky places but because of shallow soil the new shoots quickly withered; some fell  among the thorns and were choked out and died; but some fell on good fertile soil and grew, producing a crop – a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

So, receiving the seeds means you have been called.  But what kind of soil are you?  I believe God makes it clear that we must be good soil if we are to be found chosen.  God does the calling and the choosing but we must prepare the soil!!

Perhaps we should look at this some more next time.

Freedom is Good News Part 114

Well of course there is “good news”.  It is all around us.  There is joy and there is happiness and there is a merry heart for all who will believe!!  God tells us through Moses, “The word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.”  Jesus Christ died for you and for me that we might be reconciled to the Heavenly Father; that is good news.  We had been reckoned as sinners as the result of being descendants of our first father and mother; Adam and Eve.  But thanks be to God for the life we are offered through the Son of God!

May we level with each other through the confines of these words – without this sacrifice of the Son of God, we have no hope!!  As I mentioned in our previous article, we will have perhaps 70, 80 or 90 years to enjoy physical life (the only thing we, as human beings, know), and then we die.  Or as the scripture in John 3:16 says, “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.”  If we do not believe, we perish!

This is quite interesting because our God (the one and only God) is offering to us, free of charge, an extension of this life we have been experiencing and yet this extension is in no way to be compared to some overtime period in a field of sports – this is life eternal!!  It is interesting because most people on this earth do not accept this idea.  Let us bring that closer to home – most people in this country of ours do not accept this idea.  What about in the state of Iowa, the county of Shelby or even this local community of ours?  How about those of you reading this newspaper – do you accept this idea?

In our previous article, we paid a short visit (through a vision of the Apostle John) to the throne room of God.  We were in Revelation chapter 4.  John was permitted to see things that he, frankly, had no words to describe.  Throughout the book of Revelation, John uses metaphors, similes and analogies to try and get across the idea of what he saw.  The Apostle Paul had a similar experience that he mentions in 2 Corinthians 12:1, “I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.  I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.  And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—  and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.”  Paul, one of the foremost servants of God in the New Testament, was not permitted to tell of his experiences when in the “third heaven” that is, the place where God dwells.

Then we find Moses, one of the foremost servants of God in the Old Testament, spending time in the presence of God.  Moses was not permitted to see God’s face but was allowed to experience that presence.  When God came down in the cloud on Mount Sinai, Moses bowed his face to the ground and worshiped.  And when Moses came down from the mount into the camp of Israel, his face had a radiant glow.  The scriptures say that the people were afraid to come near him!! (Ex. 34:8 & 29-30)  My friends, think upon these things and until next time, remember, we have good news all around us.

Freedom is Good News Part 113

What is it that you expect to be doing one thousand years from now?  To tell you the truth, it is hard to see that far into the future isn’t it?  On this earth, the bible tells us, we might expect to have 70 years of physical life.  This is what it says in Psalm 90:10, “The length of our days is seventy years – or eighty if we have the strength.”

There are many people in our little community that must have great strength for they have reached into their eighties and even into their nineties!!  At some point though, we must die – as the old saying goes, “there are no survivors on this planet”.  But then what?  If our names are written in the book of life, we wait for the resurrection from the dead.  But then what?  Whoa, let’s not go too fast here.  What do I mean by no survivors?

In the book of Hebrews 9:27 it is written, “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement….”  Yes, all of us are given just this one opportunity to live a fleshly existence.  And even though Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, says, “Listen, I tell you a mystery: “We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Cor. 15:51), those that do not “sleep” must shed this flesh and be clothed with a new body.  Paul goes on to say, “For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed,  For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” (1 Cor. 15:52-53)

OK, so what do you expect to be doing one thousand years from now? Is your name written in God’s book of life?

The most famous scripture in the bible is arguably John 3:16, “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.”  It we are looking for good news, this is a very good place to start.  (OK, if we are true to God’s word, we should start at Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” But that is a topic for another time!)

God gave us His only begotten Son that through His death, we may receive life.  And that life is the life we are talking about – eternal life!  That life is beyond our understanding, beyond our comprehension and beyond anything we might imagine!!  It is a life spent with our Heavenly Father and with His Son.  It is a life that will be filled with joy and peace.  It is a life that will be spent experiencing the true glory of God – a glory that today is not available to us.  “Then Moses said, ‘show me your glory’.  And the LORD said, ‘I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you and I will proclaim my name, Yahovah, …. But you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.’” (Ex. 33:18-20)  In that day we will be allowed to see what the Apostle John saw when he was “in the Spirit”, “At once I was in the Spirit and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.  And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian.  A rainbow resembling an emerald, encircled the throne …. From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder ….”

What an awesome experience!!  And truly Good News.  Stay tuned for more.

Freedom is Good News Part 99

“Many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’”  This is from the sixth verse of Psalm 4 and it seems quite appropriate for us today!  In fact, if I go back to where these articles began, I realize this is the reason for writing these articles.  Where do we find any good?

Would you mind if we take a look at this Psalm in its entirety?  Perhaps there is a lesson in it for us all.

This particular Psalm is a Psalm of King David (not all Psalms were written by him).  If we know anything about David, we understand that his life, although filled with a desire for God’s presence, was never really a “bed of roses”.  In Psalm 3:1 he writes, “O LORD, how many are my foes!”  This was written when he was fleeing from his son Absalom (the tale is told in 2 Samuel 15.)  As is true of most of God’s true servants, David had a hard life.

Psalm 4 may be broken down into 3 separate sections: first - verse 1, an urgent plea; second - verses 2–5, a protest against his enemies; and third - verses 6–8, an expression of security in God.  Verse 1 is actually 4 separate pleas to God: “Answer me when I call”, “Give me relief”, “Be merciful to me” and “Hear my prayer”.  These 4 pleas, made in rapid succession, emphasize the urgency of David’s plight.

Verse 2: “How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame?  How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?”  David knew that he had enemies but he also knew – as it is said in the next verse – “The LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; the LORD will hear when I call to Him.”  At this point, David turns toward you and me, the readers, and admonishes us in verses 4 & 5, “In your anger do not sin … search your hearts and be silent … and trust in the LORD.” 

David gives us a snapshot of his trials.  He lets us know that the things in life aren’t always fair and pleasant, but we can always turn to our Heavenly Father for help.

And so we come to where we started, “Many are asking, ‘Who can show us any good?’”  David goes on from here to answer this question, “Let the light of your face shine upon us, O LORD.  You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound.  I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

Perhaps the lesson for us is that even though David found himself in difficult situations in this physical life, he knew that it was only in the presence of God that true joy might be found!  So then, who alone can show us any good?  I believe you know the answer – God alone!!  And that is good news.

Freedom is Good News Part 98

Is there good news in examining a poem closely?  If it is in God’s word there is! 

I mentioned in a previous article that Solomon wrote this book of Ecclesiastes, which I believe is his book of repentance.  And in the 12th chapter Solomon has an admonition for all of us.  “Remember your creator” before it’s too late.  “Remember Him before the silver cord is severed or the golden bowl is broken.  Before the pitcher is shattered at the spring, or the wheel broken at the well, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the breath returns to God who gave it.”  What a beautiful ending to a remarkable poem. 

We have, here in these first 7 verses of Ecclesiastes 12, a short yet vivid picture of the aging process.  So why have we come to study this poem in our article about “good news”?

We began four weeks ago considering the question “Do you find satisfaction through the things you accomplish in your life day to day?  And as an aid in answering this important question, I suggested we take a look at the book of Ecclesiastes.  In it we saw Solomon suggesting that the things done in this life, for purely secular and selfish reasons are a chasing after the wind and are utterly meaningless.  The truth of the matter is, anything we strive for in this world (i.e. “under the sun”), has little or no value if we have no hope of achieving entrance into the kingdom of God. 

Let’s look again at an entry from that previous article: “There is a book in the bible that, in my opinion, addresses this subject.  It is a book that I enjoy reading when the things of this life have gotten me down.  It has the tendency to help me center myself in the true meaning and reason that God has placed us here on earth.  The book of Ecclesiastes is a part of the bible called The Wisdom Literature”. 

As I read this book and slowly ponder its words, I consider the joy I get from serving a true and living and mighty and wonderful God!!!  I begin to forget my failures and frustrations and begin to let God erase them from my heart.  I ponder the joy of the blessing He has given to me.  I can once again “stand in awe of the works of His hands” and see and feel the beauty of His creation.  When read in this fashion, the book of Ecclesiastes can truly refresh.

The reality in all of this?  It becomes clear to me that it is all about God and not about me.  And so I come to the conclusion of the matter:  chapter 12 verse 10, “The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true.  The word of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails – given by one Shepherd. …  Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man.  For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”

Freedom is Good News Part 97

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.”  As I sit here reading this first line of chapter 12 in the book of Ecclesiastes, I wonder how many of you reading this article would consider yourselves to be classified as “youth”?  I suppose the concept of youth is relative; and yet those of us who are “older” know a little something about youth and how fleeting it is.  “Yesterday I was young and now I am old” says the poet. 

This opening line reminds me about what David said in Psalm 95:7, “Today when you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts ….”  In other words, don’t wait, pay attention to His words today!  I mentioned in our last article that this chapter was quite unique to the book in which it is found.  It is a poetic allegory given so as to open our eyes to the brevity of life.  “Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, ‘I find no pleasure in them’”. (Verse 1)  I just returned from a visit to my oldest sister who is becoming crippled up with arthritis – she finds no pleasure in the days ahead of her.  But she still has the opportunity to “Remember her Creator”. 

Let us take a verse by verse look at this poetic allegory. Verse 2: “(Remember your Creator)  Before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark and the clouds return after the rain.” - The days of carefree cheerfulness and prosperity see their decline for the elderly and even the sun does not come out after a shower.  Verse 3: “When the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men stoop.” – The keepers of the house might mean the hands and arms.  They are no longer strong and they even tremble a little.  “When the grinders cease because they are few” – perhaps a reference to the end of a full set of teeth (they had no false teeth in Solomon’s day).  “And those looking through the windows grow dim” – no cataract surgery in those days either!

Verse 4: “When the doors to the street are closed and the sound of grinding fades” – without wheel chairs and walkers, access to the out of doors became difficult.  The duty of grinding the grain was given to the more youthful of society.  “When men rise up at the sound of birds but all their songs grow faint” – The older I get, the harder it is to sleep late in the morning and without my hearing aids, I miss some of the bird songs.

Verse 5: “When men are afraid of heights and of dangers in the streets” – I use to enjoy roofing houses; alas no more!  “When the almond tree blossoms and the grasshopper drags himself along and desire no longer is stirred” – Quite possibly, the almond tree blossoming refers to one’s hair turning gray and silver; the grasshopper is no longer spry.

And “desire”?  Well, as one gets older, the less it is stirred (enough said?)!!  This is a beautiful picture of the wearing down of the human body.  My pulling it apart for explanation has in ways diminished its effect.  Read it in full for yourself from your bible.  It is here that we finally see the outcome of this aging process; “Then man goes to his eternal home and mourners go about the streets.  Remember Him before the silver cord is severed or the golden bowl is broken.”

More on this beautiful piece of poetry in our next article.  The conclusion of the matter is just around the corner.

Freedom is Good News Part 96

We’ve been looking at the book of Ecclesiastes and considering the phrase, “under the sun”.  Solomon uses it 29 times in this short book.  We have ascertained that he uses this phrase as an expression to point out our fleshly existence here in this world.  

In chapter 4:1 we read, “Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place “under the sun”.  If there is one thing I know, it is that God is not an oppressor.  He is a giver and a giver of good things.  I believe we established this in a previous article.  No, it is man who is shown to be the oppressor.  Solomon goes on to say in verse 4, “And I saw that all labor and all achievement which springs from man’s envy of his neighbor is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” 

The use of this phrase actually sets the parameters for how we should look at this book.  It becomes the lens though which we see Solomon’s lessons for us.  Let’s consider chapter 2:17-23; five times in these 7 verses we read the phrase “under the sun”.  Solomon starts off saying, “So I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me.  things I had toiled for under the sun … all the work into which I have poured my effort and skill under the sun is also meaningless … My heart began to despair over all my toilsome labor under the sun.  What does a man get for all the toil and anxious striving with which he labors under the sun?”  At one level it sounds almost depressing; as though Solomon were about to have a breakdown.  But then in verses 24-26 we are told the real message of this book and we dare not miss it.  “A man can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in his work.  This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without Him, who can eat or find enjoyment?  To the man who pleases Him, God gives wisdom, knowledge and happiness…”  So now we are shown the difference.  Do things, under the sun – meaningless!!  Do things to please God – priceless!!

Without God in one’s life we are given this stark picture of a man striving under the sun for no real reason.  Solomon was perhaps the richest man in the world – ever!  He had it all.  (See Eccl. 2:4-11 for a deliberation of what he amassed.) 

If we had the time and space, we might go through this book of wisdom, verse by verse but for now, let us go beyond the use of this phrase, “under the sun” and consider the last two chapters – for in them is the really good news.  (Yes, there are some good lessons though out the book: chapter 5 – stand in awe of God; chapter 7 – the wisdom of having a good name.)  Chapter 11 tells us to cast our bread upon the water and give portions to the needy; sow our seeds in the morning; enjoy the creation around us and take joy in our living; be happy and follow the way of our hearts, banish anxiety. 

Chapter 12 is quite unique and we should take some time to look at it in our next article.  In it we are given a beautiful poem of wisdom and finally are told the conclusion of the matter – good news.

Freedom is Good News Part 88

No more locks, no more security cameras, no longer any need to keep your eye on your baggage or laptop at the airport, for everyone has come to see the benefit of obeying the eighth commandment of God!  I know; that is a fantasy scenario in today’s world.  But is there anything wrong with it?  It is good to see the ramifications of “Thou shall not steal.”

Last week we began looking at the law of God and maybe trying to understand that it is we who have gone astray from our God and Creator and not the other way around.  And so if this is true, then we must place the blame squarely upon our shoulders for the chaos we see around us.  God gave us the law as a gift and He tells His people, “I have taught you decrees and laws … that you may follow them in the land … Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations around you, who will hear about these decrees and say.  “What other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?” (Deut. 4:6)  By the way, did you know that the original colonies of the 17 and 18th centuries, used these very laws of God to set up their own laws and judicial systems!   

I mentioned in the previous article, that Jesus said He did not come to abolish the law.  And to this Paul agrees when he tells the Roman church, “I would not have known what sin was except through the law.” (Rom. 7:7)  And then he goes on to say, in this discussion on sin, that “the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.”  What should we twentieth century dwellers, make of this?

You know what?  We all break the law.  The scripture teaches us that, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” (Rom. 3:10)  So the law of the state of Iowa tells us that the speed limit is 70 MPH on the interstate.  Have you ever exceeded that?  I have.  And so I am a law breaker.  This is a law of man but Paul tells us later on in the book of Romans 13:1, “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities.”  So where do we go with this whole concept of sin? 

Allow me to cite a very recent example:  I am a school bus driver.  There are rules for the safety of the students, one of which is that the aisle must be clear at all times.  This is actually a state law.  On the last day of school, one of the pupils asked if we could forgo this rule because it was the last day.  Hmmm.  My answer was to ask her if it would be OK, because it was the last day, to ignore the stop sign at Hwy. 71 and just continue at 55 MPH on into Exira.  Laws have reasons and laws have consequences. 

God has blessed us with a beautiful set of laws.  They are laws that will protect us and bring us security.  And His laws are for our own good.  A loving heavenly Father has told us what it is that we should do to stay out of trouble and; Oh yes, He has told us just how it is that we should honor Him.  The first commandment is, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”  We perhaps chuckle at the ancient pagans and their idols; statues of wood, stone and precious metals.  But if we are not somehow capable of keeping the simplest of laws made by man, can we really think that we do not break this first of the 10 commandments?  “Oh how I love your law!” (Psalms119:97)

Freedom is Good News Part 82

“They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.”  There is much to be said about this scripture for it is, in essence, the over-riding covenant of God with man!

In the past two articles, we have been looking at a scripture at the end of the book of Revelation, chapter 21:1-4, and considering the good news there-in.  We now come to the scripture quoted above which is in many ways the crux of the gospel – the good news of the Kingdom of God!!

This statement; “They will be My people and I will be their God”, is found as a thread that runs through-out the entirety of the bible.  We see it as God’s everlasting covenant made with Abraham in the book of Genesis 17:7-8.  We see it in Exodus 6:7 where God reiterates to Moses His everlasting promise to His people Israel. And again in Exodus 29:45-46 we see this statement as it will be written in Revelation 21.  It is spelled out in detail in Deuteronomy 26:16-19.  And Jeremiah points out the words of this everlasting covenant seven times in his book of prophecy.  And to show its future application unto the end time, Zechariah tells us this: “I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.  They will call on My name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are my people’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God’”. (Note the future tense used here.)

Paul picks up this thread in 2 Corinthians 6:16, “… For we are the temple of the living God.  As God has said, ‘I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God and they will be my people.’”  The writer of Hebrews quotes from Jeremiah in connection with this everlasting covenant, “I will be their God and they will be My people”. (Heb. 8:10)  There are many more instances of this most important statement through-out the bible.  Would that we had the time and the room to explore each and every time this covenant statement appears in scripture.

Some may ask the very good question, “Is this a statement of the old or the new covenant?”  In short, allow me to be somewhat glib, and answer, yes!  This statement of covenant is an everlasting one and embodies the entirety of the bible.  Our God is an awesome God and He, himself, tells us that He does not change. (Malachi 3:6)  In Hebrews 13:8 He tells us that He is “the same yesterday and today and forever”.  In James 1:17 we read, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

The great God of the universe wants to be our God.  He wants us to choose Him as our God.  He wants us to live our lives as though we were His people.  He tells us this in the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Really, what could be more beautiful than to have such a relationship with our God who tells us that He is “abounding in lovingkindness”?

Freedom is Good News Part 81

The apostle John is banished to the island of Patmos and, while there, receives several visions from God.  He is told to write down the things he has seen and we know these writings as the book of Revelation.  In our previous article I picked up on the very last vision that John saw and quoted from chapter 21concerning a new heaven and a new earth and how the Holy City, New Jerusalem, came down to this new earth from God.  As a side note I might mention that the word for “new” has the connotation of renewed or refreshed; i.e. new in quality.

We are told that this New Jerusalem has been “prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.”  With this in mind let’s go to Ephesians 5:32; Paul is discussing the duties of a husband and wife just prior to this scripture and tells us that “This (the idea of a marriage) is a profound mystery – but I am talking about Christ and the church.”  Ah!  So this beautifully dressed bride is an analogy of the church and her relationship to the Savior!  A little earlier in Ephesians 5 Paul writes this, “Husbands love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing of water with the word and to present her to Himself, the church in splendor, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”  Isn’t this a beautiful analogy?  Those who have committed themselves to Christ (i.e. the church) have a future free of guilt and filled with splendor and holiness.  They are the bride “beautifully dressed for her husband.”  And as we perhaps contemplate this, we are told by John that “Now the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.”

Let’s take a moment here to consider this.  I know that there are some who disdain the bible.  They think it is just a bunch of tales told by men.  Really??  Has a man ever told a tale quite like the one told in the book of Revelation?  Has any man ever proclaimed that there was a new heaven and earth and that a new city would be brought forth as a bride?  If God is not the builder of all things, certainly one could not believe that a man was.  If indeed the universe exists, certainly it did not build itself.  I for one do not have enough faith to believe that kind of a fairy tale.  This is an issue that must be dealt with.  And we are left with the task of dealing with it.  It really is life or death and I for one chose life.

“Now the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.  They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.”  As I read these words, I see that there is power in them.  This statement is something to behold.  God wants to dwell with His people - the one that I instinctively know created the universe and gives life to mankind has a mind and a will to desire a dwelling with His creatures.  And what else?  John then says, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away”.

I get goose bumps contemplating the things of my God!!

Freedom is Good News Part 80

Picking up from our last article, we see that Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)  Notice that He did not say, “I will show you the way, reveal to you the truth and give you life.”  This is a very significant detail.  We see a very similar thing when Jesus spoke with Martha, the sister of Lazarus who had just died.  He told her, “I am the resurrection and the life.” 

The spiritual reality here is that God does not just give us gifts; He is the gift.  Our God is the sum of all things and He has given all this to His Son.  Jesus tells us this in verse 11 “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me.”  There is a relationship here that goes beyond our human understanding.  And yet we are called into that relationship as Jesus offers up His prayer in chapter 17; we see in verse 21, “As you are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, that the world may believe that you have sent me … may they be one as we are one; I in them and you in me.”

Jesus did not just give us these words and then go off to heaven to be with the Father, leaving us to wonder what He meant and so fend for ourselves.  No, he tells us, starting in 14:15, “If you love me you will obey what I command and I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to abide with you forever – the Spirit of Truth.”  This same “Counselor” is spoken of in verse 26, “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, which the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  Wow!  What a promise.  Please remember that we started this study with the words, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:53) 

Going back to 16:16 Jesus says to the disciples, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”  The disciples were confused about this statement and it brought them some grief.  But Jesus told them, “Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy.”

And so in chapter 17 Jesus offers up that most famous prayer: for Himself (verses 1-5), for the disciples (verses 6-19) and for us who believe (verses 20-26).  Jesus ends this prayer with these words, “I have made your name known to them, and will continue to make it known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”

It is the time of year to reflect upon these things.  There are a thousand lessons in these few chapters.  But of a truth, the greatest lesson is found when the two Marys go to the tomb, see the stone rolled away and encounter two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning.  And the two men said, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:1-6)

Freedom is Good News Part 78

Slightly past the mid-point of the Book of John we have, what may arguably be called, some of the most important chapters in the Bible.  Chapters 13 through 17 contain the final instructions of Jesus to His apostles while He walked this earth in the flesh.  They take place during His last Passover meal.  In fact, He tells them in Luke 22:15-16, “With eagerness have I desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.  For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”  This is an interesting statement for it tells us that He will partake of the Passover again and that it will find a final fulfillment in the kingdom!!  So when we call it the “last supper” we must realize it was actually the Passover and also, Jesus will partake of it in the kingdom of God.  But, we are getting ahead of ourselves. 

In our previous article we were talking about Jesus washing the disciple’s feet and how that might be quite significant for us.  There are lessons that our Savior is continually striving to teach His followers and here we are 2000 years later, striving to be those followers. 

First lesson: Jesus is exampling for us humility and taking upon Himself (our Lord and Teacher) the servants role of washing the feet of those invited to a banquet.  But He goes further than this in that He specifically tells us that we should do “as I have done for you”.  I know that many people will reason this away and apply it to how we should be humble servants in our daily lives.  There is nothing wrong with serving our brothers and sisters in Christ but He did say we would be blessed if we did as He did.

Lesson 2: Peter in his first epistle, tells us, “You as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood.”  Later on he says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.”  Did you get that?  There is a priesthood that awaits the called out ones of God!!  What does this have to do with washing the feet of our brethren?  Moses (a type of Christ in the Old Testament) is told by God to wash the newly ordained priesthood (a type of those called out ones in the Old Testament) and then later tells this priesthood to wash their hands and feet as they minister at the sanctuary.  (Paul tells us that these things were written down as examples for us. – 1 Cor. 10:11).  Today, we are that sanctuary and we are the servants/ministers of God!!

Lesson 3: Perhaps a much deeper lesson than humility and cleansing is also intended.  When Jesus told Peter that he did not now realize what He was doing and then said, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me”, Jesus was referring to the cross.  In fact, Paul tells us in his letter to the Romans, “For we know that our old self was crucified with Him (Jesus)”.  Our participation with Christ is a relational thing.  Jesus told us to, “Pick up our cross and follow Him.”  In all things that He did, He wants us to do likewise.  “He humbled Himself, obediently, even to death on the cross.” (Phil. 2:8)

Whew!!  Lots to think about here; until next time, keep your eyes on the good news.

Freedom is Good News Part 76

We pick up where we left off in our previous article.  And as I have pondered this topic of trouble over the past week, into my thoughts came one of God’s servants, our dear brother, the servant of God, the Apostle Paul.  Listen, if you will, to his litany of troubles: “I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, and I have been constantly on the move.  I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.  I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have been cold and naked.  Beside everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)

Ok, so I do not really have any troubles!! 

The bible teaches us that we should not compare ourselves one to another.  If we feel the need to compare ourselves to anyone, it must be to our Savior, Jesus Christ, who was, “… despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised and we esteemed Him not.  Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.  But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him and by His wounds we are healed. … And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth, He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.” (Isaiah 53:3-7)

Maybe it’s a good time to consider how good we really have it.  Two men, Paul and Jesus, suffered greatly on our account.  One, Paul, desired so much to bring the good news to all men and we have his example, his testimony and his teachings in our bibles; bibles that have been purchased by us for the equivalence of one or two hour’s wage.  The other, Jesus; He not only brought the good news; He was the good news.  I guess, with spring approaching, it is a good time to ponder the sacrifice that our Savior made for us.

Until next time, let us rejoice and not be troubled by the things of this world.  Jesus said, “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart, I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:53)

Freedom is Good News Part 74

I grew up in a branch of Christianity that discouraged the reading of the bible.  Today, I am amazed at this attempted hindrance!  It wasn’t until I was 26 years of age that I picked up a bible to read.  This was due to a challenge given to me by a co-worker.  It had been about eight years since I had attended any type of church services and he told me about something in the scriptures that I did not believe.  I located a bible, read the passage and realized (from the pages of the bible) that my friend was correct.  This was indeed a life changing moment for me.  Without trying to be judgmental, I saw that I had been deceived.

From that moment on, I wanted to know what the Word of God said and so I read.  Were there other things that I had believed in error?  Yes!  But why am I mentioning this in an article concerning good news today?  Because, the good news for me, has been that I have come to love God’s word more and more.  It is a pure joy and a real blessing to find extra time on my hands and then fill that time with reading God’s word.

I know that statement might seem strange in today’s world.  People have a tendency to fill their extra time with every secular activity under the sun.  And there is nothing wrong with many of the activities we have surrounding us these days.  I have noticed that we have a lot of “extra time” on our hands, -too.  Oh, I know we are so busy these days, how could one ever say we have extra time?  It has been my observation that our excessive busyness is really only the many secular activities we partake of.  I could make a list of the inane things we do these days but I’m sure you are well aware of your own list.

So, where is this discussion going you ask?  It comes full circle to where we were two articles ago – it has to do with (and let me take a line from that article) “Reading in God’s word by yourself is always a good thing to do, but reading out loud with another is a wonderful way to gain understanding and share the blessings of God’s word.”

There is a saying today that goes something like this, “the truly worthwhile things in life never come easy”.  The bible I have sitting in front of me, as I write this, has just short of 1700 pages.  I must admit, that is a lot of book.  And some of it (OK a lot of it) can be hard to understand.  But it does contain the thoughts of God!  And that is the “good news”.  God has given us an anthology of books that contain instruction, history, stories, allegories, poetry, letters, prophecy and wisdom.  Who could ask for more? 

In conclusion let me just say this, our Heavenly Father is honored by our reading His word – yes, honored!  And, you guessed it; that is good news. 

Freedom is Good News Part 73

“Shout with joy to God, all the earth!  Sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious!”  Psalm 66:1-2.

We continue to look at the Psalm we began in last article.  Let’s consider that last phrase, “make His praise glorious!”  Have you ever wondered how we might make our praise of God, glorious?  Well the secret is in the word “glorious”.  The Hebrew for this word is “Kabod” and it literally means “a great quantity or weight of a thing”.  Many times in scripture we find it written that God has glory or that He is glorious.  In Psalm 19:1 we read, “The heavens declare the glory of God”.  Have you ever looked up at the stars on a clear dark night?  I cannot take my eyes off of them.  If it’s summertime I just want to lie under the canopy of stars and experience the awesomeness of God’s creation.

The “great quantity” of stars gives us an inkling of the glory of God!  I can praise God from my innermost being – yes, I can make His praise glorious.

Verse 3 & 4:  “Say to God, ‘how awesome are your deeds!’  So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you.  All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.”  Here we are at the beginning of February, and if you are like me you can’t wait for the first daffodil to poke its head out of the ground; then come the tulips and the lilacs; then the clematis, and on and on the flowers continue.  They give beauty to our eyes and precious scent to our noses.  Oh the wonders of God’s creation – it’s no surprise that David desires all the earth to bow down before Him.

David continues in this Psalm by asking us to “Come and see what God has done, how awesome His works in man’s behalf!  He reflects upon some of the awesome deeds that God did for David’s ancestors – the parting of the Red Sea for one, and he even praises God for some of the trials they and he went though.  He says, “We went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance”.  It is not during good times that God teaches us the deep lessons of life.  No, it is more often in the trials and problems of life that God teaches us the profound lessons and then brings us to that “place of abundance”. 

These are the lessons that stay with us.  These are the lessons that we must cherish.  James tells us to “Count it all joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be perfect and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4)

This Psalm 66 ends with the words, “Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!” 

More good news to come – stay tuned!!