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 121

“As Jesus was walking along the way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him.  ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’  ‘Why do you call me good,’ Jesus answered.  ‘No one is good except God alone.’” (Mark 10:17-18)

We may get into this “eternal life” question at some time but I would like to ponder Jesus statement that “No one is good except God alone”.  Have you ever run into someone who said, “The God of the Old Testament was mean, angry and harsh”?  Perhaps you have said it yourself!  Or maybe you know someone who thinks that God cannot be good because there is so much suffering in the world.

Since the beginning of time, from when Adam and Eve were created, has there been anyone who has known God the Father better than the Son of God, Jesus Christ?  In the book of Matthew 11:27 Jesus makes this statement, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”  If ever there was a tight relationship it would have to be between God, the creator of all things, and His Son, the Savior of all mankind.

A question for you:  has the Son of God chosen to reveal to you the Heavenly Father?  This is a very personal question.  Many people go around talking about Jesus and how He has done many things in their lives; they preface their prayers with “Dear Lord” and so address our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  But in Matthew 6:9, Jesus taught us to pray, “Our Father …” And I very seldom hear people talk about what the Father has done for them in their lives.

And so it is good to understand your relationship with Jesus.  It is also good to develop closeness to the Father of all mankind.  Jesus tells us He is good.  Let’s let the scriptures tell us how good He really is.

Shall we take a look at a couple of verses from the book of Isaiah and consider  his thoughts about our God and Father?  “So, do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand…. For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” (Is. 41:10&13)  This One who desires to take hold of our right hand is God.  Some may incorrectly state that the God of the Old Testament is harsh – but the God I serve wants, yes desires my love and attention.  He wants to strengthen and help me.  Jeremiah tells it this way, “But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I will hope in him.”  The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentation 3:21-26)

“He does not change like shifting shadows.”  (James 1:17)   Oh, there is so much more - God is good, all the time!!

Freedom is Good News Part 15

The scripture says that God “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45)  I guess this is somewhat obvious considering there are many out there who do not believe in God and yet their fields produce crops in abundance.  They have food enough to eat.  Perhaps as humans who inhabit our planet, this might seem somewhat counter intuitive.  But God lets us know that He is not as we are!  “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” declares the LORD.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9)  I believe that says it quite nicely!

Having said all that, let’s go back to the opening statement and see just what the context for that comment by Jesus is.  He is talking about love for one’s enemies; “You have heard it said ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven …. Be perfect therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:43-48)

God is God.  He is perfect.  And so God says to us, “I have set a very high bar for you to attain to.”  It is not so easy to love our enemies and to pray for them.  Be perfect as God is perfect!  God knows what He is talking about.  There is another place where God talks about a person attaining to perfection; it is found in Matt. 19 where a rich young man wanted to know what he must do to attain eternal life.  Jesus, understanding the man and knowing where his heart was, told him to obey the commandments.  The man acknowledged that he had kept them and wished to know what he lacked.  Jesus told him very directly, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor.”  Basically, Jesus told the man to separate himself from all that was important to him.  And so the man went away sad because he had great wealth.

I believe we all know that there really isn’t anything we can do to get eternal life.  Eternal life is the free gift of God to those who believe.  So what was Jesus getting at by saying these things?  In the similar episode in Mark’s gospel, we read that, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” (Mark 10:21) 

I think Jesus was telling the man that he believed in his wealth more than he believed in God.  This man had “good news” staring him in the face, literally; the good news of eternal life.  But all he could see was his fortune.

Is there something sitting before your eyes that keeps you from seeing your Savior?  Could it be a neighbor that you are having a hard time loving?  Or perhaps some wealth that you are having a hard time parting with? 

There is a song I enjoy singing where in the chorus says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the thing of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”  Try doing that and perfection may be just around the corner.  Jesus bids you to come to Him.

Until next time….