Crookedly-curved lines wrinkle his forehead, pressed against the concrete floor.
He intercedes for the damned, and yet he remains delighted in His Lord.
The ways of the world do not dismay this aged child.
His Father learned him well, and so in suffering his soul still smiles.
The man-child rejoices in amazing grace for which no sound is sweet enough
To demonstrate the love for which He suffered, condescending to be crushed.
Praise the slaughtered Lamb. His Father spilled His blood for us,
That we might repent and believe, and have in Him our righteousness.
For alone, we merit death and have no hope for joy in life,
Except that we be fixed to Him, in-grafted as the Bride of Christ.
But He looked on us with pity because He knew,
That we would have no breath in our lungs were our lives not by His hand each day renewed.
He holds us apart from Hell for a time He alone can tell.
That we live is a testament to His longsuffering love without which near Him we cannot dwell.
But O the grace He presents to us, to save us as a testament to Himself,
Knowing He needs nothing from man, fully satisfied in His own wealth.
And yet, He shows unfathomed love blessing us by making His Son a curse,
O laud the Lord of Glory for supplying the second verse.
For the man's joy ends not there, but there it just begins,
For he knows far better since he's justified, he'll too be raised with Him.
For the joy set before Him, Christ took the bowl and every blow,
Stepping down from His throne on high to walk with men below.
For His suffering, true reward is due, the throne He owned from eternity.
As His love for His Father's glory is true, so with Him the Son is solely worthy,
Having reconciled this man-child's family, satisfying the Father's fury
For the sins against Him He had not worked. He was still spotless, pure.
And so having suffered all, He would ascend back to God with the marks he bore.
Thus men, like this, now face-down, who approach His throne of grace,
Shall not be put to shame, for He's just and Justifier, and rescues men with saving faith.
Such see His glory all around, dead to flesh and alive to only One Shepherd's call,
To God be the Glory! To Him be it all!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
The King of Glory
When Christ had emptied the cup of God's wrath, having born the full measure of His Father's fury and experienced an eternal cursedness, He ascended, for it was time to claim His due and be set above all things...
1The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
What was heaven's response?
8Who is this King of glory?
His response?
The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24, King James Version)
1The earth is the LORD's, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
When Christ ascended and came to the gates of Heaven, doors baring a threshold which no man had ever crossed, what was proclaimed? From the inside, what was heard?
7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
What was heaven's response?
8Who is this King of glory?
His response?
The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. (Psalm 24, King James Version)
Friday, November 20, 2009
Ashes to Beauty
Consider the world:
The world loves teenagers engrossed in sexual activity and innuendos, as long as the teenagers look good and are not their children.
The world loves occult symbolism and sees abominations like the melding of human life with that of beasts (vampires, werewolves...) as "cool" and "powerful."
Many churches have used methods of luring teenagers (as well as adults) with satisfaction of the flesh as a means to draw them in.
People are going to hell, and we're getting angry about our cellular phone reception. We're yelling at our children and parents about a homework assignments or reports that will be forgotten in under 4 months.
We will spend 3-4 hours watching a football game on television or in person, but to spend 30 minutes a day in the Bible (reading it) consistently is heroic. That is, we'll spend all day with men, and nearly none of the day with God. Prayer hasn't even been mentioned.
We look less like followers of God and primarily look like the lovers of the world. If a basketball player is recognized as such because he spends a lot of time playing and practicing the game and its fundamentals along with preparing for basketball play by working his body into submission to be strong for such play, then how might the Christian life look? I am not saying, what should one hope to achieve. An individual who does not do the aforementioned is not considered a basketball player. Indicators mark the individual. Fruit is born which identifies the tree. Perhaps the Christian is known by his love? What does love look like? If you don't know, then you can be somewhat assured that you are in desperate need of the Lord to save you, because the Scriptures exclaim that "he who does not love (practice love), does not know God. By this the love of God has been manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the propitiation for our sins." Repent, that is confess your sins before the Lord, having hated Him with your life by attempting to live without His provision and as if you were not constantly sustained in your life because of His awesome power and grace toward you. He is so wonderful that He has provided for you a way to be freed from sin which binds you to death. You look around and watch men pass away like breaths. Do you wonder where they go - what's "next?" Call upon the Lord immediately. Do not delay to seek Him with an acknowledgment of His way as being right and good, and O so gracious to all of us. For each of us has gone astray, to his own way (a way that we considered right in our own eyes), but God has not left us without hope. Though we deserved none, for our sins are many, God provided one able to bear the full brunt of His wrath against all sins for all time. He was the One. Only He could withstand His own fury, and He laid upon His Son, Jesus Christ, all iniquity, though Jesus was without any sin. Jesus received the wrath and fury which we rightly deserved, and by His receiving that punishment which was ours, He reconciles those who believe and trust in Him (acknowledge His goodness and grace toward all men in such faithfulness - that He has always done good to us according to His own benevolence and not our merit). Having reconciled us to the Father, Jesus justifies the Father's long-suffering with sinners. God is not unjust to pardon them because His Son has taken away the wrath they deserved. In Christ, we have no condemnation. And, in doing this, He did not act unjustly toward Christ because He did not let Him see decay, but raised Him to life and set Christ above all things (preeminent). We can be assured that the work God started in justifying us before the Father will be completed in raising us with Him on that Day.
Having repented, believe that such is the truth, the Scriptures attest to it. The state of the world demonstrates its truth to degree. Life passes away quickly. The heavens above and the earth show forth the truth of God's generosity in providing all good things, sun and rain on all creation. Read the Bible daily if you're literate (assumed as you read this blog), and pray constantly for the grace which comes from God on the throne, the love of God treating us according to His good Name, and not having treated us according to our worth or merit. When we see that God's loving-kindness toward us is greater than the heavens are high above the earth, we must realize not only that God is magnificent and lavish in His love, but we must also realize how pitiful we are. We have no justification for pride as God's love, so great, is necessary for our salvation and sustenance. We have not breathed life into our lungs or provided prey for our own catching. God has given it all. Take joy in this, for just as He has been faithful in providing what was undeserved, He will surely be faithful in providing what Christ does deserve, and that which we are to receive in Christ. His righteousness is ours, just as our sins were removed to Him. O how amazing that He would receive our punishment and we would receive His reward. Let your lips not cease to praise our God so wonderful.
Be baptized. Attest to this truth and demonstrate before other believers and the world your proclamation in this outward testament to God's grace toward you. His life was given so that you might live in Him; therefore, live in Him, giving your undeserved life to Him with great joy - as only in Him is your life secure. Love others, including no less those undeserving or ungrateful because in the same way God was merciful toward you. Men and women and children are perishing to everlasting torment forever. And, as you delight in your God Who deserves the praise you give Him from all men, make known His goodness among them. O the sadness of the position they are in, just as dire as it was for you and I before the Lord plucked us from impending doom, rescuing us. O that He might do the same for others. He is so good He ought to be proclaimed as Lord by every tongue (and will on one day). Take joy in this truth. Do you not feel anything in your spirit in regard to the state of those who do not know this? Let us pray that God might create in us greater passion for His glory and take it to the neighbors and nations so that they might too have a chance to delight in God rather than be damned forever.
The world loves teenagers engrossed in sexual activity and innuendos, as long as the teenagers look good and are not their children.
The world loves occult symbolism and sees abominations like the melding of human life with that of beasts (vampires, werewolves...) as "cool" and "powerful."
Many churches have used methods of luring teenagers (as well as adults) with satisfaction of the flesh as a means to draw them in.
People are going to hell, and we're getting angry about our cellular phone reception. We're yelling at our children and parents about a homework assignments or reports that will be forgotten in under 4 months.
We will spend 3-4 hours watching a football game on television or in person, but to spend 30 minutes a day in the Bible (reading it) consistently is heroic. That is, we'll spend all day with men, and nearly none of the day with God. Prayer hasn't even been mentioned.
We look less like followers of God and primarily look like the lovers of the world. If a basketball player is recognized as such because he spends a lot of time playing and practicing the game and its fundamentals along with preparing for basketball play by working his body into submission to be strong for such play, then how might the Christian life look? I am not saying, what should one hope to achieve. An individual who does not do the aforementioned is not considered a basketball player. Indicators mark the individual. Fruit is born which identifies the tree. Perhaps the Christian is known by his love? What does love look like? If you don't know, then you can be somewhat assured that you are in desperate need of the Lord to save you, because the Scriptures exclaim that "he who does not love (practice love), does not know God. By this the love of God has been manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the propitiation for our sins." Repent, that is confess your sins before the Lord, having hated Him with your life by attempting to live without His provision and as if you were not constantly sustained in your life because of His awesome power and grace toward you. He is so wonderful that He has provided for you a way to be freed from sin which binds you to death. You look around and watch men pass away like breaths. Do you wonder where they go - what's "next?" Call upon the Lord immediately. Do not delay to seek Him with an acknowledgment of His way as being right and good, and O so gracious to all of us. For each of us has gone astray, to his own way (a way that we considered right in our own eyes), but God has not left us without hope. Though we deserved none, for our sins are many, God provided one able to bear the full brunt of His wrath against all sins for all time. He was the One. Only He could withstand His own fury, and He laid upon His Son, Jesus Christ, all iniquity, though Jesus was without any sin. Jesus received the wrath and fury which we rightly deserved, and by His receiving that punishment which was ours, He reconciles those who believe and trust in Him (acknowledge His goodness and grace toward all men in such faithfulness - that He has always done good to us according to His own benevolence and not our merit). Having reconciled us to the Father, Jesus justifies the Father's long-suffering with sinners. God is not unjust to pardon them because His Son has taken away the wrath they deserved. In Christ, we have no condemnation. And, in doing this, He did not act unjustly toward Christ because He did not let Him see decay, but raised Him to life and set Christ above all things (preeminent). We can be assured that the work God started in justifying us before the Father will be completed in raising us with Him on that Day.
Having repented, believe that such is the truth, the Scriptures attest to it. The state of the world demonstrates its truth to degree. Life passes away quickly. The heavens above and the earth show forth the truth of God's generosity in providing all good things, sun and rain on all creation. Read the Bible daily if you're literate (assumed as you read this blog), and pray constantly for the grace which comes from God on the throne, the love of God treating us according to His good Name, and not having treated us according to our worth or merit. When we see that God's loving-kindness toward us is greater than the heavens are high above the earth, we must realize not only that God is magnificent and lavish in His love, but we must also realize how pitiful we are. We have no justification for pride as God's love, so great, is necessary for our salvation and sustenance. We have not breathed life into our lungs or provided prey for our own catching. God has given it all. Take joy in this, for just as He has been faithful in providing what was undeserved, He will surely be faithful in providing what Christ does deserve, and that which we are to receive in Christ. His righteousness is ours, just as our sins were removed to Him. O how amazing that He would receive our punishment and we would receive His reward. Let your lips not cease to praise our God so wonderful.
Be baptized. Attest to this truth and demonstrate before other believers and the world your proclamation in this outward testament to God's grace toward you. His life was given so that you might live in Him; therefore, live in Him, giving your undeserved life to Him with great joy - as only in Him is your life secure. Love others, including no less those undeserving or ungrateful because in the same way God was merciful toward you. Men and women and children are perishing to everlasting torment forever. And, as you delight in your God Who deserves the praise you give Him from all men, make known His goodness among them. O the sadness of the position they are in, just as dire as it was for you and I before the Lord plucked us from impending doom, rescuing us. O that He might do the same for others. He is so good He ought to be proclaimed as Lord by every tongue (and will on one day). Take joy in this truth. Do you not feel anything in your spirit in regard to the state of those who do not know this? Let us pray that God might create in us greater passion for His glory and take it to the neighbors and nations so that they might too have a chance to delight in God rather than be damned forever.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Discipline for the Faithless and Faithful
The disciplined life is not the easiest path...or is it? (not just semantics)
One man sees the disciplined life as tough and rigorous. Inwardly, he wants to avoid that lifestyle, perceiving discipline as a negative act toward himself. To him it's deprivation. His flesh loves the world in so many ways, for so many reasons, nearly all the time. It's a struggle that has no off-switch. It's a battle that seems to see no victor. Perhaps that last statement appears awkward. Why, didn't the God-man free him? Isn't he free indeed? Why wouldn't this man be free? Why is discipline so hard. Why is depriving himself of what God hates so difficult? Is his flesh dead? Or, is his flesh being fed?
Another man sees the disciplined life in a completely different light. For him, discipline is the Way of freedom. It's Christ's way. To obey God's law is not a burden, a suffocation caused by a lack of life's necessities (for satisfaction?). He isn't forcing himself to walk away from that which he craves. He isn't limiting his intake. This man is increasing his intake. This man is craving for God's way. He sees discipline as that way by which he will know Him in Whom he delights most and might see Him more clearly. He does not see discipline as the mindset which affirms: suffer now so that you can later indulge in something that you really don't want at the moment (he who craves the world over Christ today). Nay. He seeks God now. He wants God now, and he will find Him. He will receive. When he departs this world, he is going home because what he loves is there and not here.
Some might respond, "Wait, what about sufferings of all kinds? What about the discipline to endure hardship and pain? We are not through being sanctified, and so why do you talk about the life of faith as if it were some easy path to walk?"
The response: His yoke is easy, and the burden is light for him who walks by faith. True faith does not say in one's heart, "I'm giving up much to receive little." True faith says, "O God, You are awesome and mighty and I am not worthy! How can this be, that you would would rescue me and make me your friend?! By Your grace alone." Surely, we are not perfect, and the discipline God imposes on us is still great joy for those who believe because its purpose is perfect and desirable - bringing us to conform to the image of Jesus Christ. Discipline is the means (self-imposed or externally imposed, it's all by the grace of God we receive such a gift that we might become more like Him), and Christ-likeness is the end. See Job? He was a righteous man. But, he was not without fault before the Lord. Who can stand before the Lord, and answer Him? None. Job could be scoured out (and he did grow). The blessed work of sanctification, led by the Holy Spirit, that we might share more deeply in the love shared between the Father and the Son, involves the grace of discipline toward us, helping us to keep the greatest commandment.
No matter what his mouth says, the man who says in his heart that he's putting off gain now for future reward is blinded by the life he still devotes to the world. He's doesn't see himself gaining in the immediate, but only in the long run. And, such a man sees himself as sacrificing for gain, as if he has anything to sacrifice of worth. What...is your life worth something on its own merit? Can your live, if sacrificed, save even you? That man is working for God. He's going to "struggle" for the moment so that he can earn the promised reward. He's not storing up treasures in heaven, though he thinks he is. His treasure is still on the earth, for his heart resides there also. The only reward he'll receive is the true wages for his work (and disbelief): death in eternal torment.
If you perceive your Christian walk strong because you are "giving up" everything for Jesus. Give up. You have nothing of value in and of yourself. You cannot even give up your life without the Lord determining it. And, about that treasure you are to be storing in heaven...well it's not like you have some secret stash of jewels you're hiding from Him. He alone is valuable. His life alone gives yours any and all significance. You find that lifestyle of "giving up" to be dissatisfying anyway by the notion that your joy is diminishing in the present (as if you could be satisfied elsewhere, Christian?). You take no joy in it, and faith is often best measured by joy. This is where we must test our faith. We must consider the state of our souls. Have we been regenerated by the Holy Ghost and brought into the family of God (Surely you or I cannot just decide to scale heaven's wall and join the crowd. We cannot siege the gates and expect entrance.)? But again, that question of "What's giving up _____ in light of Christ?" That's just it. It's not "giving up," or relinquishing something desirable or hoped for. Consider the following hypothetical situation (given: it's limited in applicability):
The regenerated believer, with the Spirit guiding him by conviction primarily through the truths in the Scriptures, will recognize his deadness to sin and grow in godliness. He will learn to guard His path so that he does not become confused about his desires through the deceptions of the world, flesh, and enemy. And, God is faithful in bringing about the completion of that which he begins.
Thus, by faith, the disciplined life is the easiest path. It only requires the follower to trust the Lord that He will keep His promise to keep on giving Himself to the follower and that one day the follower will receive the full inheritance - the Lord in His fullness. With such unfathomable everlasting joy set before you, 80 years is like a drop....AND that 80 years is continual grace and joy for him who believes.
[Note: I do not equate "easy" with "without cost". Neither should you. Following Christ requires your whole life and nothing less (Pick up your cross and follow). If you do not love Him enough to make that proposition desirable, consider your faith and call upon the Lord. From this antinomy comes the maxim to believe like a Calvinist and preach like an Arminian]
One man sees the disciplined life as tough and rigorous. Inwardly, he wants to avoid that lifestyle, perceiving discipline as a negative act toward himself. To him it's deprivation. His flesh loves the world in so many ways, for so many reasons, nearly all the time. It's a struggle that has no off-switch. It's a battle that seems to see no victor. Perhaps that last statement appears awkward. Why, didn't the God-man free him? Isn't he free indeed? Why wouldn't this man be free? Why is discipline so hard. Why is depriving himself of what God hates so difficult? Is his flesh dead? Or, is his flesh being fed?
Another man sees the disciplined life in a completely different light. For him, discipline is the Way of freedom. It's Christ's way. To obey God's law is not a burden, a suffocation caused by a lack of life's necessities (for satisfaction?). He isn't forcing himself to walk away from that which he craves. He isn't limiting his intake. This man is increasing his intake. This man is craving for God's way. He sees discipline as that way by which he will know Him in Whom he delights most and might see Him more clearly. He does not see discipline as the mindset which affirms: suffer now so that you can later indulge in something that you really don't want at the moment (he who craves the world over Christ today). Nay. He seeks God now. He wants God now, and he will find Him. He will receive. When he departs this world, he is going home because what he loves is there and not here.
Some might respond, "Wait, what about sufferings of all kinds? What about the discipline to endure hardship and pain? We are not through being sanctified, and so why do you talk about the life of faith as if it were some easy path to walk?"
The response: His yoke is easy, and the burden is light for him who walks by faith. True faith does not say in one's heart, "I'm giving up much to receive little." True faith says, "O God, You are awesome and mighty and I am not worthy! How can this be, that you would would rescue me and make me your friend?! By Your grace alone." Surely, we are not perfect, and the discipline God imposes on us is still great joy for those who believe because its purpose is perfect and desirable - bringing us to conform to the image of Jesus Christ. Discipline is the means (self-imposed or externally imposed, it's all by the grace of God we receive such a gift that we might become more like Him), and Christ-likeness is the end. See Job? He was a righteous man. But, he was not without fault before the Lord. Who can stand before the Lord, and answer Him? None. Job could be scoured out (and he did grow). The blessed work of sanctification, led by the Holy Spirit, that we might share more deeply in the love shared between the Father and the Son, involves the grace of discipline toward us, helping us to keep the greatest commandment.
No matter what his mouth says, the man who says in his heart that he's putting off gain now for future reward is blinded by the life he still devotes to the world. He's doesn't see himself gaining in the immediate, but only in the long run. And, such a man sees himself as sacrificing for gain, as if he has anything to sacrifice of worth. What...is your life worth something on its own merit? Can your live, if sacrificed, save even you? That man is working for God. He's going to "struggle" for the moment so that he can earn the promised reward. He's not storing up treasures in heaven, though he thinks he is. His treasure is still on the earth, for his heart resides there also. The only reward he'll receive is the true wages for his work (and disbelief): death in eternal torment.
If you perceive your Christian walk strong because you are "giving up" everything for Jesus. Give up. You have nothing of value in and of yourself. You cannot even give up your life without the Lord determining it. And, about that treasure you are to be storing in heaven...well it's not like you have some secret stash of jewels you're hiding from Him. He alone is valuable. His life alone gives yours any and all significance. You find that lifestyle of "giving up" to be dissatisfying anyway by the notion that your joy is diminishing in the present (as if you could be satisfied elsewhere, Christian?). You take no joy in it, and faith is often best measured by joy. This is where we must test our faith. We must consider the state of our souls. Have we been regenerated by the Holy Ghost and brought into the family of God (Surely you or I cannot just decide to scale heaven's wall and join the crowd. We cannot siege the gates and expect entrance.)? But again, that question of "What's giving up _____ in light of Christ?" That's just it. It's not "giving up," or relinquishing something desirable or hoped for. Consider the following hypothetical situation (given: it's limited in applicability):
- Suppose you have a taste for Pizza Hut's pan-crust pepperoni pizza. You love it, and the more you eat it, the more you want to eat more (suppose no stomach aches, etc.). You don't care for any other pizza toppings or other crust styles except that one. In fact, you hate their taste. Then, suppose I tell you that in order to receive a free, lifetime-supply of Pizza Hut pan-crust pepperoni pizza's, well...you cannot have any other types, ever. Would you consider it loss to "have to give up" all those other types - what you do not desire to begin with - in order to receive freely what you desire most? Then, you're "dead" to those other pizzas, and "alive" to only one.
The regenerated believer, with the Spirit guiding him by conviction primarily through the truths in the Scriptures, will recognize his deadness to sin and grow in godliness. He will learn to guard His path so that he does not become confused about his desires through the deceptions of the world, flesh, and enemy. And, God is faithful in bringing about the completion of that which he begins.
Thus, by faith, the disciplined life is the easiest path. It only requires the follower to trust the Lord that He will keep His promise to keep on giving Himself to the follower and that one day the follower will receive the full inheritance - the Lord in His fullness. With such unfathomable everlasting joy set before you, 80 years is like a drop....AND that 80 years is continual grace and joy for him who believes.
[Note: I do not equate "easy" with "without cost". Neither should you. Following Christ requires your whole life and nothing less (Pick up your cross and follow). If you do not love Him enough to make that proposition desirable, consider your faith and call upon the Lord. From this antinomy comes the maxim to believe like a Calvinist and preach like an Arminian]
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