You Are Right With God

You are right with God. This is the teaching of the Bible. The Christian life is not about a set of restrictions, or, a laundry list of things to do to make you right with God. Being right with God is something he has already done. You are too late. And even if you were on time, you couldn’t right yourself with God. You are right with God, by him and his work.

Why then, being right with God, are you not experiencing pure blessedness, happiness and joy, only. And why are you not maybe floating on a cloud, strumming a harp, or riding a unicorn through the meadows of heaven? It is because God has a much greater purpose for you.

The world is not right with God. It is passing away, dissolving, and right now; right now is the opportunity, now is the time, for others to be made right with God. Faith is the means by which you have been made right with God because it takes hold of his words. Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God. (See Romans 10:17). The end of the world will come when the gospel is preached in all the world. (See Matthew 24:14). Then there will be perfection.

So it is time to be like the Moon, and shine, shine the gospel in the dark night. The Sun scorches and beats down, dries up and even enkindles a barren, dry land. The Moon shines just enoug to keep some from tripping, to let the world that the Sun is still there, and coming soon. The Moon is like the people of God who talk about him. The Sun is like God who is an all-consuming fire.

You know it’s true, you know that there were times when God could not be approached directly and he did not approach directly. God used to walk in the Garden of Eden but later on he spoke through the prophets. He told Abraham not to look on him directly but look upon his hinder part. The Ark of the Covenant was not to be touched but carried by staves. God is holy, burning up sin, burning up everything.

And so he draws people to himself slowly, with guidance, in faith. Faith sees what the eyes can not look upon. Faith observes the loving God that the heart disdains and has no room for. Faith trusts the message of Christ crucified despite the hurtful, hateful hands which lifted him up.

What is there then to do while waiting for his coming? Keep your lamps burning, bright enough to give light to others. Get the light from God, hearing his word, and letting it reflect from you, saying his word. Be like the Moon that is lit by the Sun. Receive the light and give the light you have received. The Moon is not part of this world but shines upon it. Be like the Moon. You are right with God. Let others be right with God.

The Word Works

“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”

Romans 2:4 teaches the grace, patience and passion of God. It teaches that he turns sinners around. He restores them to life.

The power of the Word of God is never lacking. The stubbornness of man fails in the face of the Word of God. God waits for his words to work.

Imagine two kinds of planters of seeds. One plants and impatiently looks at the soil expecting the immediate appearance of a shoot sprouting from the ground. The other plants and after seeing growth, removes weeds, cultivates and ensures proper drainage knowing the power of the seed placed by his hands. The first might go out and yell at the ground with no surprising result. The second might do nothing and have a yield one hundred times what he planted. Seeds are full of power.

Now God’s Word is the seed that grows the plant of faith. Faith is belief, and belief is fear, love and trust. God is feared, loved and trusted because of his Word. And just as faith comes by hearing, so also hearing (the ability to hear and the action of hearing) comes by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)

We know that God is love. We also know that love is patient and love is kind. God’s Word works and yet his kingdom comes not with observation. (Luke 17:20-21, I John 4:16, I Corinthians 13:4) You can’t point it out but you know it’s there.

God does not doubt the power of his seeds. Nor should anyone doubt the power of his words. The Word works.

Loved By God

“I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” Jesus prayed these words to his Father about his disciples. They are recorded in the Gospel of John chapter 17, verse 14.

If you have God’s words, you have trouble. You have hatred from the world.

The world of which Jesus speaks is not the Creation as God created it, but the fabrication of the perverted imaginations of men. They don’t mix-the things of God and the things of men. Therefore the world hates the foreign, just as a lie hates the truth.

A lie can not tolerate truth because by truth the lie unravels. Just as darkness flees with light, so also the world is at enmity with God.

And while the world had hated the disciples, they were nonetheless loved by God. This can be known by the expression of God’s love in this verse. Jesus proclaims: “I have given them thy word.” He doesn’t say “I loved them” in some intangible and abstract way. He says, “I have given them thy word.” Concrete truth.

To give someone God’s word is an expression of love. By God’s word a sinner is turned away from sin. By God’s word a repentant person is comforted with God’s righteousness: that he died in that person’s place and is by such action, freed from guilt.

The disciples were hated by the world but loved by God because Jesus had given them his Father’s word. He carved them out of the world to receive salvation by trusting in his name. They trusted his work, not their own.

Someone has given you God’s word. The world hates you because you have it. Your own flesh despises God. The flesh of your neighbor reviles God. The devil is opposed to God because the gospel takes away what the devil previously captured. The devil doesn’t give up without a fight but he does fall at even the least of God’s words. God is bringing the plans of the devil to ruin.

You are part of God’s plan. God wills all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the Truth. That Truth is Jesus Christ the Lord. Because God’s word has been given to you, you can know for certain that God loves you. You too are loved by God.

Heart of the Righteous

“The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.” Proverbs 15:28

The phrase “Follow your heart” is a common one. One might wonder if he should follow his heart. Holy scripture instructs the hearer that knowledge is external: the inner being is taught from the outside-“the heart of the righteous studieth to answer…”

A mother instructed her son: You have one mouth and two ears therefore you should listen twice as much as you speak. Notice the dichotomy between the righteous and the wicked-one is known for study while the other, for volume.

May the time find you to hear or read the words of the Bible. Even a small amount is superior to the philosophies of those who are wise in their own eyes. Evil doers have themselves for wisdom, but believers have the Word of God.