Gadfly's Muse

Revelation 11: Two Witnesses - Testimony & Victory

Image:  "Two Witnesses", 2021, Norris Geyser Basin scene, Yellowstone Nat. Pk. Wy.

Revelation 11:1–3 Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, “Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. 2 But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months. 3 And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth.”

Revelation 11:6 These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire.

Revelation 11:7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 11:11–12 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them.

Revelation 11:15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Revelation 11:19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.

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There are as many different interpretations of "who are the two witnesses in Revelation 11" as there are folks who write about the chapter.  Some of the more commonly held views are: (1) they represent "the law and the prophets", hence the summary teachings of Scripture, as symbolized by Moses and Elijah on the Mt. of Transfiguration; (2) they represent the faithful church of Jesus Christ in its role as prophet to "peoples, nations, tongues, and kings" (cf. Rev. 10:11 & 11:3) and; (3) they represent physical "prophets" who will rise up in the last days.

These have strengths and weaknesses.  My own view is that these witnesses symbolize (1) the true Gentile Church of Jesus Christ and (2) the continued preservation of ethnic Jews in fulfillment of Paul's teachings in Romans 10:1-3 & 11:1-5 where Paul says that "there is a remnant according to grace."

What do both of these groups have in common?  (1) Together they make up "all Israel" (Romans 11:26) and therefore will both ascend to heaven (Rev. 11:12, cf. 1 Thess. 4) at the Lord's coming; (2) both have born witness to the God of heaven throughout the ages and incurred the wrath and condemnation of the demonically inspired hordes (11:7ff); both possess the power of prayer as Jesus promised His faithful followers, to the end that their prayers can transform the world (11:6).  More could be said but you get my drift.

What this chapter teaches us is that the "subject" of continuing history is the witness of the true, combined, Israel to its God and to His Son Who rules over heaven and earth.  They do this because the "temple" on earth has been judged and destroyed, leaving the earth without a worldwide institutional Presence of God.  John was given a "measuring rod", like Ezekiel before him (Ezek. 40ff) to measure the temple.  As with Ezekiel, this was done to symbolize God's fierce anger at the physical temple "Presence" and its descent into idolatry and perversion.  God was going to bring about a "new temple" on the ruins of the old.  This "new temple" was instituted in the People of God who are the temple of God in space and time. (cf. Ephesians 1:22; 2:19-22)

The main points of this chapter then become: the combined people of God will continue to bear witness (testimony) to the abiding Presence of the One True God and His Son Jesus Christ, throughout the remaining age preceding the Lord's return; this witness will be effective in gathering many of the elect but it will also be effective in proving the hard-hearted arrogance of the mass of rebellious men; there will come a time when it will appear that this true witness will be stamped out and the "two witnesses" corpses (empty churches) will decorate the pavement; but, God Who is not slow concerning His promises, will return and raise up His faithful witnesses to the astonishment and terror of their enemies.

In the closing verses (11:15-19) we see, undeniably, that the trumpets take us right up to the final day.  Then it shall be that "the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ." (11:15)  In a direct parallel to chapter 21:15-27, there is a vision of the "temple of God" opened in heaven.  the "lightnings, noises, thunderings, earthquake and great hail" take us back to Israel at the foot of Mt. Sinai when God showed Himself to His People in a terrifying vision.  

It's a wonderful and solemn story told in these verses.  It reminds us that God has set us aside for His purposes and some of these may involve daunting things.  But it also reminds us that God will use our testimony to bring His victory, a victory in which we will not only participate but in which we will be glorified and exalted.  In other words, whatever He requires... it will be worth it.

 

Revelation 05-06: Saved From the Wrath of God

Image: "I'm Still Here", 2021, Sky scene along Hwy 20, prior to Ashton, ID

Revelation 5:8–10  Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:  “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”

Revelation 6:12–14 I looked when He opened the sixth seal, and behold, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. 13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its late figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. 14 Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

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The Revelation given to John is built around groupings of 7.  The scroll which the Lamb alone was found worthy to open was sealed with seven seals, each of which, when opened gives insight into the progress of history from the time the Lamb ascended to the throne room of God until God's final judgment brings all time, as we know it, to a close.  Thus, I ascribe to what is called the "recapitulation" hermeneutical interpretation of the Revelation.  Each of the following cycles (trumpets, etc.) will essentially cover the same span.  Thus, starting with chapter 6 we will be given further descriptions of the nature of time as it progresses until, finally, the great consummation which closes the book.

So, what do we see in the remaining verses of chapter 5 and all of chapter six?

Briefly, we see the stated purpose of history stated by all of creation, the angelic beings, and the redeemed people of God expressed in 5: 8-14.  The Lamb Who was slain, even our Lord Jesus Christ, is hailed for His completed work of redemption and His ascension to the throne of God.  The four living creatures, who represent the span of God's "living" creatures (animals and man) a well as the twenty four elders who represent the fullness of the elect in both the Old and New Testament dispensations, proclaim the surpassing merit of Him  who has "redeemed us to God by Your blood."  Note the finished work that is proclaimed as well as the transformed reality of those who benefit from this redemption.  Out of all the tribes and peoples of the earth, there are those who have been made "kings and priests to our God."  This is the reality of their status.  But like a crown prince awaiting actual seating on the throne, these proclaim that they "shall reign on the earth."

Here is the great future that provides such a reason for hope and joy.  The redeemed of the earth will reign and rule on the earth.  We have a glorious future ahead of us on that day when the implicit promise of the Garden of Eden, where man was to exercise dominion on the earth, will be finally accomplished. (5:9-10)

This particular shout of thanksgiving and praise is followed by a general shout of astonished wonder by the innumerable angels surrounding the redeemed host who add their voices in worship. (5:11)  Even the dead of earth, buried in both earth and sea will be present in the chorus (5:13)

Thus we see the full range of God's created work as giving thanks for His great salvation.  This is the end goal of history.  It is why all things were created and it is why we, individually, exist.  God's great sovereign rule, exercised through His Son, our Lord, works to this end and will bring about eternal joy and unending worship from all creatures, heavenly or worldly, the living and the dead.

Such a wonderful picture and one that creates intense longing.  But we are solemnly taught that this great end of all things is to be progressively attained.  The seals must be opened and the contents of creation's history opened to our eyes.  The seals are not necessarily intended to convey sequence in actual time but rather further insights of truths that may, and often does, overlap.

Thus, with seal one, we see the history of conquest and domination unleashed as various nations rise up in history to conquer and subjugate peoples.  Man will continue to aspire to autonomous rule in the stead of God.  This will bring about many things but its inevitable character will be that of "crown-wearing" enforced by force of arms.  (6:1-2)  Then comes the second seal and we see the passions of violence unleashed and peace taken from the earth.  Lawlessness will always be present and in many eras will dominate the scene. (6:3-4) Similarly, we see that history will involve the cruelty of hunger and inflation as corrupt power oppresses those who cannot defend themselves. (6:5-6)  There will be widespread death when wars (such as the two world wars) or epidemics reshape entire generations such that huge swaths of the population are killed. (6:7-8) The persecution of the saints will continue and the entire span of time will evoke great longing from the people of God for Him to "come quickly" and bring their suffering to an end. (6:9-11)  But, in God's perfect timing, there will come a day when the earth will be shaken and the cosmic balance upset and sinful man, who was responsible for all the sufferings revealed in the first five seals, will be terrified at the approaching judgment they so richly deserve. (6:12-17)

Of particular interest is the absolute statement that this is the day of the "wrath of the Lamb!" (vs. 16)  Though He is gentle and mild to those who love Him and keep His commandments, yet we must remember that He is the jealous Lion of Judah who will indeed bring judgment on His foes.

These are scary thoughts but they must be understood through the prior testimony of chapter 5.   The wrath of God will never touch the redeemed of the earth.  Though we live in the very real manifestation of the 5 seals, where each of the circumstances they proclaim is readily discernable about us, yet, the end result is certain and we have a reason, even now, to fall down and worship Him Who has saved us by His blood.

 

 

 

 

 

Revelation 01: The Object in View

Image: "Rock Solid", 2020, Yellowstone Nat. Pk., Photograph by David Johanson

Revelation 1:1–2 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw.

Revelation 1:7–8 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Revelation 1:12–13 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

Revelation 1:17–18 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. 18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.

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The Revelation given to John is one of the most intriguing pieces of literature ever written.  It challenges us, scares us, stretches our minds, and ultimately, when understood correctly, gives us a great sense of peace and a strengthened will to persevere.  All of those things, especially the last, form its basic purpose.  This Revelation was given through John to the church in every age (vs. 1 & 11) and is intended to be understood by the church as applying to itself in every age.  In other words, the Revelation covers the entire span of human history, from the "First" to the "Last", and it reveals to us that in the very foreground of this vast picture, stands the "Rock" that gives meaning to all the other details of our times.  This is Jesus, the One "Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty." (vs. 8)

In this one verse, Jesus proclaims Himself as the central feature in every view of history, whether past, present, or future.   That is the "secret" the Revelation makes known.  That is why it is the "Revelation of Jesus Christ" (vs. 1) which was given first to Him and which He then made known to His servants, immediate of whom was John the apostle.

Thus the central fact of history is Jesus of Nazareth the Christ of God.

We must be careful to not limit this statement to just His earthly life, death, and resurrection.  When Revelation teaches us that Jesus is the central fact of history, it teaches us that every instant of history is about Jesus, either in His pre-incarnate life as the Christ of God in the Old Testament era, or His earthly life, but immediately, His post-resurrection life.  This translates to us as understanding our "now!"  Our life and history are about Jesus.  He is at the center of all things now.  He is yet standing, as John first saw Him, in the midst of His Church, registered in its totality by the "visible church" (lamposts) and the "invisible church"(stars) which surround Him in the vision.  

There He stands, today as He was to John, in brilliant magnificence, clothed in unimaginable splendor, terrifying in His power and authority, and yet, with wondrous compassion telling us "not to be afraid." (vs. 17)  He yet calls to His Church and proclaims the reality behind all things: "I Am Alive Forevermore!"  

Here is the patience and courage of the saints.  No matter what their "age" or "eon" has in store, whether relative peace and prosperity or struggles seemingly beyond endurance, yet this truth is above all else.  He is alive and He is here!  It is He has holds the keys of "Hades and of Death." (vs. 18)  It is He that is waging war against all the demonic enemies that oppress His people and defile His creation with the "sharp two-edged sword" that is His Word.  

He is our "Object in View" through Whom we must gaze at the details of the vistas before us.  He is immovable and provides our fortress as well as our place of rest.  Without Him in our picture, we will understand nothing.  Seeing all things through Him means that we understand all things in their true nature.

This is the Mystery Revealed.  He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. (vs. 11)  We must not be deceived.  Whatever is, is about Him!

 

 

 

1 John 4: Carefully Noting

Image: "Cautiously Proceeding", 2009, Roadside view, vicinity of Acadia Nat. Pk., Me

1 John 4:2–3 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming and is now already in the world.

1 John 4:6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this, we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 John 4:9–11 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:15–16 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

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I have, over the years, mentioned that God's Word calls us to a "radical" lifestyle.  That needs a bit of explaining since the idea of "radical" conjures up some wild-eyed, hairy-headed, zealot holding up a sign or tossing Molotov cocktails at establishment representatives.  That's not the image I am promoting but I have to be clear.  "Radical" Christianity puts those guys to shame.  All too often there is a mind-numbing "sameness" to the radical leftists marching in the streets.  On the whole, they have profited from the same institutions they propose to tear down.  They are actually just closer to one end of a continuum than others in their "radical stances."  They really aren't representing an entirely "alien" culture.

Christianity, properly understood, is an alien culture.  It lives differently than the world around it.  It thinks differently than the so-called intellectuals in the academies.  It lives "in the world" but it is definitely not "of the world."  Whenever the line between "living in" and "not of" begins to blur then to that degree Christianity departs from its Biblical foundations.  

In this chapter, John calls us to notice the "radical" nature of our confession of Jesus.  John says (v. 15) that there is a clear demarcation between the world and Christianity in how each actually views Jesus' Person.  "Whoever confesses Jesus is the Son of God" has God actually "abiding" in Him and he abides in God.  Now it only takes a moment's pause to let that sink in and the "radical" nature of Christianity begins to clarify.

Think of an entire race of "God-indwelt" people.  If, as they certainly should, they are convinced of this themselves and live in absolute dependence and reflection of the "God indwelt" reality, then their own sense of authority, clarity, conviction, zeal, and energy would be like a bubbling cauldron.  They would be radically different in their poise, self-control, clearness of insight, etc. than the overwhelming majority of their fellow acquaintances and workers.  They would also, with boldness, recognize that any other person, not of like faith with them, but who was zealous for doctrines and principles counter to their own, was an enemy of Christ and must be opposed and/or converted.

In other words, a "God-indwelt" community of people would be able to recognize "false spirits" (vs. 1-3) and would respond appropriately to them.  They would show forth an amazingly calm and imperturbable demeanor in engagement. They would rest in the certainty that they were "of God" and had already "overcome" their opponents because God is "greater than he who is in the world." (vs. 4)  They would not be driven by a sense of ultimate responsibility for how their interaction with such enemies turned out.  They would know that if the words they spoke and the example they set, fell on deaf ears then it was because their opponents were not "of God."  If they had been then the Christian would have seen their testimony and witness, bearing fruit in the interaction. (vs. 6)

And, standing above all other radical attributes "God-indwelt" Christians show forth is the character of love.  Their confession of Jesus Christ as the Son of God extends to the astonishing truth of His ministry.  They embrace God the Father for sending "His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him."  This thought becomes like burning coals in a furnace.  It warms up their entire life.  They treasure it because it proves this was an act of pure mercy by God.  He did not send His Son because we first loved Him!  Just the opposite.  He sent His Son to be a propitiation for our sins (vs. 10) and explicitly the sin of not loving God as we ought to have done.

The burning coals register in an outflow of love for God and love for their fellow Christians that stands in stark contrast to anything in the "other world" outside the community.  This is "radical Christianity."  That doesn't mean that it is one "form" of Christianity registering at a point in a continuum of other "Christian" communities.  No... as John here tells us, this radical "God-indwelt" Christianity is the only true faith there is.  All others are caricatures of the faith and therefore not true at all.  The radical nature of the Christian faith is grounded in the Presence of the Holy Spirit in it as given to it by God Himself. (vs. 13)  

There is no other Christianity than this... so it is truly a radical reality.

 

James 5: What Are Friends For?

Image: "Friends", 2017, Tanger Family Gardens, Greensboro, NC

James 5:8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

James 5:9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:19–20 Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, 20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

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Friends are not optional... they are essential.  

No matter how romantically the American myth of the lone cowboy/mountain man facing the vastness of the western plains or the awe-inspiring reaches of the Rocky mountains is painted, yet it remains that those who chose such a solitary life paid a price for it.  Extended solitude can warp a man's mind and living at constant risk of life and limb, with no one to help, is not good for the soul.  "Man" was created in the image of God, not as a rugged individual, but rather in "community" as the Triune God Himself is Community.  Thus man and woman were created in the image of God, together, and designed to provide overlapping support for each other.  They were mutual helpmates.  They were, first and foremost, friends.

Sin made this necessary relation even more critical.  Our spiritual battles are just too overpowering to be faced alone.  In 1 Corinthians Paul told his readers that prolonged abstinence between a man and a wife would lead to temptation and certainly that is true.  However, it goes beyond that.  Men and women need help facing all kinds of temptations as well as discovering the deeper treasures of human life.  Humans are designed to flourish, as humans, in relationships.  We need other people to bring out the best in us even as, in God's providence, others need us to do the same for them.  

Throughout history, men and women developed and treasured special "friends."  Montaigne devoted an entire essay to it, Dr. Johnson valued his Boswell, and our Lord Christ valued His disciples whom He called "friends."  

The point of this extended introduction is that in this Facebook era, the term and the concept of "friends" have suffered greatly.  We may elevate some people to BFF status but even then there is a superficial quality to the relation.  God intends more for us because the question: "what are friends for?" is not trivial at all.

Notice how, in this chapter, James situates his readers within a web of relationships that are far more intimate and trusting than mere acquaintances.  

He calls on us to recognize, like the old mountaineers, that we live at risk every day.  The entire world is teetering on the brink of the Lord's return. (vs. 8)  He is "standing at the door" as our Judge.  James points to this reality and says that we need patience and endurance.  To develop these things we need "friends" around us to encourage us and to be encouraged by us.  He specifically warns against "grumbling" against one another because that undermines the whole web of organic support that we need.

Rather than grumbling, we should be praying.  Nothing so seals a relationship as committed mutual prayers.  To effectively pray for another person (vs. 16) we have to possess some degree of intimate knowledge of the other person's weaknesses and needs.  This requires a trusting relationship that goes far beyond superficial disclosures.  James calls on us, as friends, to confess our sins to one another (vs. 16) as well as to be honest about our "suffering" (VS. 13).  I do not think that this means that we bare our souls before the entire congregation as a common practice.  That would promote gossip as well as hypocrisy.  What James is exhorting is, that as our Lord Christ with His inner circle of three disciples, that we have a smaller group of brothers/sisters who have proven trustworthy and are transparent about their lives also.

Friendship is equally mutual or it is not friendship.

It is within the sphere of friendship that James' closing statements have the clearest impact.  It is love that pushes a person to reach out to their brother or sister who has become ensnared by Satan. (vs. 19-20)  It is only when a bond of trust has been previously established that a man, often already deeply ashamed, is open to listening to exhortation and admonishment.  It is only when a deep affection is already present that words that may cut to the bone can be received as loving.  How much more can the office of friendship be promoted than to know that, within it, a multitude of sins can be "covered."

We can think of Christian "community" as a ladder of godly friendships.  Marriage/family is the foundational order.  Then comes the brotherhood (Biblically called "koinonia") and the structured community of elders/lay leaders who have been given authority to facilitate godly relationships both vertically and horizontally in God's kingdom.

It is a beautiful thing to live in a web of friendships... you would think that God designed us that way!

 

 

James 3: Wisdom and Its Fruits

Image: "Desiring Wisdom", 2012, Garden near Great Wall, PRC

James 3:13  Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

James 3:15–18 This wisdom does not descend from above but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

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There are "smarts" and there are "street smarts."  Someone may be "really smart" in academics and yet not very "savvy" in their everyday life.  Most of us readily accept that intelligence does not necessarily equate to wisdom.  We don't think about it often but we acknowledge that truth when it comes up.

We are less and less precise in the use of language as time goes on.  We blur meanings and attach names to things and situations so as to sound more sophisticated or, all too often, to obscure some events.  "Illegal immigrants" become "undomesticated workers."   "Freedom of choice" shifts the conversation away from the "right to abort."  Language takes on a "dulling" effect as we lose conceptual and analytical tools.  In this environment "wisdom" suffers.

James and the other Biblical authors go to some lengths exhorting us to desire and attain "wisdom."  There was little confusion about that term in those times.  "Wisdom" was not at all isolated to what we would call "book learning."  A person was not "wise" because they had attained comprehensive knowledge of a subject leading to a Ph.D.  "Wisdom", as classically understood by the ancients, from the Israelite prophets through Plato and Aristotle and carrying through to the middle ages, is the "art of living well."  It included practical skills, such as how to fix a plumbing problem, to astute business practice.  The ancients, far more than we, understood this in terms of "going with the flow" in nature.  All the great religions, including ancient Israel, understood all aspects of life through an "ethical framework."  This was not entirely a question of "right and wrong" though the idea of "justice" was never absent.  Rather it was a question of "you reap what you sow."  This is because there was a moral law inherent in nature.  If a person aligned themselves with that moral "flow" then the prospect of a good outcome was greatly enhanced.  We see this in the Pagan ideas of "fate" and "karma" as well as the Biblical teachings.  The difference, of course, was in the Judeo-Christian revelation that all "ethics" were grounded in a Personal God Who governed His creation with equity and justice and required His people to conform to His righteousness or live in peril.

With those ideas before us, we can generalize about "wisdom."  We can say that it is the "art of living well."  It is an "art" not a skill because it is a conditioned achievement.  It requires practice, discipline, and discernment.  "Wisdom" is developed in Christians by the inworking Holy Spirit guiding us in the pathways of wisdom and, beyond question, it is the "art of living well" in whatever our circumstances, no matter how dire or difficult, because it is the pathway of blessing.

James expands our understanding by distinguishing two types of "wisdom": "earthly" and "heavenly."  Now proponents of each type of wisdom would agree with the above, at least to some extent.  Those who align themselves with "earthly" wisdom will argue that it is exactly the way to live "well."  The way to flourish in a "dog-eat-dog" culture is to be the top dog.  Money may not buy everything but it makes "not having everything" a lot better than otherwise.  The fundamental idea of earthly wisdom is that it is grounded in "pleasure" and therefore hearkens back to Epicurus and his followers.

But let's scan what James says are the actual fruits of earthly wisdom.  He says that it harbors or produces "bitter envy... self-seeking... boasting... lying against the truth... confusion... and 'every evil thing'."  Quite frankly, if we detach ourselves from our passions and lusts, this kind of life doesn't sound like "living well" at all.  In contrast, James teaches that the "wisdom that is from above" is "pure... peaceable... gentle... full of mercy... good fruits... without partiality and without hypocrisy." (vs. 15-18)  While we readily acknowledge that a person who is filled with heavenly wisdom might very well be suffering persecution, or hunger, or ill-treatment that would not be the case if they pursued "earthly wisdom", yet, we must see that this is the entire point.

"Living well" means being at "peace" in the world.  Heavenly wisdom produces the "fruit of righteousness" which sows peace in the world... its practitioners "make peace."  (vs. 18) It is the earthly wisdom that breeds all the chaos, confusion, pain and suffering in the world.  Those who earnestly pursue heavenly wisdom are the "peacemakers" whom Jesus promised would receive peace.  

How does a person seek and attain "heavenly wisdom."  It is found in Jesus Christ as He is revealed in the Scriptures.  "Wisdom" is a Person.  When we open our eyes and our minds to embrace Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God, as the incarnation of heavenly wisdom, then we start seeing things differently.  We live more and more each day "in Christ" which means that we live and move and have our being in the sphere of Christ.  We see the world through His eyes as it were.  We begin to understand the forces that impact us and bear down on us, both for good or ill, more accurately.  We undertake to align ourselves with God's will so that it is done on earth as it is in heaven.  In doing so, as the Psalmist sang, we are led in "green pastures" and by "still waters."  "Our cup overflows" as "peace" rises to encompass our souls.

This is not some esoteric, mystical mind-game.  This is living in the real world as God, through Christ, has revealed the real world exists.  

 

 

 

 

 

James 2: It Takes Work(s)!

Image: "Ready to Work", 2012, Scene at a gas station near the Great Wall, PRC

James 2:1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality.

James 2:4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?

James 2:9–10 but if you show partiality, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

James 2:21–22 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works, faith was made perfect?

James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

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It is pretty much useless to try to convince people that James, in this chapter, is not contradicting Paul.  You either get it or you don't.  Paul is addressing one set of issues - the idea of meritorious works earning God's blessings and justification.  James, the hardworking pastor, is addressing another - the sinful dispositions found in many professing Christians who want God to save them without having to change.  We sometimes hear Christians say: "God loves you just the way you are!"  No... God may love you... but if He does He intends to change you from the way you are.  James teaches this under the principle: "a man is justified by works, and not by faith only." (vs. 24)

James starts off by addressing a common issue: the worldly practice of giving deference to the rich, powerful, or famous people.  Though we don't often admit it, most of us naturally and sinfully equate success with merit.  People who "make it" are more worthy of our admiration than those who do not.  I am not saying that we should not seek to emulate some people who have done great things.  I personally consider John Calvin to be imminently worthy as a role model.  But the sin comes in when we are in social contact with successful people and we show deference to them in such a manner as to demean others who have not had worldly "success."  

James here speaks of the "poor" and how, especially in the Church of Jesus Christ, we are not to show "partiality" toward the rich over the poor.  Here is the pastoral crux of the matter.  James wants us to see that often, in the Kingdom of God, it is the poor who are "richer" in faith than those who are rich in worldly goods.  Jesus taught His disciples that it was the poor widow who went away justified, having deposited only a few pennies, rather than the rich hypocrites who gloried in showing off their "generosity."  

This teaching is not separate, at all, from James' focus on "works."  What he teaches here are the types of "works" that true faith must demonstrate.  Where there is saving faith, a faith that corresponds to justification, there must be a heart change so that worldly success does not blind us to the things of the Spirit.  It would be a "good work" to ensure that a poor brother or sister received an extra measure of welcoming love and hospitality to help offset their culturally imposed sense of unimportance.  Sometimes we have to go an extra mile with people to further the witness of God's Presence with us.  James here gives us a grand illustration of how we must be transformed from worldly thoughts and opinions and how we must act on a different basis.  

James hammers this home with further examples such as Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac and Rahab's courageous actions in hiding and protecting the Israelite spies. (vs. 23-25)  The important thing is seeing how "otherworldly" these actions were.  Abraham would be considered insane by today's standards.  Rahab, similarly, was guilty of treason, and for what reason?  Giving aid and comfort to "bloodthirsty enemies?"  These actions went against the grain of "common sense" as it was understood in those times. 

So it is with "good works" in every age.  There is and must be, an element of risk in living out true faith in Jesus Christ.  It has to place us "out-of-step" with the world around us.  If we are not acting "strangely", to some degree, then James says that it is highly possible our faith is dead also. (vs. 26)  

In our modern, chaotic, society, the true Christian faith will be ridiculed and scorned.  True Christians will go against the grain in most of the prevailing social currents.  Our families, the education of our children, our attitudes about gender and gender roles, our adamant stand for the value of life, our insistence that national laws are subservient to God's laws, will all stand as highly visible tokens of our alien status.  What James is here telling us is that if we are not being noticed then it is probably because we are not doing "works" that correspond to a "true and lively" faith.

God does not save us to remain "one" with the world.  He saves us to be "one" with His Triune Self.  As good "works" naturally flow from God's Person so good "works" must naturally flow from those united to Him.  James here says nothing about which Paul would disagree and it is a lesson we need to learn very well.

 

 

Hebrews 13: Awaiting His Return...

Image: "Awaiting the Return", 2013, Vicinity of Bar Harbor, Me

Hebrews 13:1–2  Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.

Hebrews 13:8  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Hebrews 13:13–16 Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. 16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Hebrews 13:20–21 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

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In this chapter, we have a summary exhortation to closeout a letter which the author himself calls "the word of exhortation". (vs. 22)   This beautiful epistle is addressed to the saints of every age, standing like the pier above, waiting for the refreshing tide to return again.  Our Lord has come in the flesh and gone in the flesh (though still with us in Spirit).  Sometimes, as we scan the horizon, it may appear as if the "times of refreshing" (Acts 3:19) are gone forever, but our author calls us to persevering faith.  We have a High Priest Who has entered into the Holiest of Holies, through the veil of His own flesh and sanctified us by washing us with His very own blood.  He has saved us to the uttermost and, having paid such a high price, He will certainly not forget us or His promise to return.  It is our call to wait patiently and expectantly and... in holiness.

This last call to holiness before the Lord is the subject of this last chapter.  The author is convinced that God has called His Church to be always prepared for His Son's return.  Jesus taught us this in many parables such as that of the ten virgins. (Mat. 25:1ff)  He wants us to be "complete in every good work" in doing His will and thus to be "well-pleasing" in His sight. (vs. 21)  This is to be evident in all of our individual lives but particularly in our corporate witness.  

God's command to individual holiness is unto the end that there will exist an entire body of people, collectively recognized as the Church of Jesus Christ, that commends to the world a lifestyle of holiness.  To this end, as in this chapter, His commands are addressed to an entire body of believers.  These believers will be organized, administered, and disciplined under leaders who are designated "rulers." (vs. 7, 17)  Thus, there will not be chaos and disunity in faith and practice but rather there will be a "separate people", a culture, a social order, that displays the hallmarks of grace (vs. 9).  

This witness of holiness will not, and cannot, be that of absolute sinlessness.  Rather it will be recognized by their attitude toward sin, forgiveness, and love.  They will guard against sin in the home and their marriage beds. (vs. 4)  They will strive to be worthy of the sacrifice offered up on their behalf (vs. 13) and recognize their common bond in sharing in that sacrifice.  Therefore their brotherly love will rise above petty covetousness and sincerely rejoice in others' special blessings and providential supply. (vs. 5)

Most of all, however, even in the face of fearsome persecution and spiritual warfare, this society will resound in continual praise.  They will offer up the "fruit" of their lips in this "sacrifice" in the full knowledge that their God is "well pleased" in such things. (vs. 15)

Thus, unlike the rather bleak, static, pier in the image above, this "nation" will be dynamic and bright.  They will wait in hope, having a taste of God's blessings now and knowing that a full feast awaits.  Their eyes are indeed on the horizon, beyond which they know they have a "continuing city" that is to come. (vs. 14)  They may be temporally in rags, bleeding from wounds, grieving over their loved ones, or otherwise subject to trial, but they are never defeated.  They cannot be defeated because Jesus Christ "is the same yesterday, today, and forever."  He is as He was.  He will be as He is now.  He cannot change, He cannot lie and He will ultimately prevail over all His enemies in time as He prevailed over them on the cross.

This is the Spirit of Hope and "He" is the animating power that enables and empowers the witness of God's special people.

 

 

 

Hebrews 10:19-38 Let Us Draw Near... In Holy Fear

Image: "Approach With Care", 2010, Vicinity of Bertram, Tx.

Hebrews 10:22–24  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works,

Hebrews 10:30–31 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Hebrews 10:36–38 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

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In this chapter, the author maintains a beautiful balance.  On the one hand, he exhorts us to embrace the incredible privilege we have been granted.  He calls on us to "draw near" to our God, fully assured that our High Priest has completely cleansed us from anything which would detract from our access.  He tells us that we must only "hold fast the confession of our hope" in this.  In other words, our faith is exactly trusting that we have been granted this privilege through the grace and mercy of our God and the mediation of our Christ.  Clinging to that faith is what gains us access to our God.  It is His gracious edict and is His covenant rule.

But, on the other hand, the author clearly states that the God to Whom we are called to draw near is the Almighty, Holy, Most Righteous, Jealous God.  He is the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, yea and amen.  But He is also the God of Moses, bringing down terrible judgments on Egypt and its Pharaoh.  This is He who rained down fire from heaven on Sodom and Gomorrah as well as on the pagan offerings and the priests who insulted Elijah.  He is the God who healed the lame as proof that the apostles were indeed His emissaries, but He is also the God who struck down Ananias and Sapphira for their hypocritical arrogance and pride.  Is the picture becoming clear?

Here we read that after being exhorted to draw near in faith, we are told that if we sin willfully, in other words, we cling to our old sinful ways and want to have it both ways, that no "sacrifice" for such sins is possible.  He reminds us that even among those who profess to believe that there are "adversaries" (vs. 27) who have only the "fearful expectation of judgment and fiery indignation" awaiting them.

Our God is a loving God Who blesses us beyond measure and faithfully forgives the sins of those who sincerely strive to serve Him in righteousness and holiness.  But He is also the jealous God who declares that "Vengeance is Mine.... and ... I WILL repay."  In saying this He is not speaking to those nasty pagans outside.  He is speaking to "His people" whom He will judge. (vs. 30)

Then the author sums it up in the famous declaration:  "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God."  Draw near in faith... but... approach with care.

As James will clearly teach us in his writings, God has zero-tolerance for "double-minded" professors of faith.  Our sin does not pose an absolute barrier.  Jesus paid a price sufficient for the redemption of the whole world... everybody that has ever lived.  But the price Jesus paid is efficient only for those who draw near to God in sincere faith, who have thrown all their lives down at His feet and said, in effect, "here am I, do with me as you will, O God, and thank you for the privilege of my salvation."

Modern ears don't like to hear these kinds of things.   We live in a culture where every child gets a prize for just showing up.  We cannot imagine a God so "narrow-minded" as to require total submission.  We are aghast at the idea that a loving God could also be an angry God.  We want a God who is "nice."  That means, we want a God who makes no demands and requires no obedience.  That may be what we want but it is not the God who confronts us and declares that we are responsible before Him for embracing Him as He is... not as our sinful hearts might prefer Him to be.

As was said earlier.  Our loving God has shown Himself faithful and long-suffering.  But He has also revealed that He is not a God that conforms to our will and desires... He is the God who requires that we conform to His!

 

 

 

Hebrews 10:01-18 - Perfected Forever!

Image: "Impressive Display", 2010, Hill Country, Tx

Hebrews 10:1  For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

Hebrews 10:9–10  then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. 10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Hebrews 10:11–14  And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, 13 from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. 14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.

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A field of flowers such as the above presents a brilliant tapestry to our gaze.  Not everyone appreciates the same mix of colors in such images but given a mix they do enjoy, such a vision is entirely pleasing.  When viewed in large the individual flowers appear perfect, each adding its own shape, texture, and hue to the overall effect.  We know, of course, that if inspected closely we would see defects in each.  There would be insects crawling here and there, perhaps a jagged leaf or petal, or even some wilt.  But those things are not visible from a more distant perspective.  In fact, the flowers appear "perfect."

Throughout the years I have been thrilled by the biblical insight that God's purpose for all history is to build His own tapestry.  When viewed from the back, and up close, a tapestry appears to be nothing but a bunch of knots and woven threads, but turn it over, and the individual threads interact to produce a beautiful and complex design.  God's tapestry is constructed from individual lives, individually selected by Him, and woven into His History of Redemption.  Up close and personal, during this age, each life certainly has its defects and shortcomings, but one day, when the end of the ages has arrived, that tapestry will be "turned over" and there, beautifully laid out before God's eyes, will be His perfect composition.

Each thread, each life, that comprises that tapestry will be, on that day, perfect.  There will be no defects, no clashing hues, no detracting features at all, anywhere.  This tapestry accomplishes God's purpose to have all His creation shine forth before Him in God-glorifying brilliance.  A perfect achievement.

In these verses, the writer of Hebrews lays out for us how each of those individual "threads" will be made perfect.

Every human being born into the fallen world, apart from Jesus of Nazareth Himself, enters life defective.  Apart from intervening grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, each person so born will degrade even further.  Sin accumulates in our lives and there is no earthly cure for the damage it wreaks.  Needless to say, the only way a composite image of the human race can appear "beautiful" is if it is looked at from a distant perspective indeed.  Obviously, mankind is aware, in some manner, of this intrinsic degradation in all of us.  Over the centuries many human "cures" have been offered, usually in the form of various religious practices, mystic philosophies, or other such.  But, as verse 1 makes abundantly clear:  any "law" which men adopt and follow, seeking a way to heal their defects, will never and can never, make anyone perfect.

But God's eternal plan will not be stymied, not even by sin.  He, in His incredible wisdom, saw that the perfection of humanity has to be accomplished externally to each of us.  God Himself has to wash away the filth, rid the "flower" of attacking pests, and inject brilliance into faded colors.  And, what we must realize, is, that what God makes "perfect", no power in heaven or on earth can reverse.

Here we see the incredible power of verse 14:  For by one offering, He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.  The Lord Jesus Christ, by His one offering of His own body and blood, has accomplished what no mere human power could do.  He has made us perfect.  

That's hard for us to accept because we live "up close and personal" with ourselves and we are way too familiar with our imperfections, to say the least.  But though not perfect in this age we are already perfect in the age to come.  God does not exist in time and space as do we.  He is perfectly able to contemplate our actual, eternal status now.  He sees us as we really are, our eternal reality, not our present, passing, mutable self.  This is why the apostle John, in a very surprising verse, says that God's people "cannot sin".  What he means is that not even our present sinfulness in this age can alter that eternal reality.  God's grace has abounded in the face of abundant sinfulness.

Having done this, once and for all, obviously there is no need for any further offerings.  Once God has sanctified us and made us eternally holy, what further cleansing could be supplied?  There is none, of course.  Anyone who even suggests some further need for it is diminishing the work of our Christ and is to be soundly repudiated.

But for us, the beneficiaries of Jesus' work, what is left for us is to worship in passionate gratitude for this privilege and blessing.  We have been chosen to be beautiful in God's sight and that is worth any challenges we have to endure to fill our spot.