Opinions May Come Back

“Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job.” (Job 42:8 AV)

The problem with an opinion is that it may come back to bite us.  Job’s three friends accused Job of sin equal to the circumstances of which he suffered.  One accused him of sin which he had committed.  One accused him of sin he was committing.  The third accused him of sin yet to be committed.  None of Job’s friends entertained that unfortunate circumstances may not have anything to do with sin.  They kicked a good man while he was done.  Now, the LORD is advising them that if Job does not show any mercy, they will suffer for the judgement which they had just passed upon Job.  They will have their lives examined and the LORD will chasten them according to their error. 

It is unfortunate we are quick to opinions and judgments.  There is a saying.  It’s the kettle calling the pot black.  Both are in the fire and both get soot on them.  It is advisable to keep one’s opinion to one’s self if it concerns someone else lest the same judgment be passed upon us.  Spending time with many siblings gave plenty of opportunity to see this truth unfold.  As children, we often diverted (or attempted to divert) our father’s attention away from our faults onto a sibling’s error so that we escaped punishment.  This happened so frequently, it is hard to come up with one example.  We might draw attention to a sibling’s messy room or undone chores so that we didn’t get in trouble for a failing grade.

It is my experience that when an individual is a little too loose with accusations, he probably has something bigger he is trying to hide.  When it comes to leadership or pastors, it is kind of interesting that our least faults are greater than the greatest of our accusers.  We can have a failure of judgement in a small area which to our accuser is far worse than their own egregious sin.  One better show grace lest the LORD require the same judgment upon us!

There Is A Difference

“Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.” (Job 39:17 AV)

The direct context is the ostrich.  The LORD speaks of all that the ostrich does which shows a great lack of wisdom.  Then He makes this statement.  The LORD deliberately created the animal kingdom with the inability of higher reasoning.  The animal kingdom does not act logically.  Survival instincts is what drives the animal kingdom.

There is a dangerous idea that is popular even in today’s Christian circles.  This idea is promoted by misguided science and the likes of Walt Disney.  This idea that mankind is only one small step above the animal kingdom and that given just a little more time, animals will be able to reason and communicate on the level of humans.  This is not how the LORD created the animals nor will it ever happen.  The LORD created man different than the animals.  He created mankind with an honor and value that animals will never have.  All one has to do is spend some time in the woods to see this as so.  One fall, while deer hunting, I noticed something that a human would never do.  A doe noticed me in the stand and couldn’t quite figure me out.  She knew something was off but couldn’t figure out the impending danger.  Then I saw something that surprised me.  This doe allowed her fawn to get really close to me and didn’t react until the fawn alarmed.  She allowed her offspring to approach danger so that she didn’t have to.  I have seen a doe run her young male offspring off so he didn’t mate with her or her other female fawn.  She kicked him out of the family.  I have seen a hen turkey abandon her nest, refusing to guard it against a lesser threat like possum.

Recently, there was an outcry over two dogs found in our area that spoke volumes to where we are as a society.  Both were malnourished.  One has suffered a gunshot wound.  The perpetrators should be punished.  Fined or jailed; whatever the law says.  But the outcry over it is what speaks to who we are.  We are more upset at the mistreatment of two animals than we are the murder of countless unborn children!  God created the animal kingdom with less glory than man.  DEAL WITH IT!

He Often Rescues

“Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.” (Job 33:29-30 AV)

I count on this a lot!  This is God’s mercy!  This is God’s grace!  This is perhaps one of the most encouraging things anyone has ever said to Job.  This truth is sometimes the only truth that will ever work.  This truth is what gets us through the darkest of hours.  I know this for a fact.  Unlike Job, my pit was self-inflicted.  I dug it myself.  I jumped in.  I decided to make some choices that led to deep despair.  So deep that I didn’t think I would ever come out.  But the LORD will not allow His children to stay in that pit.  While we are in the pit, it is easy to forget this.  When we are out of the pit, we know it to be true!

Every once in a while, we read of a small child or animal who fell down a well.  Stories like that seem to come to the front page rather quickly.  It is one of those stories that tug at the heart of all who see or read of it.  I can remember the little 18 month old girl, Jessica McClure, who fell down a well in her aunt’s yard in Midland, Texas.  For 58 hours, it was the only item news outlets covered.  It captivated the entire world.  Rescue crews worked for 2 ½ days to free her and was finally successful.  People from all over the world were struggling to process the reality of this little year and a half old girl, all alone, in the bottom of a well for almost three days.  It was getting perilous because she had nothing to drink and dehydration might have taken her life.  The support from both rescues workers and support personnel was overwhelming.  The whole world was moved to get this little girl out of this pit.

If the whole world will move to rescue a girl they don’t even know, how much more will our God move to rescue us?  He created us and loves us more than words could ever tell.  I know, by experience, these pits can be awfully dark.  No doubt, Job experienced the worst of all.  God may not restore our health back to where it was.  He may not replenish lost loved ones with new ones.  God may not give more physical wealth than we had before. But that doesn’t mean He cannot bring us out of a pit.  He sure can.  He sure does.  And He does this often!

Own It

“Oh that one would hear me! behold, my desire is, that the Almighty would answer me, and that mine adversary had written a book. Surely I would take it upon my shoulder, and bind it as a crown to me.” (Job 31:35-36 AV)

Job’s contention throughout the book is the circumstances of his life are not understood in light of him fearing God and eschewing evil.  Job is assuming that his misfortune must be punishment for sins committed, yet he cannot come up with sin egregious enough to justify his situation.  What Job is stating above is that if the LORD were to write a book of all the transgressions which justify his situation, he would gladly and publicly own it!  He would bear is indictment like a Boy Scout sash over the shoulder for all to see his faults, or like a crown upon his head for all to identify him with the errors of his ways.  In other words, Job is not asking for the LORD to justify His actions as much as it is he wants to know what he did so that he can own it.

How refreshing!  A saint of God who actually wants to know what he did wrong so he can own up to it and be identified with it.  Rather than hide his faults, he wants to declare that he has them.  He wants to identify publicly with his shame so that God’s actions are justified before all.  This is Job’s desire.

As refreshing as that might be, and admirable for all to emulate, there are times when our guilty conscience can get the better of us.  Not all bad things happen because we were bad.  There is persecution.  There are trials of faith.  There are consequences of from the choices of other people from which we suffer as a secondary participant.  It is a really good thing to ask the LORD to reveal any and all faults which the cause of our situation may be.  In fact, it should be the first thing we do.  And we should own it!  But, if there is no sinful cause for our situation, then maybe we should consider another possibility.  Always own what you are!  Never try to hide it.  God knows even if we do not!  But if there is no cause for chastisement, maybe it is an opportunity to learn faith.

Respect and Understanding

“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” (Job 28:28 AV)

Fear of the LORD is important.  Respecting the LORD; who and what He is; is the foundation of enjoying a life in the blessings of which God intended.  God has set up laws.  These laws of actions and consequences are designed to provide mankind with the most enjoyable life possible.  Adam and Eve were given a garden in which all their needs were provided.  God gave them purpose of existence by asking them to tend the garden.  He gave them a sin free environment with no worries.  Then sin entered.  There was only one law.  Do eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  Just one law for the purpose of teaching authority and accountability.  Just one law.  Yet, they broke that one law and mankind has been reaping the consequences ever since.  These laws of natural consequences are meant to teach us that God’s ways are the best ways.  When we violate those laws, we show a profound lack of understanding.

We have all watched America’s Funniest Videos.  That show that awards a cash prize for the funniest home video submitted.  The vast majority of these videos are of people exercising a lack of understanding.  Whether is it is a skateboarder unsuccessfully navigating a railing, a wedding guest dancing on a week tabletop, or a do-it-yourselfer falling a tree on top of his house, it reveals that we human beings are not the brightest light bulb in the pack.  When it comes to God’s moral and spiritual laws, we are no different.  And the consequences can be equally tragic.  Failed homes, failed careers, failing health, or failing spiritual life are all consequences of a lack of understanding.

We are at the point where we need to stop the foolishness and grow up!  Lack of understanding is a child’s experience.  One would think that eventually, consequences would instruct a person that respecting the LORD and His laws is the best thing for us.  But even most adults do not heed this truth.  Onward we go, reaping the consequences of our choices, showing a complete lack of understanding.

Obedience Through Obstacles

“My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.” (Job 23:11-12 AV)

This is quite remarkable when one considers the circumstances.  For Job to remain faithful when he had lost everything without any kind of explanation is beyond remarkable.  Having suffered at the hand of Satan with the permission of God whom he feared, and still hold his devotion to the way of the LORD is something no one else could or would ever do.  There are men and women in the Bible who are unique.  Most of them are.  The heroes of the faith are heroes because they accomplish things that no one else would or could do.  David was a leader who would not allow his own personal failures to discourage him from leading.  Moses was a man who loved God’s sheep more than any other man of God would ever do.  Peter was bold.  Paul was persistent.  The list goes on and on.  God gave us these examples that we might strive after them.  Job is such a one.

There are times in our lives when things are not going so well.  It is in these times that our true character is revealed.  What we are in times of crisis is often what we truly are.  I know that on one set of circumstances, serving in a church that wasn’t going so well, I was surprised to find out who and what I truly was.  Thinking I was a man of faith, I realized how little I had.  Thinking I was a man of deep convictions, I realized that perhaps I had not thought those convictions through enough to endure with them through hard times.  It is revealing what happens to a person when a little stress is introduced.  Years ago, there was a faithful man serving the LORD, but trouble came to his home.  When we came into contact, I smelled alcohol on his breath and he was acting far less stressed than normal.  It was his way of dealing with a horrible set of circumstances.  In one sense, it can be completely understood.  No one could endure trouble that comes to another.  On the other hand, it revealed who he truly was.

The lesson for us is that when all else is stripped away; our wealth, our family, and our health; all we have left is our integrity.  That is really all that have anyway.  Our integrity is the one thing the Devil cannot take away.  If we no longer have it, it is because we gave it away.

Prayer And Fear Go Hand in Hand

“Yea, thou castest off fear, and restrainest prayer before God.” (Job 15:4 AV)

Even a fool can utter a statement of truth now and again.  Eliphaz has made the statement that Job is teetering on the brink of sinning with his lips.  He is asserting that Job has abandoned his fear of God by questioning God’s wisdom or right to allow to happen to him what had happened.  Job’s intent is not as nefarious as Eliphaz is asserting.  Job is merely trying to figure God out.  Job is not putting God on trial.  His fear of God has not changed.  He still fears God.  But Eliphaz’s statement shows a possibility.  If prayer is restrained, or not practiced, then the fear of God is often the loss.  Praying people fear the God to whom they pray.  Those who do not pray do not fear.

Years ago, when I was in grade school, I had a teacher who got on us boys for making paper footballs.  Those triangle folded notebook paper footballs that we used to play desktop football with during recess or in between classes.  Our teacher absolutely hated those.  And for good reason.  When football matches erupted, paper footballs would fly through the air.  On one particular day, she had gotten on to us pretty hard.  Then she was summoned to the office and left her class unattended.  The boys got to work and over the next twenty or thirty minutes, made as many as we could.  Before she arrived back, we had covered her desk with hundreds of them.  When she was away, we had no fear.  But when she was near, we feared her like God Himself.  The difference?  Her presence.  As long as there was communication, they there was fear.

So, too, is it with the saint.  The more we fear the LORD, the more we pray.  The more we pray, the more we fear.  Fear, being sacred respect for who and what God is, is a good thing.  Fear which is cast out be perfect love is not the fear of healthy respect.  Rather, it is fear of an unjust and tyrannical God.  That is not good fear.  Awesome respect for a God who creates and controls all things is the fear which results in growth, faith, and holy living.  This fear is always nurtured by prayer!

Let Patience Have Her Perfect Work

“Even that it would please God to destroy me; that he would let loose his hand, and cut me off! Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.” (Job 6:9-10 AV)

It only seems as though immediate relief also means permanent relief.  Job assertion was if the LORD would simply destroy him, end his life, then he would have permanent and lasting relief.  This is not so.  For Job, an Old Testament saint, he would have spent the next few thousand years in the bosom of Abraham.  He would have to deal with the fact that he gave up on God when God had not given up on him.  He would have wondered what life might have been or what opportunities were missed because he did not allow patience to have her perfect work.

What Job went through was an experience only he could have endured.  Let us remember that Job was a unique individual who endured horrible circumstances for God’s glory, even when he did not realize it.  Job was a saint that none of us could ever be.  Even though he is exemplary, there are a few things we can learn from him.  Specially the thoughts that went through his mind and heart while in deep depression.  One such thought is rather frequent.  We just want it to be over and the quicker the better.  What we fail to realize is the divine purpose of it all.  We cannot see that purpose in the middle of our troubles.  Purposes are often hidden until the end of the trial.  It sure was for Job.

Had not Job seen it all the way through, he would not have been the testimony he and he alone is for countless saints who have followed.  We look at what he went through and determine that if Job can endure the worst possible circumstances, surely, we can endure our cross.  Job would not have been in comfort.  Job would have been disappointed in himself that he quit while the LORD had a once in an eternity opportunity for him.

Fear, Our Greatest Enemy

“For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me. I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came.” (Job 3:25-26 AV)

This makes no sense at all.  Job had everything going for him. He was the wealthiest of all men.  Perfect health.  The only area of concern was his children who liked feasts and wine a bit too much, and a wife who would rather curse God and die.  Prior to all the misfortune, Job says he was not in safety.  Yet he was.  He says he did not have rest.  Yet he did.  He said he was not in quiet.  Yet, he was.  Specially compared to the trouble that came.  So, what is Job talking about?  He is referring to the previous verse.  Fear!  Things were going relatively well, yet he had in the back of his mind that all good things can come to an end.  He lived in fear.  This is what motivated him to fear God and eschew evil.  This is what blessed him.  But it was also a torment.

Job learned a lesson that no other person would ever survive.  He lost everything of value to him.  Everything.  What made it worse was the absence of a justifiable reason for it.  He knew that he hadn’t recently committed sin so horrible as to warrant the loss of everything.  He saw no possible upside to it.  He saw no positive hand of God in all of this.  Yet, there was.

Job learned that even if he has to suffer the worst of all his fears, the LORD would assist him through it and bless him in the end.  He learned that no matter how horrible our fear might be, the God of all God’s is greater.  He learned that God did not owe him anything even if Job did fear him and eschew evil.  Job learned a very valuable lesson that few will ever have the privilege to learn.  He learned to experience his greatest fear and have the LORD sustain him through it.  No doubt, after this trial was all over, no matter what news would come to him in the future, he could face it without ever experiencing deep depression again.

Hope In Hopelessness

“The Jews had light, and gladness, and joy, and honour.” (Es 8:16 AV)

God is not a tyrant.  He is not out to make our lives unbearable.  Even when we deserve it, the LORD does not allow us to remain is difficult circumstances without some ray of hope.  Such is the case above.

Haman, a wicked egotistical man, moved with envy against the Jews.  Because Mordecai refused to worship him, he moved the king to write a decree for the destruction of the Hebrews.  Only by the miraculous intervention of the LORD by using Esther to write additional legislation, allowing for the Jews to defend themselves, did the Hebrews have this light.  Because of 490 years of Sabbath year neglect, the people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon.  They would be there for 70 years, on year for every Sabbath year ignored, until the promised land had its rest.  They were captive in a city and land that was antagonistic to their faith.  Often enslaved, they were denied the ability to live completely as Jews.  This hatred reached a boiling point with Haman and Mordecai.  Things were going from bad to worse.  According to the curses of Deuteronomy, the Hebrews deserved to be destroyed.  However, God made an unconditional covenant with them and they would endure by the grace of God.

God may, and often does, have to chasten us.  Or, He may ask us to go through really difficult faith building trials.  But there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.  It is up to us to look for it.  The Word of God warns us not to chasten our children above that which they can handle lest they become completely defeated in the process.  There has to be some hope laid out there.  God does this for us.  He will not chasten us to the point we are completely lost from any hope.  He may be seeking to break our wills.  But not our spirit.  There is a difference.  If you find yourself in the midst of hard times, look for God’s light. It will be there.

God Is Always In Control

“Then said Zeresh his wife and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made of fifty cubits high, and to morrow speak thou unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged thereon: then go thou in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman; and he caused the gallows to be made.” (Es 5:14 AV)

The most amazing aspect of the book of Esther is that God is never mentioned by name, yet His providence is all over the book.  The above verse bears testimony of this fact.

When coming home from the first of Esther’s banquets, Haman passed by Mordecai.  Mordecai nether stood and did obeisance, nor moved from his post in any way out of respect for Haman.  And he was not required to do so.  Only in Haman’s mind were people supposed to publicly honor him as someone of importance in the kingdom.  This made Haman irate.  He went home and bragged on all that he had accomplished and attained.  It was rather significant.  Yet, as long as this one Jew refused to bow to him, he could never be happy.  As long as his ego was not satisfied, Haman was miserable.  He was the second in the kingdom. He had as much as someone who was not the king could have.  Yet, as long as those Jews did not worship him, he was beside himself.

So, his wife and associates made the suggestion he build a gallows and hand Mordecai on those gallows.  His wife further suggested he ask for the life of Mordecai prior to the second banquet.  The Devil is very smart here.  If Haman asks for the life of Mordecai and shows just cause of disrespect, then when Esther reveals herself and the niece of this accused rebel, there would be no mercy for her.  Consequently, there would be no mercy for the Jews.  In order for Esther’s plan to work, Haman could not bring up Mordecai before the banquet.  And that is just what happened.  We do not know how.  Maybe Haman forgot.  Maybe the king was so busy with other business that Haman had no opportunity.  However it may have happened, the hand of God directed it.

Never doubt the hand of God moves is ways we will never know.  God’s hand of sovereignty is a wondrous thing to behold when we can.  But even more so when we cannot.

As Goes the Sabbath, So Goes the LORD

“Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?” (Ne 13:17 AV)

What was the evil to which Nehemiah was referring?  Allowing commerce in the gates of the city on the Sabbath.  The heathen of the land where allowed to bring their wares to the gates and the people of God bought and sold on the Sabbath.  The Sabbath became a day of business and consumption rather than a day totally devoted to the LORD.  They profaned the Sabbath by treating it the same as any other day of the week.  As the people of God treat the Sabbath, they treat the LORD.  If the LORD’s day is not unique and special, worthy of our devotion, then neither will the LORD be.  How the people view the LORD is reflected in how they treat the Sabbath!

A funny thing happens when one preaches in church attendance.  Instead of increasing numbers, people actual do just the opposite.  Numbers decrease.  This has happened each and every time church attendance is mentioned.  It is almost as though the people of God deliberately stay home because the man of God will not tell them what they should do.  If the word of God commands us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, and we do, then we are treating the LORD as something other than He is.  King of kings and Lord of lords.  If we have other priorities than worship, then we are treating the LORD as someone to be used.  He is worthy of some of our devotion; especially when it benefits us.  But He is not worthy of our full devotion.

In our passage, and as a principle of scripture, the LORD’s day is a whole day. They may have gone to temple, but they also spent the greater part of the day in commerce.  The bulk of their attention was not on the LORD.  It was on things of this world.   It is a special day wherein the LORD is the center of our thoughts.  The preacher harps on church attendance not because he wants to see more numbers for his own ego.  He does so because he knows the manner in which the saint of God treats the Sabbath is the same manner in which he holds the LORD of the Sabbath.

Rejoice in Forgiveness

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (Ne 8:10 AV)

Judah had just assembled to hear the law of the LORD read and explained before them.  The fact the word of God survived the total destruction of Jerusalem and the temple is a testimony to the promise that God preserves His word!  When they heard the word of God read and explained, it moved the people to tears and sorrow.  Conviction arose in their hearts as they realized just how far from the law they had strayed.  It made sense that God brought judgment upon them.  The guilt became overwhelming.  However, God had different plans for that day.  The temple was repaired and open for worship.  The walls and gates had been repaired.  Construction of their homes was under way.  This was a time for rejoicing.  This was a time for gratitude.  This was a time to humbly accept God’s grace and allow that wonderful grace to strengthen them in spirit and soul.

Dwelling on our sin and failures of the past can become debilitating.  Choosing to rehash in the mind and heart how we have failed the LORD is not constructive.  At some point, one must accept the fact of divine forgiveness and rejoice in the love of God!  If not, the failures of the past will keep the soul in a down cast spirit, imprisoned in a web of depression from which it is almost impossible to escape.

We all have these failures.  We all have those times in life when we made some really bad decisions.  Some of them may even have been life changing.  Every time we see that scar, the memory of our choice comes to the surface.  Every time a trigger brings the event to our minds, we wonder how a God of holiness could even forgive what we have done.  We sink back into a pit of defeat because we cannot seem to forgive ourselves.  The thing about God’s chastening hand is that it does end.  It makes no sense of us to continue in on our own.  When God’s grace comes, it is time to rejoice.  No matter how bad our actions were, it is time to be grateful at God’s forgiveness and mercy.  It is time to grow again.

The Refocusing Power of Prayer

“Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall. Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity: And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.” (Ne 4:3-6 AV)

The best thing to do when faced with something which one can do nothing about is to pray about it.  Let the work go on.  Nehemiah was very wise here.  He didn’t obsess about a threat he could do little about.  He prayed aloud so the people could hear.  Then continued the work. By continuing the work, Nehemiah publicly showed his faith to all the people.  He left a problem with the LORD and continued on as though the LORD had already solved it.  Pray about it!  Prayer never hurts the cause of God.  It only helps.

Prayer is underutilized, to say the least.  There is more benefit from prayer than getting our prayers answered.  In fact, after Nehemiah prayed this prayer, God did not immediately deal with the threat at hand.  Nehemiah placed armed guards on the wall which discouraged and attack from the enemy.  Later, the enemy would entice the Jews to compromise while Nehemiah was away on business.  The prayer did not get answered as we might think. The LORD gave Nehemiah wisdom in how to deal with the threat, but the threat remained all during the project and even after it was completed. So, what benefit did prayer bring to Nehemiah and the people?

No doubt, God’s answer to Nehemiah was not to directly and permanently remove the threat.  Instead, wisdom was the answer.  There was a greater benefit to Nehemiah and the people.  A benefit which the people of Israel had a hard time learning and appreciating.  The benefit of faith.  When prayer is offered, we are forced to either leave our concerns with the LORD, or, take them up again after request has been made.  If we leave them with the LORD, we have prayed in faith as James the Apostle tells us to.  If not, then we have not prayed in faith.  Prayer is intended to be an exercise of faith.  The more we pray, the more faith.  The more faith, the more peace of heart.  Prayer is the muscle behind consistent spiritual growth.  The more we leave with God in prayer, the more we can concentrate on being busy for the LORD.

The Right Way is the Harder Way

“Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.” (Ezr 8:21 AV)

Sometimes, the harder choice is the more spiritually beneficial one.  Ezra had two choices.  He could either take a direct route to Jerusalem and with the help of the Persian army, remain safe.  Or, he could seek a different way wherein he didn’t need the protection of the Persian army and support his testimony of the greatness of God.  Ezra bragged on the LORD and His ability to keep them secure in their journey back to Jerusalem.  What he was faced with was efficiency and pragmatism over God’s glory.  Sometimes the harder and more illogical way is the right way in order to keep one’s faith and integrity.

Practically expedient does not always translate into spiritually beneficial.  Pragmatism, which is practical expediency, is the mantra of today’s churches.  If it is quick, easy, and brings results while saving money and resources, then it must have been the right thing to do.  The problem is, short term gain often turns into long term losses.  Sometimes, the benefit may not be seen for some time.  Growing up in western New York, we had serious battles with snow.  We lived on a corner house which means we had twice as much sidewalk to shovel.  Our driveway was a six-car driveway.  More of a parking lot.  When it snowed, clearing it was a major operation.  My father had a Sears two stage snow blower.  This machine could move mountains.  However, it was rarely used.  My father would command his small army of eight sons out to the garage, each grab a shovel, and not come in until it was cleared.  That was o.k. if there was less than a foot and a half.  However, if more fell, that idle snow blower was an object of resentment.  Whether my father intended to teach us this or not, what we learned was that sometimes, persistence is the only thing that will get us through hard times of life.  Sometimes, no matter who deep the snow is, there is no easy way out and one must learn to tackle trials like one eats an elephant.  One bite at a time.

We never would have learned persistence and hope in dire circumstances any other way.  It took more time, effort, energy, and resources to do it the hard way.  But what we learned was worth the extra cost.  The saints of God and our churches are becoming too pragmatic.  What is the cost?  What is the return?  How well will be the response?  What will attract the greatest audience? Etc.  Sometimes, the hard way is the best way.  It could be done easier, but in the long run, the payoff is not worth it.

Perfect Obedience - Imperfect Circumstances

“From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not yet laid.” (Ezr 3:6 AV)

The people did not wait until a building was erected before they obeyed the LORD in offering sacrifices.  They did not wait for the perfect set of circumstances before they were willing to walk in faith and obedience.  The people of God are resilient.  They know how to make do with what they have and walk with God in all sorts of circumstances.

I have had the pleasure of meeting with believers in several countries.  It amazes me the gospel finds a way.  Only us Americans believe we need a perfect set of circumstances in order to be effective in reaching others for Christ.  We get our eyes on what the church down the road has that we do not have.  We think we have to have those things in order to be successful.  Not so.  The means and method of evangelism has never changed.  From the Great Commission to today, the LORD has never changed His method of spreading the gospel.  It has been, and always will be, by word of mouth.  One soul at a time.  Faith saints who are truly alive in Christ sharing their faith with those around them.  An infectious walk with God that is not based on our favorite music style or freedom to experience life as we see fit.  Rather, a life of self-denial, sacrifice, and obedience that manifest joy above happiness.  A life of contentment in the presence of God without all the trappings of an entertainment-oriented religion.  We don’t need all that stuff!  What we need is the integrity to walk in obedience in spite of perfect circumstances.

Ezra did the right thing.  He established the sacrificial system of worship prior to the rebuilding of the temple.  If he did not do this, once the building was completed and the project was over, interest in the sacrificial system would have waned.  By establishing obedience first, it gave purpose to the temple.  It gave a lasting meaning to the temple.  A church that is established first on the great commission sees its facilities as a means to an end.  Those who are facilities minded will cease to be on fire for the LORD once the building is erected.

Cast Away The Keepsakes

“But he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, as did Manasseh his father: for Amon sacrificed unto all the carved images which Manasseh his father had made, and served them;” (2Ch 33:22 AV)

I have a question.  Why weren’t the images destroyed?  Manasseh learned a hard lesson.  After refusing to continue in the revival his father initiated, Manasseh went completely the opposite direction.  He went so far as to establish idol worship as the national religion.  God took Manasseh by the hand of the king of Assyria and dragged him through the place of thorns.  He was tortured by the hand of a pagan king.  Manasseh repented and God heard him.  Manasseh was rescued and restored to his throne.  As a result, Manasseh cleaned out all that he has established accept for the images he had made and the high places Judah sacrificed unto the LORD.  He removed the images from public worship.  He must have stored them away because apparently, his son found them and set them up again.  The question is, why repent of a sin and not destroy it?  Even if you get victory over it, it could become a stumbling block to the next generation.

My wife and I go through a time of downsizing every spring.  We throw out a lot of stuff that we have accumulated over the last thirty years.  I even came across the corsage that I wore at our wedding.  I might just keep that.  But there are other things that have sat idle for decades and only dusting them off reveals what we once treasured.  But there are other things the saints keep.  Old pieces of a former life that one hopes never to go back to.  But the remnants still remain.  An old ticket stub to a rock concert.  A picture of a prom dance with someone who never became a spouse.  Posters of teen idols.  Maybe that old cassette tape of a song we still hang on to even though it is about inappropriate living.  We hang on to these things because the old man still feels regret over having to give them up.  We would never go back there.  The pain from it all was too real.  But there is still a small part of us that misses it even though it would never be repeated.

The problem is, there is a new generation that knows nothing of the pain or consequences of those things.  They interpret our mementos as something to be cherished.  Then pursued.  We may never attend another concert in or lives where drugs and alcohol are a part.  But the next generation sees our mementos as approval of it and will pursue it.  Having an old beer can from our past life may be ‘cool’ to us.  But it may entice a future generation to consume it.  An old Elvis album may be innocuous to us. But it just might be the bridge for a future generation to go down the road of full blown rock and roll.  If God was gracious enough to save us from it, we need to destroy what is left of it.  All of it!  Lest a future generation find it, experience it, and take it one step further.

No Delay In Revival

“And Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people, that God had prepared the people: for the thing was done suddenly.” (2Ch 29:36 AV)

What does revival look like?  What are some indications that God is working in the midst of His people?  What do we look for to know that God has stirred His people to get right and go forward with Him?  Do we look for change?  Absolutely.  When Hezekiah began the process of reviving the nation, the first thing he did was to restore temple worship. He cleaned the building of every offence to the LORD!  People immediately began to sacrifice again.  They sought to establish the feast days.  Particularly, Passover.  There was change.  There was rejoicing.  There was praising God again.  But one of the indicators of revival is the speed in which this occurred.  When God stirs his people, the people act – fast!  When God’s people want to do something for the LORD, it doesn’t take months or years.  They catch the vision, pursue God’s will, and solve problems along the way.  There is little or no delay.  No countless meetings to discuss every conceivable idea.  Action is immediate and swift when God comes down!

My years of experience as a hospital chaplain and taught me that when a near dead patient is revived, it happens rather quickly.  Event though injuries or the illness that caused near death may take some time to heal, the initial revival happens within seconds.  A heart stops and out comes the defibrillator.  The paddles are charged and the patience is shocked.  He may experience irregular rhythm for a moment, but a shot of the right rug and perhaps a few more applications of current, and regular sinus rhythm returns.  If a near death experience is overcome, it is usually done quickly.  If not, the patient, it time, usually expires.

There is no life and action in the body of Christ because we are near death.  The man of God attempts to warn of near death, but we do not respond.  We pray for revival, but when the Holy Spirit comes to bring it, we quench Him.  Hezekiah, and his grandson Josiah, brought the greatest revival to Judah because of one thing. They read in the word of God the law of God and it stirred them to comply to the word of God.  Revival is not a feeling.  Revival is immediate and total surrender to the commands of the word of God.  Nothing less.  Nothing more.  If the people are revived, immediate obedience is the result.  Quickly!

Church Attendance is Most Important

“And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah did: howbeit he entered not into the temple of the LORD. And the people did yet corruptly.” (2Ch 27:2 AV)

Doing everything right yet neglecting public worship isn’t enough to save one’s people!  This is what Uzziah did.  He did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet he refused to go to church!  He wouldn’t publicly humble himself in worship.  He wouldn’t fellowship with others at the temple.  He integrity and character were admirable.  But it wasn’t enough.  Because he never made it to church, the people never followed his example.  He character was perceived as nothing more that right choices verses wrong choices for the purpose of avoiding consequences.  He character was never seen as an exercise of worship before the LORD.

There are plenty of people like this.  They are morally upstanding people.  They pay their bills on time, work hard, and live in the integrity of their heart.  Yet, they refuse to come to the house of the LORD, or, their attendance is spotty at best.  By refusing to attend the LORD’s house, they are making a public statement of non-submission.  They are actively not acknowledging Jesus as LORD in all areas of life.  Because they are setting this example, their children and grandchildren take it one step further.  They will not follow the LORD in anything.

I have had the privilege to minister to all sorts.  It is my experience that a less than perfect, yet faithful to church parent, has more blessings in their family than one who has impeccable character yet refuses to attend the house of God.  Thus, the command in Hebrews 10:25!  The assembling of ourselves together directly effects the walk of others even more than it may ourselves.  When the king refuses to go to church, no matter how morally upstanding he is, may be the ruin of those under him!