Checkmate

“Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us.” (Isa 8:10 AV)

This challenge is to the enemies of Judah.  In particular, when Assyria came for the northern kingdom, the southern kingdom knew God was with them.  Even though their backslidden brethren were going into captivity, Judah knew that while they walked with God, there was not plan that would prosper against them.  They had the unshakable covenants of Abraham, Isaac, and David as their foundation.  Even if they, too, would go into captivity, God would still honor those covenants, leave a remnant, and eventually prosper Israel again.  The world, the devil, and the flesh may think they can win.  In reality, they cannot.  There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.

Chess is an aggravating game.  I enjoy watching other play it, but I do not.  Simply put, I am not that great of a strategist.  I cannot think three steps ahead.  Not while put on a clock, anyway.  My eldest son plays.  He is a bit above average and maybe even considered good.  He is no expert.  But he can hold his own among most.  In one sitting, he unknowingly played an expert player.  It was fascinating.  This player had all possible moves figured out in his head.  No matter what my eldest did, there was a counter move that tightened the nose.  The expert player was not playing to win.  He was playing as though he already won.  His moves were merely the manifestation of a method to a certain end.  It was a beautiful thing to watch.

This is what it is like when the world, the devil, and the flesh think they can win a match with God.  We are in the middle of this battle and happen to be the king piece.  But the King of Kings is the hand the moves the pieces.  God is all knowing.  He knows every possible move the adversaries can make.  He knows every possible outcome and has determined the game to be played on His terms.  Sure, the devil, the world, and the flesh have liberty to be involved in the game and the Master need not force a choice.  The game is played and the choices restricted.  In the end, the Master checkmates his opponent.  As saints of God, we need to step back and realize our little world of being a pawn is not the entire picture.  There is a grand scheme in place and we are but a small part.  Having confidence in the hand that moves the pieces and trusting the promise of victory should give us encouragement to go through the difficult moves of life.  He is always in control!  We will win!  Of that, there is no doubt.

Animal Sense

“The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider.” (Isa 1:3 AV)

Sometimes, brute beasts show more sense that rebellious mankind.  An ox knows who his master is and follows.  An ass knows where he lays down his head at night and does not stray.  These brute beasts know it is easier to be domesticated and enjoy the provision of a master than to have unabated freedom and have to worry about provision and predator.   They do not need to be threatened with severe reprisal in order to submit to the will of the master.  Feed and a stable is motivation enough.  If unbreakable, they become a resident of the Elmer’s factory.

I have had several dogs in the past.  I love dogs.  They are awesome.  With the exception of perhaps a horse, there is no other animal that can be in tune with his master than a dog.  I have had all sorts of dogs.  One thing they always knew, regardless of breed or temperament, was where their food came from.  Each and every one would watch their food bowl and would watch me.  Camo was one in particular.  The bowl was at the end of a hallway leading to the back of the house.  I would sit in my recliner around feeding time and Camo would look one direction at the bowl, then look back at me.  Sometimes, he would do a little whine.  Maybe another time he would give a subtle bark.  However, he knew he wasn’t going to get fed until I felt like it.  Almost always, I attached some command of obedience to his feeding.  This way, he knew that he didn’t run me.  I ran him.  Other dogs would run away.  Given enough time, they would find their way back.  Why?  Because they were hungry.  They knew there was another creature willing to meet their needs and they would sit, lay down, or come if need be to get a bowl of food.

These brute beasts have more common sense and humility then most people. God created us and by Him all things consist.  How illogical and foolish it is for man to bite the hand that feeds him.  This is especially true of the people of God who backslide.  It is God who meets our needs and protects us from undue harm.  We know upon which side our bread is buttered.  My dogs have more sense than me.  My dogs do not bite and terrorize me because they know there would starve in the process.  Yet, we walk contrary to the will of God all the time not considering it is God who sustains us.

Our Savior's Love

“Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned.” (So 8:6-7 AV)

What love the Father hath bestowed upon us that he would send forth His Son to be our Savior and Husband that we might be called the sons of God.  These verses above reveal to us the depth of love which our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ has for His church and each individual believer.  Jesus Christ died for us; therefore, His love is strong.  He is jealous for us and strives on our behalf.  His love for us burns as a vehement flame.  Nothing can quench His love for us.  However, the last phrase really spoke to my heart this morning.  It brought me back to my early adult years, remembering when I first fell in love with my wife, and watching others do the same.

The word ‘…contemned…’ means, “to despise, hold in contempt, hold as insignificant.”  Let me draw a picture.  Two people are building a relationship with one another.  They become friends.  Then close friends.  The closer they become, the deeper their love grows.  Then it happens.  The LORD speaks to their hearts and they realize it is God’s will for them to marry.  The planning starts.  They pick the color scheme, the cake, the venue, the menu, and most importantly, the date.  Something else happens.  These two people become so enchanted with one another; it is though no one else exists.  To some, it is annoying and even boarders on rude.  However, if we would step back for a moment and observe this relationship, we see it is something beautiful.  This is the meaning of the underlined phrase above.  When those who do not love Christ as they should see someone who does, they despise it, hold it in contempt, or determine it a phase that shall pass.  This door swings both ways.  Not just the love a saint has for his or her Savior, but more importantly, the love He has for us.

To put it another way, Christ is enthralled with His beloved.  Like Isaac who sported with his wife Rebekah, Christ loves His church and each individual saint with a love the world cannot understand.  He loves us with a love that cannot be quenched.  He has us as close to the heart as a God can.  To describe His love for us outside of what the Bible directly states does a disservice.   His love is like the focused love of a pending Groom.  His eye is only for you!  Oh, what love!

Safe By Our Side

“Behold his bed, which is Solomon’s; threescore valiant men are about it, of the valiant of Israel. They all hold swords, being expert in war: every man hath his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.” (So 3:7-8 AV)

It was customary for the king to enjoy security in the most private of moments of life.  The passage above describes the groom, Solomon, coming to his bride surrounded by sixty men armed with swords.  Their job was to protect the king’s bedchamber at the time he was the most vulnerable.  They did not invade his privacy.  But they kept watch.  They feared because it was at this time the enemy was most likely to strike.  A time when things are quiet and the king is occupied with sleep or the comfort of his wife. 

It is often in the night when we struggle the most.  It seems we are at our weakest.  It seems we are the most vulnerable.  Several years ago, I suffered from night terrors.  Dreams that were so disturbing they concerned me.  Not that it was a nightmare or that I thought they might be real.  Rather, I was concerned that my mind could even think of that which I was dreaming.  It lasted a few years, but since then, they have not returned.  It is often in the quietness of the night when we retire from our activity that the enemy seems to tempt the mind.  He knows we are no preoccupied with immediate tasks.  He knows our hands are idle.  He knows we are not reading.  He knows we are shutting down and prayer is not an easy thing.

I don’t know if this is completely correct, but the Bible does say that God’s saints have ministering spirits.  Hebrews chapter one and verses thirteen and fourteen clearly teach God sends His angles and ministering spirits to assist those who will be heirs of salvation.  Perhaps I am stretching the text a bit, but I see no reason not to.  Perhaps these valiant men are a picture of those ministering spirits sent to keep us in the most vulnerable times of our day.  They are concerned because they are dealing with an adversary stronger than they.  But they stand guard.  They watch over us.  In the sweetness and quietness or our communion with the LORD in the darkest of night, we have watchers.  Those who battle in realms which we cannot see.  Faithful soldiers who keep on their sides swords, ready to protect the apple of God’s eye

For the Love of Truth

“And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.” (Ec 12:9-10 AV)

The preacher does not teach the people because the people heed or obey.  He teaches because he knows.  He does not minister because there are measurable results.  He ministers because God has taught him.  If we are not careful, we will become discouraged because we see little fruit from our efforts.  Ministry become about us rather than about God.  We do what we do because we’ve been committed to a trust.  A trust of the gospel and the truth of God’s word.

I’ve had the privilege of working as a chaplain among health care providers.  Specifically, doctors and nurses.  Those doctors that really impressed me were the trauma doctors.  The ER doctors who cared for patience in situations wherein immediate care was needed in order to save a life.  What goes through their minds is fascinating.  How they can process the stress of saving lives day in and day out is astounding.  Not knowing the final outcome of their attempts before they practice medicine is a challenge to overcome.  Will the patient make it?  Will this patient repeat the choices that brought them to the ER to begin with?  Will the fix that was offered work?  What kind of rehab are they looking at?  So many unanswered questions.  But these thoughts cannot enter in the mind of the trauma doctor.  He practices because he knows.  He practices because there are things to learn.  The best outcome is hoped for, but it cannot be guaranteed.  He finds satisfaction is applying what he knows and learns to deal with the results as a separate matter altogether.

The preacher should be content in the mere privilege it is to declare the word of God.  He should feel a sense of purpose and know that he has discharged his calling when he has taught and preached the truth of God’s word faithfully and with conviction.  Sure, Paul rejoiced in the Philippian converts.  He has pleasure in those whom he won at Ephesus.  It is right to good to rejoice at the works of one’s hands.  But we need to be careful that results are the motivation for what we do.  Noah had no converts outside of his own family.  The majority of the prophets of the Old Testament were not heeded.  Yet, they declared God’s truth because they were given it.  This is why we do what we do.  Let us leave the results to the Holy Spirit!

Fear After Failure Flourishes The Future

“Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before him: But it shall not be well with the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow; because he feareth not before God.” (Ec 8:12-13 AV)

One wonders sometimes why the LORD puts up with the saints when we fail Him so often.  In my own life, I can meditate on so many times I deeply failed God, yet He didn’t chasten me as severely as one would think warranted the situation.  Even further, one wonders why the LORD simply doesn’t put us out of our misery and call our life if all we do is fail one choice after another.  Why would He put up with such disappointment?  What is the difference between the sinner and the wicked?  Is it the volume of sin?  Or, it is our response to our sin?

What the world cannot understand is how one person can sin and be right with God and another cannot.  Why is it that the failing Christian can claim a relationship with the LORD will the lost, living in the same transgression, cannot claim a relationship with God?  How is it that there are saints embroiled in wickedness, yet go to church and read their bibles while still having some joy of heart while the lost look on, call the believer a hypocrite (which he is) but judge themselves as better people because at least they don’t call themselves Christian.  Don’t misunderstand me.  Sin is sin and all sin is wicked.  The difference is how the believer reacts to his sin as compared with the wicked and their reaction to the same sin.  In the above passage, the sinner can sin hundreds of times, but if he fears God, then God blesses.  What does that mean?  It means the sinner who fears God will seek forgiveness and strive to overcome his sin.  It does not mean he will be successful.  It merely means he knows that when he sins he does so against God.  Therefore, he bows in accountability to God.  The wicked do not do so.  When they are wicked, the have no concern over what that LORD thinks or how He feels.  There is no forgiveness sought and no victory desired.  This is the difference.

This truth should be an encouragement to those who walk with God.  Specially those who have a passion for perfection.  Those who are discouraged because they fail far more than they succeed, need to remember that God’s grace in response to our fear is what measures our walk.  Not necessarily always making the right choices.  This is not license to sin.  No, sir!  It is the light at the end of the tunnel.  God seeks those who will fear Him.  If we do, then we will walk less and less in the path of the sinner and more and more in the path of the saint.

God Controls All

“I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.” (Ec 3:14 AV)

Let us, from the get go, state the bible position.  God is sovereign.  He has decreed all things.  Yet, man does have the ability to choose freely.  This is a mystery, and a truth of great comfort.  It is the ultimate in God’s sovereignty.  His sovereignty both includes, yet is not dependent upon, the free will choices of men.  This Biblical truth is one of great security.  This means that no matter how much I screw up, it will not cause God one iota of control over His creation.  In His foreknowledge, He already took into account my choices and has ordered His creation accordingly.  There is nothing I can to do mess up God’s plan.  He controls all!

Now that we have that out of the way, let us make come practical application.  My earthly father was a master as chess.  Not the board game.  Well, he may have been.  I never played him.  No, my dad was a grand-master at the chess game of life.  He was always three steps ahead of his children.  He was a master strategist.  Nothing could get by him.  His house was as it should be.  Sometimes, it was by direct intervention of the rod.  Other times, it was planning circumstances so the outcome would be certain.  Still others, instruction in wisdom ordered the house.  He had many tools in his tool box.  Our home was a well-oiled machine.  Not because my dad was a drill sergeant.  No.  It was so because my father could foresee all the possible outcomes of any situation and planned well in advance for his optimal outcome.  It didn’t matter where we were or what we were doing.  He had it already figured in the grand scheme of things.  This produced a healthy respect for my father.  Not that we were always afraid of him.  Although that type of fear was a factor.  The other kind of fear was also there.  That is probably why he didn’t raise rebels.  Not as other families did.  We knew that no matter what we did, he already knew it as a possibility and would eventually find out about it anyway.  We were in checkmate the moment we were born.  And that is wonderful!

To know that God is in control is the security every child of God needs.  Like a two-year-old who throws temper-tantrums to see if his daddy is going to put up with it, we test the ability of God to control things because we cannot.  Once we resign to the fact we are always in checkmate, then life gets a whole lot easier and much less stress.  Fear Him because He already has it already figured out!