Hiding In The Rock of Ages

December 30, 2010 [Thursday],

          As this year comes to an end, I find myself, rather than looking back at what happened, wondering what the next one holds. I am sure I could benefit from examining some of the mistakes I made, but for some reason, that doesn’t interest me at the moment. Maybe it has something to do with my age, or my life-experiences, but whatever the reason, I have the strong feeling that we will be in for quite a ride this next year, even longer.

          As many of you know, I live in Macon, GA, a city in chaos. Murder is almost as commonplace and the common cold (20+ in 2010); theft is even more common (Someone just entered an 82 year old man’s shop, a man I happen to know quite well, and stole thousands of dollars worth of equipment); the public schools are in shambles—physically, fiscally, and academically, with little hope of improvement; the city is bankrupt, but won’t admit it; the police, firemen, and EMTs are so poorly paid, that I wonder why they even bother to work; most churches have more debt than they can pay; only God knows how many people have lost their homes (I saw with my own eyes a sign in front of a house that read, “Would you like to win this house?” I don’t know exactly what that meant, but I do know that someone is in trouble); I am not sure even God knows how many have lost their jobs (just kidding, I know He knows but He is the ONLY one); the drug scene crisis is so severe that few have any clue as to its potential devastation (I can tell you this: when an addict is craving drugs, he/she will kill his/her own mother, if that is what it takes to get the money to buy the drugs); the Med Center is overrun with those waiting for free medical attention (If you don’t already have a disease, spend a few hours in the ER and I promise you will be exposed to whichever one you prefer); at the rate Medicare is paying the Docs, sooner, rather than later, the number of competent doctors (not all of them are!) will be so small that no one will be able to get medical treatment (rest assured that no one in his/her right mind is going to spend 12-15 years in school, only to graduate and have the government decide what they will be paid); few, if any of you, who are reading this will ever receive any of the money you are donating to Social Security, and Medicare will fizzle out sooner than most think; not to mention the terror groups that are determined to kill all of us.

          On second thought, maybe I really don’t want to peep around the corner, after all. Maybe it is best just to hide under a rock. To tell you the truth, that is my plan—to hide, not behind, but IN The Rock, The Rock of Ages! You see, the picture I just described to you is the world’s view, not the believer’s view. The believer knows and knows quite well that this world is NOT his/her home—never has been; never will be. We are just passing through on our way Home. The Rock of Ages made us some tremendous promises: I will never leave you, nor will I ever forsake you; I will meet all of your needs according to My riches in glory in Christ Jesus; I will guide you with my eye; I will live in you, walk alongside you, and be your life; nothing can separate you from my love—nothing!; you have no reason to fear because darkness and light are the same to Me; My word will be a light and lamp in your pathway; I will prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies; even though you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will be with you.

          You see, He is both our source and our resource, and, I might add, He is faithful—every time and all the time. Go ahead and run to The Rock. You will be glad you did!

         

         

         

"This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent" (John 6:29 NASB).    

Kelly's Story

     This is the third of our testimonies—A Lay Witness Mission via the Internet—and I feel certain that many of you will identify with Kelly’s having been burned-out, trying so hard to be a good Christian. I also feel that many of you will wish you had the courage/freedom to do what she has done, and cease being a “Martha” and become a “Mary.” Resting in God’s love for her! Imagine that!     

     And by the way, since Kelly stopped being so busy doing all of those “good” things, the heart of the Body of Christ hasn’t skipped a single beat. Finally, she stopped doing “good” deeds and started doing the work that He prepared for her from the foundation of the world—the work of righteousness. If you would like to encourage Kelly, and I encourage you to do so, you can email her at the following address: kelly4israel@yahoo.com

My decision to become a part of The Believers’ Club was based upon my past years of doing the “church” thing—serving in various ways, prayer groups, Bible studies, volunteer in the church office, mission trips, et al, (all of these good things, in and of themselves). I became completely burned out and finally stopped doing all of the above—period. Now I rest in God’s love for me, and I trust Him in deeper ways than I ever realized could be possible, until I stopped trying to be a good Christian and let go of the control I thought I had, and just trust Him—period. When I was no longer so busy and pre-occupied with all the things to do, (like Martha), I sat at His feet, (like Mary), and noticed that God started to do a deep work in my soul, in those areas that need His touch and His healing. 

Your Sins are Forgiven!

           As you know, the Pharisees didn’t approve of anything Jesus did, even when He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and raised the dead. Obviously, they didn’t approve of what He did because they didn’t approve of Him, and they didn’t approve of Him because doing so would have been admitting that He was the Messiah, and they were not about to do that.

          One of the things that really irritated them was the way he associated with sinners, be they adulterers, drunks, thieves, fornicators, idolaters, et al. (For some reason, they never realized that they were sinners—genuine, authentic, card-carrying sinners.) This really annoyed them, to the point of driving them to distraction. It is a bit strange that we can so readily see the “dirt” on the other person, but so seldom see it on ourselves.

          Anyway, this certain “immoral” woman learned that Jesus had been invited to the house of a certain Pharisee, so she decided to join the party and pay Jesus a visit. Talk about “brassy!” She was as “brassy” as a just-polished brass knob. As soon as she arrived, she walked over to Jesus, opened an alabaster vial of very costly perfume and “standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet, and anointing them with the perfume” (Luke 7:38 NASB). It is a bit strange that the self-righteous sinner runs away from Him, but the immoral sinner, who knows that she is, runs to Him.

          As you know, this Pharisee was very offended not only that this “immoral” woman was doing such “immoral” things to Jesus, but also (and especially) the He seemed to be enjoying it, even encouraging it.

          Jesus took a few minutes, trying to enlighten him. Whether or not he got the message is not for me to know; however, I am certain that the woman got it. Her life was never the same! “Your sins have been forgiven,” is what He said to her. This rejected Messiah spoke life into her, eternal life!

          I have the feeling that she came to this house and did what she did because she desperately wanted to hear those words of life and freedom. I also have the feeling that when she heard them, she realized that the money she had spent on the perfume was nothing in comparison to the gift He had just given to her.

          His parting words to her were these: “Your faith has saved you; go in peace” (vs.50 NASB).

          Surely, there is a lesson in this for us-

Jesus, the Renegade

Even when I was a teenager, the question the disciples asked one another, just after witnessing Jesus calm the raging sea, intrigued me, and, I might add, it continues to do so. This was the question: "What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him" (Matthew 8:27 NASB)? This one thing is for sure: He is not the kind of man they expected Him to be—not even close. From what I can see, that has not changed, even 2000 years later.

          The simple truth is this: Jesus was a renegade. No, not in the eyes of His Father, but in the eyes of everyone else, He was—no question about it. It was as if He purposed to challenge everything the Jews held sacred.

          Contrary to popular belief, He certainly did not keep the Ten Commandments, certainly not in the eyes of the Pharisees. For example, the Jews were very serious about keeping the Sabbath Day holy, and as a result had very strict rules that defined how that was to be done. Healing on the Sabbath Day was forbidden, so Jesus healed on the Sabbath day. “And He entered again into a synagogue: and a man was there with a withered hand. And they were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, in order that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Rise and come forward!’” (Mark 3:1-2 NASB). I think you know the rest of the story. Yes, He did heal the man, and, yes, the Pharisees went postal (see vss. 4-6).

          As you remember, touching the “unclean” was also forbidden, so Jesus touched the unclean. “And when He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came to Him, and bowed down to Him, saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean.” And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matthew 8:1-3 NASB).

          The Law required death by stoning for those who committed adultery, so Jesus forgave them. “And the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst, they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do you say?’ (John  8:3-5 NASB). Again, I think you know the rest of the story.

          If per chance you are attempting to get Jesus to fit into that proverbial “box,” if you are attempting to get Him to fit into your theological paradigm, if you are attempting to get Him to fit into your comfort zone, you are, obviously, wasting your time.

          What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?  He is His own man, and He does that, and only that, which pleases His Father—nothing more, nothing less. Consequently, He will never be the man any of us expect Him to be, and that, my friend, is for sure. Before it is over, He will challenge everything you hold sacred. Count on that.

The First Posting

Welcome to the Believers' Club blog! As you can see, we consist of a group of Christians, who try as we might, cannot live the Christian life, and have the courage to admit it. We truly love Jesus and desire, with our whole heart to honor Him with our lives; however, we are quick to admit that we fall far short, even when giving our best effort. What that means it this: We are totally dependent upon Him, not just for eternal life, but for everything.

It is my purpose to post articles on this blog that will cause you not only to consider just how dependent you are upon Him, but also to encourage you to surrender you life to Him--lock, stock, and barrel.

I trust that you will visit this blog often, and please feel free to make comments, ask questions, and enter into the life of The Believers' Club.