As Many as Had Been Appointed

 

June 27, 2011 [Monday],

Dear Fellow Travelers,

          The following is another quote from John Fischer’s book, “On a Hill Too Far Away”, p. 77: “We do a disservice to the cross and the gospel when we try to explain it or make it obvious to everyone. If it could be understood by human wisdom, it would cease to be what it is. The cross is one thing we don’t want to simplify. Its meaning is not going to pop into place for everyone. Nor is it up to us to make it make sense. Christians need to learn to resist the temptation to make the gospel seem obvious. This has been our problem for the past twenty-five years. We need to learn to be more comfortable with ambiguity. When we present the gospel to our culture, we are, in many ways, asking them to stare at a bunch of blotches on a page. We are always trying to get everyone to see what we see, but this is impossible. The message of the cross is purposely countercultural; its meaning cannot be grasped by everyone, but only by those to whom God chooses to reveal it. Our job is not to get people to believe, but to hold up the picture. God’s job is to make the image pop into place.”

          Whether or not we like it, the fact of the matter is this: the message of the cross will be grasped ONLY by those to whom God chooses to reveal it. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48 NASB; emphasis mine).

          Actually, it is quite alright for God to do things just as He chooses to do them, irrespective of our pompous ideas of our own opinions.

          You think about that—

We Are NOT the Point!

June 23, 2011 [Wednesday],

Dear Fellow Travelers,

          The following is from John Fischer’s book, “On a Hill Too Far Away,” page 57: “The cross was for God first before it was ever for me or anyone else. God was reconciling the world to Himself through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19); God loved the world so much that He gave His only-begotten Son (John 3:16); God demonstrated His love for us by having Christ die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Even before Jesus died for you and me, He died for God. He did this for His Father because of what the Father wanted to accomplish through Christ’s death; to this end, Christ was obedient unto death, and in that obedience is His greatest glory. This raises an important question: Did Christ die for me because I was worth buying back, or did Christ die for me because He wanted to display His grace through me to the universe? If redemption hinges on my worth, then God is nothing more than a good businessman; He’s getting a good deal on His investment. But if redemption hinges on the display of the totality of God’s plan to the rulers and authorities in heavenly places, then we are not the point; we are simply part of a big plan to glorify God. His grace and His mercy as displayed through His church is the point. The point is to bring glory to God—to worship Him with every knee and every tongue in the act.”

          Now, folks that is powerful and true and humbling. I wonder if we will ever really get over ourselves and understand that we are not the point.

          You think about that—

         

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

Dwelling Together in Unity

June 14, 2011 [Tuesday],

Dear Fellow Travelers,

          Earlier this morning, I was writing a letter of thanks to a dear lady who, although she is not a member of our church, supports it financially. As I sat in front of my computer contemplating what I wanted to say, these words came quickly: I want you to know that we are enjoying some wonderful days at Grace Christian Fellowship. There is nothing quite like being in the Presence of the Holy Spirit, especially when in the company of a group of believers. I am confident that, though we are small in number, there are many pastors who would love to have this kind of fellowship. The Psalmist said it best: “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers (and sisters!) to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, coming down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard, coming down upon the edge of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, coming down upon the mountains of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever” (Psalm 133 NASB; parenthesis mine).

          With all the chaos that is going on in the world today, there is something very special about being able to fellowship with believers who have learned the blessing of “dwelling together in unity.” The times we gather together are times of calm refreshing and powerful joy and wonderful fellowship.

          The strange thing about this is the fact that not one of us is trying to create this atmosphere; it is altogether His doing. Admittedly, there are times when I want to analyze just what is going on so I can write a book about it, one that will help other churches experience this kind of blessed unity. I quickly realize, however, that the secret will never be read in a book. It is not one of those “how-to” exercises; instead, it is the fruit of the Tree of Life. I am convinced that it comes only to those who have chosen to abandon the Tree of the Knowledge of Good & Evil and embrace Jesus—the Tree of Life.

          You think about that—

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

On Following the Wrong Truck

          Last Friday my wife had a couple of ladies at our house who were helping her get things ready for her 50th High School reunion. Suppertime came and I suggested that we go to Longhorn’s Steak House (I was hungry!), and, much to my surprise, they readily agreed.

          One of the ladies (I will call her Jackie) is deaf—very deaf—and the other (I will call her (Hillary) is air-headed (I am assuming that you know what I mean)—very air-headed. When we finally made it to the driveway, Hillary informed us that she wanted to take her car (bright red!) because she was going back home after we ate. No problem. Well, not until she remembered that she does not know how to back her car. A brief moment of crisis. Annis (my wife) suggested to Jackie (remember she is deaf) that she stand beside Hillary’s car and direct her turning around in the driveway. Another crisis! I haven’t seen that much hand-waving since camp meeting days. It only took about 12 turns and fifteen minutes to finally get the car headed out of the driveway. By this time my blood sugar level was approaching 60!

          Finally, Jackie got into Hillary’s car and off we went. Their instructions were to follow my truck to Longhorns (neither of them had any idea where it is). I slowly drove out of the cul-de-sac, and turned right, assuming that one or both of them were watching me. I am sure you know what happens when we assume something, especially when the assumption regards the deaf AND the air-headed.

          Anyway, I drove over the first hill, I looked into my rear view mirror, but the red car was nowhere in sight, so I slowed even more, hoping to see her topping the hill. Finally, that little red car came rumbling over the hill. At that point I did what I think any non-air-headed person would have done, I drove on at a faster gate, as I was sure she now had me in her sights. Wrong again! With Annis telling me that someone was going to run into the back of my truck, if I didn’t speed up, I slowed down again, wondering where Hillary could possibly be. Finally, she comes around the corner.

          After several of these “wait and see” episodes, we made it to the gate of our community, and with Hillary clearly in my rear view mirror, I exited and turned left, heading toward Longhorns. Finally! (By now my blood sugar level was probably around 50!)

          I soon came to a red light and had to stop. As I did, I glanced into my rear view mirror, just to be sure Hillary hadn’t turned off the road or driven into the Ocmulgee river. There was no red car in sight, and I could see five cars back! About that time, the light turns green and Hillary comes around the corner—with her left signal light blinking. I said to Annis, “What IS she doing?” She said, “I do not know, but the light is green and people are honking their horns at you, so go!” Another crisis. My blood sugar drops even more.

          In my opinion (at the moment), it made more sense for me to let people blow their horns, than for me to leave Hillary and Jackie unattended, so I waited a bit longer and Annis talked a bit louder and the horn-blowing increased every second.

          Don’t ask me how or why, but for some reason she turned off her blinker and continued in the direction I was traveling. One more traffic light and one more left turn and we would have it made, or so I thought.

          Anyway, to make a long story short, Annis and I finally arrived at Longhorns. I found a parking place and parked my truck. We got out and I looked to see where Hillary was parking. She was nowhere to be seen!

          I will never forget what she said after they finally arrived. She got out of her car, laughing as any air-headed person would laugh, and said, “Mac, I have been following the wrong truck!”

          Before I thought, I said, “Hillary, you have been following the wrong “truck” all of your life (I have actually known her that long!). For some reason she agreed.

          As we walked to the restaurant, I thought, “I wonder how many Christians are following the wrong “truck,” sincerely believing all-the-while that they are following the correct “truck”? Just for the record, there are only two trucks to follow: one, I will call “religion” and the other I will call “relationship.” Which “truck” are you following? Remember this: you cannot, simultaneously, follow both trucks, as they are going in very different directions.

          You think about that—        

         

         

         

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

Returning to the Way Things Were?

“

Dear Fellow Travelers,

          What is this mystery of His will that He has made known, at least to some? Kelly from California wins the prize! It is the mystery of redemption, of course. The long-standing mystery as to how we can be restored to right relationship with God, of how we can return to the way things were before the fall—perfect.

          As you remember, before the fall, Adam & Eve enjoyed a perfect relationship with God—no sin, no guilt, no shame, no fear, no secrets. In fact, the place in which they lived was also perfect—perfect climate, perfect food, no drought, no plagues, no sickness, no death.

          As you also remember, this perfect situation had one contingency—avoid the tree of the knowledge of good and evil at all costs. All it would take was this one act of disobedience, and the “perfect” would become “imperfect.” Sadly, that one act of disobedience occurred and, well, you know the story.

          My point is this: redemption must be more than returning to the way things were before the fall! If the success of God’s plan of redemption is in any way dependent upon our obedience, if living in right relationship with God depends upon us in any way whatsoever, we are doomed even before we begin.

          To be sure, we must nurture the relationship, if we have any plans to enjoy it, but heaven help us, if our disobedience can destroy it.

          You think about that—

         

         

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