Truth Matters

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

Revelation 11:15 

A janitor would wait patiently each week for a group of seminarians to finish their basketball game before cleaning the gym. While he waited, he would sit in the stands and study his Bible. One particular day, as the seminarians were exiting the gym, they noticed the janitor engrossed in bible study. One of the young budding pastors asked which biblical book the janitor was studying. The old man answered, “The Book of Revelation.” The ball player was surprised and further asked the janitor if he understood the complicated book. “Oh, yes!” the man replied. “I understand it. It means that in the end Jesus wins!” 

That is a great answer and an accurate analysis of the book of Revelation. It has been well said that the books of Genesis and Revelation act as two bookends that hold the entire Bible together. In Genesis we have the story of man’s fall into sin, while in Revelation we have God’s complete and final victory over sin (Rev. 11:15-18; 12:10-12; 19:11-16; 20:1-6). As the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, God in Christ restores His rule, and returns the earth to its original design (Rev. 21:6; 22:13). In the beginning Satan deceives humanity, but in the end he is bound to keep him from deceiving the nations (Gen. 3:1-7, 13-15; Rev. 20:2-3). In the beginning death enters the world, but in the end death is put to death (Gen. 3:3; 4:6-8; 6:3; Rev. 20:14; 21:4). In the beginning sinful mankind hides from God, but in the end they will look into God’s face (Gen. 3:8-11; Rev. 22:4). In the beginning sinful people are banished from God’s presence, but in the end God lives among His people within a new heaven, and a new earth (Gen. 3:24; Rev. 21:3, 7, 22; 22:4).  In the beginning creation deteriorates, but in the end all things are made new (Gen. 5:6, 8, 14, 17, 20, 27, 31; 6:3; Rev 21:5). Bottom line, in the end heaven wins (Dan. 4:26; Rev. 19:6)! That is the grand story of the Bible and the main point of Revelation.

In the midst of a world where Christ is a swear word, where Satan is hard at work, where sickness and death plague our everyday lives, and where God’s people are despised and persecuted, it is easy to forget that in the end we win with Jesus. That we are on the right side of the argument, that though we might lose some battles along the way we will win the war. The book of Revelation was written to comfort the persecuted church of Asia Minor and to remind them that God sees their tears, hears their prayers, assures their victory, and will avenge their blood. Christ, who is the Head of the Church, will have the last word (Rev. 19:15-16). God, who is the Sovereign over all the nations, will have the last laugh (Psa. 2:4). They needed to be reminded that all is well that ends well, and so do we (Eccles. 7:8)! Remember, we can’t lose for winning (2 Cor. 2:14)!

DOUBLE VISION

John 1:40-42 

Leonard Bernstein, the great American composer, says that when he was young his father adamantly opposed his going into music. There was no strike up the band and let’s celebrate around the Bernstein home the day that Leonard entered music school. Reflecting on those early days Bernstein notes, “If you were to ask my father today if he opposed this he would not deny it, but he would rationalize, ‘How was I to know that he was a Leonard Bernstein?’ 

Anticipating what people may become is not an easy thing. It is hard sometimes to see the man in the boy, the professor in the slow learner, the overcomer in the failure, the beauty queen in the pimply girl, the friend in the enemy, and the saint in the sinner. But by God’s grace people can far exceed our expectations. They can break through the ceiling we have set for them. When it comes to looking at people, we need double vision. We need to look beyond what they are to what they can become through the artistry of God transforming grace. 

In the gospel of John, we are introduced to the double vision of Christ regarding Simon Peter. Jesus looks on Simon and tells him that he will be called Cephas, meaning the stone (John 1:40-42). Jesus sees Simon, the volatile fisherman, who is as unpredictable as the winds that sweep across the Sea of Galilee, but he also sees Peter, the rock solid apostle, who will be a pillar in the early church (Gal. 2:9). In this change of name we have the anticipation of future grace, and the transformation of this man’s character. Peter is the pebble that became a rock. Jesus sees double! Jesus looks beyond the moment and the man and envisions what he will become. He knows how the story ends with God as its author. Jesus sees potential where others do not. No matter how Peter felt about himself, Jesus loved him and saw what he could be (2 Cor. 5:17). Christ changed Peter, and Peter changed the world. 

The gospel of God’s grace allows us to write people in, who others write off. People can change and exceed our expectations. People tend to define themselves as we see them therefore they deserve a second look. The German poet, Goethe, stated, “Treat a man as he appears to be, and you make him worse. But treat a man as if he was what he potentially could be, and you make him better.” Just as it does not appear right now what we shall be when God is finished with us, so we need to remember that others can become what they are not right now (1 John 3:2). Anticipating future grace in another’s life is the hallmark and hope of the gospel. There are diamonds to be found in the rough if you will take a second look. Today, give someone a second glance and chance. 

IT COULD BE WORSE

Lamentations 3:22-23 

John Hooper, Bishop of Gloucester, one of the lesser lights among the English reformers, was burned at the stake on February 9, 1555, under the ruthless reign of bloody Mary. He had a reputation for personal holiness and Spirit-filled preaching. Thousands came, friend and foe, to watch him burn. Along the way to his gruesome death, friends pleaded with him to recant telling him, “Life was sweet, and death was bitter.” To those sentiments John Hooper gave this memorable reply, “Life is sweet, and death is bitter, but the life to come is more sweet, and the death to come more bitter.”

In these words, John Hooper reminds us that however cruel our circumstances may be, however dire the situation, it could be worse, a lot worse. As He himself so firmly grasped, we could be without the comfort of the gospel, facing life without God, and death without hope (Eph. 2:12). We could be on the broad road that leads to everlasting destruction (Matt. 7:13). We could be among those for whom this life is all the good they will ever know (Luke 16:25). But we are not! Because of God’s mercy through the Cross of Calvary, we are not consumed (Lam. 3:22-23). We have not been given what our sins deserve. In the gospel, and because of Christ, God has not rewarded us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103:8-10). Quite the opposite, we have been lavished with all kinds of spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3-14). And as the death of the brave John Hooper would show us, it is in these things that we greatly rejoice, though we may have to suffer for while (1 Peter 1:3-9; esp. v.6). True contentment and peace amidst the pressing, perplexing, and painful circumstances of life comes by comparing what we have or have not to what our sins deserve. Instead of God’s wrath, we have God’s love. Instead of a hell in our future, we have heaven. The next time we feel sorry for ourselves, we need to remind ourselves that we are doing better than we deserve. We may not have all we desire, but we have more than we deserve. It could always be worse. 

In his book, “The Art of Contentment,” the Puritan Thomas Watson makes this telling statement, “Whatever change and trouble a child of God meets with, it is all the hell he shall have. Whatever eclipse may be upon his name or estate, I may say of it, as Athanasius said of his banishment, that it is a little cloud which will soon blow over; and then his gulf is crossed, his hell is past. Death begins a wicked man’s hell, but it puts an end to a godly man’s hell. Think to yourself, ‘What if I endure this? It is but a temporary hell.’ Indeed, if all our hell is here, it is an easy hell.” Thomas Watson is reminding us that it could be worse, but for us the best is yet to come. Death begins a wicked man’s hell, but it puts an end to a godly man’s hell. The bitter death is theirs, while the sweeter life is ours. It is more than a cold comfort to know that it could be worse!

THE TEMPTATION WITHIN TEMPTATION

Matthew 4:5-7 

The story is told of man with a bulging waistline who decided to do something about his weight. Engaging the fight with the flab, he decided to change his route to work so that he would not pass his favorite doughnut shop. He was so committed to this fight to lose weight that he told his coworkers of his stand against the lure of doughnuts. But not long after sharing this in the office, he arrived at work one morning with a big box of doughnuts. When his surprised coworkers asked what was going on, he said, “These are no ordinary doughnuts. They’re from the Lord.” “What in the world are you talking about?” they asked. The man replied, “It’s quite simple. Today on my way into the office I accidentally drove by my favorite doughnut shop and saw all those glazed and sprinkle topped doughnuts calling my name from the window. I knew I had to pray for deliverance and strength, so I said, ‘Lord, if you want me to have one of these delicious doughnuts, You are going to have to give me a parking space right in front of the doughnut shop. If this happens I know that you want me to have some doughnuts.’ And sure enough, after eight trips around the block, there was a parking place right in front of the doughnut shop!”

Although funny, this story does point to the serious matter of not being serious about temptation. In our struggle against the rulers of the darkness, we tend to fight with kid’s gloves. Our resolve to do right and fight wrong often has the consistency of Jell-O. Instead of taking cover, instead of finding God’s way of escape, we put ourselves knowingly and wantonly in the line of fire (1 Cor. 10:13; Prov. 7:6-27). Like Samson who foolishly fell asleep in the lap of Delilah, we often expose ourselves to unnecessary spiritual danger (Judges 16:18-20). This is what I would call the temptation within temptation, and that temptation is to test God. Jesus taught us in His own temptation of this temptation to test God (Matt. 4:5-7). In refusing to leap off the pinnacle of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jesus recognized not only that Satan was twisting the Scripture from Psalm 91:11-12, but, also, that God is not committed to saving us from foolish actions. We test God when we are not sincere in our attempts to obey His Word. We test God when we knowingly put ourselves in harm’s way, and expect God to rescue us.  

Listen! We cannot pray to God to deliver us from evil while at the same time leading ourselves into temptation (Matt 6:13). We cannot be claiming the promises of God while acting disobediently (Deut. 6:16-17). Placing oneself in the way of sin is a matter tempting God, and delighting Satan. God comes to those who flee from sin into His arms (Gen. 39:12, 21, 23; 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Tim. 6:11)! Those who would not sin and test God must not sit at the door of temptation! 

GREEN WITH ENVY

Truth Matters #86
Proverbs 14:30 

GREEN WITH ENVY

The story is told of a time when President Lincoln was carrying his two crying sons who were behaving badly. When someone asked him what was wrong with the boys, Abraham Lincoln replied, “Exactly, what is wrong with the whole world. I have three walnuts, and each boy wants two.” 

Wanting what others have, wanting what we cannot have, and wanting others not to have what we cannot have is indeed a prevalent, and malevolent problem among us. If you think about it for just a moment, there is a great deal of unhappiness among us over other people’s happiness. We struggle at times to enjoy life because someone has what we do not have, or cannot have. In fact, to take this one step further, we can covet our neighbors stuff to a point where we begin to struggle to love them, because we are jealous of them (Ex. 20:17; Matt. 22:39). Covetousness and envy was the reason Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers (Gen. 37:11ff); the reason King Saul hunted young David like a dog (1 Sam. 18:8-10); the reason King Ahab and Queen Jezebel murdered Naboth for his vineyard (1 Kings 21:1-29); and the reason our Lord Jesus was brought before the Romans by the Jewish leaders, which led to his crucifixion (Mat. 27:18). As the book of Proverbs notes, “envy is rottenness to the bones” (Prov. 14:30; 27:4). Mark it down! Covetousness is a cancer that eats up life itself. Where envy is present every evil work exists (James 3:16). It is a sin that we must crucify, before it crucifies us (Col. 3:5). How?

The first thing we need to do in combating covetousness is to realize there is no want in God, and therefore He must be our greatest want. Nothing will be enough, until God is enough. We must find our sufficiency and happiness in God. If God is our Shepherd we shall not want for there is no want in God (Psa. 23:1; 73:25-26). As A. W. Tozer said, “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One . . . . . Whatever he may lose he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately, and forever.” 

The second thing we need to do is to want what God wants for us. We need to learn to be content with such things as we have (Heb. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:6-8). There is an old saying that states, “Happiness consists in not getting what you want, but in wanting what you get.” For the Christian that ultimately is an issue of trust. Do we believe that God knows best, and gives what is best at any given moment in life? Job did in the midst of his losses and crosses (Job 1:21; 2:10)! Wanting more of what others have is not the path to happiness; rather, it is wanting God alone, and wanting what God wants for us!

PICK YOUR FIGHTS

Colossians 3:12-14 

President Theodore Roosevelt used to have a pet dog that was always getting into fights and being beaten by other dogs. A reporter once asked the president about that. The reporter stated, “Your dog is not much of a fighter is he, Mr. President?” Roosevelt replied, “That is not true, he is a wonderful fighter! He is just a poor judge of dogs.” 

If there is a lesson to be learned from this story, it is the necessity of learning to pick your fights. To become a better judge of the things we want to fuss and fight over. Life provides us ample opportunity to be offended, and many reasons to come out of our corner fighting. But wisdom would remind us that some things, and some people are better left alone. Not every issue in life needs to become a Supreme Court or Grand Jury case. Not every fight is worthy or worth it.  As the old saying goes, “Anybody can whip a skunk; it is just not worth it.” We must fight the temptation to go through life in the objective case, picking the wrong fights, and getting heated over the wrong issues. The fact is that some things are a matter of forbearance, and some a matter of forgiveness. 

That is a life lesson that Paul teaches us in his letter to the Colossians (Col. 3:12-14). It is clear from this text that not all offenses require forgiveness. Paul says, “Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you must also do” (Col. 3:13). Some things are a forbearance issue. Things like personality differences, irritating mannerisms, immature blunders, and poor but well-intended decisions. Other things are forgiveness issues. The word “complaint” employed by Paul carries the idea of something worthy of blame. Something morally objectionable, something that violates some universal sense of justice! Something bad enough to require forgiveness! 

Some things are a matter of forbearance, not forgiveness. Some things and people are better lived with, than confronted. We must not go through life majoring on the minors. Our Lord warned us about the danger of getting things out of proportion by staring at gnats, while at the same time swallowing camels (Matt. 23:23-24). We need to learn to judicially hold our fire, and pick our fights. We need to reserve forgiveness for those things that truly matter. The use and application of forgiveness is not unlike the use of an antibiotic. We don’t use antibiotics to cure the common cold or deal with every germ that comes our way. Overuse would be to misuse. It is the same with forgiveness. Most of the germs that infect our relationships don’t need anything as strong as forgiveness. They simply need to be overlooked, and ignored (Prov. 19:11). Life is too short to have a very long list of things that are going to truly upset you.

A RARE FIND

Truth Matters #84

Proverbs 20:6 

Jeb Stuart was the Civil War’s version of a B-2 Stealth Bomber. This gallant, and gusty West Point graduate had an uncanny ability to infiltrate the federal lines without being detected.  On the Confederate side he was nicknamed “the eyes of the army,” and was unquestionably one of General Robert E. Lee’s most trusted soldiers. On several occasions, he outflanked General McClellan’s lines, destroying munitions, gathering vital information about the enemy’s strength, and even confiscating secret documents. Stuart’s brawn, and brains as an intelligence officer were unparalleled in Civil War battles. With each mission, Stuart would submit his report to Lee, signed, “Yours to count on, Jeb Stuart.”

Being able to count on someone or something is a blessing! Dependability is a wonderful thing! It draws us to the same restaurant again and again. It brings security to relationships, and builds lasting friendships. It sells cars, washing machines, and computers. It adds weight to our Christian testimony. In the end it will win the well done of God. Faithfulness toward man and God is a thing of great value, and its worth is heightened by the fact that it a rare jewel. In Proverbs 20:6 we read, “Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?” The wise writer of Proverbs is reminding us that a faithful man is a rare find! People who profess their love and loyalty are a dime a dozen, but a man who actually delivers on his promises is an exception (Psa. 12:1). It is one thing to tout one’s own virtues, but quite another to be virtuous. Many people profess “unfailing love” but such professions often ring hollow. Men are alike in their promises. It is only in their deeds that they differ. 

Surely, this rare jewel is what makes the Lord Jesus such a treasure to us. One of the most charming characteristics of Christ is His constancy (Heb. 13:8). He is faithful in His witness to the truth (Rev. 3:14). He is faithful in His work as our advocate (1 John 1:9). He is faithful in lending help to His people (Heb. 2:17-18).  He is faithful to complete His work of salvation in us (1 Thess. 5:23-24). Great is His faithfulness (Lam. 3:23). And that which we find in Him, He seeks to work in us through the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). We can be faithful through the power of the indwelling Spirit. 

May our Lord find us faithful when He comes (Luke 18:8)! May we show faithfulness in the tough times! When faithfulness is most difficult, it is most necessary. May we show faithfulness in the little things! A little thing is a little thing; but faithfulness in the little things is a very great thing.  Who is counting on you, and can you be counted on? 

EVIDENCE THAT DEMANDS A VERDICT

Acts 1:3 

In 1876, after a conversation on a train with the noted infidel Col. Robert G. Ingersoll, General Lewis “Lew” Wallace realized that he had a pretty threadbare understanding of his own faith. Wallace was a Methodist more by circumstances, than conviction. Having listened for some two hours to Ingersoll’s audacious, irreverent, and often entertaining attack on Christianity, Wallace got off the train embarrassed at his own ignorance, and indifference to the things of Christ, and the Bible. Ironically, Ingersoll had unwittingly goaded the General into taking a serious look at his faith, and Christianity. After researching the biblical story of Christ, two things resulted in Wallace’s life, one, the bestselling book Ben Hur, and two, a resolute and absolute belief in God, and the Divinity of Christ. Just as God had removed the stone from Jesus tomb, God in the case of General Wallace, had removed his blindness to the glory of Christ, and his resistance to the gospel. In reading the gospel story in preparation for the writing of Ben Hur, Wallace came face to face with evidence that demanded a verdict. His verdict was enthusiastically for Christ.

In Acts 1:3, Dr. Luke tells us that Christ appeared to His own disciples with many convincing proofs. The resurrection of Jesus is not a conjuring trick with bones but is one of the best-attested facts in history. 1. There is the evidence of a doctor certified death (Luke 23:44-55). 2. There is the evidence of an empty tomb (Matt. 28:1-7). 3. There is the evidence of fulfilled prophecy (Acts 2:22-32). 4. There is the evidence of many credible witnesses (Mat. 28:1-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-11). 5. There is the evidence of Jesus own words (Matt. 12:39-40; 16:21). 6. There is the evidence of an official cover-up by Jesus enemies (Mat. 28:11-15). 7. There is the evidence of the boldness, and eventual martyrdom of the disciples (John 20:19; Acts 2:14-30; 4:13). There is the evidence of Paul’s radical conversion (Acts 9:1-30; 22:5-13). 8. There is the evidence of the switch to Sunday as a day of worship (Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 16:2). 9. There is the evidence of the Christian church as a force in this world (Matt. 16:18; 28:18-20). 10. There is the continuing evidence of those who have been born again unto a living hope through Christ (1 Pet. 1:3). 

Here is evidence that demands a verdict! What is it they say, “None are so blind as those who do not want to see” (Luke 16:31)! Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! The facts point to the truth that as Christians our confidence is not misplaced, our forgiveness is not a dream, our suffering is not meaningless, and our death is not the end, but only the beginning (1 Cor. 15:12-20). Christ’s resurrection is not a fairly tale, but it does allow those who believe in it to live happily ever after. 

CRY ME A RIVER

Psalm 56:8 

Someone has said that life is a bridge of groans over a river of tears. While that statement may be overly pessimistic, there is nevertheless more than a tinge of realism in it.  Life has a way of reducing each of us to a puddle of tears. Which of us has not cried ourselves to sleep? Which of us has not fought back the tears? Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden we have been eating the bitter fruit of their disobedience. Their disobedience brought sin, and sin brought sorrow, and we have been crying ever since (Gen. 3:16-17; Rom. 8:22-23). Not surprisingly the Bible is awash with tears. In John 11:35 we find the Lord Jesus crying over the death of Lazarus. In Luke 22:62 we find the apostle Peter weeping bitterly over his denial of Jesus. In Jeremiah 9:1 we find the prophet Jeremiah drowning in tears over the sins of the people of God in Judah. In Acts 20:19 we find Paul humbly serving the Lord with tears. In 2 Samuel 18:33 we find King David crying copiously over his wayward son Absalom. This world is a vale of tears. But to those who are all cried out I have a wonderful promise from God’s Word. 

In Psalm 56 we find David in a spot of trouble. He has been captured by his mortal enemies the Philistines, and is under lock and key in Gath (1 Sam. 21-10-11). In the midst of these terrifying circumstances David is seized with a sense of fear and foreboding (Psa. 56:3, 4, 11). But through prayer David regains his confidence in God; panic gives way to the calm composure of trust (Psa. 56:3-4, 8-11). Of interest to us is the fact that part of David’s confidence is rooted in the reality that God knows everything about his circumstances, and catches each falling tear in His bottle (Psa. 56:8). In Persia and in Egypt, tears were wiped from the cheeks of the mourner and carefully preserved in a tear bottle. In ancient Persia, when a sultan returned from battle, he checked his wives’ tear catchers to see who among them had wept in his absence, and missed him the most. Tear bottles have been found in many of the ancient tombs of Egypt and elsewhere throughout the East. These bottles were made of alabaster since glass was not yet in use. This powerful image points to God’s concern for David. 

God sees our falling tears, and is not indifferent to them (Psa. 39:12; 2 Kings 20:5). Some years back my mother called me to tell me that God had wonderfully saved her sister Margaret after many years of persistent praying. My mum went on to say that she had shed many a tear for her prodigal sister, but God had kept those tears in His bottle, and had now answered her heart’s cry. Listen! Until God wipes away our tears in heaven, He will lovingly catch them in a bottle (Rev. 21:4). God is not unmindful or unmoved by the tears we shed (Psa. 116:8). Take the handkerchief of Psalm 56:8.

GIVE YOUR BEST

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 

When Henry Kissinger was Secretary of State of the United States, an aide in the White House approached him with a report. Kissinger asked, “Is this the best you can do?” The aide sheepishly replied that he could do better. A few days later, the aide returned, and resubmitted his work. Kissinger inquired again, “Is this the best you can do?” The aide reluctantly admitted he could do better. This interaction went on several more times until finally the White House aide responded, “Yes, it is the best I can do!” Henry Kissinger took the report and said, “Now, I will read it.”

I guess this story would remind each one of us that there is always room for improvement. There are so many areas of our lives in which we could do better. Our best is yet to be given. This is true in general, and particularly true in relation to our relationship with God. Which one of us would argue with the reality that our knowledge of God could be deeper, our prayers to God bolder, our work for God greater, and our desires for God stronger? In 1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 Paul urges the Thessalonians to go the second mile spiritually. Paul urges them to acquire a holy distaste for mediocrity. There can be no sitting back in smug satisfaction. Their track record was good but it could be better; they could improve on what they were already doing. He wants them to abound more and more in the things of God (1 Thess. 3:12; 2 Thess. 1:3). The word translated “abound” carries the idea of excelling, of exceeding boundaries. It speaks of being over the top. Paul’s point is that Christ ought never to be the Lord of the leftovers. The Lord Jesus Christ deserves and demands our very best every time, and in everything (Eccles. 9:10; 1 Cor. 10:31). As we abide in Him and His word in us we can bear fruit, more fruit, and much fruit (John 15:1-10). We can do better than our best in Christ. Our best is yet to be given (Phil. 3:12-16).

This exhortation to do more, and be more comes through Paul by the authority of Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 4:1-2). Christ commands it, Christ enables it, and Christ deserves it. Christ deserves our best because everything about His love for us, and His work for us on Calvary is over the top. There is nothing measured or comparative about what God has done for us in the Lord Jesus. Think about the exceeding riches of His grace toward us (Eph. 2:7). Think about the exceeding greatness of His power toward us (Eph. 1:19). Think about the exceeding weight of glory that awaits us (2 Cor. 4:7). Love divine, all loves excelling! In the gospel we have heavens best given freely and fully for earth’s worst. Let us therefore give our best in the light of God’s best. C. T. Studd the missionary to China got it right when he said, “If Jesus Christ be God, and died for me then there is no sacrifice too great that I can make for Him.” Give your best today!