“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. 3 There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. 4 Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 19:1-4 NIV).
J. Allen Blair, in his book, Living faithfully relates the following story. “Sir Isaac Newton had a friend who, like himself, was a great scientist. The friend was an infidel while Newton was a devout believer. They often locked horns over the question of ‘Who made it?’ though their mutual interest in science drew them together frequently. Newton had a skillful mechanic make him a replica of our solar system in miniature. In the center was a large guided ball representing the sun, and revolving around this were smaller balls fixed on the ends of arms of varying lengths, representing Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, in their proper order (Pluto had not yet been discovered). These balls were so geared together by cogs and belts as to move in perfect harmony by turning a crank.
“One day as Newton sat reading in his study, with this mechanism on a large table near him, his infidel friend stepped in. He was a scientist, who could recognize at a glance what was before him. Walking up to it he slowly turned the crank and with undisguised admiration watched the heavenly bodies move in their relative speeds in their orbits. Backing off a few feet to get the full impact of the work he exclaimed, ‘My, what an exquisite thing this is. Who made it?’ Without looking up from his books, Newton answered, ‘Nobody.’ Quickly turning to Newton the infidel said, ‘Evidently you did not understand my question. I asked who made this thing?’ Looking up now, Newton solemnly assured his friend that nobody made it but that the aggregation of matter had just happened to assume the form it was in. The astonished infidel replied with some agitation, ‘You must think I am a fool! Of course somebody made it and he is a genius! I would like to know who he is.’
“Newton, now laid aside his books, rose and laid a hand on his friends shoulder.
“‘This thing is but a puny imitation of a much grander system whose laws you know,’ he said. ‘I am not able to convince you that this mere toy is without a designer and maker. Yet you profess to believe that the great original from which the design is taken has come into being without either designer or maker. Now tell me, by what sort of reasoning do you reach such incongruous conclusions?’ The infidel was at once convinced and became a firm believer.’” [From: Blair, J. Allen, Living Faithfully, (Loizeaux Brothers Publishers, Neptune, NJ, 1961 pp. 200-201)].
The Psalmist is right. One cannot honestly look at the sky and say, “Happened by chance,” unless that person has simply purposed in his or her heart to ignore the facts. One of the saddest ills of our time is the delusion that there is irrefutable evidence for evolution (in any form be in Darwinism or Neo-Darwinism). We have been led to believe a lie because we want to believe the lie. The message in nature however is a convincing argument not for chance but for creation. No one can honestly deny it, though many purposefully deny it.
Romans 1:18-25 puts it in perspective: “18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. (Romans 1:18-25 NIV).
Look at the argument. “What may be known about God is plain . . .because God made it plain.” How? Through Nature (Romans 1:20 and Psalm 19:1-4). What happened? Men clearly see and understand the implications of Creation but they purposefully turn from it. Notice please if you will that this turning involves a worship of creation rather than a worship of the Creator. It doesn’t take a rocket-scientist to realize that this worship of creation is the root of evolutionary teaching.
Those of you reading this thought for the day now are having a reaction. Some of you are saying “amen” while others of you have dismissed this particular thought as irrelevant. An issue that doesn’t really need to be addressed since it doesn’t make that much of a difference. You are mistaken. It does make a huge difference.
Having been in the ministry now for some 29 years, I have seen the devastation to faith that compromise with this unsupportable theory of evolution brings. The evidence is so weak in fact that in Cobb County, Georgia, as I write this thought, is a court battle to remove a sticker in the biology books that simply says, “Evolution is a theory and should be studied critically.” The evolutionists are having a fit. Why? Because they know in their hearts that what they have purposed to believe with their heads cannot stand up to critical evaluation.
Here’s what I know. Since I have been a believer (and that is some 44 years now), the story of evolution has changed numerous times but the story of creation remains unchanged. In my younger years, when I thought the “facts” had to be reconciled, I tried many ways to do it. I was constantly readjusting my beliefs to fit new and changing “facts.” When I realized that the “facts” were in fact wishes and dreams, and took my stand on a literal Creation (that was in 1966) I haven’t had to adjust my beliefs one time. I don’t know about you, but I’ll stick with the solid, unchanging evidence of Creation as recorded in Genesis.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Where is Your Focus
“46 The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Savior! 47 He is the God who avenges me, who subdues nations under me, 48 who saves me from my enemies. You exalted me above my foes; from violent men you rescued me. 49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O Lord; I will sing praises to your name. 50 He gives his king great victories; he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed, to David and his descendants forever.” (Psalm 18:46-50 NIV).
Early in this Psalm David feared that he was a goner (vv. 4-6). He prayed and God responded. Now, in these closing verses we find a grateful David rejoicing before the Lord.
We don’t know the exact time this particular Psalm was written. The written introduction may link this Psalm early in David’s life, after his 12 or so years of fleeing from Saul. However the introductory comments read “when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”
This Psalm is also recorded in 2 Samuel 22. In that setting it seems to come near the end of David’s career as king. Certainly from verses 47 & 50 it would appear that he is speaking as the king and not simply the one who was to become king.
I point this out to remind you that this great ending of praise comes after great personal losses. If (as I believe this Psalm comes at the end of David’s earthly life) remember that the victories to which he refers are numerous indeed. Some of those victories came at the expense of great personal loss. Absalom, one of David’s own sons, was one of those violent men from whom the hand of God rescued him. Think of the conflict. Absalom had usurped the throne, David fled to avoid a confrontation with his son, and David’s eventual deliverance in this instance came at the death of his own son–a tragedy that is never easy for a parent no matter how rebellious the son may become!
Bottom line: David’s praise includes deliverance not only from external conflicts but for deliverance from great internal (family) conflicts as well. Even in his great personal losses (and they were many) David declares, “He shows unfailing kindness to (me.)” I find that interesting. If this Psalm is at the end of David’s life, he has wonderfully chosen to focus on the victories not on the battles which led to those victories; he has chosen to focus on the blessings God had given him not the bane of the wounds.
What are you focusing on today? Is there some past hurt you refuse to let heal? Like a curious child you keep picking at the scab, making sure that wound will not recover until you decide to let it. I find people all the time who blame their present dispositions on their past treatment. No question our past impacts our present, the only real question is how we choose to let the past impact our present. Will we dwell in the valley of bitterness or will we, with David, climb the mountain of gratitude? Your choice, but let me warn you, when all is said and done, you alone will be responsible for how your respond. Each person will give an account of him or herself to God (Romans 14:12). Modern psychological thought may let you get away with, “I did what I did because my parents did what they did,” and you may be comfortable rationalizing ill behavior because as a child you suffered ill-behavior, but in the end, where it really counts, you will be held responsible for you and the blame game won’t deter the Righteous Judge.
If anyone had an excuse to dwell in misery it was David. He chose not to. Instead of focusing on the negatives, his focus was on the positives; instead of complaining about the many battles, he praised God for the many victories. What about you?
Early in this Psalm David feared that he was a goner (vv. 4-6). He prayed and God responded. Now, in these closing verses we find a grateful David rejoicing before the Lord.
We don’t know the exact time this particular Psalm was written. The written introduction may link this Psalm early in David’s life, after his 12 or so years of fleeing from Saul. However the introductory comments read “when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.”
This Psalm is also recorded in 2 Samuel 22. In that setting it seems to come near the end of David’s career as king. Certainly from verses 47 & 50 it would appear that he is speaking as the king and not simply the one who was to become king.
I point this out to remind you that this great ending of praise comes after great personal losses. If (as I believe this Psalm comes at the end of David’s earthly life) remember that the victories to which he refers are numerous indeed. Some of those victories came at the expense of great personal loss. Absalom, one of David’s own sons, was one of those violent men from whom the hand of God rescued him. Think of the conflict. Absalom had usurped the throne, David fled to avoid a confrontation with his son, and David’s eventual deliverance in this instance came at the death of his own son–a tragedy that is never easy for a parent no matter how rebellious the son may become!
Bottom line: David’s praise includes deliverance not only from external conflicts but for deliverance from great internal (family) conflicts as well. Even in his great personal losses (and they were many) David declares, “He shows unfailing kindness to (me.)” I find that interesting. If this Psalm is at the end of David’s life, he has wonderfully chosen to focus on the victories not on the battles which led to those victories; he has chosen to focus on the blessings God had given him not the bane of the wounds.
What are you focusing on today? Is there some past hurt you refuse to let heal? Like a curious child you keep picking at the scab, making sure that wound will not recover until you decide to let it. I find people all the time who blame their present dispositions on their past treatment. No question our past impacts our present, the only real question is how we choose to let the past impact our present. Will we dwell in the valley of bitterness or will we, with David, climb the mountain of gratitude? Your choice, but let me warn you, when all is said and done, you alone will be responsible for how your respond. Each person will give an account of him or herself to God (Romans 14:12). Modern psychological thought may let you get away with, “I did what I did because my parents did what they did,” and you may be comfortable rationalizing ill behavior because as a child you suffered ill-behavior, but in the end, where it really counts, you will be held responsible for you and the blame game won’t deter the Righteous Judge.
If anyone had an excuse to dwell in misery it was David. He chose not to. Instead of focusing on the negatives, his focus was on the positives; instead of complaining about the many battles, he praised God for the many victories. What about you?
Monday, September 14, 2009
Where Is Your Trust?
“32 God is my protection. He makes my way free from fault. 33 He makes me like a deer that does not stumble; he helps me stand on the steep mountains. (Psalm 18:32-33 NCV).
What are you facing today? What or whom are you counting on to get you through the day? Anything or anyone less than God is risky. Is it not wiser to put your trust in the God who can do anything, the God who will never fail, the God who holds the universe and every molecule of it in His all-powerful hand? Think of the absolute security of being able to declare with confidence, “God is my protection.”
Now, look at that next phrase. God’s protection is not only from those things that can harm us from the outside, His protection keeps us from those things that can harm us from the inside! “He makes my way free from fault.” Couple this with the next phrase, “He makes me like a deer that does not stumble,” and you have the complete idea: God protects us from going the wrong way!
When we respond to God through faith in Jesus Christ a number of marvelous things happen. First, all our sins are removed–placed on the wounded shoulders of Christ. (See 1 John 2:1-2). Second, all Christ’s righteousness is placed on us. Amazing. Third, God Himself comes to dwell in the believer in the person of the Holy Spirit and it is that leading (when we respond to it) that can keep our ways “free from fault.”
Understand, this is not a one time deal. Too many believers today are resting on some past decision but not living daily for Christ. Such people do not have a testimony they have a history. True Christianity is not a “done deal” in the sense that we make a one time decision, live any way we please and not worry about it again until we get to heaven. No! True Christianity is not a past decision it is a present life based upon that past decision! The Apostle John put it this way: “Whoever claims to life in Him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6 NIV). Let me be clear, this command by John (given under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) is not an option for the believer.
There are two passages of Scripture that scare me to death (actually three but the third is another passage for another time). The two that apply to this discussion are James 2:19 and Matthew 7:21-23. James 2:19 reminds us, “Even the demons believe and tremble.” Demons know without question who Jesus is; they have no doubts about it like you and I sometime have. They know all the facts, but they are not saved. There are a boat-load of professing people who know all the facts about Jesus, but they’ve never really met him personally. How do we know that? Because they talk about Jesus but they don’t walk like Jesus. John tells us those who talk is true will walk a walk that is true.
Now Matthew 7:21-23 tells us that there are going to be many people who will stand before God and claim that they did all sorts of wonderful things for Christ; they taught Sunday School, they were pastors and some will have even performed great miracles in the name of Jesus, but when judgment falls they will hear, “I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:23). Why? The answer is found back in verse 21: “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 NLT–emphasis mine).
Back to our original text. Who can truly count on God’s protection? The one whose walk is made faultless by faith and obedience. As James reminds us, “Faith, if that all there is, is dead. True faith reveals itself by how you live.” (James 2:17 Pearrell Loose Translation).
What are you facing today? What or whom are you counting on to get you through the day? Anything or anyone less than God is risky. Is it not wiser to put your trust in the God who can do anything, the God who will never fail, the God who holds the universe and every molecule of it in His all-powerful hand? Think of the absolute security of being able to declare with confidence, “God is my protection.”
Now, look at that next phrase. God’s protection is not only from those things that can harm us from the outside, His protection keeps us from those things that can harm us from the inside! “He makes my way free from fault.” Couple this with the next phrase, “He makes me like a deer that does not stumble,” and you have the complete idea: God protects us from going the wrong way!
When we respond to God through faith in Jesus Christ a number of marvelous things happen. First, all our sins are removed–placed on the wounded shoulders of Christ. (See 1 John 2:1-2). Second, all Christ’s righteousness is placed on us. Amazing. Third, God Himself comes to dwell in the believer in the person of the Holy Spirit and it is that leading (when we respond to it) that can keep our ways “free from fault.”
Understand, this is not a one time deal. Too many believers today are resting on some past decision but not living daily for Christ. Such people do not have a testimony they have a history. True Christianity is not a “done deal” in the sense that we make a one time decision, live any way we please and not worry about it again until we get to heaven. No! True Christianity is not a past decision it is a present life based upon that past decision! The Apostle John put it this way: “Whoever claims to life in Him must walk as Jesus did.” (1 John 2:6 NIV). Let me be clear, this command by John (given under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) is not an option for the believer.
There are two passages of Scripture that scare me to death (actually three but the third is another passage for another time). The two that apply to this discussion are James 2:19 and Matthew 7:21-23. James 2:19 reminds us, “Even the demons believe and tremble.” Demons know without question who Jesus is; they have no doubts about it like you and I sometime have. They know all the facts, but they are not saved. There are a boat-load of professing people who know all the facts about Jesus, but they’ve never really met him personally. How do we know that? Because they talk about Jesus but they don’t walk like Jesus. John tells us those who talk is true will walk a walk that is true.
Now Matthew 7:21-23 tells us that there are going to be many people who will stand before God and claim that they did all sorts of wonderful things for Christ; they taught Sunday School, they were pastors and some will have even performed great miracles in the name of Jesus, but when judgment falls they will hear, “I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:23). Why? The answer is found back in verse 21: “Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21 NLT–emphasis mine).
Back to our original text. Who can truly count on God’s protection? The one whose walk is made faultless by faith and obedience. As James reminds us, “Faith, if that all there is, is dead. True faith reveals itself by how you live.” (James 2:17 Pearrell Loose Translation).
Friday, September 4, 2009
God Doesn't Make Mistakes
“As for God, His way is perfect, the word of the Lord is flawless. He is s shield for all who take refuge in Him.” (Psalm 18:30 NIV).
This is a powerful verse, even on its own–it becomes mind-boggling when we realize the context! Remember David is praising the Lord for deliverance from a whole host of problems. Not your simple everyday problems, but problems that were so great as to be literally life-threatening. If this Psalm is written after his deliverance from Saul, remember he was on the run for some 12 years. It is in this context that David declares “As for God, His way is perfect . . . .”
Now I want you to think about that statement for a minute. This is not a comment by someone who has lived life in an ivory tower. Sometimes we read things like this in Scripture and think (either consciously or subconsciously) “Easy for him to say! He doesn’t know what I’m going through.” That’s right, but also realize that you have not experienced what David experienced. You and I have not lived life on the lam. Hiding in rugged caves and desolate areas. Pretending to be a mad-man so an enemy king wouldn’t take your life. Reputation ruined. A fugitive who, anyone found helping was summarily executed. David was pariah in Israel.
Yet, he says (Pearrell loose translation now), “God knows what He is doing; He doesn’t make mistakes.”
Do you believe that? Do you believe that in the difficult circumstances you perhaps now are in? It is easy to believe this marvelous truth when things are going our way–it is another thing to believe it–to really believe it–when everything around us is falling apart.
Perhaps the best Biblical example of this is Joseph. Joseph was sold into a cruel slavery by his own brothers. Still he honored God and worked hard. As a result, life became a little more bearable for him as he advanced in rank. Then, a lie took all that away. He ended up in chains in prision; chains that rubbed him raw (See Psalm 105:17-22). He could have become angry and bitter, instead he became better. Why? Because he believed that God’s way was perfect, even in his pain. As a result, he is elevated to the high rank of chief prisoner (that’s sarcasm for those who might have missed it). But it was from this lowly position (some 13 years now have passed in slavery and prison) that God elevates him to second in command in Egypt! Here’s the amazing thing: God had not lost control when Joseph was thrown into that pit by his brothers, He had not lost control when he was sold into slavery, He had not lost control when Mrs. Potiphar accused this innocent man of rape, He had not lost control when her furious and influential husband had him thrown into prison, He had not lost control while Joseph languished there, nor had he lost control when the kings Cupbearer forgot his promise to Joseph for two more years!
May I suggest humbly that God has not lost control over your dread circumstances now? You may not see what He is doing, but you can be sure of this, His ways are still perfect!
I like the way The Message puts these verses, “What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth. Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward him makes it.” Take heart!
This is a powerful verse, even on its own–it becomes mind-boggling when we realize the context! Remember David is praising the Lord for deliverance from a whole host of problems. Not your simple everyday problems, but problems that were so great as to be literally life-threatening. If this Psalm is written after his deliverance from Saul, remember he was on the run for some 12 years. It is in this context that David declares “As for God, His way is perfect . . . .”
Now I want you to think about that statement for a minute. This is not a comment by someone who has lived life in an ivory tower. Sometimes we read things like this in Scripture and think (either consciously or subconsciously) “Easy for him to say! He doesn’t know what I’m going through.” That’s right, but also realize that you have not experienced what David experienced. You and I have not lived life on the lam. Hiding in rugged caves and desolate areas. Pretending to be a mad-man so an enemy king wouldn’t take your life. Reputation ruined. A fugitive who, anyone found helping was summarily executed. David was pariah in Israel.
Yet, he says (Pearrell loose translation now), “God knows what He is doing; He doesn’t make mistakes.”
Do you believe that? Do you believe that in the difficult circumstances you perhaps now are in? It is easy to believe this marvelous truth when things are going our way–it is another thing to believe it–to really believe it–when everything around us is falling apart.
Perhaps the best Biblical example of this is Joseph. Joseph was sold into a cruel slavery by his own brothers. Still he honored God and worked hard. As a result, life became a little more bearable for him as he advanced in rank. Then, a lie took all that away. He ended up in chains in prision; chains that rubbed him raw (See Psalm 105:17-22). He could have become angry and bitter, instead he became better. Why? Because he believed that God’s way was perfect, even in his pain. As a result, he is elevated to the high rank of chief prisoner (that’s sarcasm for those who might have missed it). But it was from this lowly position (some 13 years now have passed in slavery and prison) that God elevates him to second in command in Egypt! Here’s the amazing thing: God had not lost control when Joseph was thrown into that pit by his brothers, He had not lost control when he was sold into slavery, He had not lost control when Mrs. Potiphar accused this innocent man of rape, He had not lost control when her furious and influential husband had him thrown into prison, He had not lost control while Joseph languished there, nor had he lost control when the kings Cupbearer forgot his promise to Joseph for two more years!
May I suggest humbly that God has not lost control over your dread circumstances now? You may not see what He is doing, but you can be sure of this, His ways are still perfect!
I like the way The Message puts these verses, “What a God! His road stretches straight and smooth. Every God-direction is road-tested. Everyone who runs toward him makes it.” Take heart!
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Who Can Expect Help?
“25 Lord, you are loyal to those who are loyal, and you are good to those who are good. 26 You are pure to those who are pure, but you are against those who are bad. 27 You save the humble, but you bring down those who are proud. 28 Lord, you give light to my lamp. My God brightens the darkness around me. 29 With your help I can attack an army. With God’s help I can jump over a wall.” (Psalm 18:25-29 NCV).
The Lord’s help is with those who sincerely seek His help. Operative word: sincerely. So often I find people who desperately seek God’s help in an effort to get them out of the messes they’ve gotten themselves into through their own rebellion. They look for loyalty from a God they have been consistently disloyal towards and they expect good from God in as expected payment for actions they know were not good in the first place. This Psalm reminds us of the simple principle of you reap what you sow.
If you want to experience God’s loyalty, show yourself loyal to Him–act like a child of the King. If you want to experience God’s good pleasure on your life, live a good life for Him–live as a child of the King. If you what God’s purity, fill you mind with pure thoughts. You get the picture.
How wonderful the promise of God. When our ways are right, the darkness around us becomes light, and God Himself supplies the power to keep our lights burning brightly in testimony to Him. “If God is for us, who can stand against us?” (Romans 8:31 NIV).
The Lord’s help is with those who sincerely seek His help. Operative word: sincerely. So often I find people who desperately seek God’s help in an effort to get them out of the messes they’ve gotten themselves into through their own rebellion. They look for loyalty from a God they have been consistently disloyal towards and they expect good from God in as expected payment for actions they know were not good in the first place. This Psalm reminds us of the simple principle of you reap what you sow.
If you want to experience God’s loyalty, show yourself loyal to Him–act like a child of the King. If you want to experience God’s good pleasure on your life, live a good life for Him–live as a child of the King. If you what God’s purity, fill you mind with pure thoughts. You get the picture.
How wonderful the promise of God. When our ways are right, the darkness around us becomes light, and God Himself supplies the power to keep our lights burning brightly in testimony to Him. “If God is for us, who can stand against us?” (Romans 8:31 NIV).
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Take the Long Term View
In our last TFTD we looked at Psalm 18:4-6 “4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” (NIV).
David was in a mess. He felt so bad he thought the sentence of death itself was upon him! Ever felt that way? Maybe not that death had you in its grip, but certainly that maybe you'd be better off dead. I hate to admit it, but been there done that. That is where David finds himself in this Psalm.
He does what all of us do in such situations, he cries out. But notice that his outcry has a purpose. He cries out in a prayer to God. Cries of frustration, anger, fear, may bring us temporary relief; they may be cathartic, but only the cry of faith brings deliverance!
Now, I say all of this to point you to today's thought: "16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." (Psalm 18:16-19 NIV).
On the authority of God’s Word I can tell you, God wants to do that for you today. How can I say such a thing? How do I know God wants to deliver you?
First I can say that because the Bible teaches that God is changeless. The same God that rescued David is the same God who can rescue us when we cry to Him.
Second I can say this because the Bible teaches that those of us who know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior are now beloved children in the family of God and the Bible says in light of that relationship, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).
Third I can say this because the Bible tells us that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9 NIV).
Fourth I can say this because God promises to hear the cry of everyone who will call out to Him and “he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.” (1 Peter 2:6 NASB). You have God’s promise on that!
But let me quickly add something here. This promise does not mean that there will be no battles, no floods, no tears or heartaches or struggles. This promise does not mean, as so many want to make it mean today, that your reward is here on this sin-scared earth.
Never forget that God’s choice people suffered; not everything worked out “happily ever after” on this earth. Even our Lord’s victory came only through His willingness to trust the Father’s guidance even as He went to the cross. That was not a pleasant road.
The fact of the matter is, this world is not our final destination and as such, God is not about to grant our every temporal desire at the expense of our eternal well-being. He is not.
The reason some become disillusioned with God and His promises is because they are myopic–short-sighted. They are only looking to the “now” and they’ve lost sight of eternity. God hasn’t and He won’t. He will not sacrifice your eternal good for a momentary happiness no matter how much you may plead.
Don’t think this is an all is well message in terms of God’s immediate deliverance. It is not. However, understand that it is an all is well message in terms of God’s gracious and eternal plan. We win. You can count on that because you have God’s Word–in writing with His signature–on it.
Doubt any of that? Look at the cross. “32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NIV). There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not a train, nor is it simply better days ahead, it is the light of the glory of God! Won’t you come to Him? Trade your burdens for the joy of the Lord. Give it up. Come and receive the mercy you know you need.
David was in a mess. He felt so bad he thought the sentence of death itself was upon him! Ever felt that way? Maybe not that death had you in its grip, but certainly that maybe you'd be better off dead. I hate to admit it, but been there done that. That is where David finds himself in this Psalm.
He does what all of us do in such situations, he cries out. But notice that his outcry has a purpose. He cries out in a prayer to God. Cries of frustration, anger, fear, may bring us temporary relief; they may be cathartic, but only the cry of faith brings deliverance!
Now, I say all of this to point you to today's thought: "16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the Lord was my support. 19 He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." (Psalm 18:16-19 NIV).
On the authority of God’s Word I can tell you, God wants to do that for you today. How can I say such a thing? How do I know God wants to deliver you?
First I can say that because the Bible teaches that God is changeless. The same God that rescued David is the same God who can rescue us when we cry to Him.
Second I can say this because the Bible teaches that those of us who know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior are now beloved children in the family of God and the Bible says in light of that relationship, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).
Third I can say this because the Bible tells us that “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:9 NIV).
Fourth I can say this because God promises to hear the cry of everyone who will call out to Him and “he who believes in Him shall not be disappointed.” (1 Peter 2:6 NASB). You have God’s promise on that!
But let me quickly add something here. This promise does not mean that there will be no battles, no floods, no tears or heartaches or struggles. This promise does not mean, as so many want to make it mean today, that your reward is here on this sin-scared earth.
Never forget that God’s choice people suffered; not everything worked out “happily ever after” on this earth. Even our Lord’s victory came only through His willingness to trust the Father’s guidance even as He went to the cross. That was not a pleasant road.
The fact of the matter is, this world is not our final destination and as such, God is not about to grant our every temporal desire at the expense of our eternal well-being. He is not.
The reason some become disillusioned with God and His promises is because they are myopic–short-sighted. They are only looking to the “now” and they’ve lost sight of eternity. God hasn’t and He won’t. He will not sacrifice your eternal good for a momentary happiness no matter how much you may plead.
Don’t think this is an all is well message in terms of God’s immediate deliverance. It is not. However, understand that it is an all is well message in terms of God’s gracious and eternal plan. We win. You can count on that because you have God’s Word–in writing with His signature–on it.
Doubt any of that? Look at the cross. “32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32 NIV). There’s light at the end of the tunnel, and it is not a train, nor is it simply better days ahead, it is the light of the glory of God! Won’t you come to Him? Trade your burdens for the joy of the Lord. Give it up. Come and receive the mercy you know you need.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Almost Gone
“4 The cords of death entangled me; the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me. 5 The cords of the grave coiled around me; the snares of death confronted me. 6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.” (Psalm 18:4-6 NIV).
David was in a mess. Look at verses 4 & 5 again and consider their impact. David was convinced that he was standing on the edge of death door, toes curled over the stoop in a desperate effort to maintain his balance. One can picture him on the edge of a precipice, leaning out over the abyss, arms wildly swinging to regain his lost balance, and a flood quickly rushing up from behind to finish the fall. Bottom line: it was over. He was done for, the grave had already reached up for him; death had him in its grip. All was lost. . . .
But wait! David doesn’t simply fall to oblivion, he doesn’t cry out in sheer panic, his cries have purpose; his cries are a prayer and God hears him!
God always hears the prayers of His people. Always. He hears the cry of your heart today. He loves you and He longs to rescue you. He is only waiting for your cry for help.
David was in a mess. Look at verses 4 & 5 again and consider their impact. David was convinced that he was standing on the edge of death door, toes curled over the stoop in a desperate effort to maintain his balance. One can picture him on the edge of a precipice, leaning out over the abyss, arms wildly swinging to regain his lost balance, and a flood quickly rushing up from behind to finish the fall. Bottom line: it was over. He was done for, the grave had already reached up for him; death had him in its grip. All was lost. . . .
But wait! David doesn’t simply fall to oblivion, he doesn’t cry out in sheer panic, his cries have purpose; his cries are a prayer and God hears him!
God always hears the prayers of His people. Always. He hears the cry of your heart today. He loves you and He longs to rescue you. He is only waiting for your cry for help.
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