Who is to blame for the recent fiasco in the financial sector of our economy? If you haven’t heard, the U.S. government is pledging hundreds of billions to bail out mortgage giants Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac and AIG (the nation’s largest insurance provider). Just this week, we witnessed the largest bankruptcy in American history (Lehman Brothers). Merrill Lynch — a premier brokerage firm — has been bought out, and several other financial companies now appear concerned about their own solvency.
All of the economic analysts on television admit that this was all triggered by the mortgage industry, but what exactly happened to the mortgage industry?
Ever since the mid-1990s, there has been a push to expand and extend mortgage loans into low-income and minority communities. In 2000, Fannie Mae announced an initiative “to provide $2 trillion in private capital for 18 million minority and underserved Americans.” Likewise, in recent years, Democrats in Congress and President Bush have pushed hard for more increases in minority homeownership.
While it is a certainly a noble goal to seek broader homeownership in America, the naïve liberal belief that everyone is entitled to everything has ultimately led us into this crisis. Quite frankly, some people simply cannot afford a home. For example, my family is still renting our home for that very reason. But that did not stop Fannie Mae from encouraging banks to push mortgage loans on millions of our Americans who are poorer than I am.
These mortgages came in all shapes and sizes. Some were made available to those who could pay “interest-only.” Other loans lured irresponsible borrowers with payments that would “balloon” over time. Still other mortgages were known as “NINJA” loans, because they required No Income, No Job, and No Assets. And now the liberals are furious at Republicans, because those same people cannot pay their mortgages — and the American economy is convulsing as a result.
In the words of my dad, “DUH!”
The entitlement philosophy of our nation makes it seem as though everyone is entitled to own a house. Impoverished communities were flooded with hundreds of billions in loans. People with unstable finances qualified for hundreds of thousands of dollars in loans. This excess and borrowed cash artificially drove the housing market through the roof, as too many dollars were chasing too few homes. Eventually, the housing market peaked, interest rates climbed, and the economy grew sluggish. ARMs (adjustable rate mortgages) began creeping north, and millions of poor people realized the obvious: they could not afford their homes.
As more and more poor people continue to default on their loans, our nation continues to set records for foreclosures. As a result of these foreclosures, houses have flooded the market, and the housing prices have plummeted. Now a bank, which originally loaned out $400,000 for a house, is lucky to collect $300,000 in a post-foreclosure sale. Multiply such losses by millions of unqualified borrowers, and you can understand why our economy is in deep trouble. Banks are suffering massive losses.
John McCain may not be an economic guru, but he is one of few politicians who spoke out about this problem over two years ago. In May of 2006, McCain was warning about problems with the mortgage industry giants — Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac. On the floor of the Senate, he declared, “These are entities that have demonstrated over and over again that they are deeply in need of reform.” Unlike Barack, this is not a new speech for him. He was ignored, and that reform never came in the Democratic-controlled Congress. Now, our economy is convulsing.
As Americans suffer the consequences of utopian liberalism, Obama and the liberal Democrats are now trying to claim that all of our problems stem from the GOP’s economic policies of deregulation and “favoring the rich.” WRONG, WRONG, WRONG. This financial “crisis” is due to the failed policies of liberalism that flooded poorer Americans with insurmountable debts.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Thirsting for Righteousness
The 4th Beatitude listed in the Sermon on the Mount teaches us: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satisfied.”
What does it look like to hunger and thirst for righteousness as a believer? In the church, most people’s first instinct is to devise checklists to elevate our “holiness rating.” Thus, we think to ourselves that we need to pray more, read more, and go to church more.
However the entirety of Scripture presents a far different solution. Righteousness is not to be found in our actions; it is found in Christ alone! When Jesus encounters the adulterous Samaritan woman at the well, He promises her: “… whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst.” Later Jesus tells His own followers: “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
Ask yourself: what quenches our hunger and our thirst for righteousness? It seems that Jesus is quite deliberate in His choice of language. The answer is not to be found in our own duties, deeds, and strivings. To the contrary, the Gospel of John shows us that Jesus Himself is the very righteousness for which we hunger and thirst. He alone can satisfy us.
Jesus promises that those who seek after Him “will never thirst.” In light of this promise, how can we explain Christ’s words on the Cross? John’s Gospel tells us, “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’”
This is like buying diet pills from a fat salesman. The One who claims to have a remedy to ensure that His followers “will never thirst” had declared that He was “thirsty.” How can this be? What are the Scriptures telling us?
His thirst must be significant. For eternity past, Jesus had existed in a state of perfect righteousness. He had no need of hungering or thirsting for righteousness, because He embodied true righteousness. Yet on the Cross, there was a beautiful exchange between mankind and Christ. He was cloaked in our sin, and He clothed us in His righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
On the Cross, for the first time in history, Jesus experienced what it was like to desperately thirst for righteousness. He suddenly knew the despair borne by an utter alienation from His Father. When Jesus cries out “I thirst,” He is not merely expressing a physical desire. Perhaps He is announcing that the beautiful exchange of the gospel was complete. He had taken our sin, and, with that, Jesus could declare, “It is finished.”
What a wonderful Savior! Jesus was willing to freely give His righteousness away and suffer thirst in order to fulfill His promise that we would never thirst again.
What does it look like to hunger and thirst for righteousness as a believer? In the church, most people’s first instinct is to devise checklists to elevate our “holiness rating.” Thus, we think to ourselves that we need to pray more, read more, and go to church more.
However the entirety of Scripture presents a far different solution. Righteousness is not to be found in our actions; it is found in Christ alone! When Jesus encounters the adulterous Samaritan woman at the well, He promises her: “… whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst.” Later Jesus tells His own followers: “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
Ask yourself: what quenches our hunger and our thirst for righteousness? It seems that Jesus is quite deliberate in His choice of language. The answer is not to be found in our own duties, deeds, and strivings. To the contrary, the Gospel of John shows us that Jesus Himself is the very righteousness for which we hunger and thirst. He alone can satisfy us.
Jesus promises that those who seek after Him “will never thirst.” In light of this promise, how can we explain Christ’s words on the Cross? John’s Gospel tells us, “Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty.’”
This is like buying diet pills from a fat salesman. The One who claims to have a remedy to ensure that His followers “will never thirst” had declared that He was “thirsty.” How can this be? What are the Scriptures telling us?
His thirst must be significant. For eternity past, Jesus had existed in a state of perfect righteousness. He had no need of hungering or thirsting for righteousness, because He embodied true righteousness. Yet on the Cross, there was a beautiful exchange between mankind and Christ. He was cloaked in our sin, and He clothed us in His righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
On the Cross, for the first time in history, Jesus experienced what it was like to desperately thirst for righteousness. He suddenly knew the despair borne by an utter alienation from His Father. When Jesus cries out “I thirst,” He is not merely expressing a physical desire. Perhaps He is announcing that the beautiful exchange of the gospel was complete. He had taken our sin, and, with that, Jesus could declare, “It is finished.”
What a wonderful Savior! Jesus was willing to freely give His righteousness away and suffer thirst in order to fulfill His promise that we would never thirst again.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Obama: "No You Can't"
In recent months, millions of Americans have listened to the empty rhetoric of Barack Obama. We have all heard his speeches and his vague promises of hope and change. We’ve listened to a man—who has been independently ranked as the most liberal politician in the U.S. Senate—promising that he can somehow bring both sides of the aisle rushing to follow him to the very farthest extreme of the ideological pendulum.
These are clever words and slogans—especially when so many Americans are dissatisfied and distrustful of government—but they are empty promises.
At this point in history, our President has very low numbers, and our Congress has even lower approval ratings. One recent poll found that Congress has recorded its lowest approval rating in the history of such polls. Yet all of Barack’s promises hinge on giving America’s bloated, ineffective, and unpopular government even greater control over American life. We’ve heard Barack lay out his solutions of big government, and we have seen him lead enthusiastic crowds in chanting: “Yes We Can.”
Perhaps there is no greater irony in this campaign than watching the disciples of big government and the welfare-state screaming, “Yes We Can!” The political philosophy of liberalism, which treats the American people as though they are utterly incapable of taking care of themselves, has the audacity to embrace a slogan of “Yes We Can.”
The entire foundation of liberal politics is built upon the premise of “No You Can’t.”
Conservatism believes that Americans CAN take care of their families.
Liberalism looks at the American people and screams: “No You Can’t.”
Conservatism trusts that Americans can wisely choose how to spend their own paychecks.
But the high-tax policies of liberalism say to the American worker: “No You Can’t.”
True conservatism believes that our citizens can thrive best when government regulation and the yokes of bureaucracy are lifted from their shoulders.
But the thousands of liberal bureaucrats in D.C. would tell you, “No You Can’t.”
Conservatives believe that America is unique because we can look to God as our source for liberty, not to government.
In recent decades, our liberal judiciary has told us: “No You Can’t.”
Conservatism believes that American law can be fair & equitable while securing our borders.
Liberalism says, “No You Can’t.”
Conservatism believes that Americans can bear arms in accordance with the Constitution’s 2nd Amendment.
We have seen numerous liberal states and municipalities expressly declare, “No You Can’t.”
Conservatism believes that parents can be trusted to decide the best alternative for their child’s education.
Liberalism rejects school choice—shouting to parents: “No You Can’t.”
In short, conservatism believes that Americans CAN prosper apart from the long arm of big government, and liberalism whispers, “No You Can’t.”
Consider this. Barack wants higher taxes; socialized healthcare; increased regulation on American industries; more burdens on gas prices; dramatically increased pledges of international aid; a government bailout of the mortgage and financial industries; and a bigger role for government in virtually every conceivable arena of the political landscape. Now ask yourself … why does Barack want to expand the size and scope of our federal government? Is it not because at the base of Barack’s entire political philosophy is the belief that Americans CANNOT attain success apart from the crutches of big government?
At his core, Barack believes that the government MUST interject, because he believes that American people CANNOT succeed. Conservatism believes the opposite. We believe that time has proven that the government CANNOT outperform the American people, and therefore the American people CAN, MUST, and SHALL.
Obama has painted the repeatedly failed policies of liberalism (see LBJ & Jimmy Carter) as though they are new policies of hope and change. Government has grown wildly in recent years, but government has never been more unpopular with the American people. And Barack’s solution? MORE government! This is liberalism. It feeds on pessimism and a lack of faith in the American people to thrive apart from their addiction to government handouts, bailouts, and sellouts; whereas conservatism trusts in the ingenuities of American enterprise and the charitable nature of the American people.
Government has never lifted America to greatness; the American people have. When Barack says, “YES WE CAN,” he means an elite group of Washington politicians CAN, because they know better than you. But like Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater, conservatism believes that big government is a hindrance to success. It is not the answer to the problem; it IS the problem.
These are clever words and slogans—especially when so many Americans are dissatisfied and distrustful of government—but they are empty promises.
At this point in history, our President has very low numbers, and our Congress has even lower approval ratings. One recent poll found that Congress has recorded its lowest approval rating in the history of such polls. Yet all of Barack’s promises hinge on giving America’s bloated, ineffective, and unpopular government even greater control over American life. We’ve heard Barack lay out his solutions of big government, and we have seen him lead enthusiastic crowds in chanting: “Yes We Can.”
Perhaps there is no greater irony in this campaign than watching the disciples of big government and the welfare-state screaming, “Yes We Can!” The political philosophy of liberalism, which treats the American people as though they are utterly incapable of taking care of themselves, has the audacity to embrace a slogan of “Yes We Can.”
The entire foundation of liberal politics is built upon the premise of “No You Can’t.”
Conservatism believes that Americans CAN take care of their families.
Liberalism looks at the American people and screams: “No You Can’t.”
Conservatism trusts that Americans can wisely choose how to spend their own paychecks.
But the high-tax policies of liberalism say to the American worker: “No You Can’t.”
True conservatism believes that our citizens can thrive best when government regulation and the yokes of bureaucracy are lifted from their shoulders.
But the thousands of liberal bureaucrats in D.C. would tell you, “No You Can’t.”
Conservatives believe that America is unique because we can look to God as our source for liberty, not to government.
In recent decades, our liberal judiciary has told us: “No You Can’t.”
Conservatism believes that American law can be fair & equitable while securing our borders.
Liberalism says, “No You Can’t.”
Conservatism believes that Americans can bear arms in accordance with the Constitution’s 2nd Amendment.
We have seen numerous liberal states and municipalities expressly declare, “No You Can’t.”
Conservatism believes that parents can be trusted to decide the best alternative for their child’s education.
Liberalism rejects school choice—shouting to parents: “No You Can’t.”
In short, conservatism believes that Americans CAN prosper apart from the long arm of big government, and liberalism whispers, “No You Can’t.”
Consider this. Barack wants higher taxes; socialized healthcare; increased regulation on American industries; more burdens on gas prices; dramatically increased pledges of international aid; a government bailout of the mortgage and financial industries; and a bigger role for government in virtually every conceivable arena of the political landscape. Now ask yourself … why does Barack want to expand the size and scope of our federal government? Is it not because at the base of Barack’s entire political philosophy is the belief that Americans CANNOT attain success apart from the crutches of big government?
At his core, Barack believes that the government MUST interject, because he believes that American people CANNOT succeed. Conservatism believes the opposite. We believe that time has proven that the government CANNOT outperform the American people, and therefore the American people CAN, MUST, and SHALL.
Obama has painted the repeatedly failed policies of liberalism (see LBJ & Jimmy Carter) as though they are new policies of hope and change. Government has grown wildly in recent years, but government has never been more unpopular with the American people. And Barack’s solution? MORE government! This is liberalism. It feeds on pessimism and a lack of faith in the American people to thrive apart from their addiction to government handouts, bailouts, and sellouts; whereas conservatism trusts in the ingenuities of American enterprise and the charitable nature of the American people.
Government has never lifted America to greatness; the American people have. When Barack says, “YES WE CAN,” he means an elite group of Washington politicians CAN, because they know better than you. But like Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater, conservatism believes that big government is a hindrance to success. It is not the answer to the problem; it IS the problem.
Beatitudes Mirrored by Woes
Each of the eight beatitudes expressed in the Sermon of the Mount (Matthew 5) corresponds to an opposite declaration in which Jesus curses the Pharisees with eight woes in Matthew 23. Jesus is presenting his audience with two alternatives. Either you can live a blessed life that the Gospel calls us to follow, or you can live a cursed life like the Pharisees.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Woe to you … you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people. (Mt. 23:13)
Being poor in spirit means recognizing how incomplete you are apart from Christ. It means a true realization that you are hopeless without Jesus. One biblical commentator explained that “the [ancient Greek] philosophers did not reckon humility among their moral virtues, but Christ puts it first. Self-denial is the first lesson to be learned in his school, and poverty of spirit entitled to the first beatitude. The foundation of all other graces is laid in humility.”
Question: Do you live your life as though you truly need Jesus?
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Woe to you … you devour widow’s houses. (Mt. 23:14)
This mourning is godly sorrow over sin. This addresses the sincerity of a person’s repentance. The comfort promised to believers is realized in the prophecy of Revelation 21: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain…”
Question: Does reflection upon your sins cause you to feel true sorrow?
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Woe to you … you travel the earth to win a convert, making them into hell-dwellers. (Mt. 23:15)
A meek person is both patient and humble. Matthew Henry describes the meek as “those who quietly submit themselves to God, to his word and to his rod [punishments], who follow his directions, and comply with his designs, and are gentle towards all men; who can bear provocation without being inflamed by it...”
Question: Do you often put other people ahead of yourself?
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
- Woe to you … you swear by the temple and offer up a false righteousness. (Mt. 23:16-22)
Each and every person on earth hungers after something—whether holiness or sin. If you are thirsting and hungering after things of the world, then you are neglecting the things of Jesus.
Question: Which do you spend more time thinking about … impressing your friends or pleasing God?
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
- Woe to you … who neglect justice and mercy. (Mt. 23:23-24)
This is demonstrated by Christ’s parable of the wicked debtor (Matthew 18:23-35). We have been forgiven so much that we would be foolish and wicked not to forgive those who have offended us.
Question: Are you refusing to let go of a grudge against someone else?
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
- Woe to you … who clean the outside of the cup but are filthy within. (Mt. 23:25-26)
This claims that those who seek after pure holiness will be rewarded by God. Those who are clothed in the purity of Jesus Christ and treasure this holiness will finally be able to see the face of God without the fear of death.
Question: Can you honestly claim that purity and holiness are important to you?
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- Woe to you … you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. (Mt. 23:31)
Christians should be peacemakers because we worship the Prince of Peace.
Question: Do you often work to resolve fights between friends or are you quick to take sides and stir it up?
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Woe to you … you will kill and crucify the prophets that I send to you. (Mt. 23:34)
The history of the Christian Church is filled with wonderful stories of martyrs, who gave the last full measure of their lives to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These saints are blessed in the sight of God.
Question: Have you ever been persecuted or mistreated because you are a Christian?
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Woe to you … you shut off the kingdom of heaven from people. (Mt. 23:13)
Being poor in spirit means recognizing how incomplete you are apart from Christ. It means a true realization that you are hopeless without Jesus. One biblical commentator explained that “the [ancient Greek] philosophers did not reckon humility among their moral virtues, but Christ puts it first. Self-denial is the first lesson to be learned in his school, and poverty of spirit entitled to the first beatitude. The foundation of all other graces is laid in humility.”
Question: Do you live your life as though you truly need Jesus?
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
- Woe to you … you devour widow’s houses. (Mt. 23:14)
This mourning is godly sorrow over sin. This addresses the sincerity of a person’s repentance. The comfort promised to believers is realized in the prophecy of Revelation 21: “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain…”
Question: Does reflection upon your sins cause you to feel true sorrow?
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
- Woe to you … you travel the earth to win a convert, making them into hell-dwellers. (Mt. 23:15)
A meek person is both patient and humble. Matthew Henry describes the meek as “those who quietly submit themselves to God, to his word and to his rod [punishments], who follow his directions, and comply with his designs, and are gentle towards all men; who can bear provocation without being inflamed by it...”
Question: Do you often put other people ahead of yourself?
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
- Woe to you … you swear by the temple and offer up a false righteousness. (Mt. 23:16-22)
Each and every person on earth hungers after something—whether holiness or sin. If you are thirsting and hungering after things of the world, then you are neglecting the things of Jesus.
Question: Which do you spend more time thinking about … impressing your friends or pleasing God?
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
- Woe to you … who neglect justice and mercy. (Mt. 23:23-24)
This is demonstrated by Christ’s parable of the wicked debtor (Matthew 18:23-35). We have been forgiven so much that we would be foolish and wicked not to forgive those who have offended us.
Question: Are you refusing to let go of a grudge against someone else?
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
- Woe to you … who clean the outside of the cup but are filthy within. (Mt. 23:25-26)
This claims that those who seek after pure holiness will be rewarded by God. Those who are clothed in the purity of Jesus Christ and treasure this holiness will finally be able to see the face of God without the fear of death.
Question: Can you honestly claim that purity and holiness are important to you?
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
- Woe to you … you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. (Mt. 23:31)
Christians should be peacemakers because we worship the Prince of Peace.
Question: Do you often work to resolve fights between friends or are you quick to take sides and stir it up?
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Woe to you … you will kill and crucify the prophets that I send to you. (Mt. 23:34)
The history of the Christian Church is filled with wonderful stories of martyrs, who gave the last full measure of their lives to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These saints are blessed in the sight of God.
Question: Have you ever been persecuted or mistreated because you are a Christian?
Monday, June 9, 2008
Overcoming the Curse of the Woman
The first utterance of the Gospel is recited by God in the third chapter of Genesis when God confronts Satan. The Lord curses the serpent promising, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will crush your head, and you will strike His heel" (Genesis 3:15).
After announcing that the hope of the world would require Eve to bring forth offspring, God then explained that Eve's curse would be to suffer in childbirth. The Bible explains, "To the woman He said, 'I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children...'" (Genesis 3:16).
Do not miss the irony of this situation. The hope of redemption came with a cost. God promised deliverance, but the only way Eve could see this promise come to fruition was to willingly endure the burden of her curse. Both Adam and Eve are faced with two options: (1) They can obey God's command to "be fruitful and multiply," or (2) They can perish without children.
- The first option offered eternal hope only through present suffering.
- The second option assured eternal death and worldly comfort.
Only faith would have led Eve to suffer the excruciating pain of childbirth in order to bring forth the promised Redeemer, and this Redeemer would take the curse of the woman upon Himself!
Just as you brought intense agony to your mother so that you could be delivered into this world , Jesus endured immeasurable suffering so that we could all be delivered into the eternal life of the next world. Jesus took the curse of the woman upon Himself and He brought forth mankind's spiritual rebirth.
In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul explained that the redemption of the world would be like childbirth. "The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God," he explained. "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (Romans 8:22). The pains of this redemptive childbirth are laid upon the shoulders of Jesus Christ.
If you are hoping to get to heaven, Jesus instructs, "You must be born again" (John 3:7).
And how may we partake in this new birth? The Apostle John explains, "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13).
After announcing that the hope of the world would require Eve to bring forth offspring, God then explained that Eve's curse would be to suffer in childbirth. The Bible explains, "To the woman He said, 'I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you will bring forth children...'" (Genesis 3:16).
Do not miss the irony of this situation. The hope of redemption came with a cost. God promised deliverance, but the only way Eve could see this promise come to fruition was to willingly endure the burden of her curse. Both Adam and Eve are faced with two options: (1) They can obey God's command to "be fruitful and multiply," or (2) They can perish without children.
- The first option offered eternal hope only through present suffering.
- The second option assured eternal death and worldly comfort.
Only faith would have led Eve to suffer the excruciating pain of childbirth in order to bring forth the promised Redeemer, and this Redeemer would take the curse of the woman upon Himself!
Just as you brought intense agony to your mother so that you could be delivered into this world , Jesus endured immeasurable suffering so that we could all be delivered into the eternal life of the next world. Jesus took the curse of the woman upon Himself and He brought forth mankind's spiritual rebirth.
In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul explained that the redemption of the world would be like childbirth. "The creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God," he explained. "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time" (Romans 8:22). The pains of this redemptive childbirth are laid upon the shoulders of Jesus Christ.
If you are hoping to get to heaven, Jesus instructs, "You must be born again" (John 3:7).
And how may we partake in this new birth? The Apostle John explains, "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13).
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
A Race of Men Better Than Adam
For a moment, imagine that you discovered a time machine and ventured back into the days just before the Fall. Upon arriving in the Garden of Eden, you were provided with two options: (1) You could emphatically warn Eve to resist the temptations of Satan in an attempt to prevent the Fall, or (2) You could quietly stand by and allow Adam & Eve to eat from the tree.
If presented with these options, most people would instinctively choose to prevent the Fall. Choosing this option might temporarily ensure that mankind would be free from the miseries of sin, suffering, sickness, death, and eternal judgment. This seems like a noble goal, but it also expresses a bit of distrust for God's ordained plan for mankind. The second option trusts in the wisdom and goodness of God. This option forces us to lean upon the promise that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God..." This trusts that the Cross will ultimately make a redeemed mankind who will far exceed the beauty of the original mankind.
The Bible makes this clear.
The Apostle Paul wrote, "The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.... Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven."
The Apostle Peter explained how Christians are far better off than a pre-fallen Adam: "In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you ... For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."
Now we are to "become partakers of the divine nature."
None of this would have been the case if mankind had succeeded in maintaining our own innocence, and our relationship with God would have remained conditional upon our obedience. We would be wound in the thin threads of our own deeds, instead of being adorned in the royal robes of Jesus Christ.
In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, "[God] will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less."
One may not always understand the reasons for God's brushstrokes, but a Christian can trust that Christ's masterpiece will be far more beautiful than anything we could ever imagine!
If presented with these options, most people would instinctively choose to prevent the Fall. Choosing this option might temporarily ensure that mankind would be free from the miseries of sin, suffering, sickness, death, and eternal judgment. This seems like a noble goal, but it also expresses a bit of distrust for God's ordained plan for mankind. The second option trusts in the wisdom and goodness of God. This option forces us to lean upon the promise that "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God..." This trusts that the Cross will ultimately make a redeemed mankind who will far exceed the beauty of the original mankind.
The Bible makes this clear.
The Apostle Paul wrote, "The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.... Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven."
The Apostle Peter explained how Christians are far better off than a pre-fallen Adam: "In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you ... For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God."
Now we are to "become partakers of the divine nature."
None of this would have been the case if mankind had succeeded in maintaining our own innocence, and our relationship with God would have remained conditional upon our obedience. We would be wound in the thin threads of our own deeds, instead of being adorned in the royal robes of Jesus Christ.
In his book Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, "[God] will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less."
One may not always understand the reasons for God's brushstrokes, but a Christian can trust that Christ's masterpiece will be far more beautiful than anything we could ever imagine!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Loving Beyond the Auction Block
The woman’s figure is disgusting,
It is wretched on display.
Purity? Beyond her reach!
Condemned by our dismay.
One look at our society
And the red lights burn your eyes.
The hopelessness that’s bred today
Is treated like a prize.
Yet, she stands without expression,
And her shame is buried deep.
Her life has grown so worthless,
And her love is now so cheap.
Her face is chalked in make-up,
Any beauty is a fraud.
Forsaken by the world she hates,
Too ashamed to seek her God.
Each day she spews her venom,
Her despair is up for sale.
She rejects the hope of love,
She has trashed her wedding veil.
Yet, there’s one who shows compassion,
And will treat her like a queen.
This whore is His beloved.
To us, she is obscene.
Like Hosea bid for Gomer
Upon the auction block,
The Lord poured out His blood
To bring sheep back to His flock.
The woman is a trash heap —
Cast out by all who see.
She has failed to meet the standard.
Apart from Christ, that whore was me.
Let me not look away,
Teach me to love her face.
A hypocrite can cite Your law,
Help me to live Your grace.
So when we’re in Your Kingdom,
And You gaze upon Your bride.
I will have shown compassion
To Your beloved — for whom you died.
It is wretched on display.
Purity? Beyond her reach!
Condemned by our dismay.
One look at our society
And the red lights burn your eyes.
The hopelessness that’s bred today
Is treated like a prize.
Yet, she stands without expression,
And her shame is buried deep.
Her life has grown so worthless,
And her love is now so cheap.
Her face is chalked in make-up,
Any beauty is a fraud.
Forsaken by the world she hates,
Too ashamed to seek her God.
Each day she spews her venom,
Her despair is up for sale.
She rejects the hope of love,
She has trashed her wedding veil.
Yet, there’s one who shows compassion,
And will treat her like a queen.
This whore is His beloved.
To us, she is obscene.
Like Hosea bid for Gomer
Upon the auction block,
The Lord poured out His blood
To bring sheep back to His flock.
The woman is a trash heap —
Cast out by all who see.
She has failed to meet the standard.
Apart from Christ, that whore was me.
Let me not look away,
Teach me to love her face.
A hypocrite can cite Your law,
Help me to live Your grace.
So when we’re in Your Kingdom,
And You gaze upon Your bride.
I will have shown compassion
To Your beloved — for whom you died.
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