Whoever You Are -- A Halloween Message

A Halloween Message

Today is Halloween. It’s a day most people associate with ghosts, zombies, witches, and so forth. As some of you might already know, Halloween has its origin in the pagan Celtic spiritual tradition called Samhain. It was -- and continues to be in some places -- celebrated from October 31 to November 1 to welcome in the harvest and usher in “the dark half of the year.” Celebrants believe that during this time humans have more opportunity to interact with spirits in the so-called, ‘Otherworld.’

As Christianity gained a foothold in pagan communities, church leaders attempted to reframe Samhain as a Christian celebration. 

In the 9th century, Pope Gregory declared that Christians would celebrate All Saints Day on November 1st, and All Souls Day on November 2 -- which, of course, coincided with the pagan celebration of Samhain. 

So, with All Saints Day on November 1, the evening prior was called All Saints Evening, or All Hallows Evening.

Halloween is really a contraction of three words: "All Hallows' Evening." In old English, the word ‘evening’ was often shortened to a poetic “e’en”. And so we get the modern Hallow’een.

One of the definitions of the word ‘hallow’ means, ‘To honor as holy; to consider sacred; to venerate.’ It’s an old word, not usually spoken any longer in the 21st century, and certainly not in the United States. But Christians are most familiar with the word, ‘hallow’ from the Lord’s prayer: “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.” (Matthew 6:9)

In other words, we are praying, “Lord, Thy name is sacred. It is holy.”

Christians should remember when they’re tempted to invoke the name of God, or of the Son of God, Jesus. God’s NAME should be venerated. It should NEVER be used as a swear-word or as a casual term we throw around in conversation.

Originally All Hallows Evening was set aside in the Church’s liturgical calendar as a time to remember the saints (the ‘hallows’) who have gone before us. And I suggest today is also a day in which we ought to remember the godly men and women in our own lives who influenced us toward faith in Jesus our Lord.

We could spend a college semester and longer looking at the multitudes of men and women throughout Scripture and throughout Church history down to this present hour whom God calls ‘saints.’ But for the sake of the time allotted us today, we will look at only a few from the pages of Scripture. We do this because God tells us through St Paul’s pen: “For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

And we also want to remember those whom we have known – parents, family members, teachers, pastors and others to who have influenced our lives for Christ. We should do this because, again as Scripture commands us: “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their way of life, imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)

So, let’s turn our attention now to a few heroes of faith recorded for us in God’s word. In this message we will look briefly at Abraham, the Father of our Faith. We will also look at Rahab the harlot, recorded for us in the Book of Joshua. Then we will briefly look at Ruth the Moabitess, then King David, and finally, the apostles Peter and Paul. By the way, Abraham, Rahab, and David are listed in the Heroes of Faith Hall of Fame of Hebrews chapter 11.

So, first, Abraham. Originally, God called Abraham to Himself from Babylon, the land of the idolatrous Chaldean culture. We find that in Genesis 12:1-3. And so, not knowing where he was going, but only that God told him to go, Abraham left his birthplace, his friends, and most of his family and traveled toward the land to which God had sent him.

Three chapters later, God makes a promise to him and Sarah his wife that they will have a child. Although Sarah was beyond childbearing years, Abraham believed God’s promise – and God counted his faith as righteousness. (Genesis 15:6)

But righteous though he was Abraham, like all of us, had his problems. We discover in the early chapters of Genesis that Abraham was also a coward and a liar who offered his wife – twice – to foreign kings to save his own neck. If God Himself had not intervened, salvation history would have been altered. You can read those details in Genesis 12 and Genesis 20.

Abraham was a man with a sinful nature – just as we have a sinful nature. But God considered the man ‘righteous’ because of his faith. And on this day when we remember the Hallows of Biblical history, listen to what God tells us through St Paul’s pen:

“Without becoming weak in faith, he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore, it was also credited to him as righteousness. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,” (Romans 4:19-24)

Let’s now remember another hallowed hero of faith listed in the annals of Scripture: Rahab the harlot.

She and her family lived in Jericho before Joshua’s army invaded the city. Although a foreigner and an idolater, Rahab came by faith to know the God of Israel was the one true God. Here is what she told the spies who’d entered the city for reconnaissance before the invasion: “The Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11b).

And because of her confession and obedience, the harlot became righteous in God’s sight. Further, it might surprise some of you to know that Rahab the former idolater and harlot was the great-great grandmother of King David. It gets better. She is also in the direct lineage of Jesus the Messiah!

Her faith – which resulted in a change of life and lifestyle – brought her God’s favor and eternal blessing. Just like YOUR faith and my faith resulted in a change of our lives and our lifestyles and brought us God’s favor and eternal blessing.

While we are remembering women of faith, let’s remember Ruth the Moabite. The interesting thing about Ruth is that because of Moab’s sin against Israel, God commanded Moses that Moabites could not enter the assembly of the Lord for ten generations. Yet here she was, less than five generations later, married into the tribe of Judah. Ruth became the great grandmother of King David, and also the direct ancestor of Jesus. But how could that be, considering God’s commandment about Moab?

Well, some backstory is needed here. Naomi and her husband with their two sons emigrated from Israel to the country of Moab after a famine spread across Israel. While living in Moab, Naomi’s two sons married Moabite women, one of whom was Ruth. The other Moabite bride was Orpah.

Then tragedy struck. Naomi’s husband died. Then her two sons died. Destitute and grief stricken, Naomi decided to return to Israel and she urged her two daughters-in-law to return to their families and their gods. Orpah returned, but listen to what Ruth said to Naomi: “Do not urge me to leave you or turn back from following you; for where you go, I will go, and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.  Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. Thus may the Lord do to me, and worse, if anything but death parts you and me.” (Ruth 1:16-17)

Christians remember Ruth, a foreigner, a former idolater, a woman who had no place in God’s kingdom, but who received a place in God’s kingdom because of her faith in the God of that Kingdom. And by God’s grace she too is listed among the ancestors of Jesus, who is God-made-flesh.

For those today who are not part of God’s family, for those who come from families far afield from the faith that brought Abraham, Rahab, and Ruth to the one Triune God – let nothing on this day when we remember the Hallows of Biblical history keep you from remembering God is a God of mercy.

But let’s go on now with another hero – David, the beloved Psalmist and king of Israel, the one of whom God called a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).

We find his biography recorded in 1 and 2 Samuel. But oh, what a dark chapter there is in his story. This same man, called a man after God’s own heart, the one to whom God promised that from his loins would come a king who would reign forever and ever, this same man was guilty of adultery and of murder in the affair of Bathsheba. You’ll find that salacious scandal recorded in 2 Samuel 11.

And equally important to the story of David’s sin with Bathsheba and her husband Uriah is the commandment God gave Israel through Moses – that being that the Law provided absolutely no recourse for finding forgiveness for such sins. God commanded such men be stoned to death. There was no other alternative available.

And yet, who can understand the mercy of God? Here is the vignette we find in 2 Samuel 12 when God sends Nathan the prophet to rebuke the king: “Thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘It is I who anointed you king over Israel and it is I who delivered you from the hand of Saul. I also gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your care, and I gave you the house of Israel and Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added to you many more things like these! Why have you despised the word of the Lord by doing evil in His sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword, have taken his wife to be your wife, and have killed him with the sword of the sons of Ammon . . . .”

Remember, David was King of Israel. At his word people lived and people died. David could have easily commanded his soldiers to kill the prophet and continue to cover up his scandalous behavior with Bethsheba.

But that is not what he did. Instead, he confessed his sins and with great remorse repented before God. We pick up the story in verse 11 of 2 Samuel 12, “Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan said to David, “The Lord also has taken away your sin; you shall not die. However, because by this deed you have given occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme, the child also that is born to you shall surely die.”

We gain a glimpse of that remorse and repentance from the two psalms he wrote in the aftermath of Nathan’s rebuke. Here is a portion of Psalm 32:1-2 “How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered! How blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity.”

And now Psalm 51: “Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge.”

Let’s now move on again to two others on this All Hallows Eve whose life can inspire us to move forward with Christ, despite our past sins and failures.

First is saint Peter, the one to whom Jesus gave the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16). It was this same saint who vowed to never deny that he followed Jesus. But you know what happened. At the Lord’s trial, Peter denied three times – even with an oath – that he knew His best friend and Lord.

No wonder Peter went out of the courtyard and wept bitterly over his failure.

But you and I must ever remember what happened after the resurrection and the interchange between Jesus and Peter recorded in the last chapter of John’s gospel. We don’t have time to rehearse the full impact of what happened there as it is given to us in the Greek text, so suffice it to say, Peter’s repentance brought him full pardon. Full pardon. It was to the Lord Jesus as if Peter had never sinned.

 

Finally, before we get to the remembrance of the Lord’s Supper, we must remember one more person who found grace and mercy in the eyes of the Lord—the one we call St. Paul.

 

This man, formerly known as Saul the former religious terrorist, had made it his life’s goal to kill and imprison as many Christians as he could find and bring to Jerusalem for judgment. But you know what happened to him on that road to Damascus. And Saul, his eyes now opened to the truth of his murderous sins, found grace and forgiveness in God’s eyes.

 

Listen! Of what sins have you been guilty? Do any of them rise to the level of Abraham, or Rahab, or Ruth, or David, or Peter, or Paul? Listen to what Paul wrote to his young protégé, Timothy: “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.” (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

 

Today is Hallow’ e’en, a day set aside in the Church calendar to remember our godly forbearers who lived lives of faith, and through their faith found mercy with God.

 

Which brings us finally for today to the remembrance Jesus spoke of at the last supper. “And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.” (Luke 22:19-20)

 

What is it that we can remember whenever we come to Holy Communion? In a few words, as I close this message, we can remember this: His body bruised, whipped, bloodied on that Good Friday because of your sin. And mine.

 

Jesus gave Himself over for you and me as our substitutionary sacrifice to pay the penalty God requires of all who sin. Jesus had never sinned. That is why He could become our substitution.

And so, whoever we are, whatever we have done – and how often we’ve done it – Jesus wants us to remember we can find – just as those heroes of faith we looked at in this message – we too can find utter forgiveness and cleansing and welcome at His table.

Whenever you come to the Lord’s Table, Jesus invites you to come, just as you are. Come, just whoever you are. Come with repentant hearts and humble spirits.

 

Come, as He said to wayward Israel through the prophet Isaiah: Every one who thirsts, come to the waters . . . Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” (Isaiah 55:1-6)

 

Why God Became Flesh - Part four

You can listen to this message here: https://youtu.be/3CHhB2mN9Tc  

Why God Became Flesh

Over the last several weeks we have examined some of the reasons Jehovah God became Himself human in Jesus the Christ.

We saw that He did not come to call the righteous, but to call sinners to repentance. He did not come to BE served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for us. He did not come to bring peace – although He is the Prince of Peace, but He came to bring a sword. He came to force men and women to make a choice between Him and even their families.

 

We saw that God became flesh to physically shepherd His lost sheep. And He came to bring good news to the poor, recovery of sight to the blind, and to set captives free.

 

This week I want us to revisit what Jesus said to the congregation in that synagogue in Nazareth, specifically His remark about setting free captives and those who are oppressed.

 

Here for context is that section in Luke 4:18-21 –

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.” (Luke 4:18ff) 

Jesus came to set free those who are held captive and who are oppressed specifically by the devil. In fact, St. John tells us in his first epistle: “The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

And the writer to the Hebrews tells us, “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil…” (Hebrews 2:14)

One of the most successful tools Satan has used since the Garden to oppress men and women and to get men and women to take matters of life into their own hands instead of trusting God to come to their aid – one of the most successful tools he has used is the fear of death.

When people fear death more than anything else in life, Satan can seduce them to do things they would NEVER consider doing. They will lie, they will cheat, they will steal, they will slander, they will use and abuse others – they will even murder to save their own lives.

Some recent surveys tell us some 20% of Americans are "afraid" or "very afraid" of dying. The respondents gave several reasons for their fear of death. I want to focus our attention on only three: The fear of the unknown; The fear of the Final Judgment; And the fear of leaving loved ones behind.

I focus on those three fears because they are specifically relevant to our theme, “Why Did God become Incarnate in Jesus.” I also focus on those three fears because they are relevant to the confidence we can have – the confidence we MUST have – in the promises and the purposes of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 

First,: Fear of the unknown. Many people – even those who sit in church pews each week – feel as if they are completely in the dark about what happens to them after death. But God became flesh to shine a bright light into that darkness.

 

For example, here is what St Paul, under the divine and inerrant inspiration of the Holy Spirit, had to say about death: 2 Corinthians 5:1-8 “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked. For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.”

 

God also gives us a glimpse of our new home. Here is Revelation 21: “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea . . . And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and 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; the first things have passed away.”

 

These few passages – and I could cite dozens besides – give us only a glimpse into our eternal destiny. It is a place of light, without a hint of darkness. A place of eternal safety from enemies, a place where pain and sickness and loss and tears will never again be experienced.

 

Listen, please. God has given us enough information throughout His inerrant, infallible and holy word that we can know we will not walk alone through that valley of the shadow of death. That is a great gift God has given us – the true Christian does not need to enter fearfully into what awaits us on the other side of this life. We can live with confidence that when we close our eyes in death that we are only a heartbeat away from opening them in our new eternal home.

 

But what about the other fear many people have regarding death – the fear of judgment?

 

For most people, that fear is a justifiable emotion. If they are not true Christians, they have very good reason to fear.

 

God tells us in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth: “Don’t you know that the unrighteous will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be deceived: No sexually immoral people, idolaters, adulterers, or anyone practicing homosexuality, no thieves, greedy people, drunkards, verbally abusive people, or swindlers will inherit God’s kingdom.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-10, HCSB)

 

Everyone, regardless of title, wealth, or position in the church and outside the church – everyone who persists in living in rebellion against God’s commandments will, at their death, discover themselves cast from God’s presence into an eternal lake of fire where there will never be hope for a second chance.

 

Priest and laity, bishop and bookkeeper, pastor and choir member, Sunday school teacher and usher, if they are not living a lifestyle of obedience to Christ when they die, their destiny is so terrible, so tragic, so blood-curdling horrific that we should never cease to pray for our loved ones and friends and neighbors who, today, are in mortal danger of that destiny.

 

But – and this is important – despite the litany of damnable sins Paul cites in that 1 Corinthians text – the Holy Spirit quickly focuses our attention on the good news in verse 11: “And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”

 

In other words, God told the Christians at Corinth that He took upon Himself in Christ the penalty for their sins. And He says the same thing to you and me who read that same letter. God WILL NOT punish the repentant Christian because He took our punishment in the incarnate Christ, sent to us for that purpose.

 

I know I have shared these nuggets of God’s truths with you many times in the past, and I continue to share them because we so often forget the many great gifts God has given us through our faith in His incarnation in Jesus. He has given us such gifts as forgiveness of sins, sanctification, justification, and with them all, eternal life – not because of who WE are or what WE have done, but only because of who God is and what HE has done.

 

Christian! Trust God who became flesh and lived among us for a while so that He could demonstrate to us how much He loves us and how firmly established are His promises.

 

But what of those in Corinth – and anywhere else – who were not washed, sanctified, and justified by their faith in Jesus’ substitutionary and sacrificial atonement?

 

Some teach even from pulpits, and from their richly paneled ecclesiastical offices, that eternal punishment does NOT refer to the Lake of Fire. These children of Satan, these secret disciples of hell seduce the biblically illiterate into believing that hell is simply an eternal separation from God and His holy kingdom.

 

But God’s inerrant word tells it quite differently AND very clearly to everyone with eyes open to God’s truth. Those souls who reject Christ’s sacrificial atonement for them, reject it even to their dying breath will spend their eternity separated from God in the Lake of Fire. And that is the same place the devil and his demons are also cast. You can find those texts, for example, in Matthew 25:41 and Revelation 14:10; 20:10, 11-15).

 

But back to the good news for those who are sons and daughters of God through their faith in Jesus: You CAN have unqualified confidence in your eternal destiny. You can live absolutely assured that when you die you will find yourself staring into the loving and smiling face of Jesus our Savior.

 

Some might think it presumptuous to have such confidence. But Scripture responds to that accusation with one word: Hogwash. Well, it doesn’t use that word, but that’s the idea.

 

It is never presumption to take God at His word. It was He who said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. (John 5:24) 

 

Neither is it presumption to believe the apostle John who, under the inerrant inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote: “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:11-13) 

 

Our trust in His promise of eternal life is not at all presumption. It’s called confidence in a faithful God.

 

And finally for today’s message, some fear death because they fear what will become of their loved ones left behind. I understand that fear because I worry about leaving my Nancy behind. But what does our Father in heaven have to say that can comfort us and assure us of His moment-by-moment care for those we leave behind?

 

He says lots of things. Oh, if only we would wrap our confidence around His faithful promises.

 

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you.” (Isaiah 43)

 

This promise God gave to Israel has direct application to every child of God who worries about leaving their loved ones behind. Though survivor’s tears will sting for a while, God vows to be with them as they journey through their unspeakable grief.

 

Hear is another, Isaiah 46:4 “Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you.”

 

Most everyone in this room knows what it is like to lose a beloved spouse or child or parent. But through it all, has not God taken care of you? When you thought at the time you could not go on, did not God carry you and bear you and deliver you?  So, do you think He will not do the same for those you love, if you die and leave them behind?

 

Just as God knows the number of hairs on YOUR head, He also knows the number of hairs on your loved one’s head. Just as God knows what we need before we even ask Him, so He knows what will be their needs before they ask Him.

 

I have to remind myself – and you might need to remind yourself – of the promises God gives each of His beloved children through faith in Jesus.

 

Listen, nothing can ever separate our loved ones from God’s love for them in Christ Jesus. Nothing – including our death. They will grieve, of course. But because God loves them as much as He loves you, He will hover near them, holding them – even if they cannot sense Him. He will guide them, encourage them, keep them, carry them.

 

Trust Him. Trust Him to do what He told the congregation in Nazareth: That He came to set free the captives and the oppressed. He came to tell them – and you and me – this word of unfailing promise:

 

“O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-57

 

The God-Man Christ Jesus told those at the gravesite of Lazarus the same thing He tells you and me at the gravesite of those we love; and it is the same thing He tells those we love when they stand at OUR gravesite:

 

“I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. . . .” (John 11:25-26)

 

God became incarnate in Jesus to tell us we no longer need to fear death. He tells us that what lies beyond the valley of the shadow of death is not a great question mark. Scripture gives us enough information to give us confidence that when we close our eyes in death, we will then open them in the presence of the King of Glory and of all the holy angels, and of our family and friends who have gone before us into His presence.

 

And just as important, He wants us to know for certain that when we close our eyes in death, He will take care of those we leave behind.

 

Thanks be to Him from whom all blessings flow.

We will continue our series next week, examining the reasons God became flesh and dwelt among us as fully man and fully God.

 

Parents: Be at Peace

I heard a tragic story the other day. It was in the barest of details, but the scarcity of specifics does not alter the story’s sadness.

A young woman in her early twenties recently committed suicide. As in such cases, the family left behind was distraught with grief. The mother took it hardest. She blamed herself for not being a better mother, for not seeing the signs ahead of time, for not being there to prevent her daughter’s death.

A few weeks later, unable to untangle herself from her self-imposed guilt, she swallowed three handfuls of antidepressant pills. Thankfully, this part of the story has a happier ending. Her husband found her in bed and called 911. She is alive today.

When I heard the story, I wondered, “But, what of her guilt? Does she still believe herself to be at fault for her daughter’s death? Does she still convince herself that if she’d done more for her daughter, she’d still be alive?”

As I said, I do not know the specifics of this story. I do not know the family dynamics, either current or in the past. But I do know this: We who are parents of older children are not responsible for their behavior. They now make their own choices, however bad, or tragic, those choices might be.

And this next point is most important: Even the very BEST of parents can still find themselves rejected by their adult children. Parents who loved and nurtured and protected their sons and daughters can today have children who want nothing to do with them.

Some of you reading this know what I am talking about.

And surely, God knows what I am talking about. What more could He have done for Adam and Eve? He’d placed them in the middle of paradise. Every one of their needs He met.

Every one of their needs.

But for them, it wasn’t enough. And we all know the end result.

The same thing happened between God and His chosen people, Israel. He’d loved them, nurtured them, and protected them. But it wasn’t enough.

God pleaded with His people through Isaiah: “What more was there to do for My vineyard that I have not done in it? Why, when I expected it to produce good grapes did it produce worthless ones?” (5:4)

He said the same thing through the prophet Micah: “My people, what have I done to you, and how have I wearied you? Answer Me.” (6:3) 

God is a perfect parent. Let me emphasize that: God is a PERFECT parent. He did all He could do for His people. But they, of their own free will, made their own bad choices.

They still do.

Yet God does not take upon Himself any self-recrimination when His children estrange themselves from His love.

Now please hear this: When parents, in their imperfect humanness, do the best they know to do for their children, they must not take upon themselves any self-recrimination when their adult children make bad choices, or estrange themselves from their parents who love them.

Parents: Be at peace with yourself. You did the best you could do for your children, within the limitations of your own imperfect humanness. That is all God requires of you.

 

Why Doesn't God Fix It?

Her name doesn’t matter to the story. I met her today when I ministered at one of the Memory Care facilities not too far from my home. Her husband died many years ago after 30 years of marriage. I could see her struggling with some of the memories she wanted to share with me – but the memories would just not come in any coherent fashion.

Tears welled in her eyes as she stuttered, seemed to lose her train of thought, and then gave up.

Meanwhile, my heart welled up in my throat. She could have been my wife – they’re about the same age. And so, I took her hand in mine and looked in her eyes.

“I know it is hard for you to remember. But this I tell you: ‘God knows your heartaches and your frustrations and your fears. He has not left you. He is right beside you all the day and night. And when He calls you home, you will see your beloved husband – and you will remember everything.’”

I emphasized the word, ‘Everything.’

She nodded, tried to smile. And the tears fell onto her cheeks.

I think of that frightened and lonely woman as I sit here now preparing for another Bible study in a different place later this week. And the Lord reminded me of this promise in Revelation 21:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and 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; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:1-5)

Life is very hard for many people. I do not know how anyone gets through it without faith in Someone who not only knows their heartaches, but who deeply cares about their heartaches.

Why doesn’t He fix it? I don’t know. But all I hold onto – and I hold onto it only with His help – all I hold onto is this: God is good. All the time and in all situations and circumstances. And I trust that to be true because He says it is true.

And in the meantime, I say – along with millions of others like the woman I talked to earlier today – we say, ‘Maranatha, Lord Jesus. Come quickly.”