Author: scott

A New Commandment

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“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” – John 13:34

A New Mandate

Maundy Thursday.  When we celebrate Holy Week this day is often overshadowed by Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday.  Yet on this day, when Jesus celebrates the Passover with His disciples and institutes the Lord’s Supper, He also gives us a mandate.  Maundy is from the Latin word mandatum from which we get our English word mandate.  To give a mandate implies authority and power.  To submit to one can seem condescending or restricting.  In the realm of religion, we tend to associate commandments with the Law and not grace.  So why now?  Why does Jesus give us a new mandate between the cup and the cross?

Out with the old, in with the new?  In Leviticus 19:18, the Israelites were given the command, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  The Jews wanted to limit this to loving their fellow countryman, but in the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus “shamed” this interpretation.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus would often say “you have heard that it was said…., but I say to you.”  After quoting a commandment, Jesus would put it in a new light. Murder isn’t just an action, it is anger in the heart.  Likewise, an action isn’t necessary for adultery, all it takes is a lustful look.  Bottom line, God is concerned not just with our doing, but more importantly with our being.  What we do is dictated by who we are.  What we can become, is dictated by what Christ has done.  Jesus does nothing apart from the Father.

“So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord but only what He sees the Father doing.  For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.'” – John 5:19

A Humbling Lesson

On a prior Passover, Jesus taught a lesson on authority by cleansing the Temple courts.  For His “final” Passover, Jesus taught a lesson on servanthood by cleansing the Disciple’s feet.  The whip of cords gave way to a towel.  The old temple was about to become obsolete,  the eternal Temple was about to be destroyed so it could raise again.  The Jews asked Jesus for a sign, Jesus left the Church a new Commandment.  The commandment was preceded by an example.

Despite the reluctance of Peter, Jesus washed the feet of all of the Disciples, including Judas.  The humility Jesus demonstrated is visible to all men.  It is an example all can appreciate.  The New Commandment is another story.  Jesus did not give the disciples the Commandment until after Judas left.  John records that after taking the bread from Jesus, Judas “immediately went out.  And it was night.”  Judas belonged to darkness and not light.  The commandment to love one another as Jesus loves is only for True Disciples.  In a sense, it is our sign to the world. “By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Another Helper

How can we love like Jesus loved?  We can’t, apart from the Father.  After leaving an example of love and humility, Jesus gave the New Commandment.  The commandment was followed by a promise of empowerment.  “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him.  You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:15-17).

Maundy Thursday.  Jesus washes feet.  Jesus shares a feast.  He gives a New Commandment.  He promises the power to fulfill it.  Before the Spirit is sent, however, Jesus must go back to the Father.  The cross must precede Pentecost.  “I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.  But if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7).

A Love Lesson

For the disciples, separation, and sorrow must precede the Spirit.  But their sorrow would turn to joy.  A joy, “no one can take from them” (John 16:22).  They were promised a joy like they had never experienced because they would be empowered to love like they never had before.  First, they had to witness the greatest act of love possible. The cross was on the horizon.  Love was carrying Jesus to it.

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.”  – John 15:12-13

May we love one another as Jesus loved us.  May we abide in Him and submit to the power of the Spirit in us. May we learn from the lessons Jesus taught us on Maundy Thursday.  No time like the present to humble ourselves and pick up a towel.  As you come to the foot of the cross, look at the feet of your Savior.  He who humbled Himself and washed the feet of His disciples humbly died on the cross and had His feet pierced for you.  May we follow His mandate of Grace.

“Whoever says, ‘I know Him’ but does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps His word, in him truly the love of God is perfected.  By this we may know that we are in Him: whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked.” – 1 John 2:4-6.

“Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.” – 1 John 3:18

In the Furnace of Affliction

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“For My name’s sake I defer my anger; for the sake of My praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off.  Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction.  For My own sake, for My own sake, I do it, for how should My name be profaned?  My glory I will not give to another.” – Isaiah 48:9-11

Feeling the Heat

Although the nation of Israel is God’s chosen people, they are not immune from trying times.  In today’s text we see God “trying” them in the furnace of affliction.  Apparently, the apple of God’s eye was testing His patience.  Rather than eliminating them God decides to refine them.  However, this is not new.  Israel has gone from the “iron furnace” (Deut. 4:20) of Egypt into the furnace of affliction (Babylonian captivity).  Looks like the proverbial “Out of the frying pan into the fire.”  Feeling the heat?  Perhaps you are being tried in the furnace.  Israel wasn’t exempt and neither is the Church.  Why?  Because He loves us and is jealous for His name.

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him.  For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” – Hebrews 12:5b-6.

Furnace of Affliction

Why the furnace?  Why the heat?  It purifies.  Precious metals mined from the earth are fraught with impurities in their natural state.  Extracting the metals from the earth is not enough.  The “earth” needs to be extracted from the metals.  They need to be purified.  To be purified they must be subjected to heat.  Hence the furnace. Once heated, the impurities (dross) rise to the top and the refiner scrapes it off.  The refiner adjusts the heat and skims the dross until he sees his reflection.  The purer the metal, the clearer the reflection.  Quite a spiritual picture.

Our Heavenly refiner does the same to us.  He separates us from the world and refines us.  “For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried” (Psalm 66:10).

Removing the world from us is not pleasant, but it is necessary.  Like precious metals we need to be proved and improved.  By removing our impurities God makes us useful vessels fit for His service.  James tells us that the testing of our faith makes us “perfect and complete“.  In other words, like Christ.  And Christ knew something about the furnace.

“But I see four men unbound, walking in the midst of the fire, and they are not hurt; and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” – Daniel 3:25

Are you currently in the furnace?  You are not alone.  Even in the heat of the furnace we can cling to the promise, “”I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b).

Think you can’t endure the heat?  Think again.  “No temptation (testing) has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted (tested) beyond your ability, but with the temptation (testing) He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Is the suffering worth the price?  Absolutely.  “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith – more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire – may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

The furnace can be a difficult place to be, but it can also be the place of the sweetest communion with God.  The greater the heat, the less we are attached to the world and the keener our spiritual insight.  As God is adjusting the heat and skimming off the dross look for His face.  That is what He wants to see reflected in you.  That is why He refines you.

“Prove me, O lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.” – Psalm 26:2

Fruit Flies and Eternity

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A Fruit Fly

Out of the mouth of Babes…And granddaughters.  A couple of nights ago my wife and I were sitting at the dinner table with our eldest granddaughter Adellae, a 40-year-old  helplessly trapped in a 4-year-old body.  Adellae mentioned something to my wife (grandma) about our three daughters.  My wife corrected her, stating that in actuality we have four daughters.  Adellae’s face screwed up as she looked at grandma in confusion.  Certainly, at her age, she knows the difference between 3 and 4, but before she could point out grandma’s flaw in arithmetic, my wife told Adellae about the aunt she never met.  Our fourth daughter, Brooke never made it home from the hospital.  She bypassed our home for her Eternal home.  As Adellae looked at Brooke’s picture on the wall over my wife’s shoulder, she began to comprehend (At least her face became unscrewed).  I could feel my heart aching as my wife explained to her that Brooke was born prematurely and only lived for five weeks.  My heart quickly buoyed as Adellae responded with a stroke of unexpected genius (a biased papa’s opinion),  “Five weeks is a long time for a fruit fly!”  Never thought about it from that angle. But the point is well taken.  Time and therefore life spans are relative.

Time

Historically man has looked to the skies to measure time.  Time is based on the movement of the sun, moon, earth and the “apparent” movement of the stars and constellations.  Unfortunately, we (making the assumption my readers belong to mankind and not fruit flies) then turn around and use time as a means of measuring the fairness of God.  When a young person dies God is not fair we say.  When we hear that someone has a life threatening disease the first question we usually ask is how old the person is and how much longer they have to live.  Strange that finite men should question the fairness of an infinite God who transcends time, considering He created us and every breath we take is because of His grace.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.”  “Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.” – Psalm 139:13,16

Whether you have the lifespan of a fruit fly or the lifespan of a tortoise, your life is but a mist.  Don’t take my word for it.  Listen to what James the brother of Christ said.

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’ – yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.  What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.'” – James 4:13-15

Ever try to hold on tightly to a mist?  We do it every day don’t we?  Why?  Squeeze it all you want it is going to vanish all too soon.  James tells us that even making simple plans for tomorrow without recognizing our dependency upon God is presumptuous.  Want to put time in perspective?  God doesn’t promise us tomorrow, but He offers us eternal life!!

“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.” – 1 John 5:13

Seize the Day

Carpe Diem.  Seize the day.  Life is short.  We need to invest the short time we have wisely.  We need to secure our eternity.  Jesus entered into time so that we could.  Quite an exchange don’t you think?  I’m glad God is not “fair”.  I’ll take Mercy over fair any day.  If only we have the faith to accept it.  Perhaps we can learn from the children.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'” – Matthew 19:14

God grant us the wisdom to be wise stewards of the short time we have.  May each moment be a teachable one.  Try to see things from an eternal perspective. Seek the face of God every day.  Who knows, you could be in His presence tomorrow!!

“O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!  Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before You.  Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!” – Psalm 39:4-5

“‘All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.’  And this word is the good news that was preached to you.” – 1Peter 1:24-25

Normandy and Palm Branches

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Sacred Ground

Roughly twenty years ago I had the most memorable tax interview. Actually, it was a post interview reminiscence.  Across from my desk sat a World War II veteran and his wife.  Business being done, we decided to make “small” talk.  I don’t recall what precipitated it, but the war veteran moved us from the realm of “small” talk to the realm of an unforgettable history lesson.  I soon felt like I was on sacred ground.

Normandy & Sacrifice

What did my client reminisce about? The invasion of Normandy.  He was part of the American force that landed on the beach in 1944.  With tears in his eyes, he shared with me his experience that day.  From the heavy gunfire they faced, to the heavy casualties they experienced, no details were left out.  For a short period I was transported back in time.  When I hear of Normandy I will always remember that “lesson”.  Although my client made it home alive, a part of him would always be on the beach of Normandy with his fallen comrades.  So many had sacrificed so much.  Too many never got off the beach.  Sacred ground indeed.

I found out later that my client had never discussed his Normandy experience before that day.  At least not to the knowledge of his immediate family.  It was the first time his wife had ever heard it.  He had never shared it with his children before.  More than fifty years after the fact I am not sure why he shared it with me that day.  But I am thankful he did.  Learning from reading is beneficial.  Learning from experience is unforgettable.  Even if the experience is vicarious.

I am thankful for our veterans.  Always have been; always will be.  My parents raised me to love our country and respect those who serve it and have sacrificed for it.  After “experiencing” the invasion of Normandy through my client how could I do less?  How could any of us?  But people are so fickle.

I am saddened to see the changes that have taken place in our Country.  National pride has given way to disdain.  Flag waving is out, flag burning is in.  Saluting our veterans has given way to other gestures.  Thanking them has been replaced with cursing them.  We need a history lesson.  We need to go back in time.

Jerusalem & Sacrifice

When Jesus made his entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, the crowds waved palm branches and shouted Hosanna.  They couldn’t usher Him into the city fast enough or with enough fanfare.  They threw their cloaks down before Him as they paid Him homage.  It seemed that everyone wanted to be associated with Him.

A few days later they shouted crucify Him.  Instead of palm branches, they waved their fists.  With a cross on His back, they couldn’t escort Him out of town fast enough.  They took the clothes off His back and divided them as they paid Him disrespect.  His followers deserted Him.  It seemed that no one wanted to be associated with Him.  Fickle?

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” – John 15:12-13

Today we celebrate Palm Sunday.  We’re standing on sacred ground as we remember what Jesus has done for us.  Time to spread out our cloaks and grab our palm branches.  Let’s give Him the praise He deserves.  Many have sacrificed for our freedom to worship.  Jesus died and rose from the grave, making Him worthy of our Worship.   Here He comes now, let’s shout!!

“Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!    Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!  Behold, your King is coming to you;  righteous and having Salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” – Zechariah 9:13

“And the crowds that went before Him and that followed Him were shouting, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!'” – Matthew 21:9

An Idol Lesson – (Dagon before the Ark)

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“When the Philistines captured the ark of God, they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. Then the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon and set it up beside Dagon. And when the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord. So they took Dagon and put him back in his place. But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the Lord, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.” -1 Samuel 5:1-5.

Dagon

Dagon was the national god of Philistia.  In Judges 16 we see the Philistines offering a sacrifice to Dagon for giving Samson into their hands.  Likewise, 1 Chronicles 10 records the death of Saul at the hands of the Philistines.  After stripping Saul’s body the Philistine’s took his head and hung it in the house of Dagon.  Like all idol worshipers, the Philistines were guilty of giving credit where credit was not due.  In the presence of the glory of God, Dagon was put in his proper place.  Face down.  This may be one lesson we can learn from an idol.

When the Philistines defeated the Israelites and captured the ark of God, they brought it to the house of Dagon as a spoil of war, much like the armor and head of Saul.  What they meant to be an act of tribute to their god turned out to be his exposure as a fraud.  When the ark was set up next to Dagon, Dagon did not measure up.  Inanimate though he was, he could not stand in the presence of God’s glory, and neither can we.  The text says that when the Philistines found Dagon prostrate before the ark they put him back in his place.  God had already put Dagon in his place.  And He was going to do it again with emphasis.  In case they did not recognize the superiority of Israel’s God; their god was now a mere trunk, with his head and hands cut off.

God

Yesterday, we looked at the danger of not accepting God as He reveals Himself in scriptures and in particular as He reveals Himself in Christ.  We don’t have the liberty to redefine Him.  God is so far above man that we have no right to bring Him down to our level.  Instead we need to be confronted with the Holiness of God.  Like Dagon we need to be set up next to God’s glory and see how we stand.  Chances are, we won’t.

“Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightening and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, ‘You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.'” – Exodus 20:18-19

“I had heard of  You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” – Job 42:5-6

“And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke.  And I said: ‘Woe is me!  For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!'” – Isaiah 6:4-5

“But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, ‘Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.'” – Luke 5:8

“When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead.  But He laid His right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one.  I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.'” – Revelation 1:17-18

What Dagan did involuntarily, let’s do voluntarily.  As an act of worship, may we humble ourselves at the feet of Jesus.

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” – Revelation 4:8b

Keep Yourselves From Idols

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“Little Children, keep yourselves from idols.” – 1 John 5:21

Idol Minds

The Apostle John concludes what we refer to as his first letter, with this concise statement.  This warning has confused many people who claim that it doesn’t fit what John has been talking about.  John has not once in this letter broached the topic of the dangers of worshiping the material images and false gods of the cults of his day.  While this may be true, I believe John recognized a much more dangerous and “sophisticated” type of idolatry than that of the worship of material images.  While it is true that idols come in many shapes and forms, it is equally true that many come with no shape or form.  An idol formed in our minds is no less of an idol than one shaped by our hands.  We are to keep ourselves from each.

Idol Hands

In Jeremiah chapter 10, verses 2b-5, the Lord says to the house of Israel, “Learn not the way of the nations, nor be dismayed at the signs of the heavens because the nations are dismayed at them, for the customs of the peoples are vanity.  A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of the craftsman.  They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move.  Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk.  Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good.”

Vain Customs

A rather comical picture, but a good description of an idol.  Man makes it.  Man decorates it.  Man props it up.  Mute.  Immobile.  Impotent.  But with creation comes control.  The customs of the peoples are vanity.

Isaiah Chapter 44 also exposes the foolishness of idolatry.  Isaiah tells of a carpenter who cuts down a cedar tree.  With part of the tree he starts a fire to warm himself and bake his bread over.  With the other half he makes an idol and worships it.  How does he determine which half is deity and which is fuel?  Valid question for today.

How many times have you heard someone say, “My god would never… or my god would do…”  I cringe when someone starts a sentence with “my god” because I know they are probably going to introduce me to their idol.  A god of their imagination instead of the God of the Bible.  Like the carpenter in Isaiah, they take the God of the Bible and whittle away the attributes they do not like.  Instead of worshiping their Creator, they worship their creation.  With the shavings they fuel the fire of their vanity.

How man still likes a god he can control instead of being accountable.  Not only is their idol as worthless as a scarecrow in a cucumber field, it is an abomination to God.

Divine Revelation

God created man for fellowship with Him.  From Genesis to Revelation we see God revealing Himself to mankind.  Hebrews Chapter one points out that God has spoken to humanity over a long period of time and in various ways.  Ultimately He revealed Himself in Christ.  Verse 3 says of Christ, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature..”  Colossians 1:15 says of Christ, “He is the image of the invisible God..” and verse 19 of the same chapter says, “In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”

I believe this is what John was trying to communicate with his warning.  Look at verse 20, which immediately precedes the text we are looking at.  “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ.  He is the true God and eternal life.”

John’s warning is timely and timeless.  In verse 19 he tells us “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”  The world is desperate to hear the Truth.  Only the Truth will set them free from the power of the evil one. They need to be pointed to Jesus.  They don’t need a scarecrow in a cucumber patch, they need a Savior on a cross.   Some Carpenters are better with wood than others.  Cling to the cross, and keep yourselves from idols.

“Is there a God besides me?  There is no Rock; I know not any.” – Isaiah 44:8b

“But the Lord is the true God; He is the living God and the everlasting King.” – Jeremiah 10:10a

“No one who denies the Son has the Father.  Whoever confesses the Son has The Father also.” – 1 John 1:23

Chemo and the Gates of Hell

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Cancer & Chemo

Today I am writing from a Cancer Center. My mother is going through her first round of chemotherapy.  One week ago today she was told she has stage four cancer.  The doctors told her she had two options, chemo or hospice.  Although she immediately chose chemo, until today it has felt like we were exercising a third option; kicking the can down the road.  Scan this. Biopsy that. Test this. Retest that.  Hurry up and wait for the results.  Are we on the front line or the sideline?

I realize in any battle it is important to properly identify the enemy and lay out a strategy.  I am not trying to minimize these things.  It’s just so hard to be patient when the enemy is active.  We have heard the cancer roar.  We know where he is located.  Today we are finally going on the offensive.  No more kicking the can down the road, it’s time to fight the enemy before us.  Or in this case the enemy within.

Christian Warfare

My mother’s battle is a good illustration of Christian warfare.  We too have an aggressive enemy.  1 Peter 5:8 tells us, “Be sober minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”  Too often, to our shame, when Satan roars we cower.  But why?

Satan’s great weapon is deceit.  God equips us with Truth.  Satan disables us with fear.  God enables us with Love.  Satan tells us we cannot win.  Calvary tells us we already have.  Satan wants us on the sidelines.  God has placed us on the front line.

“On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18b

Charge!

If the gates of hell shall not prevail, the Church is attacking!!  Hospice and procrastination are not options for the Christian.  We were saved for action.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over  this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” – Ephesians 6:10-13

“And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.'” – Matthew 28:18-20

The enemy has been identified.  The command has been given.  What are we waiting for?  The consequences of inactivity are too great.  It’s time to storm the gates of Hell.

Open Eyes

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“Then Elisha prayed, and said, ‘O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see'”.  – 2 Kings 6:17

Seeing is Believing

Seeing is believing, or so we are told.  But can we always believe what we see?  How much of what we see is dictated by bias?  In other words, is what we see partially influenced by what we are looking for?  Have you ever wondered how two or more people can “see” the same thing yet describe it so differently?  Whom do we believe?  My vote is the one who is looking with open eyes.

Strong Enemy

In 2 Kings chapter 6, we find the prophet Elisha in the town of Dothan.  At this time the King of Aram was at war with Israel.  God would make the plans of the King of Aram known to Elisha, and he would then warn the King of Israel.  This made Elisha public enemy number one to the King of Aram.  When he heard that Elisha was in Dothan, he decided is was prime time to eliminate him.  Therefore, the King of Aram sent a strong force with horses and chariots, and they surrounded Dothan during the night.  The next morning Elisha’s servant got up and saw the enemy army with their horses and chariots surrounding the city and he panicked.  When the servant told Elisha what he saw, Elisha didn’t panic.  Why?  Elisha didn’t see what the servant saw.  He saw more.

Stronger Ally

The servant said to Elisha, “Oh no my lord, what shall we do?”  What did Elisha do?  He put things in perspective.  Listen to his response in verse 16.  “‘Don’t be afraid” the prophet answered.  ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.'”  And then, as if to say, “Don’t take my word for it, see for yourself”, he prayed that God would open the servant’s eyes so he could see things as they really are.  He was able to see beyond the realm of the empirical and into the spiritual realm.  And what did he see?  See for yourself.

“So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”  Same man.  Same mountain.  Different army.  Where the servant had originally seen the enemy arming waiting in ambush, he now saw God’s army as a hedge of protection.  Amazing what one can see with his eyes open.  But in order to see we have to believe.

Open Eyes

Just as Elisha prayed for his servant, Paul prayed for the Ephesian church.  “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened..”  Eph. 1:16-18a

When Paul was converted he was commissioned to minister to the Gentiles.  Jesus told him, “I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me” (Acts 26:17b-18).

How is your eyesight?  When you look around you do you see the enemy waiting in ambush?  Are you overwhelmed?  Want to see God’s chariots of fire?  Want to see things as they really are?  God wants you to.  Why?  The more clearly we can see, the more clearly we can see Him.  That’s why you were created.  That’s why He sent His Son.  May you see with a Godly “bias”.  May you see with open eyes!!

“And their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him.” – Luke 24:31a

Short Beds and Narrow Covers

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“For the bed is too short to stretch oneself on, and the covering too narrow to wrap oneself in.” – Isaiah 28:20

Word Pictures

We often use the expression “A picture is worth a thousand words.”  I am a firm believer that when it comes to effective teaching, word pictures can drive a point home and leave a lasting impression that words alone can not.  Just think of some of Jesus’ classical parables such as the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan.  These stories put Divine Truth in flesh and blood thereby reaching our minds through our hearts.  How can we not feel overwhelmed when the Prodigal son is welcomed home by his father.  How can we not feel convicted by the compassion and kindness of the Samaritan, (and a twinge of “righteous” anger towards the priest and Levite).  Short stories.  Lasting impressions.

In today’s text, Isaiah gives us a word picture that is worth more than a thousand words.  Much more.  This picture has eternal consequences.  Accordingly, we have to put it in its context, or should I say “Frame” it?

Grave Warnings

The Book of Isaiah is filled with both great promises and grave warnings.  If the warnings are not heeded, there will be consequences.  I believe chapter 28 may be a microcosm of the Book.  Judgment awaits God’s people in the form of their enemy, the Assyrians.  God has given them a refuge, a foundation in Zion…a sure foundation.  Rather than placing their trust in God, God’s people made an unwise pact with Egypt to protect them.  God equates it with a “covenant with death”  (Verse 18).

Bad Beds

Hence today’s priceless word picture.  You have made your bed and now you must lie on it.  You will find it woefully inadequate for rest or warmth.  A bad choice with eternal consequences?  It is for us.

The warnings and promises of Isaiah, aren’t only for the Israelites, they are for all of mankind.

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign.  Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name, Immanuel (God with us).” – Isaiah 7:14

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6

Because of our sins, judgment awaits.  God has given us a means of Eternal Rest by believing in the Messiah.

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense; and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” – Romans 9:33

Beware of false hopes.  Don’t repeat the mistake of the Israelites.  They had become drunk in their pride and spiritually complacent.  As a result they made a fatal alliance with Egypt.  Do you have a spiritual Egypt?  What are you relying on to assure your eternal rest?  Church membership?  Good works?  Moral relativism? (Adolf Hitler is not God’s standard, so being “better” than him is meaningless).  These beds are all too short.  In fact they are a covenant with death.

Our only means of Salvation is placing our absolute faith in Christ and Christ alone.

Jesus once said, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” – Matthew 8:20

Where did Jesus eventually lay His head?  “When Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished”, and He bowed (laid) down His head and gave up His spirit” (John 19:30).

Jesus wouldn’t “rest” His until He bore the punishment for your sins on the cross.  You won’t have rest until you embrace Him.  From the manger, to the cross, He was proving Himself a “tested stone”.  Quite a picture.  Words don’t do it justice.  You have to believe in order to truly see it.

“Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste’.” – Isaiah 20:16

Walking Beds

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Get Up

“Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”  These words of Jesus are recorded in John chapter 5 verse 8.  As Jesus was walking by the pool of Bethesda he encountered a man who had been an invalid for thirty eight years.  The text tells us that a multitude of invalids – blind, lame, and paralyzed were laying by the pool because of it’s “healing” powers.  Apparently, when the pool waters were stirred (presumably by an angel), the first invalid into the stirred waters would be healed of their infirmities.  After thirty eight years this invalid was probably losing hope.  When Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed he gives a most interesting if not revealing response.

No Help

Instead of answering Jesus in the affirmative, the man simply says, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” (Verse 6).  At first glance it appears that Jesus is testing the faith and resolve of this invalid.  After all, why wouldn’t he want to be healed.  The fact that he was by the pool seems to indicate he had not lost faith in it’s healing power.  At the command of Jesus he picked up his bed and walked with it.  Sounds like he had faith in Jesus.  Who did he lose faith in?  Apparently his fellow man.  Our intentional Savior was about to test and teach them.

The text points out that the day Jesus healed this man was the Sabbath.  When the Jews saw this miraculously healed man carrying his bed they rebuked him and told him he was violating the law by carrying his bed on the Sabbath.  Seriously?  Seriously!  No cheers.  No hugs.  No prayers of Thanksgiving.  Rather he is scolded by his religious leaders and their followers.  In their self righteousness they only saw the bed.  In their humanity they should have seen the man.  Some things never change.

Where is our compassion for our fellow man?

Sabbath Lesson

I am not sure how long this invalid was lying by the pool, but I would venture to guess that these “bed seers” had walked by him numerous times never offering to assist him.  Hence his answer to Jesus, “I have no one.”  If they didn’t want to see him healed on the Sabbath, where were they the other six days of the week?  The fact that Jesus healed him on the Sabbath was no coincidence, nor His command to have the former invalid pick up his bed and carry it.  On another occasion, when Jesus was accused of violating the Sabbath He said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28).  The Sabbath was made to bless and edify man.  How we have lost our priorities.

The same sins of selfishness and self righteousness that Jesus confronted are still prevalent today.  When the waters stir, we want to be the first in.  Every man for himself.  It’s a dog eat dog world.  Instead of helping our fellow man, we would rather point fingers.  Hard to lend a helping hand when we are busy patting ourselves on the back.  If only we could be as intentional with our lives as Jesus was.  If only we could see the “invalids” all around us.  They are longing for a reason to have faith in their fellow man.  The best way for us to restore that faith is to imitate Jesus and do the work of our Heavenly Father.  “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:17b).

First we have to “see the man”.  There are no walking beds.