Author: petebeck3

Pete Beck III ministered as a pastor and Bible teacher in Burlington for over 34 years. He is married to Martha, with whom he has four children, ten beautiful grandchildren, and four amazing great grandchildren. He ministers in his local church as a Bible teacher and counselor. He has published two books - Seeing God's Smile and Promise of the Father - as well as a wide variety of Bible-related articles which he has compiled into books in PDF form.

Repentance: Being Honest with God

 

 

 

 

 

Repentance requires us to move from self-justification to admitting that God is right about our sin.

King David perfectly exemplified what it means to be on God’s side when it comes to sin.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2  Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3  For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4  Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. Psalm 51:1-4 (NLT)

Opposed to this, after choosing to eat the fruit God had forbidden them on the pain of death, Adam and Eve chose to play the blame game instead of honesty acknowledging their sin.

Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” 10  He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” 11  “Who told you that you were naked?” the LORD God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” 12  The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” 13  Then the LORD God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.” Genesis 3:9-13 (NLT)

The only proper way to repent is to be straightforward about our sin and to side with God.

The minute we try to evade the truth, deny our responsibility, shift blame, minimize what we did, or otherwise be less than candid, we fail when it comes to repentance.

Paul said it very well in his Letter to the Romans.

...Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.” Romans 3:4 (NLT)

Since God knows all about us, even down to the hidden motivations of the heart, isn’t it reasonable and advisable to be absolutely honest about our sin?

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13  Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12-13 (NLT)

When we chose to repent, the Bible says that we come “into the light.” The act of exposing our sin to the light is part of what is necessary for us to experience God’s freeing forgiveness.

But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. 8  If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. 9  But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 10  If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. 1 John 1:7-10 (NLT)

It is shocking to consider that refusing to admit the truth about our sinfulness is the same as calling God a liar, but that is what it says! The natural propensity of our human nature is to do just that, however. Jesus said it this way.

And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. 20  All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. 21  But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:19-21 (NLT)

Our refusal to be honest about our sins is based on fear.

We are afraid to admit how evil we are because it is so disconcerting to us. We usually imagine that we are far better than we really are. It is also based on the fear that God will reject us because of our sin, but that cannot be true. God chose us in Christ before he created the world. (Ephesians 1:4) He chose us in advance, knowing full well all our faults, weaknesses, and future sins. When Jesus died on the cross, the forgiveness he provided extended back through time to include those who died in faith before his resurrection and forward in time to include all future children of God.

Knowing that God chose us despite everything should give us great confidence to be honest with him. Do we believe he loves us or not?

Being honest about our sins and taking God’s side are marks of genuine repentance and a gateway into freedom. (John 8:31-32)

Prayer

Lord, I am tired of hiding from you and refusing to be honest about my sin. I choose now to admit that I am guilty of (state your particular sins). Thank you loving me and forgiving me. Help me to live “in the light.” Let me experience freedom in this area of my life. Amen.

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Repentance: Mind, Heart, Will, and Faith

 

 

 

 

A Matter of the Heart

Have you ever had someone apologize to you under duress, but you knew they did not mean it? It usually goes something like this: if I hurt you, I am sorry. This sort of thing is forced upon little children by well-meaning parents. We repent because we know we are supposed to do it, but our hearts are not in it.

Repentance that does not come from the heart is fairly worthless.

The basic definition of repentance is a change of mind, but that does not mean it is mere intellectual assent. If it does not extend all the way to the heart, it is not real. It may start with mental comprehension of a wrong done, but it should impact the emotions, too. Paul wrote about the emotional side of repentance when he addressed a sin issue in the church in Corinth. Before his letter, the church members were not sorry for what was happening in the church. They had not chosen to deal with a man who was having sexual relations with his step-mother, a serious offense that even the pagans thought was heinous. Paul rebuked the church by letter, and thankfully they dealt with the situation, expelling the unrepentant sinner. Later he repented and was restored, which was the hope all along. Here is what Paul wrote in the aftermath.

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 11  Just see what this godly sorrow produced in you! Such earnestness, such concern to clear yourselves, such indignation, such alarm, such longing to see me, such zeal, and such a readiness to punish wrong. You showed that you have done everything necessary to make things right. 2 Corinthians 7:10-11 (NLT)

Engaging the Will

Most of us have encountered people who have some besetting sin to which they have succumbed, such as alcoholism, for example. Plenty of alcoholics, if they are not in denial, will sorrowfully acknowledge they have a problem, while making little or no effort to overcome their addiction. This happens all the time when drunk panhandlers ask people for money. They are sorrowful, but unrepentant. They have not changed their mind about sinning: they simply admit they have a problem.

This is not repentance. It is not from the heart, and it is not a true change of mind because the will has never been engaged.

Real repentance was demonstrated by many people in the Bible. King David was a good example. He sinned against God and one of his most loyal friends when he committed adultery with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, got her pregnant, and deliberately arranged to have Uriah killed in battle to cover it up. He concealed this sin for at least nine months, the opposite of repentance. After the baby was born, Nathan the prophet confronted David about his sin. It was at this point that David broke, repented from the heart, and changed his ways. He chose to make things right as best he could. Here is the psalm he wrote at the time. This was heartfelt repentance that engaged the will.

Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. 2  Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. 3  For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night. 4  Against you, and you alone, have I sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. You will be proved right in what you say, and your judgment against me is just. Psalm 51:1-4 (NLT)

Combining Repentance with Faith

David revealed that, despite his sin, he had faith that he still could turn to God.

True repentance has a faith component.

The apostle Peter is another example of real repentance. After he denied the Lord, he wept, exhibiting a strong emotional component. But would he change his ways, too, or simply slink away in shame, never to be heard from again? After Jesus’ resurrection, when Peter saw the Lord, he ran to him to seek forgiveness and be reconciled. Peter’s repentance combined a change of mind, emotional sorrow, a choice to make things right, and it was accompanied by faith, making it real.

Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus to the Jewish leaders, also felt remorse, but he had no faith that he could be forgiven. Instead of running to the Lord, he hung himself. Faith makes the difference. It’s one thing to be sorry for something, but quite another thing to actively seek forgiveness, try to make things right, and turn to God in the belief that we can be forgiven.

Biblical repentance combined with faith leads to forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration.

Perhaps this meditation has made you realize that you need to repent in some area. Don’t delay. Strike while the iron is hot. It is easy to put things off… forever. Tell God you are sorry. Seek to make things right. Ask for and receive forgiveness. Choose to stop sinning, as you rely on the Spirit’s help. We cannot change on our own, but God will transform us from the inside out.

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Repentance Is Loving the Truth

 

 

 

 

 

In his Letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul teaches us that societies degenerate when they deliberately suppress the truth about God.

But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19  They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20  For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21  Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22  Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. Romans 1:18-22 (NLT)

What we believe about God affects everything.

Since we were designed by God to live in a vital life-giving dependence upon his Spirit, when we deny this relationship, everything breaks down, even our ability to think.

Today we see this all around us. Those of us who accept the Bible’s testimony look at some of our government leaders, media figures, and even our neighbors and scratch our heads, wondering how they could be so blind and foolish. The answer is simple, they suppressed the truth about God and have become utter fools.

When Jesus walked the earth, the Bible says that “the Word became human.” (John 1:14 NLT) In other words, he was God’s truth in human form. Jesus confirmed this.

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NLT)

Satan stands in complete opposition to the truth. He brought down all of humanity and the creation by enticing us to believe a lie about God. Jesus called the Devil the “father of lies,” (John 8:44) who came to kill, steal, and destroy. (John 10:10)

Lies have been the basis of Satan’s attack upon the human race since the Garden of Eden. Believing lies, therefore, is a sinful rejection of God.

Rejecting truth is a form of idolatry that permeates humanity. It is only as we come back into the orbit of God’s truth that we can be saved. Repentance is the process through which God helps us to do this.

Those who humbly embrace the Bible’s true testimony about Jesus will be saved.

Those who refuse pave their own road to hell. The apostle Paul wrote about this, with a specific reference to the end times.

This man [the antichrist] will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10  He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11  So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12  Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 (NLT)

None of us knows precisely where we are in the end times, but we do know that each day brings us closer to Christ’s Second Coming. We also plainly see that deception is increasing all around us. The mainstream media has been engaged in mass deception and propaganda for years. Our schools teach little children that humans evolved, thus suppressing the truth about God the Creator. Our government and Hollywood seeks to normalize homosexuality.

The assault on truth is so pervasive that it is hard to know what to believe any more, unless we have the Bible as our anchor.

Truth suppression is the devil’s strategy to take as many people with him into the lake of fire as possible. Repentance and embracing the truth is our only hope.

Prayer

Perhaps you have never surrendered to Jesus, the Truth, or accepted God’s revealed truth in the Bible, but now you want to do that. Here is a sample prayer you might use to take care of business with God right now.

Jesus, I am worn out by trying to live apart from you. I admit that I need you. Today I surrender my life to you. Jesus, I acknowledge and receive you as the Truth, the Lord, and my Savior. I give you my life, my all. Please forgive my many sins. Spirit of God, help me to embrace your truth found in the Bible and help me to yield to your leading in my life from this time forward. Amen!

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What Is Repentance?

 

 

 

 

 

When Jesus started his public ministry, his first message was to repent.

From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 (ESV)

The Greek word for repentance” is metanoia, which means a change of mind or thinking.

Simply put, to repent is to alter our way of thinking so that it conforms to God’s truth and his will.

Repentance has a broad application. Whenever the Holy Spirit and God’s Word convict us that our thinking or behavior is out of step with God’s plan and purpose for our lives, we must turn away from our old way of thinking and acting and toward God’s new way. This means that we agree with God and stop insisting on going our own way.

A change of thinking, if heart felt, will always eventually lead to a change of behavior; otherwise, repentance is not real.

The most fundamental type of repentance necessary for a person to become a follower of Christ is to recognize who Jesus is and act accordingly. Notice how Peter called his hearers to surrender to Jesus the Lord.

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” Acts 2:36-39 (ESV)

True repentance does not merely focus on some specific sin or behavior: it addresses our determination to live independently from God.

Repentance calls us to lay down our pride and admit that we have a serious problem: we are fatally flawed at the core of our being and hostilely oriented toward God. Our fatal flaw is an inherited sin nature, which is the source of our hostility.

This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Colossians 1:21 (NLT)

Admitting we have a sin nature requires us to admit we need a Savior and cannot save ourselves. We do not have the inherent goodness or moral fortitude to live a life of perfect obedience and submission to God. If we did, Jesus died needlessly. Although the admission of our sinfulness and need for a Savior is difficult for us because of our pride, it is easier than the next aspect of repentance, which focuses on Jesus’ Lordship.

It is one thing to admit we need forgiveness and saving, but it is something else to relinquish the “right” to our lives to Jesus. There are plenty of so called Christians who have opted for eternal security from hell’s flames but who have never bowed the knee to Jesus as the Lord of their lives. This is a complete contradiction of the meaning of repentance.

The source of our desire to be independent goes back to the garden of Eden. Our insistence of doing life on our own is a fundamental rejection of God, who is our Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. He never intended for us to go it alone. He wants us to live in a joyful and fulfilling partnership with his Spirit. Repentance opens the door into our experiencing through Christ what alone brings eternal life and happiness.

The most fundamental and necessary form of repentance is surrender to Jesus in every aspect of life.

If we fail to do this, it is doubtful that we are his disciples. If we fail to repent of our independent orientation, we remain essentially hostile toward God. It is rebellion all dressed up in Christian clothes.

Repentance, then, is the everyday act of surrendering ourselves to Jesus.

As we read the Scriptures and listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, we will be tested in this area on a daily basis. Repentance is not a one time event. We are born again once and for all, but we must repent daily. It is vital that we  maintain a heart that is open and pliable in regard to repentance. Otherwise we run the risk of becoming hardened in sin and deceived.

Application

  • If you have never consciously and intentionally surrendered everything to Jesus the Lord, now is the time.

Here is a sample prayer. Jesus, I recognize that you are the Messiah King of Israel and the Lord of my life. I surrender ownership of my life and all I have, including my dreams, relationships, money, hopes, family, friends, ministry, job, health, and everything else to you. I recognize your right to my life, since you are my Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer. You can ask me to do anything, and I trust you with my life. With the help of your Spirit, I will obey you. Amen.

  • Each day as we spend time reading and meditating on the Scriptures and in prayer, we should listen attentively to the promptings of God’s Spirit and seek to obey them. This will include turning from sin and embracing areas of obedience that are difficult for us.

Here is another sample prayer. Jesus, open my heart to hear your voice as I read the Bible, pray, and go through my day. Thank you for grace to always obey you in every area of my life. Forgive me when I fail and help me to truly repent day by day as my life is transformed by the Spirit to be more and more like yours. Amen.

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Stop Being “Too Big for Your Britches”

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the last days preceding Christ’s return, The Book of Revelation tells us that God will judge the world with war, famine, pestilence, and wild animals.

I looked up and saw a horse whose color was pale green. Its rider was named Death, and his companion was the Grave. These two were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword and famine and disease and wild animals. Revelation 6:8 (NLT)

I recognize that the pestilence called the coronavirus may or may not be the fulfillment of the above verse. Even if its virulence is being grossly exaggerated, it has proved deadly for many, and lots of people believe it is a form of judgment that God has allowed to give us a “wake up” call.

In our arrogance, we imagine that we do not need God.

We have created all kinds of systems – government, financial, military, medical, social, etc. – in an attempt to organize and control things on our own, but God has demonstrated that he can quickly drive us to our knees.

We need God far more than we realize.

In the Old Testament, King David started getting “too big for his britches,” to use an old southern idiom. He ordered his servants to take a census of all the subjects in his kingdom; even though doing so was expressly forbidden by God. God never wanted his people to rely on their own strength, which is exactly what David was doing. When the census was complete, God sent a prophet to explain to David his options.

But after he had taken the census, David’s conscience began to bother him. And he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly by taking this census. Please forgive my guilt, LORD, for doing this foolish thing.” 11  The next morning the word of the LORD came to the prophet Gad, who was David’s seer. This was the message: 12  “Go and say to David, ‘This is what the LORD says: I will give you three choices. Choose one of these punishments, and I will inflict it on you.’” 13  So Gad came to David and asked him, “Will you choose three years of famine throughout your land, three months of fleeing from your enemies, or three days of severe plague throughout your land? Think this over and decide what answer I should give the LORD who sent me.” 14  “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” 15  So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel that morning, and it lasted for three days. A total of 70,000 people died throughout the nation, from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. 2 Samuel 24:10-15 (NLT)

Defiance of God always brings judgment.

God mercifully allowed David a choice. He was allowed to pick his poison, so to speak. In his mind, pestilence was the most merciful of the three forms of judgment God threatened. I can see his point. Even though disease is terrible, it is better than the horrors of war or a slow torturous death from famine.

If this virus is a judgment, maybe we should be thankful that we have pestilence in the land rather than famine or war.

The pestilence in David’s day was stopped when the king offered a sacrifice. This is where the gospel comes to the forefront.

All of us deserve God’s judgment because all of us are sinners. (Romans 3:23)

Jesus came to die in our place so that all who put their trust and allegiance in him can be forgiven for their arrogant attempt to live without God (Romans 3:25), no matter what it has looked like for each of us as individuals. Maybe you murdered someone while going your own way. Others of us may have lived “respectably” and are admired by the entire community, but if we have not surrendered everything to the God who created, who sustains, and who redeemed us, we are still living in sinful rebellious independence. We can dress up a pig, but it is still a pig.

We all need forgiveness, and it is offered in the gospel.

Sooner or later the coronavirus will become yesterday’s news. If we do not properly respond to God during this crisis by putting our faith and allegiance in Christ, we will have missed a golden opportunity.

We should not waste this crisis. Let God do in us everything he desires.

Pray with Me

Jesus, you have my attention. I realize now that I have been trying to run my own life instead of relying on you. Today I choose to bow my knee to Jesus and acknowledge that he is the Over Ruler of my life. Thank you, Jesus, for dying for my sins. I rejoice in being forgiven, being added to God’s family, having eternal life, and in the indwelling Holy Spirit. Help me to live as your disciple from this day forward. Amen.

[Jesus] humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9  Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10  that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11  and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8-11 (NLT)
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How to Shine for Jesus in the Midst of Judgment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are in the midst of a pandemic during which nations around the world have taken great measures to protect their people, greatly slowing the world and national economies and societal interaction. These are unique times that deserve our attention. In the words of a politician, never waste a crisis.

If we go through this one without receiving what God intends, it will have been a terrible waste.

Point #1: God Is Sovereign

The author of Second Chronicles in the Bible penned these familiar words.

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, 14  if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 (ESV)

Admittedly this promise was made to Jews living in the promised land. Does it have an application for us today? Through his death and resurrection, Jesus did away with the dividing wall between Jew and Gentile, creating in himself what the Bible calls “one new man,” the church, composed of every race and ethnicity. (Ephesians 2:13-16) All those who put their faith and allegiance in Christ are part of what Paul called the “Israel of God” (Galatians 6:15-16) and are sons of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-9).

Followers of Christ, as children of Abraham, are to be a blessing wherever we live. That is part of our calling according to the promise made to the father of our faith.

You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.’ Acts 3:25 (ESV)

One of the main ways we can be such a blessing in the lands where we live is by praying that God will bring repentance and healing, which is the main focus of this article.

Before we go there, however, let’s pay close attention to the first sentence from the passage from 2 Chronicles quoted above: “When I… send pestilence…”

The Bible clearly teaches that God is sovereign over his creation. Nothing happens without his “signing off on it.”

God is not the author of evil, but as the Over Ruler (Lord) of all things, he makes everything, including evil, accomplish his purposes.

If you wonder where the coronavirus came from, ultimately it came from God.

This agrees with the admonition in Proverbs, which I consider to be a core passage of the Bible.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6  In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Believers in God are told to acknowledge him in all things, even difficulties and tribulation.

Since everything that enters our life has to go through him, we should always go to him first to get his perspective and our marching orders.

God has given us an amazing promise that many acknowledge but few seem to really believe.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (ESV)

Everything works for good for the believer. This is because God, as the Over Ruler, makes it happen that way. There can be no other explanation. However, those who are not God’s children have no such promise. The devils steals, kills, and and destroys those who do not have God’s protection. (John 10:10) Those are the ones God wishes to rescue from the consequences of their own sin.

Point # 2: It Is Extremely Important for Us to Have God’s Perspective

Just before Jesus’ crucifixion, our Lord began to prepare his disciples for what was coming.

From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. 22  But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23  Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” Matthew 16:21-23 (NLT)

If we fail to see things as God sees, we will likely find ourselves working at cross purposes with his will, as did Peter. It was God’s will for the judgment for our sins to fall upon Jesus, who died on the cross as God’s sacrificial Lamb. That was God’s plan. This was an example of redemptive judgment, but to Peter it seemed horrible and something to be avoided at all costs. He did not see as God did. He did not value what God valued. He preferred that Jesus be spared and the whole world be lost, but God ordained that his Son die in order to save the world. (John 3:16)

There is a difference between redemptive judgment and God’s wrath.

God’s wrath has no redemptive element. It is an outpouring of final judgment upon people who have rejected repeated overtures from him to repent and turn from their wicked ways. The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus endured God’s wrath for the sake of those who put their faith and allegiance in him, so that we never have to face it again.

And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment (literally: “the coming wrath). 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NLT) 

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (ESV)

Nevertheless, God graciously sends forms of redemptive judgment (otherwise called discipline) to turn us away from our sin and back to him, so that we can avoid one day encountering his wrath.

This is what is promised in our first passage above from 2 Chronicles. This is a major way that God blesses his people and the lands in which they live.

Point # 3: Be Prepared to Shine in the Midst of Judgment

The Bible makes it clear that God judges wickedness. Here are two passages that come to mind.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18 (ESV) 

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2  in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3  among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. Ephesians 2:1-3 (ESV)

Notice that both of these passages refer to God’s wrath.

As God pours out wrath on the earth, God’s people may have to endure aspects of it, without being the objects of it.

Those who belong to Christ are no longer “children of wrath,” but those without Christ still are, and we all live together.

It is clear that our nation and the entire world deserves God’s judgment. We continue to flagrantly and arrogantly flaunt God and his words. Our Lord has been extremely patient with mankind, but even his patience will eventually reach an end.

Jesus warned us that in the Last Days, as his Second Coming draws closer, there will be what the Bible calls “birth pangs.” When a woman goes into labor, her contractions begin mildly and are spaced far apart, but as the birth grows closer, the “pangs” become stronger with greater frequency.

The earth will experience stronger and more frequent “pangs” of judgments and outpourings of wrath as the Second Coming approaches.

Jesus said:

There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. Luke 21:11 (ESV)

I believe the coronavirus qualifies as such a “pestilence.” Many, including myself, believe it is a “birth pang.” The earth is experiencing an uptick in earthquakes. Locusts are devouring crops, increasing hunger and famine. Nations continue to rise up against nations.

The suppression of truth is a major problem in the last days. Even the church is affected. One example of disinformation that has plagued the church of late is the notion that God’s people will no longer be here during these birth pangs. Some assure God’s people that they will be “raptured” or snatched up from the earth before tribulation arrives.

No one knows for sure how the Last Days and Second Coming will play out, but the Bible clearly teaches that God’s people must be prepared to endure tribulation and suffering.

To think otherwise is deception and runs counter to God’s purposes who said in his Word that we are “appointed to tribulation.” (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4) Suffering is part of God’s plan to develop and mature us. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

As God pours out his judgments on the world, who will be able to offer hope to hopeless, if not the church? Peter wrote:

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Peter wrote this during a time of cruel persecution of the church by Jews and Romans. God allowed the church to suffer then. Why should we expect to escape suffering today?

God wants his church to be prepared to shine as lights in a very dark world.

Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15  so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16  Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return… Philippians 2:14-16 (NLT)

Praying according to God’s Purposes

Since we are God’s ambassadors of reconciliation in the world, it is vital that we act and pray accordingly. Here are some suggested prayer points.

  1. Pray for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done. This may seem too obvious to put in the list, but Jesus put it in the prayer named after him. If he thinks it is important, so do I. We will always be in agreement with God when we pray this way. Over the years, I have often felt a strong sense of God’s presence when I prayed for his kingdom to come and will to be done. Perhaps as we deliberately align ourselves with God’s purpose in this way, he will give us greater clarity on the details. When we pray in agreement with his will, we can be sure he will hear us and do what we ask. (1 John 5:14-15)
  2. Ask God to grant repentance to the church and the nation. Repentance means chiefly to “change the mind.” It will result in a change of action, but it starts in the heart. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can change us at the heart level. We do not need to pray for people to reap what they sow. God will see to that. Our commission is to intercede with God on behalf of those who are in the midst of judgment, asking him to mercifully grant repentance to a hard-hearted world before it is too late.
  3. Pray for a great “awakening” and ingathering in our land. The ultimate purpose for repentance is for people to put their faith and allegiance in Christ and come under his benevolent rule. This  means the church needs to rise up and become bold and compassionate gospel communicators. People are afraid. The church is able to present Christ as the only One who is able to satisfy their deepest longings and needs. He is the Good Shepherd, Prince of Peace, Healer, and Lord. There is no other name under heaven that can save.
  4. Pray for government leaders. Our leaders need God’s wisdom and the fear of the Lord.
  5. Pray for medical personnel. They are on the front line and at great risk. Pray for God’s blessing and protection.
  6. Pray for unity. Satan always tries to divide. There has been deep division in our nation. Pray that God will unify us as the church, as families, and as a nation.
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Viewing the Coronavirus Scare through Eyes of Faith

 

 

 

 

 

The words Thomas Paine wrote during our American Revolution are true today: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” The coronavirus is creating mass panic across the world, partly due to its seriousness, but largely because of our fear of the unknown and media hype. God warned the prophet Isaiah to be careful not to fall prey to fear and false information.

The LORD has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does. He said, 12  “Don’t call everything a conspiracy, like they do, and don’t live in dread of what frightens them. 13  Make the LORD of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life. He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. 14  He will keep you safe… Isaiah 8:11-14 (NLT)

The people of Israel faced something far worse than COVID19. The Assyrian army loomed on the horizon threatening a violent destruction of the land and the people. Facing the threat of death is nothing new. Facing it on a large scale as a nation has not happened to us in a while and is testing the moral fiber of our people. It is important for the church to stand firm in faith.

God told Isaiah in another place.

…If you do not stand firm in your faith, then you will not stand at all. Isaiah 7:9 (HCSB)

God wants us to confront our fear of this disease with trust in his keeping and healing power. It is important for us to believe that he is sovereign over all things. The mass onslaught of a virus is nothing to him. Behind the scenes, he is orchestrating events and people on the world stage in order to set things up for the Second Coming of his beloved Son. It may happen in our day!  We must not flinch at the things that he lets us encounter as the church during the end days. This is our time to shine.

We have been praying for a long time for a massive ingathering of people who will respond to the gospel. Is this current crisis setting things up for that very thing? Is that which people fear actually a surprising answer to prayer? I have discovered that many times God works in ways that confound our understanding. Please do not misunderstand me: God is not the author of evil. He overrules what the enemy does and makes it work toward his purposes. Evil can only operate with permission. What an amazing God!

It takes faith to properly interpret what God is doing in the world.

Here is a sure way to gain the victory.

Since God is working everything out for the good of his people (Romans 8:28) and to bring glory to himself, we should praise God for what he is allowing to happen on the earth. We do not praise him for a virus or the suffering it causes. We praise him for his amazing goodness in taking something so destructive and working it for the good of his people and for his glory.

When we make the choice to praise him, the Holy Spirit will give us insight into God’s perspective on things, which will enable us to pray with even greater clarity.

Such an attitude of faith will make us overcomers in the midst of what terrifies many people.

So, instead of worrying, start praising.

It will make an amazing difference in our lives. We will become part of the solution instead of being part of the problem. We will be  overcomers. Should we have to deal with sickness or even death, God will give us the strength to do so in faith. Regardless of what may come our way, he is our Keeper and Healer, a Fortress in time of trouble. In the words of the psalmist:

Hear my cry, O God; Give heed to my prayer. 2  From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3  For You have been a refuge for me, A tower of strength against the enemy. 4  Let me dwell in Your tent forever; Let me take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah. Psalm 61:1-4 (NASB)

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The Gospel Causes Division

Gospel in a Minute

Paul and Barnabas traveled to Iconium where they preached the gospel with the following results.

In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks. 2  But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren. 3  Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands. 4  But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles. Acts 14:1-4 (NASB)

Principle: The Gospel Causes Division

Jesus warned his followers that the message he gave us to preach exposes people’s hearts and causes division.

Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33  But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. 34  “Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. 35  I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36  Your enemies will be right in your own household! Matthew 10:32-36 (NLT)

Those who share the gospel should expect to encounter hostility from those who reject their message.

The announcement of Christ’s lordship invites people to surrender their lives to Jesus. Those who accept God’s provision of mercy and grace will be overjoyed, but those who reject God’s offer reveal that they have hardened hearts and a rebelliousness against his rule. Their deep seated hostility toward God should not intimidate us from boldly sharing the good news.

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Can I Know for Sure if I Am Going to Heaven?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church, a religious system based on keeping church rules and submitting to its hierarchy. It offered no security regarding my eternal destiny, only the hope that I might die in what is called a “state of grace,” meaning that I would have no mortal (grave, death producing) sins on my conscience at the time of death. One could go to confession to get a fresh start or gain “indulgences” through attending Masses on specific days to obtain a sort of guarantee of having an opportunity to get right with God before death.

But those who rely on religion cannot know for sure if they are going to heaven. The best one can do is hope for the best.

How different are the words penned so long ago by John the apostle.

I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13 (NLT)

When I first truly understood and believed the good news that Jesus died for my sins and took away the guilt and the judgments leveled against me, giving me his very own life, I realized immediately that God had set me free from relating to him through religious rules keeping and church affiliation! Nothing the Catholic Church ever did or taught gave me the kind of joy, life, and freedom I experienced through being born again by faith in Christ. This began my escape from religion, whose tentacles are long and clutching.

Religious systems are always performance based, manipulative, and fear inducing. They offer no assurance.

The Jews tried to relate to God through a religious system, too. They believed that if they kept the Law of Moses, they were good. If they failed to keep it, they would die. Since Christianity is directly descended from Judaism, many Christians fall into such thinking. It’s pretty simple, as long as we are able to stay on the right side of the scale. Unfortunately, no one can do that. God gave the Law to expose our hopeless situation. We are all sinners who deserve to die.

But those who depend on the law to make them right with God are under his curse, for the Scriptures say, “Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the commands that are written in God’s Book of the Law.” 11  So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.” 12  This way of faith is very different from the way of law, which says, “It is through obeying the law that a person has life.” 13  But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14  Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith. Galatians 3:10-14 (NLT)

The good news is that Jesus kept the Law for us by living and dying in complete obedience to his heavenly Father. His sacrifice for our sins as God’s Lamb purchased our freedom from death and made us children of God. His resurrection proved his sacrifice on our behalf was accepted.

Now those of us who declare faith and allegiance to Christ can know for sure that our eternal destiny will be life forever with God.

Jesus promised:

I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life. John 5:24 (NLT)

Can we know for sure if we are going to heaven? We can, but only if we put our full confidence in what Jesus accomplished on our behalf. If we are still relying on ourselves to get it done, we can have no assurance whatsoever.

Prayer

Jesus, I am weary of trying to earn my way into God’s favor. I realize now that it is hopeless. You designed it that way so that I would come to my senses and realize that trusting in you is the only way. I ask you today to forgive my sins and come into my life. I give you myself. I belong to you from this day forward. Come, Holy Spirit, fill my life and show me more about Jesus’ and the Father’s love for me. Empower me to be a fearless proclaimer of the good news to others. Amen.

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Overcoming the Tragedy of Self-Inflicted Loneliness

 

Anyone who has heard or read the story of how Nathan the prophet fingered King David for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband and his friend, Uriah the Hittite, will never forget the drama of self-discovery experienced by the king. (2 Samuel 12:1-15) After setting David up with a story of a rich ruler who stole a poor man’s only sheep instead of using one from his own large flock, David became furious and demanded that the scoundrel be punished severely. Nathan’s words, “You are the man,” brought David to his senses and prompted him to repent for his sins. Those words still ring true for us today.

We are often our own worst enemy, blindly hating in others what we despise in ourselves.

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. Romans 2:1 (NLT)

Problem: We may experience self-inflicted loneliness if we repel potential friends by being critical and judgmental.

As anyone who has lived very long knows, we generally do not respond well to criticism. When we engage in such, it reveals that we see ourselves as a judge of others. It is difficult to be the friend of a judge.

Jesus was called the “friend of sinners.”

Tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus teach.  2  This made the Pharisees and teachers of religious law complain that he was associating with such sinful people—even eating with them! Luke 15:1-2 (NLT)

It was a derogatory title pinned on him by the Jewish religious leaders, who held those whom Jesus befriended in contempt. Those leaders believed that they were morally superior because of their knowledge of the Law and their imagined adherence to it. The truth is that we all fall short of God’s glory and fail to keep the requirements of the Law. (Romans 3:23)

No one is ever in a place to despise other human beings.

Jesus, on the other hand, who was truly superior in every way to all others, gladly chose to be with the ones whom the religious leaders judged and shunned. Those labeled as “sinners” picked up on Jesus’ love and were attracted to him, at least the ones whose hearts were open to his message of hope and forgiveness. The interesting thing is that Jesus calls us to leave our sin and follow him, but he does it in such a way that draws humble people toward him rather than pushing them away, as the religious hypocrites did.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

Criticism breeds criticism. Rejection usually gets rejected in return, but love draws people.

It is true that God judges sin. He has the right to do that, but he has provided a remedy in his Son, who died on our behalf in order to provide forgiveness and reconciliation. Those who reject the good news that Jesus took our punishment and guilt upon himself, can only expect judgment from God. However, those who believe the gospel are able to receive and enjoy God’s love.

God’s heart is open toward anyone who is willing to receive his love and who is humble enough to admit his or her desperate need for forgiveness and help.

Pride is harsh and unforgiving, but humility is gentle and inviting.

Solution: Loving humility is a huge key to having and keeping friends.

Mature followers of Christ learn how to make proper assessments of people without descending into thinking we are somehow superior. Jesus completely knows people and their motives. Nothing is hidden from him, but his heart remains open to those who are open to him, regardless of their shortcomings and failures. That is why we have hope.

We all need friends. If we want to have more of them, we should try being more humble and loving and less critical.

We may find that those we formerly criticized and rejected have much to offer in the way of friendship if we start treating them as we wish to be treated. We can ask the Holy Spirit to take the “log” out of our own eyes, so that we will be able to properly see others through God’s eyes. If we make the effort to be friends with “sinners,” just maybe someone will decide to reach out to those other sinners in the neighborhood – us.

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