The assurance of faith…

 

These days it seems much easier to see the evil and hardness of heart in the world than it is to see the grand things that God is doing. The focus on bad news fits with media’s mantra of “It bleeds, it leads” while the good news often has Jesus Christ stamped all over it and is filed away.

For example, we watched a narrowly won football game and in the interview of a winning team member, that player gives glory to the Lord for his ability to play well. Then the program abruptly switches to a commercial.

Months ago, a group of missionaries were abducted by criminals. When they returned home, the news reported their rescue, but the mission board website told of a miraculous escape with a locked door left open and they simply walked out and went home. No rescue involved, but the media does not like mysterious events that point to ‘only God’ so the story became tainted.
This builds a distrust in the media, and it goes two ways. I’m not sure anyone would believe it if they did report the God-events that happen.

The Bible says there will be events that are currently unimaginable, even for those who know and love God, except that God has a way of cluing us in:

But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9–10)

Revelations from God are difficult to describe for they are not based on presumption, or some inner, strong ‘I want’ but on the power of God to communicate by faith without visible evidence. It is a sense of knowing. Some will say, “God told me” but this has been used by those who presume, or are listening to a strong inner desire, so it is has become a suspect reason to dismiss those statements.

One NT definition of faith uses creation, along with understanding God’s acceptance of His people, as an example:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. (Hebrews 11:1–3)

I just know that God created all things. I’ve read the evolution arguments and heard what is said, but in my heart, I just know the biblical account is true. I also know that God accepts me because of Christ and what He has done for me. Neither are visible in the sense of having a sensory proof, but faith just knows.

Without faith, all this seems ridiculous. No matter. The Bible also says:

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:14–16)

At times, my mind will get distracted by media, contrary reports, blah, blah, blah, but the mind of Christ is powerful. He keeps telling me to not listen to any feeble human attempts to describe the world, but pay attention to the powerful thoughts He gives, thoughts of faith that cover not only the personal problems that I struggle with, but the events in the world that seem so godless and filled with evil intent. Faith tells me that God remains sovereign, that He has a plan that will work out just as He desires. The news may report that ‘many have died’ but the language of the Lord says ‘much more are being saved’ whether I can see the evidence or not.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! (Romans 11:33)

PRAY: Faith in You has visible results, the main one being Your peace in my heart. I don’t know what You are doing in the world, nor my family, nor even in my own life at times. But I do know You are who You are — and You can be trusted. Your wisdom and knowledge are complete, total, and correspond to Your holiness, love, and plan for this world, and for my life. Unsearchable and inscrutable are big words, yet the little word ‘faith’ overcomes their power — because of You.

 

Thankful that God did not hide . . .

 

In the past few weeks, several television dramas include revelations where a father or a sibling or even a mother reveal themselves to their relatives. Prior to that, the family didn’t know of their existence, or thought they were dead. Sometimes the revelations were shocking and not a cause for joy.

Another much more important revelation is the Creator God revealing Himself to humanity. He did it in several ways, generally in creation, but specifically in speaking:

For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made . . . . (Romans 1:19–20)

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power . . . . (Hebrews 1:1–3)

How did His OT people know it was God speaking? It must have been discernible because those who heard Him did unusual things. Noah built an ark before the weather included rain, just as God told him to do. Abram left his home and went where God told him. He believed the promise of a son, and that son was born when his wife was well past the age of bearing children. Joseph trusted God even under gross and unfair treatment and was eventually a great leaders and in a position to rescue his entire nation. The OT prophets heard God and repeated what they heard, even if it meant personal disaster.

Then God revealed Himself in a Person. He arrived as a babe, grew in wisdom and stature, made a favorable impression as a child, and revealed to the world what Almighty God is like. He was so utterly different than what the religious leaders expected that they killed Him, but He conquered death and lives forever, continuing by His Spirit to reveal God to human hearts.

This God spoke and still speaks in many ways. His people have had visions, were given prophecies, told much, and guided in many ways. They followed because they knew who was talking to them. Much of it was recorded: “For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.” (Romans 15:4)

The Gospels record the life and teaching of Jesus. Acts reveals the spread of His teachings through the apostles and early church, and the epistles tell how to apply His teachings to everyday life. Revelation tells of His triumphant return and the consummation of divine revelation. Both the OT and NT were written so that those of us who were not there in the days of Noah, or Abraham, or Joseph, or David, or the prophets, or Jesus Himself, could know what God wants us to know about Himself. It was done because we would not know God otherwise:

What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him — these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (1 Corinthians 2:9–10)

As the OT says, God’s Word “is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105) and “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” (Deuteronomy 29:29) This is echoed in the NT

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. (2 Timothy 3:16)

God’s revelation of Himself shows me what is missing in my life, what needs fixing, and how to live as a person who trusts Him through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.

PRAY: Jesus, I have heard first-hand from those who have had dreams and visions of You, even in these days. Most come from an historical background of hating Christianity and are now believers. Their faith is strong, standing against severe persecution and many have died rather than denounce You. This is the power of You revealing Yourself to them. Most of my vision of You is from Your Word, yet I know that if those who hate You destroyed all Bibles, You are able to sustain Your people with whatever we need to remain faithful to You. You are totally faithful to us — and I stand in awe of You.

PONDER: The wonder of God, holy and powerful and unseen, yet revealing Himself to mere mortals, and not only that, to mere mortals who all sin and fall short of His glory. Be thankful, oh, be thankful.

 

 

He is God revealed, God alive — forever!

Leviticus 16; Psalm 19; Proverbs 30; 1 Timothy 1

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world . . . . (Psalm 19:1–4)

The blind and hard-hearted say there is no God, yet God is generous in disclosing Himself. He does it in creation, by His Spirit, through His Word, in events, even in that we are made in His image. Today Christians celebrate the most astonishing revelation of God; He became a man, did miracles to prove that He is God, was crucified for this claim, buried, then rose again — appearing alive to more than 500 people.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:1–3)

Yesterday I sang “This is my Father’s world . . . .” and looked out the window at that line, “I hear Him pass in the rustling grass” and rejoiced at the tall grasses rustling. They declare His presence and the sky declares His glory:

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun. . . . (Psalm 19:1–4)

How can that be? How can the eye of a sinner who once rejected God see Him pass, know that He is here with me?

As it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit . . . . (1 Corinthians 2:9–10)

Can I explain this? Not easily. Faith means just knowing. Without faith, I would say I’m just too dense, yet because of the Spirit of God and the Word of God, I can also say that I know!

Surely, I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man. I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One. Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know! (Proverbs 30:2–4)

He made me in His image with the capacity to know Him, a capacity unlocked by faith in Jesus Christ and the miracle of forgiveness and new life. This new life is declared by an empty tomb, a risen Savior, a man of sorrows who went to a cross for me, who went to a grave that I might die to sin, and who rose from the dead to reveal what He gives to all who place their faith in Him. Not in our own wisdom. Not in our own goodness (which is like filthy rags)l. Not in our ideas of how the world came to be. Not in our own interpretations of the Scriptures. Not in our strange ideas of who Jesus is. Not in our religious rites and ceremonies. But we live in the One who died and who is now alive.

He has risen. He has risen indeed!

Joyous Easter!