The sorrow of God

When Jesus wept at the death of Lazarus, He was not weeping because His friend died, at least not as we would weep; He knew He would raise Lazarus from the dead. He was weeping with grief over the fact of sin, sin so deeply terrible that it kills us. It brought death to Lazarus — and brings death to all humanity.

“He (Jesus) was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” (Isaiah 53:3)

Jesus knew grief like none of us know grief. As Chambers says, our view of sin usually begins lightly. When we learn to hate it, we still think we can control it, if not by our best efforts then at least with the help of God. Yet as life goes on, we realize that sin is more than a flaw in human character; it is a wild, irrational mutiny against God. And as Chambers says, either God or sin will rule our lives. There are no alternatives.

Pick up the newspaper, go online to the daily events, just look around. Evidence of the reality and awfulness of sin is everywhere. If I cannot see it in my own heart at the moment, it can certainly be seen in today’s events. I shake my head and say silly things like, “Why would anyone do that?” but I know the answer. Sin has ruined us. It is at the root of murder, adultery, meanness, even gossip.

Sin also keeps me from going out and serving others, from generosity, from thoughtfulness. Sin produces a world than cares more about money than much of anything else, more about animals and trees than fellow man, more about having comfort and luxury than thousands who are dying of starvation.

How awful is sin? It is the reason God left the glory of perfection, entered this sewer called earth as a helpless baby, grew to manhood, and died on a cross. It is the reason human beings who fear death and long to live forever reject the only way God has offered them victory over sin and death and the promised of eternal life. Sin makes us reject the only cure for it; that is the awfulness of sin.

Sin is the reason Jesus came. Sin is the reason for all my grief and sorrow, yet I can invent thousands of ways to avoid grief or mask it. I have tried to fix my own sorrows, to make myself look young when I know I am dying. Sin keeps me from prayer to God who answers prayer, from obedience to God who knows what is most excellent for my life. Sin keeps me from the abundance He promises to those who abide in Him.

“This is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” (John 3:19)

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.” (Romans 4:25)

“He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

And from (Revelation 22:17, the Message)  

“Come!” say the Spirit and the Bride. Whoever hears, echo, “Come!” Is anyone thirsty? Come! All who will, come and drink, Drink freely of the Water of Life!” 

Blindness can lead to light, or not . . .

The eye doctor told me that my vision was blurring because my glasses were too strong, that my eyes have improved. That was a nice surprise. New glasses are costly, but now I can see clearly.

Blindness would be terrible, yet I’m aware that there is more than one way to be in the dark. The Bible’s descriptions of spiritual blindness surprise me.

First, there is the blindness that results from choosing sin. That is, those who live in sin wind up in the dark concerning what they are doing. At first, they may realize the choices made are sinful, but become oblivious to their spiritual condition as their choices takes them into spiritual darkness.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (John 3:19)

The second is like the first, the blindness of continued unbelief. That is, people who keep on rejecting the gospel of Jesus Christ and the glory of this One who died for them become blinded by Satan and also don’t know that they cannot see. . .

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

Then there is the blindness that God puts on those who refuse to see. Jesus speaks of this concerning people who have seen His miracles and know what He has done, but continue to go their own way, choosing sin  over faith and righteousness . . .

He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them. (John 12:40)

Oddly enough, for the apostle Paul the cure for spiritual blindness came by plunging him into physical darkness. He was blinded by a bright light. When his eyes were opened, he could not see anything . . .

But Saul (who became Paul), still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank. (Acts 9:1–9)

Paul was made blind so he could see. That is, the Holy Spirit shut his eyes and made him literally blind to everything else that distracted him so that he could see that he is a sinner and that he needed Christ as his Savior.

This has happened to many people since then, myself included. God had to pull me from my distractions, excuses and everything that I’d put up as a barrier to truth. When He blinded me to all else, then the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and I could see that I am a sinner who needs Jesus.

I’ve learned that spiritual vision does not guarantee freedom from darkness though. Christians who persist in sin wind up in the confusion and ignorance that comes as a natural result of this choice.

But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. (1 John 2:11)

Christians who are disobedient or who do not take responsibility for spiritual growth can also wind up in the dark. Peter tells us to add to our faith various virtues. If we don’t grow, aided by the Holy Spirit, then we can become blind to what God has given us . . .

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. (2 Peter 1:8–9)

The Holy Spirit opens eyes to the reality of sin, often using blindness to all else so I can see it. Today’s devotional reading reminds me of the Pharisee who came up to the temple thanking God he was not like sinners, and boasted about his goodness. Not far away, a publican whose eyes had been opened by the grace of God, saw nothing, nothing of all his fasting and tithing, nothing of all he’d done for God. All he could see what that his best was sinful and his life a failure. He cried, “God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” 

When I see nothing, I see Christ. When I see that my best is rags, I see His riches. When I see at last that I have nothing to claim, then I am ready for mercy and grace.

Absolutes in a world of gray

The expression “black and white” usually refers to a person or an opinion that sees everything as either right or wrong, with no shades of gray and no other interpretations. While this is considered “not useful” in reaching solutions, there are occasions that call for a distinct separation of two viewpoints. For instance, it is never right to abuse or torture a child. It is always wrong to steal what belongs to another.
 

In these days of “whatever is right for you might not be right for me” the idea of ethical absolutes has been tossed in favor of “each one doing what is right in his own eyes” as it was in the early days of the Old Testament (see Judges 17:6 and 21:25). As a result, our society is adrift in moral chaos. 

I tend to be a black and white person. While I see great room for opinions about art, music and other likes and dislikes, in my mind there is no place for gray when it comes to right and wrong. I also believe there is no place for personal decisions in those areas that are not black and white. The Holy Spirit might direct one person into some activity and forbid another, not because the activity is right or wrong, but that God sees and considers the needs, strengths and weaknesses of each person, and has eternal reasons for His direction. For instance, it might be okay for one to take up a hobby of making and flying model airplanes and not for another. The hobby is neutral, but God considers things like motives and possible ministry opportunities.

Besides that, from the very first verses in the Bible, God Himself is described as being black and white.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3–4)

Well-known preacher and writer, Charles Spurgeon says that no sooner did God create a good thing than He saw the necessity of a division. Light and darkness have no communion. For one thing, darkness is the absence of light and has no power over light. As John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” While he was speaking of Jesus, the principle is true regarding literal light. As soon as one candle is lit in a dark place, it is no longer dark. The two are separate by nature.

Spurgeon goes on to say that since God has divided light and darkness, we are not to confound the two when it comes to our actions and doctrines. The Bible calls us “children of the day” who must be “sober, honest, and bold in the Lord’s work, leaving all works of darkness to those who shall dwell in it forever” because they love being there.

And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. (John 3:19)

He tells His people to not be unequally yoked with unbelievers because there is no partnership between righteousness and lawlessness and no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14). God has separated the two groups literally, morally and spiritually. 

He also calls us to live in the light because He is light. We are to be like Him and live as Jesus did.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Because of Jesus, I can be black and white in both theology and in finding solutions to the problems of life. Since God is light and calls me to walk in the light He gives, then I know there are ways that are dark. Walking in them is not only disobedience, but also puts me in harm’s way. For that reason, and because God separates me from my former life of darkness, then I must also divide the light from darkness in my judgments and actions, in what I hear and teach, and even in my associations. I must discern between precious and vile, and maintain that great distinction which the Lord made upon the world’s first day.

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Father, I understand this and embrace it. As Your child, I am to be like You. While You are patient and longsuffering with those who oppose You, You never add gray to the distinctions You make between wrong and right, sin and righteousness. I am either in the flesh or in the Spirit, walking my own way or obeying You. I cannot determine these things for others since this is Your responsibility. Besides, I often cannot see the Light in my own life and need Your continual guidance. Nevertheless, You call me to be black and white when hearing and doing Your will. You know that I am easily muddled. I am also totally rejoicing that You avoid shades of gray.