A call to proclaim that death is not the end

A church building used to be called a sanctuary, a place of safety. Another shooting, this time during a church service in Texas, brings out the need for security and how some congregations have cameras and people watching for intruders.

My heart aches for those who suffer. At times, I’ve wondered what I would do if someone did that in our church. We want people to come, but attacks like this can certainly add to the qualms some already have about going to church.

Today’s Scripture reveal that this is not God’s intention. He says, “whosoever will may come” even in the Old Testament. The Israelites, God’s chosen people, were to bring this invitation to the world:

“Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’ “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him. In the Lord all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.” (Isaiah 45:22–25)

God’s intention for redemption was never confined to the Jews only. Jesus said:

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.” (John 10:14–16)

Many NT passages confirm His plan to include all people, such as Ephesians 2:11–22 which says in part, that Gentiles were formerly “separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility . . . that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone . . .  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.”

In the last book of the Bible, God says Jesus “was slain and His blood ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9) God intends that all are welcome in His family, despite the efforts of our spiritual enemy who tries to divide and destroy, to upset and split congregations, to sever relationships by stirring up strife and fear. No doubt he was involved in this latest horrible event, trying to ruin, divide, and destroy.

However, God is more powerful. Israel failed to welcome the nations, but now the Body of Christ is united in one Body. We all die, but we all live again because we are His and God tells us to act like it:

“I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace . . .” (Ephesians 4:1–6)

What does this have to do with Texas? God calls His family to display our unity and courage in Christ, to not allow Satan’s ploy to separate us, or to keep us from welcoming others — especially those fearful of being in a church on a Sunday morning. The good news is that anyone Satan ‘destroys’ is with Jesus in eternity, never again to suffer or be in danger!

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Jesus, this is God’s promise — to use all things for good in the lives of those who love You. The Christians who died on Sunday are with You. You took them home in a way that seems senseless and tragic to us, yet they are home and safe with You. May Your people stand united to support those who grieve. May we declare that this is not the end of their lives. Our invitation to come to Jesus stands firm because the power of redemption and the promises of God make death the beginning of a glorious forever with You.

Who is responsible for evil?

Last night we watched “The Imitation Game,” a 2014 historical movie loosely based on the biography of Alan Turing. In the movie, a group of brilliant people cracked the enigma code used by the enemy in WWII. This man and his team, at least in the movie, decided that if they immediately used to code to prevent attacks, the Germans would realize what they had done and change it to something even more difficult. Instead, they allowed some invasions to succeed  and others not, just so no one, not even their superiors, would know their secret. Some might say these people were God-playing.

I’ve not studied the actual story except to find that the end notes on the movie were correct: Turing was treated for ‘indecency’ In the 1950s and deteriorated physically and mentally. He eventually committed suicide, and was later ‘forgiven’ because his work saved millions of lives. He is considered as at least one of the inventors of the modern computer.

What would this team have done if they were not ‘sinners all’ and had been people of God? Millions of lives were saved, yet many were not. How would the power of redemption changed the story?

In another era, a proud king boasted and God took away his kingdom. He became like an animal, eating grass and living with beasts until his hair and fingernails grew. God did it so he would know that “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.” Then God did an amazing thing. Here is what that man said:

“At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done?’ At the same time my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and splendor returned to me. My counselors and my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all his works are right and his ways are just; and those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” (Daniel 4:34–37)

The devotional asks about the power of God and states we can trust Him because He “rules and governs all things with absolute control” and yet those who do not know this take matters into their own hands. Could God have done to Hitler what He did to Nebuchadnezzar? Certainly, but He did not. Was it because human beings did not trust Him? Or was it because He choose to use a group of sinful people to defeat Hitler’s armies using mathematics and exceptional deduction?

The workings of Almighty God are beyond me. I can try to figure out the course of history and its events, but my reasoning, even coupled with faith in God and His power, cannot make sense of most of it. Why allow a major war in the first place? Why use sinners to both start it and end it? Why all the destruction and pain?

A cartoon shows a man with fist raised asking, “God, why do You allow so much evil in this world?” The next pane shows the answer from heaven: “I might ask you the same thing.”

My theology professors sum up history in a few words: God created, man ruined, God works to restore, Jesus wins. Do we experience the blatant resistance of sinful humanity so God can demonstrate His power? Do we experience the pride and hate of one another so we will be broken ourselves and yield to the Only One who truly loves us?

I cannot answer these questions, only to say that faith means I know God is true, powerful, merciful, and hates sin. I also know that Jesus died for all, for me, for my sin, and that I am forgiven and a recipient of eternal life. I know this so deeply that I’m willing to let God be God. I can love and obey Him whether I know the answers to all the big and small questions. I can do this because by grace I have been saved through faith. He has made me His child and I can walk through life holding His hand and trusting Him to do exactly what He knows is best.

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Jesus, at times I shake my head at both the audacity of sinners (including me) and the wonder of holiness — only You. You came out of the vastness of where You dwell so that people like me, like Nebuchadnezzar, like Alan Turing, even like Hitler, could be offered forgiveness and eternal life. Not everyone humbles themselves before You and takes that gift. This is the part I do not understand, but You know and one day I will know too, so right now I can leave that in Your capable care.

What does being ‘saved’ mean?

We’ve seen that billboard that says, “Jesus saves — we should also be thrifty!” We might chuckly or be annoyed at the use of this word to talk about being thrifty instead of a serious spiritual matter, yet it reminds me that words often have more than one meaning. I love my husband, but I also love pizza and quilting!

In Bible interpretation, context is important, particularly in today’s devotional verse, Psalm 37:39. The immediate context includes verse 40 and defines how the word ‘salvation’ is being used in this passage:

“The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.” (Psalm 37:39–40)

A Hebrew concordance says the root meaning for salvation is to “make wide” or “make sufficient”— in contrast to another word that means “narrow,” or “be restricted” or “cause distress.” It explains that ‘wide’ is about freedom from distress and the ability to pursue one’s own objectives, a moving from distress to safety that requires deliverance. This deliverance generally comes from somewhere outside the one distressed. In the Old Testament this includes national and individual distress from enemies, natural catastrophes, such as plague or famine, and sickness.

The definition adds that anyone who brings deliverance is known as the “savior” yet this word is used in everyday life too, without theological overtones. One example is Moses saving the daughters of Reuel from some shepherds (Exodus 2:17).

However, the OT word ‘save’ or ‘salvation’ often has strong religious meaning because it points to God who delivers. He might empower people to do it, yet it is God behind the salvation. In the NT, this word generally means forgiveness of sin, deliverance from its power and defeat of Satan. The OT begins to point in this direction, yet many references to salvation speak of Yahweh granting deliverance from real enemies and out of real catastrophes. Reading Psalm 37:39-40 again, this is about salvation from wicked people. An illustration is given again from Exodus:

“Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. And Miriam sang to them: ‘Sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.’” (Exodus 15:20–21)

This celebration points to God’s deliverance of His people from bondage in Egypt and the evil of forced slavery, setting them free to serve the Lord. While it depicts what Jesus later did concerning slavery to sin, these verses need to be considered in their context.

How can I interpret this saving power of God for today? Mostly by my life experiences. Last night I dreamt that I was driving on a slippery street and my vehicle would not stop when I braked. I slid into another vehicle. When I got out, the other driver said we could go to court or he would settle for a million dollars. I looked at the dent in his truck and realized that my vehicle could not have done that because it was not high enough. I told the man what I observed (and the many onlooking witnesses) and suggested he was being dishonest and greedy. Then I woke up.

This event never happened, but I did have a real incident where a woman accused me of hitting her bumper. I knew I didn’t, but leaned down and checked — impossible because my bumper was not even close to the same height as hers. When I told her, her husband hustled her to their car and they left. Both the dream and that situation illustrate God’s protection from this and many other evil things that could and do happen to many people. I take refuge in Him and He has proven to be a real stronghold from all sorts of evils.

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Jesus, I know You have saved me from the penalty and power of sin. I’m thankful that Your saving power is for sin, yet includes deliverance from a host of evils and the things that evil people might try to do to me. Life holds no guarantee of perfection, but I do know that You are in control of the forces that could threaten me. Thank You. Thank You also that the OT has wonderful promises that show Your saving care for Your people.