"It Shall Not Come Nigh You"!

"'Vanities of vanities,' says the preacher; 'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.'" (Ecclesiastes 1:2)
Or, "Meaningless!  Meaningless!...Utterly meaningless!  Everything is meaningless." (NIV)

Today's text is from my Wisdom Literature reading.  The Hebrew word for, "vanity," is translated throughout the Old Testament as, "breath, delusion, emptiness, fleeting, fraud, futility, nothing, useless, vapor, worthless."  Now some would say that the old man had just succumbed to cynicism, or because of his sin and acceptance of the idols of his many women, he had no longer God's perspective on life.  Really? 

I read today of a Chinese Follower of Jesus whose husband told her if she did not recant her faith, he would divorce her.  She said, "You may leave me, but I will never leave Jesus."  Also, there was a 60 year old woman in Viet Nam (you remember; one of the growing number of countries where America goes to war, supposedly to "free" people, then decides it's not worth it, "Meaningless!") who was beaten by police for the same reason.  There would be no room for these women in much of Christendom. 

It seems to me, "The Preacher," just finally came to the realization that apart from Jesus Christ there is absolutely nothing in life, not just personal life, but also national life which is anything but delusional, empty, fleeting, a vapor.  But with and in Jesus Christ life is the exact opposite.  Even in the midst of threatened abandonment, beatings, imprisonments, rejection, there is that of which the old Apostle spoke, "joy unspeakable and full of glory."  He had experienced it all.  And I saw the same, "joy unspeakable and full of glory," it in my Grandpa Barnette's eyes and smile when he was breathing his last breath in this life, "The other side is looking better." 

What do you see today of, "the other side?"  If you see Jesus, your "eyes" will tell it.  In the midst of, "vanities of vanities," when you are tempted to conclude that all of life it, "Meaningless!", then in the midst of fraud, delusion, useless vapor, "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Look full in His Wonderful Face, And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."  "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever."!  While the hopelessness, which ruins and defeats so many around you, is growing globally, remember the Words of God, "It shall not come nigh you."  You are one, "....who dwells in the secret place of the Most High...."  You, "....abide under the shadow of the Almighty," King Jesus Christ.  You say with the psalmist, "He is my refuge and my fortress; My God in Him I will trust....You shall not be afraid of...the destruction that lays waste at noonday."  Whatever happens to those who surrender to, "Meaningless!"  Meaningless!", those who "burn out" because of, "delusion of delusions," Our Lord Jesus Christ promises us that He, "....keep you in all your ways."

Father, in the midst of, "Meaningless!" as the song writer said, "I glad there is You."Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Devotionals Such As This Receive Criticism

"You have made the earth tremble; You have broken it; Heal its breaches, for it is shaking.  You have shown Your people hard things; You have made us drink the wine of confusion." (Psalm 60:2, 3)

I cannot remember when I have read a Biblical text which describes the events of recent months.  Let me illustrate.

To say that going into Iraq was a mistake because Saddam Hussein did not have weapons of mass destruction is idiotic.  How do they think he murdered thousands upon thousands of Kurds?!?  I repeat; just because you don't find something doesn't mean it is not there.  Now the Arab/Islamist/Terrorists (which is just redundancy) are taking over much of Iraq.  America has become a nation more concerned about quitting wars than winning wars.  With this philosophy, America could soon be finished.  I promise you that you can count on one reality: The villains of history never quit.  Edmund Burke said, "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.  When bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle."  I pray regularly for world leaders that they either repent and come to Jesus Christ, or are embarrassed.  The unbelievable number of children coming across America's southern border is an embarrassing situation.  I read the other day that since we are doing nothing about illegal immigration, many South American countries are sending children to take advantage of America's spinelessness.  The situation in Iraq, in Syria, in Afghanistan, and in our own nation is an embarrassment to the United States of America.  Repent, America, or be embarrassed!  

Our text is literally reading today's "paper."  The Words of God always have been current, "now words."  I have always been reluctant to use that phrase, because it implies the Bible is not "now."  But the Bible is now, because, "The Word of God," Jesus, is Now.  Never, ever think for one moment that any of God's Words are not now, not relevant, not "fresh."  Any person who claims to be a Christian and lives in such an attitude will miss what Jesus Christ is doing in the Earth.  Nothing and no one is more up-to-date, more relevant than Jesus and His Words.  The NASB puts our text this way: "You have made the earth quake, You have split it open; Heal its breaches, for it totters.  You have caused Your people to see hardship; You have given us wine of staggering."  All this is for one reason: Mankind thought/thinks they can do life better than God.  I pray, however, with the psalmist, "The earth---Heal its  breaches...."

You and I have a calling, a mission, described in 2 Corinthians 10, which I read just the other day, " For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before (in) God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ..., being in readiness to punish every [insubordinate for his] disobedience, when your own submission and obedience [as a church] are fully secured and complete." (Amplified)

Father, in Jesus' Name, so equip me.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

"Redeemed...In Peace From The Battle"!

"He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me [so that none came near me], for they were many who strove with me."  (Psalm 55:18, Amplified Bible)

More and more I am encountering the, "Words of God," in such a way that I am concerned that anything I say about them may be a detraction.  As is His Person, "The Word of God," is so beautiful and, well, what can human tongue or pen express?  Our text is just so rich in comfort, encouragement, empowerment.  Jesus has, " redeemed my life in peace from the battle," i.e., everything out to destroy me, "the Evil One," myself, sin/rebellion.  By and in His Blood, Jesus saves, heals, delivers, redeems, and we can add any other theological words which attempt to describe the marvelously Finished Work--"It is finished"--of Jesus Christ.

But what blessing today as I read our text, "He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me...."  These words just taste so good.  All which I mentioned above is included in, "the battle that was against me," against you, against all humanity.  The word translated, "redeemed," means, "Ransom, redemption price."  This is the Blood of Jesus, the Cross of Jesus.  Now our text says, "for they were many who strove with me."  Indeed there are; more than can be numbered, and you have probably encountered some of them already today.  But the promise is to you and me and to as many who, "call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus."  You and I have been, "redeemed...in peace from the battle that was against [us]," and in such a way, "so that none came near me"!  Now someone may say, "How can he say that, since so much of, "the battle," is all around.  I don't claim much revelation here, but I can say, however, that I rejoice in and receive this great promise.  There is a protection promised here, and such promise/declaration which should release a shout of victory, "in the camp."  I repeat, "He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me [so that none came near me], for they were many who strove with  me."

And, Father, in Jesus' Name, I thank You so much for these marvelous Words.  Amen.
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Extended Mission in Washington, DC, this Fall

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

The, "EVER-PRESENT," One

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore......... (Psalm 46, NIV)

Our, "Ever-Present," God, "Ever-Present," Father, Son Jesus, and Holy Spirit, "....our Refuge and Strength,..Ever-Present," is the reason for any overcoming, victorious shout, "Therefore...."  It really does not matter what follows life's, "Therefore[s]."  Therefore, though you be sick, therefore, though you are poor, therefore, though you have been betrayed, therefore, though very little of what you wanted in life (which, by the way, can also be a very good thing) is yours, therefore, no matter present sadness, family disappointments, or whatever may be your lot, in Jesus you are secure; you are at peace; gladness can be yours, "There is a river whose streams make glad...." 

" Therefore we will not fear, though," whatever may happen personally, locally, nationally, or internationally.  "There is a river whose streams make glad...."  As our Lord Jesus says to us, "All who drink of this water (from a well, city water, bottled water) will be thirsty again.  But whoever takes a drink of the water that I will give him shall never, no never, be thirsty any more.  But the water that I will give him shall become a spring of water welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually] within him unto (into, for) eternal life" (Jesus). 

My dear Follower of Jesus, are you drinking from Jesus?  Is Jesus, "welling up (flowing, bubbling) [continually]," in you today.  When we pray in the Holy Spirit, this is exactly what we are doing, drawing from our, "welling-up," spring, fountain.  "Jesus stood, and He cried in a loud voice, 'If any man is thirsty, let him come to me and drink!  He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water'....He was speaking here of the Spirit...."  

Father, in Jesus' Name, My, " EVER-PRESENT," God, Savior, King, Master, no one or nothing can, "make glad," as You, "make glad."  I'm glad.  Amen.

When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2

Jesus Destroyed That Which Is Out To Destroy You and Me

"I said, 'Lord, be merciful to me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against You.'"  (Psalm 41:4)

This prayer was not uttered by an unbeliever.  This was someone who, "had God's heart," someone who was called, "the sweet psalmist of Israel," the one who "wrote" and sang this song.  Now most religious people can handle the promise that, "as far as the east is from the west," and, "the blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, cleanses us from all sin."  But what about that sin which probably manifested some time already today? 

You have heard the idea that goes something like, "God loves us just the way we are.  But God loves us too much to leave us the way we are."  There is sound Biblical Theology in this.  Jesus did not die only for our forgiveness.  Jesus shed His Most Precious Blood, died and rose from the grave so that He "breaks the power of canceled sin."  It almost could seem contradictory.  If it's "canceled," how can it have "power?"  Well, just because you and I surrendered our lives to Jesus, just because we are, "born again," does not mean the Enemy gave up on trying to destroy us.  His end prophesied in Revelation has not yet come upon him.  He still, "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (NIV).

The sin which destroys humanity is the sin which Jesus destroyed, "in His cross."  It is not only the sin which separates us from our God that David is talking about in our text.  It is the sin which keeps cropping up, sins which were with and in us before we surrendered our lives to Jesus Christ, and are still ever present, robbing us of the victory, joy and peace promised in Jesus.  It is the, "sin which so easily besets us," the sin which destroys relationships with others.  And our text tells us that this sin is a disease of the soul, not of the body.  What our bodies manifest, that which we call sin, is just the outplaying of the soul's disease.  Maybe it would be good if Christendom would begin to claim, "Who heals all our diseases," for the soul as well as our bodies.  I regret that over the last 50+ years as a pastor/missionary I have not encouraged people, nor myself, enough in this: "For sin shall not have the dominion over you." 

One of the great keys to historic revival is the overwhelming conviction of sin in the Church, not the Church just pointing out the sins of the world.  When God's People pray, " Search me, O God," then the kindling needed for "revival fires" is ready to ignite.  I ask you to join me today in praying, "Father, in Jesus' Name, You said that, 'sin shall not have dominion over you.'  Too many sins do, 'have the dominion over [me].'  Holy Spirit keep before me for the rest of my days that Your purpose in the Shed Blood of Jesus, in His Cross, His death and resurrection was the forgiveness of sin, and that, 'sin shall not have the dominion over you.'  Help me to not resist Your work in me, the great promise, 'For whom He knew beforehand, He also foreordained to be conformed to the image of His Son....'  I ask nothing less, Father."  Amen.
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When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"

"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2