Christ Our Hope.

With the poor election result, our nation doubling down on immorality it is easy to become discouraged - but take heart, what God has promised he is also able to perform.

" For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts." - Malachi 1:11

Too many Christians today are stuck in a pessimistic outlook and I must admit that I am prone to this myself at times.  We must be constantly reminded that we should not take our worldview from the pages of the newspaper, but the pages of holy scripture.  God has promised to exalt his son among all the nations -  

"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.  All the rich of the earth will feast and worship; all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—    those who cannot keep themselves alive.  Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord.  They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!" - Psalm 22:27-31

One obstacle I see to an optimistic view of the cause of Christ in our world is faulty eschatology.  For the uninformed 'eschatology' is merely the study of the "eschaton" - the last things.  Many Christians think we are living in the last days and things will only go down hill toward the tribulation.  In that scenario our best hope is to be raptured off this place before the sky falls.  Such ideas have been made popular by many radio teachers and book hucksters.

Though the scriptures do speak of difficult times in the last days - we need to remember that scripture refers to the last days as the entire time since Christ has spoken to us (Hebrews 1:2).  We have been living in the last times so-to-speak since zero A.D. Yes there have been terrible times, but the scriptures also holds out great hope for the future, such as the prophesies mentioned above.

It makes me sad when an extremely prominent Christian leader at a prominent evangelical conference here in Ontario tells 500 pastors that 'revival doesn't last'.  When I heard those words at the recent TGC Conference in Toronto I felt like a knife went through my heart.  The statement doesn't even make sense from a historical perspective, considering we are still living on the spiritual capital of the Great Awakenings -  and that those Awakenings spawned movements of global missions which are currently evangelizing the entire world.  But what is worse is the implications for the future - I wanted to tell Dr. Carson that his lack of faith disturbed me.  Yes men's hearts are sinful, but Christ is greater!

If our Christian leaders can't raise their eyes above a hope for mere mercy drops, who will storm the throne of heaven EXPECTING showers of blessing?  Who is praying for revival that will change the shape and face of our nation for over a thousand years?  Why should we pray for such things?  What is our hope for the future?

Our hope for the future rests on God's promises - the gates of hell shall not prevail, our Kingdom commission is guaranteed by the one who governs all things by the council of his will.  

I have some questions for the pessimists.  In his love for his Son would the Father ordain that majority of the world reject his sacrifice?  Is the Spirit unable to break the heart of stone?  Did not God "make known to us the mystery of his will - to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ." ?

If anyone is interested in learning more about eschatology a great sermon to listen to can be found here -->

  

Postmilennialism and Revelation 20 

While I don't agree 100% with every detail of the message, he makes some excellent points and proves (I trust) that the scriptures teaching about the end should give us GREAT HOPE for future gospel blessings.

I have transcribed the text of the last several minutes of the sermon below:

Richard Cameron "The church of Christ is to be so exalted that it’s members shall be made to ride upon the high place of the earth.  Let us not be judged to be of the opinion of the 5^th monarchy men, who say that Christ will come in person with all the saints and martyrs and reign 1000 years on earth – but we are of the opinion that the Church shall be more high and glorious, as appears from the book of Revelation, and the church shall have more power than ever she had before.”

James Renwick said this “There have been great and glorious days of the gospel in this land, but they have been small in comparison of what shall be…”

And so James Godfrey, when he was about to be hanged, and the rope was around his neck - he lifted up the napkin from over his face and he cried out ‘The covenant, the covenant, shall yet be Scotland reviving!’ – He knew he wouldn’t see it in this world, but he knew the cause for which he was about to die would flourish again, and it will. 

And whether we live to see it or not, the Lord will perform all his word - what he has promised he is able also to perform.  Let us aim high in our doing and in our praying. 

The Post-millenialism flavoured Larger Catechism question 191 reads –

“In the second petition (which is, Thy kingdom come), acknowledging ourselves and all mankind to be by nature under the dominion of sin and Satan, we pray, that the kingdom of sin and Satan may be destroyed, the gospel propagated throughout the world, the Jews called, the fullness of the Gentiles brought in; the church furnished with all gospel officers and ordinances, purged from corruption, countenanced and maintained by the civil magistrate”

Do you pray for those things?  You should!

When we pray thy Kingdom come, we pray for the coming of the Kingdom of Glory, for we pray for the advance of the Kingdom of Grace –that’s what we should have in our minds.

John Howe the Puritan said, lamenting the lack of belief in these things said – “We expect to see what we have been wont to see and men are apt to measure their faith by their eyes for the most part in reference to these things.  Only that can be done, which they have seen done and men are hardly brought to raise their faith and expectation higher than this…  why should it be thought an incredible thing that there should be a resurrection of religion?”

You say – ‘Oh the Puritans were men of their times’ Rubbish!  It’s us.  It’s us, the men and women who are influenced more by what we see rather than what God has said.

And so we look around us, we see the cause of Biblical and reformed truth at a low ebb and we think it will always be so, and will never be much more than it is – we stagger at the promises of God.  Abraham didn’t and neither must we. 

He will do it, He will perform His pleasure He will fulfill all that he has written – and we are to pray and to labour in that blessed stream of those whose hearts have been attached to that cause which shall yet have it’s resurrection day in this world.  “The ends of the earth shall remember, and they shall turn unto the Lord”, “the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it.”

AMEN AND AMEN

Of cartoons and vile men...

I find the offensive cartoons to be interesting from a Christian worldview perspective. 

 

http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/07/the-blasphemy-we-need/?_r=1

 

I found this to be a good article by Ross Douthat and I agree with Ross's statements in some respects.  However, given mocking is making fun of someone or something in a cruel derisive way, one which intends to cause emotional harm to others, as I Christian I do not believe that mocking is a God honoring course of action.

 

Ravi Zacharias has said that in Christianity there is an equality of persons but a hierarchy of ideas.  When it comes to mocking of Islam however I don't see how you can separate the idea (religion) from those who practice it.  What is needed is not mocking, but speaking the truth in love. 

 

I believe it is Biblical to feel  a righteous repugnance for Islam and those who promote it, along with an intense pity for those who are lost in Islam, following a false prophet and offering  false worship to what is not God.  Isn't this the way God feels?  We worship the true God who "hates all evildoers" and "abhors bloodthirsty and deceitful men", yet at the same time "is not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

 

How do we balance the instruction to "if possible, as far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all", while exposing Islam for the lie that it is?  Obviously there is a need to gently instruct, speaking the truth in love, reasoning from the scriptures, however as has been amply demonstrated a certain portion of Islamic adherents are certainly not open to listening to reason.

 

That said, I don't think we as Christians should have anything to do with the cartoons.  At the same time we need to up our efforts to dialogue with Islam in an effective manner, using persuasive words, not inflammatory means.  Dialogue is what is needed.  There will always be those who take even dialogue as offensive and (to borrow a Biblical phrase)their condemnation is just. 

 

For those who are so filled with hate and violence that they seem beyond hope: we serve the God who brings hope to the hopeless and who can change any life by his grace.  "God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth."  We need to declare our trust, increase our faith and rest on that truth.
 

 

 _____________________________

  

 

On another note, though somewhat related, to be honest, when I see stories like what has happened in France, my guttural reaction is that I want justice, and I will be willing to take up arms to get it.  I am sure I am not the only one who wished he was there, and armed, and was able put three bullets into each of the attackers. 

But I wasn't there, and now it is over, yet I still long for justice for the murderers and I am filled with anger in my spirit at times when I think about it.  These are sickening, vile men and (rightly or wrongly) I feel like David in Psalm 139: " Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!  O men of blood, depart from me!"

 

In all honesty, I want vengeance.  I think everyone feels that way to some degree, and hopefully these men are caught and are brought to justice.  That said, perhaps they will escape, and live out their life in luxury somewhere in Pakistan or who knows where.  I don't understand how those who have no belief in a final judgement deal with these things emotionally, thankfully I am not in that situation.

Last night it took some time in the Word to get to a place of peace and this morning I feel more like the David of Psalm 131.  "O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things  too great and too marvelous for me.  But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me..."

 

"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”  To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”  Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  (Romans 12:19-21)

 

Last night I asked the Lord for comfort and he brought me to Psalms, 73-77:

 

^"For behold, those who are far from you shall perish;
    you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you.
But for me it is good to be near God;
    I have made the Lord God my refuge,
    that I may tell of all your works."  (Psalm 73:27,28)

 

"For not from the east or from the west
    and not from the wilderness comes lifting up,
but it is God who executes judgment,
    putting down one and lifting up another.
For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup
    with foaming wine, well mixed,
and he pours out from it,
    and all the wicked of the earth
    shall drain it down to the dregs." (Psalm 75:6-8)

 

Yet in the midst of these guarantees of ultimate justice we trust that "God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth." (Psalm 74:12)

"As for murderers... "

On the bus this morning I was discussing world affairs with another rider and the conversation came to the recent events in France and the connections with ISIS in Iraq. 

The fellow told me that the problem with these radical Muslim terrorists is that they are not afraid to die. 

I thought about that as I was walking from the bus to my office.  Upon consideration, I don't think that is the problem.  The problem is not that these folks are not afraid to die, but that they are not afraid to kill.

I am a Christian, and I am not afraid to die.  I believe in Jesus Christ, the resurrected one, who has conquered death for those who put their faith in him.

I am afraid to kill though, as Christ has taught me that he "will require a reckoning for the life of man." 

Only a sad and perverted religion could mock God's command "thou shalt not kill". 

A poor deceived people.  "As for murderers...  their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."

It is a New Year

I don't really do resolutions, but these verses have been on my mind this past year and my ruminations for the new year are centered around the ideas contained here.


^"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!  But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells."
(2 Peter 3:10-13)


________________



 "Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet."
(1 Corinthians 15:24,25) 


__________________________



"For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—  each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.  If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward.  If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire."
 (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

Historicity of Jesus

I wrote the below quickly this evening as a letter to the editor after finding the ridiculous article below on 'thespec.com'.  Sad that many may read it and genuinely question the truth about our Lord on such erroneous grounds. 

_______________________________________________________

I find it astonishing that your newspaper would post such an article as -

http://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/5214870-did-jesus-of-nazareth-really-exist-the-evidence-just-doesn-t-add-up/

- on the front page of ‘thespec.com’ right at Christmas time. 

There is no question amongst historians that Jesus existed, in fact to suggest otherwise amongst academia is laughable.  If you seriously question the fact that Jesus existed you must by extension question the existence of every historical figure of antiquity.  We can be sure Jesus existed because of the extra-biblical evidence coming to us through secular historians, the sheer volume of records contained in Biblical manuscripts, and the historical impact of Christians (followers of Jesus Christ) that has shaped the western world and beyond for two millennia.

The article in question states that, “the first problem we encounter when trying to discover more about the Historical Jesus is the lack of early sources.”  This is factually incorrect.  We have direct references to the existence of Jesus in no fewer than nine secular historians and writers of antiquity including: Thallus, Phlegus Josephus, Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, Hadrian, Suetonius, Lucien of Samosata and Mora Bar-Serapion.  On top of these writings there here are also references to Jesus in the Jewish Rabbinic writings known as the Talmud.

Additionally, the sheer volume of New Testament writings in existence testifies to the historicity of Jesus.  Take a comparison between the writing of the early historians Herodotus or Tacitus against the New Testament.  There are 8 copies of the manuscripts of Herodotus the earliest of which can be dated to 900 AD, nearly 1300 years after the history he claims to record.  In the case of Tacitus we can find up to 20 manuscript copies of his Roman histories, with the earliest copies dated to 1100 AD, 1000 years after the history he claims to record.  Now, compare with the New Testament: there are 5686 Greek manuscripts in existence today for the New Testament with conservative estimates placing the earliest copies at the beginning of the 2^nd century only 70 years after the events they claim to record.  The comparison is staggering, yet do we question that the Peloponnesian wars occurred (Herodotus) or the existence and events of the life of the emperor Nero (Tacitus)?  The gospel writers clearly imply they are writing history and sometimes state such explicitly  (see Luke 1: 1-4).  The level of skepticism required to deny such well attested documents is mind-boggling.

Finally, during this Christmas season as well over two billion Christians prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus I wish to know how those who would question historical existence of Jesus account for his historical impact?  Could a figment of the imagination truly be the source of a faith which has changed the course of human history more than any other force?  That seems extremely implausible to this writer.

I was surprised that the article was posted on a professional website such as ‘The Spec.com’, you have lowered my estimation of your newspaper.  The article posted was misleading, factually incorrect and academically laughable.  Please stick to real news and leave the Jesus haters to act as trolls on your comment boards instead posting them as front-page news.

Yours Truly, 

Andrew Smith

The Nicene Creed (Rhyming Version)

 I am not really a poet, but the short rhyme below was inspired by three things:

1.  Discussion in our Christian Education class regarding the early creeds.  Nadine and I have been enjoying studying early church history with Gord Heath at our church's evening classes.

2.  A talk by Steven Lawson on the preaching of George Whitefield, particularly his sermon based on Matthew 22 entitled "What Think Ye of Christ?" (well worth listening to. 

3. 2 Timothy 2:1 - "You then my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

 

As can be seen it is just a rhyming version of the Christological portion of the Nicene Creed (325).  There is so much mystery and deep truth to contemplate regarding the incarnation.  Hopefully some people will enjoy reading this and be blessed by thinking about Christ.

The Nicene Creed (Rhyming Version)

Son of God, Jesus Christ
God from God, Light from Light
With the Father, being one
Begotten before time.

By his power all things were made
For salvation, from heaven he came
For our sake was crucified
Suffering agony, he died.

Buried but, as was foretold
Death, our Saviour, could not hold
The third day he rose again
Ascended to the Father's right hand.

In glory he will soon arrive
To judge those dead and those alive
In mighty power the world he'll mend
His Kingdom, it shall have no end.

 

Is that the Good Book?

Today on the bus an older gentleman approached me and asked 'Is that the Good Book?'.  At first I thought he asked is that 'A' good book, but I realized quickly that, no, he had asked is that 'THE' Good Book. 

I indicated yes and he told me, 'Keep studying it son, it is the only real source of truth'.  I smiled and said 'absolutely' and he then he told me, 'I have a my copy right here' and indicated the case he was carrying.

I was reading from 1 Peter 1: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading..."

 

What a blessed truth it is.

Should Christians be involved in politics?

Should Christians be involved in politics?  What should the Christian's relation be to the State?


In our Sunday evening class tonight the instructor asked this question (mostly, it seemed, to blank stares).  He didn't answer it but encouraged us each to think about it.  This is a topic I have thought about significantly, and I did so again tonight after the class.  To order my thoughts I decided to write this out quickly, and since I wrote it I decided to share it.


Should Christians be involved in politics?


There isn't an inch of this earth which does not belong to Jesus Christ; including politics, education and any and all other aspects of culture.


"He shall have dominion from sea to sea."


There are only two kingdoms, one of Satan and one of Christ.  Christ's Kingdom is opened only through the preaching of the gospel, however every sphere of this world into which Christians are called (and Christians are called to all different kinds of spheres) should be influenced by our actions for the glory of God.


"Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven".  


God extends common grace into the world's spheres through many causes, but a primary one is by extension of his by special grace first delivered to Christians through the gospel.  Being saved by grace through faith, we enter into all spheres where the influence of the kingdom of Satan is prominent and by God's grace change them for the better.  No this does not save people, nor does it bring them into Christ's kingdom, but it is a grace to them none-the-less. 

And as the Gospel prevails in culture over time (we pray) God's grace will eventually shape every aspect of culture.  That in everything Christ may have the preeminence, and through Him God would reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.


"From His fulness we have all received grace upon grace."


So should Christians be involved in politics?  YES!  Has God impacted you by his grace through Jesus Christ such that you know the truth through his word?  God's word speaks to every aspect of life, if not explicitly then by implication, it is our job to go out and put that word into practice.  

...That in all things he might have the preeminence...

The talk was called 'The Need for Christian Education' and it was great, but I found the Q & A that took place afterward to be excellent, so much so that I had to post it.

(Check it out --> HERE)

If you have never heard of the Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity please check them out -->  HERE

Founded by apologist and pastor Joe Boot the EICC - "is an evangelical Christian organization committed to reaching skeptics and inquirers and to the recovering of a distinctly Christian system of thought and action for God’s Covenant people."

I love all their material, and highly recommend that you take a look at some of the teaching lectures and sermons available on the website.  Great stuff, all based on God's truth from God's word.

I believe this event took place at Hespeler Baptist Church in Cambridge, Ontario. After Joe had spoken about the need for Christian education and the current cultural crisis we find ourselves in the first question in the Q&A period asked "We can see we are in a cultural crisis, so how Should we as Christians respond?"  The answer was brilliant and biblical.  I will summarize (paraphrase) below, but please take the time to listen for yourself (link above) as these are not all direct quotations but written from my memory and notes:

God's means of transformation (societal or otherwise) is not revolution but regeneration!

We need the cultivation of a Christian life and worldview in every area.

What aspects?  

Begin with -

Self:  What areas of my life am I not living in conformity with the word of God?  Which areas of my life have not been brought into subjection to Christ's rule and reign?

Then moving outward the next level is -

Marriage and Family:  How are we modelling Jesus lordship in our marriage relationship, and how are we aligning our self with the lordship of Jesus in the education of our children?  Is our married life a model of Christ's the glory of Christ's reign to the community around us?

Further out we reach the -

Church:  We need to provide a community of faith that will cultivate the minds of the young in the faith.  The church needs to take on the roles to which it has been Biblically mandated, this includes; forming Christian schools, providing health and welfare, tithing to provide resources for the growth of the kingdom.


As more people are impacted by the gospel the changes the face of the social order, eventually society will say: we want Christian laws.

This does not meant that we are not responsible citizens in the mean-time.  It is both/and - we need to write letters, run for school board and perhaps become an M.P..  In our day and age however, the question is: How do you get voted in without being popular and how do you get popular without denying the faith?

We need to create a parallel public that will leaven the whole loaf (Matthew 13) it is not about seizing government power.  Consider that people have said 'We just need to get a christian president or prime minister and we'll be fine' well, we have as our prime minister a professing  christian and he is not even prepared to discuss the issue of abortion!

All we have to is be obedient!  God does the rest.  We are not responsible for the results, we are responsible to obey God here and now and leave the results to him; and he tells us, the results will be glorious.

Be faithful in the small things, and when we are faithful with the small God will give us responsibility for the great.

We are rebuilding from the ground up, because in reality we are missionaries!  What they do, the missionaries that we send overseas whom we are so proud of?  They preach the gospel, they build schools, and they provide welfare.

It is illogical that here in Canada we are living in a de-christianized, pagan culture and we simply send our kids to the state schools and we don't do the things that we do overseas.  We are accustomed to thinking "We are christians, we don't need that, but they do because they are not".  We need to wake up because the reality is that we are in a mission right now.
 
That's it for now, I am off to bed, but please listen, wake-up, and go.  We are in a mission and there is no stopping until the earth is filled with the knowledge of glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea - so that in everything He might have the supremacy!

Sometimes I need a Reminder...

Too easy to read the news and get disillusioned with the world.  We need (I need) to remind ourselves daily that Jesus is on the throne and his cause will triumph.

Are you optimistic about the cause of Christ? Are you confident that his name will be great throughout the whole earth?  We take our worldview from the promises of scripture, not the latest newspaper.  We walk by faith and not by sight. 

Read each of these in context, it is pretty clear who they are referring to!

Psalm 2-

⁷ I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have become your father.
⁸ Ask me,
    and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession.

Psalm 22-

²⁷ All the ends of the earth
    will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
    will bow down before him,
²⁸ for dominion belongs to the Lord
    and he rules over the nations.

²⁹ All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
    all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
    those who cannot keep themselves alive.
³⁰ Posterity will serve him;
    future generations will be told about the Lord.
³¹ They will proclaim his righteousness,
    declaring to a people yet unborn:
    He has done it!

Psalm 72-
May he rule from sea to sea
    and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Isaiah 9-
⁷ Of the greatness of his government and peace
    there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
    and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
    with justice and righteousness
    from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
    will accomplish this.

Isaiah 49-
⁶ ...
“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
    to restore the tribes of Jacob
    and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
    that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Daniel 7-
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. 

Mark 1-
¹⁴ ...Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”


"Our doctrine must stand sublime above all the glory of the world, and invincible by all its power, because it is not ours, but that of the living God and his Anointed, whom the Father has appointed King that he may rule from sea to sea and from the rivers to the ends of the earth; and so rule as to smite the whole earth and its strength of iron and brass, its splendor of gold and silver, with the mere rod of his mouth and break them into pieces like a potter's vessel; according to the magnificent predictions of the prophets concerning his kingdom. (Dan 2:34, Isaiah 11:4, Psalm 2:9) - John Calvin from his Institutes, preface to Francis I of France, 1536

Happy Earth Day

Hey, it is Earth Day everyone, so Happy Earth Day to you, hope it's a good one! 

As a Christian I think this day is worthy of a little reflection, especially since there are so many crazy messages out there when it comes to care for the earth and environmentalism etcetera.

I think it makes sense first to highlight why the earth is important from a Christian perspective. 

First the earth is important because God created it and called it good!  Genesis 1:26 summarizes God's perspective on the creation he had carried out: "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."  This includes the sun, moon and stars, but especially the earth.  Consider that God created the earth at the first, in the very 'beginning' (Gen. 1:1).  If you read the entire chapter it is astonishing how the creation narrative centers nearly entirely around our planet.  

Further the earth is important because creation clearly displays the glory of God:

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." (Romans 1:20)

Indeed -

 "The heavens declare the glory of God;
    the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
    night after night they reveal knowledge.
They have no speech, they use no words;
    no sound is heard from them.
Yet their voice goes out into all the earth,
    their words to the ends of the world."

(Psalm 19)

 The Christian's argument regarding the importance of the earth starts something like this:

1. God is of ultimate importance to man.
2. God created the earth.
3. The earth is important to God.
4. The earth ought to be important to man.

 But the argument doesn't end there.  Though the above presents a cogent case for honoring the earth the argument can and should be extended.  Consider Psalm 8:

  Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory
    in the heavens.
Through the praise of children and infants
    you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
    to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
    the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
    which you have set in place,
what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
    human beings that you care for them?
You have made them a little lower than the angels
    and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
    you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds,
    and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky,
    and the fish in the sea,
    all that swim the paths of the seas.
Lord, our Lord,
    how majestic is your name in all the earth!

God has specifically put the earth under our care as rulers over the works of his hand, with everything placed under our feet.  The environmentalist may think that we emerged from the primordial ooze and through time and chance have proceeded to rise to the top of the food chain, but this is not the case.  Humans are the crown of God's creation, the climax, made in his image to rule the earth with the care and concern that is intrinsic to God himself.  The creation story bears this out:

"So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
God blessed them and said to them,

'Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.

Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky

and over every living creature that moves on the ground.'"

(Genesis 1:27,28)

"The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."

(Genesis 2:15)

 As biblical scholar Peter Gentry has put it :
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8)
and crowned them with glory and honor.
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8)

"Man is the divine image. As servant king and son of God mankind will
mediate God’s rule to the creation in the context of a covenant relationship with
God on the one hand and the earth on the other. Hence the concept of the kingdom of God is found on the first page of Scripture. Indeed, the theme is kingdom through covenant. No wonder the Mosaic Covenant, which seeks to implement this in Abraham’s Family, can be summarized as providing divine direction concerning (1) a right relationship to God, (2) how to treat each other in genuinely human ways, and (3) how to be good stewards of the earth’s resources."

(Dr. Peter Gentry from "Kingdom Through Covenant: Humanity as the Divine Image")

Christians understand that proper care of the earth, and stewardship of the earth's resources is part of the creation mandate given to man by God.  As bearers of the divine image our intended role is to treat others and our world in the way God would, mirroring his faithful love and care. 

Consider Jesus words in Matthew 10- "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care."  or again in Matt 6 - "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them".  Consider God's law given to Israel  "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." (Deuteronomy 25:4).  Throughout the bible it is clearly revealed that God loves and cares for the animals therefore we ought to do so also.

Further consider Psalm 65:
"You care for the land and water it;
    you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
    to provide the people with grain,
    for so you have ordained it.
You drench its furrows and level its ridges
    you soften it with showers and bless its crops. 
You crown the year with your bounty,
    and your carts overflow with abundance.
The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
    the hills are clothed with gladness. 
The meadows are covered with flocks
    and the valleys are mantled with grain;
    they shout for joy and sing. (v.9-13)

God cares about the earth itself, the Bible teaches that Jesus "sustains all things by his powerful word".  Have a look at the picture of God's loving care over the earth painted through Psalm 104 -

He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
    it flows between the mountains.
They give water to all the beasts of the field;
    the wild donkeys quench their thirst. 
The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
    they sing among the branches.
He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
    the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
He makes grass grow for the cattle,
    and plants for people to cultivate—
    bringing forth food from the earth:
     wine that gladdens human hearts,
    oil to make their faces shine,
    and bread that sustains their hearts.
 The trees of the Lord are well watered,
    the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
 There the birds make their nests;
    the stork has its home in the junipers.
 The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
    the crags are a refuge for the hyrax. (v.10-18)

What a beautiful image of God's sustaining power and providential care for the earth.

And so the argument for Christian's care of the earth can be extended -

1. God is of ultimate importance to man.

2. God created the earth.
3. God created man in his image to govern the earth with compassion and care.
4. God exemplifies this care in the way he sustains and provides life for all creatures.
5. Man ought to care for the earth as God does.

We started earlier to look at Jesus words in Matthew 6 and Matthew 10.  Consider the full statement of Jesus in Matthew 10: "...even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."   Jesus loves, cares for and sustains all of his creation, but he has special concern for His image bearers, therefore any view that minimizes the importance of humans or relegates them is the same level as the earth and the animals is mistaken.  I created the image below which I think biblically bears out the order of importance and significant aspects of a right relationship between God, Man and the Earth.

I hope that, like me, you find this to be a beautiful picture.  Unfortunately though, when we look at the world this is not typically what we see.  Man does not typically look after the earth with management and care or with oversight and loving rule.  A more suitable description, though vulgar, is probably the description of 'rape': abrasively marring the earth's beauty for the purpose of self gratification.

So what happened that the image above became so skewed?  In short God was removed from the picture.  Man decided to live autonomously spurning the divine image and creation mandate.  We fell into sin, and the negative effect of that sin has been passed to the entire earth. 

Consider the picture without God.  No longer can his sovereign sustenance and providential care be relied upon.  Instead we imagine that the universe is subject to impersonal laws, time and chance, none of which have a care whether the earth is preserved or not.  This brings an instability that rocks us to our core and can provoke one of two reactions. 

1. Nihilistic Hedonism - given that God's sovereign sustenance and providential provision are removed we recognize that our breath of life is brief and devoid of meaning.  The ship may sink at any time, enjoy the ride while you can.

2. Anxious Environmentalism - given that God's sovereign sustenance and providential provision are removed we recognize our precarious position and attempt to set up controls to bring order.  Hence radical environmentalism.  Note that control requires a limiting of variables, thus the push to limit human population (which also negates the impact from those in group one).

I don't think that every person will necessarily shoe-horn into either of these groups.  Likely, due to busyness, lack of insight, or disinterest in thinking things through modern individuals waver between these two ways of thinking on an unstable emotional roller-coaster.  Others may obviously appear to be sold full out to one view of the other.

Put God back into the picture and both of these views are negated, however we are still left with a world that needs care.  Who will solve the problem?  As Christians we believe that Jesus Christ has shown the path that needs to be followed.  Where Adam failed at the fall, the second Adam succeeded.  Jesus the true son of God brings those who receive him back to a right relationship with God; to be God's children (John 1:12-13). The divine image is restored, partially now and fully in the future.  It is through Jesus that all of creation will ultimately be restored -

"..the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God."  (Romans 8:20,21)

As Christians we ought to care about the earth, to be concerned for it and to steward creation with foresight and intelligence.  But, the curse of sin will not be reversed simply by care of a creation that is in 'bondage to decay'.  It is as the glory of the children of God is revealed, that is: as the divine image is revealed through God's children who have received "new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ" that the new creation emerges.

God will restore the creation, with a new and revitalized earth that will function perfectly as the image above had illustrated.  In Jesus Christ we enjoy a taste of the new creation now, and we will ultimately rule it when it fully arrives - "If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!"...  "He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." (2 Cor. 5:17, James 1:18). 

And in all this God will get the glory because it is only through his son Jesus Christ: 
"To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood,  and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen." (Rev 1:5,6)

For those of you who love creation, who love animals, who love the beauty of the outdoors.  Put your hope in Jesus Christ.  Jesus will do better than sustain a world with briars, thorns, death and disease.  Jesus says "Behold I am making all things new" (Rev. 21:5), it is through him that the earth will be renewed to what it was always meant to be. 

And on that day:

You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.
 Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the Lord’s renown,
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.  (Isaiah 55)

and -

The wolf will live with the lamb,
    the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
    and a little child will lead them.
The cow will feed with the bear,
    their young will lie down together,
    and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
    and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.
They will neither harm nor destroy
    on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
    as the waters cover the sea.  (Isaiah 11)

Lord hasten that day!

In the meantime, as Christians we need to take care and be concerned for our world.  To not be wasteful, to use resources wisely, to care for forests and animals and rivers and streams.  Not for their own sake, but for the glory of the one who created them.  Let's give him glory by mirroring his attributes, intelligently caring for and faithfully loving and stewarding the world he has placed us in.

              

              

      
You made them rulers over the works of your hands;
you put everything under their feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the animals of the wild,
the birds in the sky,
and the fish in the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.

Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8)

"Neglecting the Living God" - an article by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Another old article from 'antithesis.com' that took me back about 10 years to the approximate time I first read it.  

The article is by Martyn Lloyd-Jones and he has a lot of great things to say which made me think a fair bit recently.  For those who have never heard of Lloyd-Jones, the bio contained in the article reads as follows -

"Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981), minister of Westminster Chapel in London for 30 years, was one of the foremost preachers of the twentieth century. He wrote many books, and edited much of his expository preaching for later publication. He has had an enormous influence on evangelical Christianity, and is largely credited for the resurgence of interest in reading the English Puritans, Jonathan Edwards, J.C. Ryle, and other post-reformation writings."

I am not sure that I could really do justice to my thoughts on this subject without taking significant time to compile them (which I don't have).  Suffice it to say that if you read it I think you will find it powerful.

We work and we strive, and we want to build God's kingdom, to expand the reign of Christ in every sphere of our own lives and through the world.  But in all our striving it can be easy to forget:  

"Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain." (Psalm 127).

Kingdom work is God's work.  It is a work that he can do through us, but only when we live surrendered completely to him.  God is a living God and he will do the work.  In our labour let us not forget to: 1. Call on him in prayer continually, and  2. Walk completely surrendered to the Spirit, lest we be like those who toil in their own strength, who 'rise early and stay up late in vain' only for God to build his Kingdom while we are sleeping.

As described in the original posting: 'this is an unpublished address provided by The Evangelical Magazine of Wales. It has been edited to help the modern reader.'

Please find the introduction below with a link at the bottom to the remainder of the article.  I hope you will be blessed and challenged.

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 the living God 

 

 

 

          eading for God to act

martyn-lloyd jones

I have often said that the troubles we face as Christians today are mainly due to the fact that there is a lack of life amongst us. Ultimately all our problems can more or less be traced back to that:

a lack of life — spiritual life, that is.

Now I want to go on from there to ask the question,

Why is there this lack of life?
Or at any rate, what is the main cause?
If I were asked to name one cause, what is it?

And I for myself would not hesitate to answer that

it is due to a lack of a realization
that God is a living God.

We are not only in trouble about life in ourselves; we seem at times to forget that there is life in God...

 Continue Reading...

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