The Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments

Before we continue too far down this path, we need to take a look at one of the greatest stumbling blocks Christians have ever faced…the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments. Otherwise known as the Law of Moses. First of all, we need to know what they are and where they came from. Moses had just led the Israelites out of Egypt. After three months of travel, they had reached the Desert of Sinai and camped at the foot of the mountain (Ex. 19:1,2).

God then called to Moses to come up the mountain where he was given the Ten Commandments. God gave them verbally to Moses in Ex. 20, and a couple of days later called Moses up the mountain to receive the stone tablets (Ex. 24:12).

Most of us are familiar to some degree with the Ten Commandments as they are written. Where we fall short, is in our understanding of what they really are. We tend to look at them the same way the Israelites of old looked at them…as a set of rules…carved in stone by the very hand of God (Ex. 31:18, Deut. 9:10). The penalty for failing to keep them was death….

Up until this point in time, there had been no “law”. A person can’t be judged guilty of breaking a law that doesn’t exist.

“…for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law.” (Rom. 5:13)

The law was given, then, in order that: “…through the law we become conscious of sin.” (Rom. 3:20).

The Ten Commandments, however, were NOT given for us to follow. Now, when I say that, don’t get all stirred up until you hear the rest…

God knew, even as He carved the words on the tablets of stone, that we would never be able to keep them as they were intended to be kept. That’s why Jesus was chosen to be our sacrifice “before the creation of the world” (1 Pet. 1:20)…long before the Ten Commandments were ever given!

The TRUE purpose of the law wasn’t revealed until hundreds of years later:

“So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.” (Gal. 3:24,25).

Up until the day Jesus died on the cross, “we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed.” (Gal. 3:23)

This is such a massive subject, it can never be covered in one post. Maybe once we finish with the “Lamb of God” series, we’ll take a closer look at it…but for now, what we have to understand is this:

“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.” (Rom. 3:21)

The Ten Commandments were given to lead us to Jesus…to “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). That, my friend, is the true purpose of the Law of Moses….

The Ten Commandments Fulfilled

The Ten Commandments

David and Goliath – The Epic Battle (Part 31)

“When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:5)

Sin and sickness. Two strands of the same rope of bondage. This is not to say that all sickness is caused by sin, although, ulitmately, all sickness is a result of sin…Adam in the garden. At the same time, it does seem that some sicknesses might possibly be a physical manifestation of sin.

“Son, your sins are forgiven.” Jesus spoke these words to a paralyzed man, and one gets the impression that as Jesus spoke them, the man was healed. There were some teachers of the Law there, who questioned the authority of Jesus to forgive sins, so he added this phrase:

“Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.”” (Mark 2:9-11)

In this passage, it seems that in this case, at least, the paralyzed man’s condition may have been directly linked to some sin in his life. Not necessarily a sin against another brother or sister, but one against God. One that needed God’s forgiveness in order to restore him to health.

Jesus also healed another paralytic, and spoke these words to him:

“Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”” (John 5:14)

Is it possible that some sicknesses are directly linked to sin in our lives? Maybe not so much because God is “punishing” us, but maybe because it opens up avenues of attack for the enemy?

The point is not to determine who is sick because they sinned…but rather to understand what we can about the enemy’s tactics against us. It would be far too easy to attempt to judge others and guess at what horrible sins they must have committed because they live with some horrible condition, when in reality not all sickness is caused by sin. Some of it just happens because we live in a fallen world!

“As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”” (John 9:1-3)

Sometimes God may allow things to be a certain way, simply so His glory can be displayed! God can’t save anyone unless they are lost. God can’t heal anyone unless they are sick. God can’t ressurect anyone unless they first die…

I don’t believe for a moment that God causes sickness. I do believe that He allows it, just as He allowed Job to be stricken by satan…but I don’t believe He causes it. And I believe that for those of us in Jesus, sickness is no longer an issue, because he bore our sicknesses and diseases on the cross.

At the same time our sins were forgiven, our diseases were healed. The problem is, we have spent a portion of our lifetime (before we accepted Jesus) where we were, indeed, exposed to the realities of sickness…and our minds have accepted the fact that sickness is a reality. And it is…to those who are not under the protection of Jesus. But for us?

Our problem is that we haven’t yet been fully transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:2). This fallen world throws a little disease on us, and instead of rebuking it and claiming what Jesus has already given us, we roll over and let it nibble away at us.

The thing is, we don’t have to let ourselves be nibbled on any longer! Whether it’s the product of the fallen world we live in, whether it’s the result of sin…whatever the cause, it was healed on the cross 2000 years ago. We just have to learn how to see the manifestation of it in our lives. We have to be transformed by the renewing of our minds…

Sickness is no longer a reality for a man or woman in Christ. It is a powerful delusion created by the master deciever…the father of lies…the one whose entire purpose is to kill, steal and destroy. The one who roams about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he can devour…

It’s time to be a David. It’s time to recognize some of these Goliaths for what they are…loud, noisy, scary looking giants that really have no substance! I have to ask it again:

When David and the Israelites were lined up on one side of the valley, and Goliath and the Philistines on the other…if the Philistines were so sure of victory, WHY DID THEY SEND GOLIATH OUT? Why didn’t they simply attack and rout the enemy?

If satan is so sure he can get you, why doesn’t he just take you? Why does he send out this Goliath we call sickness? Because he knows he can’t win outright…but he CAN deceive us into cowering in the trenches, bound by fear, suffering in anticipation…until David shows up in the camp to pick a smooth stone out of the brook!

The thing is, YOU are someone’s David. YOU are the weapon God has chosen to destroy someone’s Goliath. The question is, will you step out in faith, load your sling and release your stone?

David and Goliath – The Epic Battle (Part 22)

“And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” (Matt. 13:58)

Faith is a funny thing. It seems rather simple on the outside, but once you get to looking at it, it can become a bit more complex. First of all, we know that all you need is faith the size of a mustard seed, right (Matt. 17:20)? And, we know from Acts 3:16 that our faith, regardless of size, comes through Jesus…remember?

Now, let’s look at a few other things concerning faith. You can have faith in Jesus to forgive your sins, without having faith that he will heal you. Even though the promises God made to us were a package deal, you and I as individuals have the right to choose which promises we will or won’t receive. God has given us ALL of them…but we may not have RECEIVED all of them. That’s a choice that each one of us has to make on our own.

Let’s look at the passage above one more time. Jesus was visiting his hometown, teaching in the temple. Folks were talking about him, just like they would talk about you or me in the same situation. And, it’s written that he didn’t do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Does that mean God’s power is dependent on our faith? Not at all…

“…Let God be true, and every man a liar…” (Rom. 3:4)

God surely doesn’t need my puny little faith (or yours) in order to exhibit His power! So how come, then, Jesus didn’t perform many miracles because of their lack of faith? It’s pretty simple, really…

If you were to break a bone in your leg, would you trust the local carpenter to set your leg for you? Probably not. You would most likely put a lot more trust in your doctor, right? But, what if this carpenter claimed to be the Son of God? What if you had heard through the grapevine that this young carpenter could heal you of whatever ails you?You’d probably still go to the doctor…right?

What if you had leprosy or were blind? Would you trust your local carpenter to heal you? How about if you were deaf? Or lame? Or had an issue of blood, or were paralyzed from birth? Would you visit your local carpenter? Probably not.

And because you don’t trust your local carpenter to heal your sickness, you won’t see a miracle of healing…at least not one at the hands of the carpenter…simply because you will never visit him for healing. If you need new cabinets, maybe. But not for healing. You will, instead, seek comfort from your doctor and his pharmakeia…and, you may find it. But you won’t see the miracle of faith that your carpenter has to offer.

The folks that lived in Jesus’ hometown were no different from you and me. They didn’t trust the local carpenter to heal their sicknesses…so they didn’t go to him in the first place. If they had, surely they would have been astonished! Instead…

“Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him.” (Matt. 13:54-57)

They took offense at him. Why? Because he had such wisdom and diplayed miraculous powers. They were jealous! Their kids had grown up right along with Jesus. They had played in the streets together! Gone to school and the temple together! But their kids were just ordinary kids. Sinners, even…or so said the “wise” man with miraculous powers.

Hmmmm. Here we have this “wise” guy that shows off every chance he gets by healing people, turning water into wine and all that…when everybody in town knows he was just the carpenter’s son. How is it he’s doing all that? There’s gotta be a trick to it…

Nobody wanted to feed into becoming part of the show. Nobody wanted their neighbors to think they were so gullible that they actually believed this carpenter’s son had REAL power! Most weren’t sure what to think themselves…other than to take offense at him, of course.

But read the passage one more time.

“And he did not do MANY miracles there because of their lack of faith.”

In other words, the few that DID go to Jesus, received what they went looking for. The few that chose Jesus over pharmakeia were healed. Lack of faith doesn’t curb his power. It curbs our going to him seeking what we need.

But the few who can muster enough faith to go to the carpenter’s son, will be the few who see miracles in their lives…

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David and Goliath – The Epic Battle (Part 21)

I lied. I didn’t do it intentionally, but I did it all the same! I mentioned previously that this post would be on how unforgiveness can affect us physically, but instead, I’m going to bump that to the next post (or maybe even the one after) in order to talk a little about faith, and how THAT can affect us.

I would think that the most well known Bible verse in the entire world is John 3:16. Even if the passage can’t be quoted, believers and non-believers alike, know of its existence. It’s flashed across our televisions at sporting events…signs held up by fans. It can be found in many advertisements. Billboards, tracts…it’s the “universal” Bible verse!

And, while many people don’t know what John 3:16 actually says, there are many others that do! But how many people know what John 3:14 and 15 say? I ask, because they are profound verses that offer an astonishing look at the grace of God! I’ll share them with you in a moment.

But first, I need to share a story with you…

“They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”
Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.
The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.” (Num. 21:4-9)

Let’s take a look at this passage. The Israelites were wandering around in the desert, got impatient and started grumbling (isn’t that so like us when things don’t go our way?). The Lord sent venomous snakes among them, the snakes bit folks and many people died. Everyone went running to Moses, Moses went to the Lord and the Lord told Moses to make a bronze snake and stick it up on a pole. Now, here are the two parts we want to look at a little closer….

“Anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.”

“Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.”

The first question: Who was this passage talking about? Anyone who was bitten. Got that? Anyone. Young, old, Jew, Gentile, rich, poor, master, slave, male, female…anyone. If they were in the Israelite camp, they were part of “anyone”.

Anyone who was bitten.

The second question: Anyone who was bitten…what? Anyone who was bitten could look at the bronze snake and live. Before we go any farther along, let’s look at whose words these were. “The Lord said…”

Who spoke them? The Lord. Remember Rom. 3:4?

“Let God be true, and every man a liar.”

The Lord said that anyone who was bitten could look at the snake and live. Now, I know this may seem a little redundant, but it’s crucial that you understand what’s going on here. First of all, we’re talking about “anyone”. Secondly, the Lord said it…and if the Lord said it, it will be. What did the Lord say?

That anyone who was bitten could look at the snake and live. What did they have to do? Look at the snake. That’s it. Just look at the snake on the pole. They didn’t have to believe it would heal them. They didn’t have to follow a bunch of regulations, stand in line or buy anything. They just had to look at the snake. Pretty simple, right?

They didn’t have to have much faith. Again, they didn’t have to believe looking at the snake would heal them…they just had to have enough faith to make them raise their eyes up to the image on the pole! If they LOOKED at it, they would live. They didn’t have to BELIEVE in it. How many must have looked “just in case”?

What happened when they looked “just in case”? They lived. Not much faith. Just enough to make them look. And when they looked, they lived. So how did all this turn out?

“So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.”

Point number three: Where was the bronze snake? Up on a pole. You didn’t have to run across town to see it. It was there. On the pole. Everyone in the camp could see the bronze snake just by looking up. It wasn’t hidden in a basket, or covered with a blanket, or in the middle of a crowd of people that you had to fight your way through. It was on a pole. In the middle of camp. For everyone to see. Just look up. Right?

So what does all this have to do with anything? Glad you asked!

Back to John 3:16. Only this time, we’re going to look at John 3:14 and 15 instead. It’s truly astonishing…

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

Just as what? Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. Lifted up? Lifted up on the cross. In the middle of the camp. For everyone to see. Why? So that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. Who? Everyone. Young, old, Jew, Gentile, rich, poor, master, slave, male, female… everyone. Wicked, righteous, faithful, good, bad, ugly, beautiful, liars, cheats, beggars, whores, thieves, gossips, blasphemers…everyone.

Even folks like you and me…

Who said it? The Lord. The result? That “everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” How much do we have to believe? Not much. Just enough to look at the tattered remains nailed to a primitive cross. Just enough to make us lift our eyes… “just in case”. Mustard seed sized faith. It will grow in time…but it only takes a mustard seed sized faith to start.

Healing is like salvation. All we have to do is lift our eyes and be healed. Sometimes it’s hard to do with all the snakes curled around our ankles and slithering up our legs. But it only takes enough faith to make us look up…to help us look up. Mustard seed sized. Faith that Jesus gives us. See, we don’t even have to provide THAT for ourselves!

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

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David and Goliath – The Epic Battle (Part 19)

“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:5)

The world is full of sickness, among other things. Who overcomes the world and all it’s diseases?

“Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, you have the power to overcome the world. It’s living inside you. It’s the Jesus in you! That’s what makes us different. That’s what heals us from the “sicknesses” of the world. That’s what overcomes the demonic attacks and the powerful delusions! Jesus!

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” (Deut. 30:19,20)

Today, I have set before you life and death…blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life…

Life. Jesus. Death. The world. Healing. Jesus. Pharmakeia. The world. If you keep the Lord’s commands, you will be healed. Remember God’s promise? What are His commands? To believe in the one he has sent. Remember? Who overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Choose life. So that you and your children may live…and that you may love the Lord, listen to his voice and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life…

“Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Ps. 124:8)

“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Ps. 18:10)

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” (Ps. 20:7)

What is this name? What power does it hold? The name it Jesus, and it holds all power! The name above all names (Phil. 2:9). The name that someday will have every knee bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! The name by which we must all be saved…THAT name…

In the book of Acts, Chapter 3, Peter and John came upon a crippled beggar lying at the temple gates asking for money.

“Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.” (Acts 3:6,7)

What did Peter have? Nothing but Jesus. And look what happened when he gave it away! But what about the healing of the beggar? Where did that come from?

“When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?” (Acts 3:12)

“By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.” (Acts 3:16)

What? It’s faith in the name of Jesus. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given complete healing to us! There’s no secret or mystery to it. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him…

Yeah, I know, but that was PETER! And, you’re right. That WAS Peter. But how about this?

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28)

There’s absolutely no difference between you and Peter. Or me and Peter. Or you and me. We’re all one in Christ Jesus! God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34). In other words, you and I don’t have any excuse to suffer from the hands of the world…

It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to us! Don’t have enough faith? Then ask Jesus to give you enough! All it takes is faith the size of a mustard seed. And he’s the one that gives it out, right?

“…the faith that comes through him…”

You can’t get it by yourself. It’s gotta come through him. And if you ask for it, you’ll get it…

“This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

Choose life, won’t you? Choose Jesus. The name above all names. The name that doesn’t just heal, but heals completely…

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The Journey Home

Going home…

As a child, I used to spend a couple of weeks during the summer at my grandparents’ farm, visiting with them, my aunts, uncles and cousins. I would miss my parents even as they pulled out of the long gravel driveway…and when they returned to pick me up at the end of my visit, I would miss my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, as the my dad’s car pulled away again…this time with me in it.

It was a long two weeks. But it was so short! I never gave it much thought at the time, but there would come a day when those visits would end. The dust would settle on that long gravel driveway for the last time. My aunts, uncles and cousins still live nearby that old farmhouse…but my grandparents have long made the journey home.

As I recall, my grandpa was the first person that I have any real recollection of, concerning leaving this world for the next. Since then, there have been many. Each left in his or her own way. Each left many things and many people behind. Each was a surprise, whether it was “expected” or not. And, of course, each left an empty hole behind that can never be filled by another…

Recently, my oldest son experienced the sorrow of having a dear friend go home. For me, it’s harder to watch others experience and deal with this journey, than it is to deal with it myself, though neither is particularly pleasant. Today, I learned that the wife of a close friend of mine, also made that same journey. My friend’s wife, like my son’s friend, embarked on this journey at an early age.

Reflecting on some of these things, I recall some that have left us before they were even born…and I recall others who lived a long and fruitful life according to man’s standards. And there have been many in between. Each with a different impact on different lives.

Death has been a part of life since the fall in the garden. From the moment of conception in the womb, we face that journey. Some will make it sooner, some later. But once conceived, even as we grow and mature, we are headed, step by step, for the journey home. Each breath, each heartbeat takes us closer still. Ironically, for each birth certificate we issue, we also, unwittingly, create a tombstone.

What we don’t often realize…and sometimes it’s hard to keep in mind from this side of things…is that what we call “death”, God calls “a new birth”. It’s also ironic, that this journey we call “death”, is simply a driveway that leads from this life of filthy rags (Is. 64:6) to an eternal life in a glorified, immortal body without spot or blemish…to rest in the presence of our Father forever. Without this “death”…we can’t experience true Life.

The driveway that leads us home is a little different from the gravel driveway that led to my grandparents’ house. For one thing, there’s no dust or gravel on it. It’s clear as crystal. Made of gold so pure it’s transparent (Rev. 21:21).

If you were to take the driveway that leads to my grandparents’ house today, I’m pretty sure you’d find some rusty farm tools scattered around various barns and sheds. But at the end of this other driveway…this golden driveway…the one that leads home…you will find a place where “rust and moth do not destroy” (Matt. 6:20).

If you were to take the driveway to my grandparents’ house…you would drive it alone and simply follow the winding road until you get to the house. But when you take this other driveway…the one that leads home…you will be escorted by angels into the presence of Jesus (Luke 16:22).

In fact, I believe this driveway of pure gold will be lined with angels…and loved ones from this “life” who have made the journey before us. And I believe that each one will be grinning from ear to ear, whistling, cheering and welcoming us home in a way that we’ve never experienced before…

And I believe that while we are “still a long way off”…our Father, who is waiting for our arrival, will see us…and take off running as fast as He can…throw His arms around us and smother us with kisses (Luke 15:20). I believe He will call to His servants to “bring the best robe” and put it on us…that He will put sandals on our feet (Luke 15:22)…that He will prepare a feast to celebrate (Luke 15:23).

He will not give us the chance to beg forgiveness and will ignore our confessions of sins (Luke 15:21)…because forgiveness has already been given, and the confessions made when we accepted Jesus as our Savior. He has already put our sins as far as the east is from the west (Ps. 103:12) and He remembers them no more (Heb. 10:17). And that soon…soon, even we will forget what we once were…

Another difference between this golden driveway and the gravel road I took as a child…I always had to say good-bye when I was dropped off…and I always had to say good-bye when I was picked up. Here, in this life, there are always good-byes. And we never know which one may be the last we speak to someone. But when we get home, one of the greatest gifts we will receive, will be the gift of no more good-byes. No more. Ever.

The last good-bye we will speak will be to a world of filthy rags. Sadly, most of us will leave people behind that we love dearly…but it’s temporary. Soon, they will join us at home. With no more good-byes. They, too, will experience the angels lining both sides of the golden driveway. They, too, will see the Father running to greet them, arms wide open, calling for the best robe…
And you and I will be there. We’ll be among those lining the street as the angels escort them into the presence of God! We’ll be at the party! We will get to watch as the Father tenderly places the robe around their shoulders and slips the sandals on their feet…and we’ll always be there. All of us. With no more good-byes. Home at last…

It’s hard, sometimes, to remember that this life is a gift from God, when it’s so full of trials, failures and burdens. It’s hard, sometimes, to remember that we are “aliens and strangers in the world” (1 Pet. 2:11)…that this world is not our home. That we are just visiting here…

But hard to remember or not, it’s still true. This simply is our “womb” where we are being prepared for Life…

I love the way Paul put it:

“For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” (2 Cor. 5:4)

Think about what he’s saying! We groan and are burdened because we wish to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling…so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life! “Death” is simply “being swallowed up by life”! Have you ever thought about this? Being swallowed up by life? WOW!!!

Maybe that’s why the wisest man who ever lived made this statement:

“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth.” (Eccl. 7:1)

Or maybe he said it because he knew that it’s better to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8)

We forget that…

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Phil. 3:20,21)

We’re not LEAVING home when we make that final journey…we’re GOING home! FINALLY! We’re GOING home! We’re leaving filthy rags! Never to say good-bye again!
We forget. We forget because it hurts. We forget because we love those who make the journey before us and we’ll miss the blessings they were…the blessings they gave us. The huge role they played in our earthly life. We forget because…we’re selfish. We don’t want them to go. We want them here with us.

The shortest verse in the Bible is John 11:35.

“Jesus wept.”

Why did Jesus weep? Lazarus, whom Jesus loved had died. There are those who believe Jesus wept because Lazarus had died. That makes no sense to me, because Jesus already knew he was going to raise Lazarus from the dead. Others say he wept because of the grieving of Mary and Martha. Maybe. But again, he knew he was going to raise Lazarus and the tears would turn to joy…

Still others think Jesus wept because of the accusing way Mary spoke to him…or because of the lack of faith they may have expressed in that moment. But I think there’s another reason.

I believe Jesus wept because he knew where Lazarus was. He was in the presence of the saints that were gathered at Abraham’s bosom. He was at rest…a rest of glory beyond any glory this world had to offer. And I believe Jesus wept because he was about to take Lazarus away from this paradise…and bring him back to these filthy rags.

It was something that Jesus had to do in order to fulfill the will of the Father…but it was something that I believe he didn’t especially care to do…and I believe that doing it was something that weighed heavy on his heart…

I miss a lot of people that have taken that journey. I will be overwhelmed to see them again, I’m sure. I wish they were here…but I’m so glad they’re not. Knowing where they are, I’m not sure I could be as obedient as Jesus was if I was called upon to bring someone back to “life”…not to these filthy rags…

The journey home. Help us to remember, Lord, that we are the ones who are absent. Not those who have made the journey. Help us to remember that some day soon, we’ll all be home. No more good-byes. Ever.

Help us, Lord, to remember that this journey we call “death” is not death at all…but it’s being swallowed up by Life…

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Lord, thank you, that we shall never die…but that we shall be swallowed up by your eternal life…and that we will dwell there…in Life…in your presence…for all eternity.

Your humble, and most unworthy servant…
The filthy rag

David and Goliath – The Epic Battle (Part 18)

We have to understand that sickness of the world is nothing but an empty shell of a loud-mouthed (and scary looking) Goliath…and that you and I are David’s with deadly stones guided by the hand of God.

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8)

The prince of this world…the father of lies…prowls around like a roaring lion. Like a loud, noisy, scary looking cat. A giant intimidating cat. A Goliath of a cat. He looks fierce, hungry and mean. He’s a champion, this lion. But all he’s doing is making noise against the Davids of the world.

The citizens of the world are easy prey. They roll over and let the lion have his way because they have no defense. You and I, though, are different. We are Davids. Often, many of us act as the Israelites did when Goliath stepped out on the field. We run for cover and hide in the trenches while he roars his challenge. But we don’t need to. Because we’re Davids.

There is evidence in the Bible that at least some illnesses are caused by demonic activity, whether the victims were possessed (Mark 17:14-17) or simply under demonic attack (Luke 13:11). Personally, I believe that all illnesses are originated by the prince of this world…at least those illnesses that come against citizens of the kingdom of God.

“He said, “If you listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.” (Ex. 15:26)

What, exactly is “right in his eyes”? Wow! I’m glad you asked!

“And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.” (1 John 3:23)

“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Rom. 3:21,22)

“Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”” (John 6:28,29)

What is right in God’s eyes? What is His command? What must we do to do the works of God? How can we find healing in a world of sickness? By believing in the one He has sent…believing in the name of Jesus.

I do believe that God uses sickness to judge the wicked. I don’t believe He uses sickness on His kids. But I believe the enemy, with his powerful delusions and elaborate schemes of deceit, attacks us every chance he gets. And that one of his weapons is what we have learned to call “sickness”. My God is “the Lord, who heals you”. My Lord is the one who bore my sicknesses and infirmities on the cross…

I won’t argue with the fact that God allows sickness. I won’t argue with the fact that God uses sickness. But I will never be convinced that He causes it…not in His children, anyway. Of course, you are more than free to disagree and to form your own beliefs, but before you jump ahead, consider the Lord’s Prayer…

“…your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matt. 6:10)

“Your will be done on earth…as it is in heaven.”

I would think that most of us would agree that there is no sickness in heaven. How come? Because it’s His will that there be no sickness in heaven! In order for His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, then one would think it would be His will that no sickness be on earth either.

But there’s a problem with that. The earth is the host of a fallen world. Sin, sickness, death (and a long list of other things) has successfully saturated this fallen world. Therefore, there is sickness on earth. BUT…there is one who redeemed the world of its fallen nature.

Jesus.

When Jesus redeemed the world, he didn’t just redeem it a little bit or redeem parts of it. He redeemed the whole thing. The redemption of the fallen world was as complete as the fall was. There is nothing left to redeem. Remember these words?

“It is finished.”

It is FINISHED. There’s nothing left to redeem! It’s already been done! Just as it includes sin, it includes sickness. There is NOTHING that Jesus did not redeem!

“Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Heb. 7:25)

If he is able to save completely, then he is able to heal completely. He is able to restore completely. He is able to redeem completely. He is able to justify completely. It was a complete job. A finished job.

Whether God chooses to heal us (or prevent sickness) through the use of the medicines He freely provides, or whether He chooses to heal us (or prevent sickness) through the power of His name…God heals. And He does it without the destructive pharmakeia of the kingdom of the world.

Again, if it’s God’s will for us to be sick, why did Jesus heal the sick as he went about doing the Father’s will? Why are WE told to pray for the sick? We should, instead, be praying for sickness, if we really believe it’s God’s will…right?

God has given us preventive and healing medicine. He did that back in Gen. 1:29. God has given us an even more powerful healing through His Son, Jesus Christ. God has done His part in providing for our healing. Now it’s our turn to do our part. And what is our part?

“ …to believe in the one he has sent.”

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David and Goliath – The Epic Battle (Part 15)

“For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.” (Rom. 1:21)

Ok. Remember, now, that we’re not looking at this section of Romans from the standpoint of sin, but rather from the standpoint of sickness. So let’s whittle this thing down a little to see it a little more from our “sickness” viewpoint. It would go something like this…

“For although they knew God, their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”

How so? Because, “they” allowed themselves to be deceived by the lies and deceptions of the world. And it’s no wonder. It’s a powerful lie. A totally awesome deception! All of our lives, we’ve been exposed to the lies and delusions of the enemy. They have been a part of our reality. We have SEEN the “truth” and the “reality” of these lies. We’ve EXPERIENCED them. We have LIVED them! Every single day of our lives! Every moment of every day.

Now we are being asked to accept the fact that we’ve been suckered. That we’ve fallen for the devil’s lies….again. It’s so much easier for us to accept sickness as a reality, than it is for us to realize that it’s all just one big lie…because if we see it all as just one big lie, then we’re some of the biggest suckers to ever grace the face of the earth. And while everyone else around us is just as big a sucker as we are, we don’t like being suckers!

So we cling to the lie and call it “truth”. Sickness. Disease. Infirmity. We see it (remember 2 Cor. 5:7?) all around us. It lives and breathes in our daily lives. But doesn’t that stuff we watch on television look real, too? Yet we all know it’s fake…

God has told us that Jesus bore our sicknesses on the cross. Yet we choose the lie over the truth. Although we know God, our thinking has become futile. Our foolish hearts are darkened to the truth that JESUS BORE OUR SICKNESSES ON THE CROSS! We would much rather cling to the twisted lie that we are sick. And because of our foolish choice, our hearts are darkened.

Darkened toward the healing power of Jesus.

But, wait! Didn’t God give us doctors? Didn’t God give them the desire and the ability and the skill to heal us with their pharmakeia? Yes and no. I do believe that God raised up men and women with the desires, knowledge, skill and curiosity to learn even more…

But I don’t believe God did that for your benefit, or for mine. I believe He did it for the citizens of the kingdom of the world…a world that you and I are not a part of. If you’ll recall, we are not citizens of this world. For you and I, God has provided a more perfect way…and the name of the more perfect way, of course, is Jesus!

I’m struggling to stay on track here…so we’ll move on to the next verse before I go running down another rabbit trail….

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.” (Rom. 1:22,23)

Let’s modify this just a bit for our study on sickness. How about this?

“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for medicines (pharmakeia) and healing from mortal men.”

“Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts…” (our “modified” Rom. 1:24)

Therefore God gave us over to the desires of our hearts to be healed by man and his medicine, rather than by the Savior who bore our sicknesses and infirmities on the cross. It just makes more sense to us…because it’s something we can “see” and experience.

“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie…” (Rom. 1:25)

“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts.” (Rom. 1:26) or, perhaps, for our purposes…

“Because of this, God gave them over to their medical practices.”

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” (Rom. 1:28)

For our purposes:

“Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to the practitioners of the medical arts.”

Again…please don’t go throwing away all of your medications…just open your mind a little bit and explore the idea that there might be a more perfect way…

Jesus.

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David and Goliath – The Epic Battle (Part 14)

Let’s go back and look at Romans, Chapter 1 again. Let’s look at it, not from a viewpoint of sin, but from a viewpoint of sickness, shall we? We’re gonna dabble with it just a little bit. We’ll start with Romans 1:18,19.

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.”

What is “plain to them”? Emphasis with bold letters are mine…

“…and by his wounds we are healed.” (Is. 53:5)

“This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”” (Matt. 8:17)

“News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.” (Matt. 4:24)

Who was “them”? All who were ill and were brought to him.

“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” (Matt. 8:16)

“…A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill.” (Matt. 12:15)

“…and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.” (Matt.14:36)

These are just a sampling. What is “plain to them”? It should be plain that Jesus never sent a sick person away still sick. No one who ever went to him for healing walked away without it. No one. Yeah, but that’s JESUS. We all know that Jesus can do stuff like that, right?

But Jesus gave these instructions to his disciples:

“As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Matt. 10:7,8)

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” (Luke 9:1)

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” (Luke 10:19)

Are you a disciple of Jesus? Before you start thinking that his instructions were meant just for those disciples who were in his immediate and physical presence, let me remind you that Paul, at that time, wasn’t in his physical presence. Paul was out hunting down Christians to have them thrown in prison or executed. But read through the book of Acts and see how many Paul healed! How about this? (Bold letters are mine).

“ Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12)

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”” (Mark 16:17,18)

Just a quick note here. It said they WILL get well. Not that they MIGHT!

That said, do you believe? How about a few of these?

“And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.” (James 15:5)

Do we really believe that? And if we do really believe it, do we practice it? Is our faith in the medicine (pharmakeia) and the doctors of the world, or is it in Jesus to keep his word? Keep in mind that…

“…everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Rom. 14:23)

“For we live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7)

And these two are really tough. Emphasis with the bold letters is mine…

“And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”” (Heb. 10:38)

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11:6)

Again, I’m not trying to tell anyone to throw their medication out the window or that doctors are evil villains trying to suck us into the pits of hell. I’m simply trying to show you an alternative to the system that we’ve lived under for so long. The “medicine” of the kingdom of God.

In other words, Jesus!

“The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.”

So…again…what is “plain to them”?

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David and Goliath – The Epic Battle (Part 13)

Well, we still have God’s medications from Gen. 1:29…and now we have the world’s medications…the pharmakeia. The witchcraft, sorcery and poison. The thing is, for four thousand years the kingdom of the world was busy promoting their brand of “medicine”, while the kingdom of God was dormant for the most part.

Once in a great while, God would allow the world a peek at the healing power of His kingdom, such as in 2 Kings 5:1-19, but generally speaking, this period of time was given to the kingdom of the world. Also, keep in mind, that we’re not talking about God’s chosen people, the Israelites…we’re talking about the people of the world. The Israelites were still under God’s protection (Ex. 15:26), though they, too, would eventually begin following the practices of the world kingdom.

As time went by, witches and magicians practiced their black arts, and other well-intentioned people began experimenting with more conventional practices in the effort to fight sickness and disease. Some were logical and somewhat effective, others were more deadly than the sicknesses they were supposed to be treating. The kingdom of the world was finding ways to “cure” and to “heal” its citizens…effective or not.

Try to understand the implications of what I’m about to say. For four thousand years…think about this…for four thousand years the kingdom of the world had the entire medical field to itself. No competition at all. None. Not even a little bit.

Stuff that worked was passed on from one generation to the next. Each generation continued to study and experiment, constantly seeking to improve mankind’s chances against sickness. For four thousand years, that’s all the people of the world knew…the world system.

Now, imagine this…some guy (that a lot of people thought was crazy to start with) came along…who was, in terms of society, a nobody. A carpenter’s son. Just a regular, run of the mill, grew up next door, neighborhood kid like all the rest of the folks in common circles.

He claimed to be the Son of God, which didn’t do a lot for his reputation among the groups of people that already thought he was crazy. A lot of people probably walked away with the idea that he either really was crazy, or that he was pretty darned arrogant. They may have thought a lot of things…but that he really was the Son of God wasn’t one of them.

He claimed he could heal people. Then he did it…just like he said. People didn’t know what to think. He was crazy, that much was for sure…but then when he walked away, the sick people weren’t sick anymore…

At some point in this young man’s life…actually, it was somewhere around thirty-three years after his birth, he was put to death for his crimes. The most serious of which, appeared to be claiming he was the Son of God. Blasphemy for sure…unless, of course, he was telling the truth.

Anyway, as he was nailed to the cross and lifted up into the sky to die for our sins…I mean, for his sins…he did something that was invisible to the naked eye. Not only did he carry our sins and iniquities to his death…but he carried our sicknesses and infirmities, as well (Matt. 8:17). As he died, they died.

“But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” (Is. 53:5)

Notice that the healing Isaiah spoke of is present tense. It’s not something that will be done sometime down the road. It’s something that took place right then…on the cross. It’s interesting to me that many people pray for God to heal them or someone they love…when, in reality, they are asking God to do something He’s already done! He healed us two thousand years ago! But those thoughts will be covered a little more later…

For now, let’s imagine a world that’s had four thousand years to come up with its own ways of fighting sickness. They had come a long ways, and were surely pretty proud of their accomplishments! Keep in mind, while you and I consider their means and methods to be primitive (to say the least), back then, the tools they had available were top of the line to them. The latest technology! The most modern disease fighting weapons in existence!

And here was this crazy guy…this carpenter’s son…this…this nobody…telling them they didn’t need it! All they needed was to believe in him…to accept him and his words for what he claimed to be. Truth. One teeny, tiny little speck of Truth trying to convince an entire world that its entire past was nothing but a false existence full of lies and deception.

“Dude…we’ve had four thousand years of sickness. We know it’s real! We’ve come up with all kinds of creative (and rather genius, if you don’t mind us saying it) ways to overcome some of these diseases! With a little time, we’re sure to come up with more ways to fight more diseases. What do you mean you “bore” our sicknesses and infirmities?”

“What’s all this talk about the father of lies? The prince of this world. A world kingdom that itself is a lie, because there is no truth in it or in it’s father/prince/ruler? How can it be a lie when WE’VE BEEN LIVING IT FOR THE PAST FOUR THOUSAND YEARS?”

Folks, here we are two thousand years later, and we’re still living it even today. We have the choice to believe the deception…the powerful delusion…the lie of the enemy, otherwise known as the kingdom of the world…or to believe the Truth. That Jesus bore our sicknesses and infirmities on the cross. That by his wounds we are healed.

You see, for that four thousand year period, mankind only had one reality to choose from. And that reality was a lie. A deception. From the master deceiver, himself.

But we don’t have to live in that lie any more. Because two thousand years ago, Truth stepped in. Now we have a real choice. Now we have a real reality that we can choose, if we wish to do so.

In doing so, though, we have to go against the kingdom of the world. The one that looks so real. The one that has a four thousand year head start. That’s a lot of tradition to overcome. That’s a lot of deception to reveal. That’s a lot of habit to change. That’s a lot of transforming to do and a lot of renewing of the mind.

This Truth thing. That’s a fairly new thing in comparison. Based on the deeds of a regular guy that most people thought was crazy to begin with. The thing is, was he just a regular guy? We claim to believe that he was the Son of God, and that he died for our sins.

But how can we believe he was the Son of God, and how can we believe he died for our sins…if we don’t believe the rest of it, too?

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