The Mystery of the Body

"...he is the saviour of the body." – Ephesians 5:23

"Can't live with it and can't live without it." At least, that's the way most of us feel about our bodies. About the time we're old enough to stop flaunting and abusing it, we find out, like everything else, it wears out. And it seldom looks or functions to the level of perfection we've come to expect. What's worse, as a new Believer, one of the first things you find out is that the default setting on your body hasn't changed; it's still vulnerable to the temptation to sin. You and I can "walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:25); but we'll have to do it in the body. But, if I may, I'd like to put forth an argument in appreciation, if not praise, for the body you and I inhabit. I promise not to give it any more recognition than God does.

To my mind, the greatest endorsement for the body is the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. As one writer has asked, "If human flesh and sin were indistinguishable, do you think the Word would have become flesh?" Sin starts much deeper, and works it's way out through willing flesh, in the same way that an apple rots from the inside out. It was not Christ's body that made Him sinless; and I would contend it's not our bodies that make us sinful. They're merely "instruments," says Paul, of righteousness or unrighteousness (Rom. 6:13). In the case of Jesus, they were ever and always "instruments of righteousness." He lived a life of perpetual sinlessness; and He did it in a body like yours and mine.

Not only that, can we not see Christ's high estimate of the body by the was He compassionately healed the sick and raised the dead? It may be argued that He only did it to prove His Deity and authority, but one time would have sufficed for that. He did it over and over, to the point that He could hardly rest. He would not bother to settle a dispute between two brothers over property (Jno. 11); but when He saw a poor widow following the corpse of her only son, He had such compassion for her that without being asked, He raised the boy back to life (Lk. 7). She would have seen that boy again one day, no doubt, just as Mary and Martha would have seen their brother, Lazarus, again in the resurrection. But Jesus knew these people felt an attachment to the bodies of their loved ones. And I can tell you, He understands when you and I feel that same attachment. As my young niece said at that graveside of her father, my brother, "I know he isn't in that body, but I loved that body!" And so did the Lord.

Finally, God has promised to raise our bodies one day, so that we'll have them when we meet Him. Paul says in 2 Corinthians five that our bodies that were the temple of the Holy Spirit of God will one day "clothe" again the souls that inhabited them. We will share with our Savior the glory of an empty grave! Jesus Christ is the Savior of our souls and the Savior of our bodies. He has claimed them both for His own.

Now that I've pled my case for the body in which you and I live, I want to see if I can help us understand how God...or  Satan...can use it; because, remember, for all practical purposes, it's an "instrument." How and by whom will it be used, and what will be the outcome? We'll make that our goal for next time, I promise. See you then!

Our Extravagant Savior

“And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.” – Matthew 14:20

There are so many wonderful lessons to be found in this story from the life and ministry of our Lord, and I’m sure you’ve heard them expounded at one time or another. For instance, when we read John’s account of this story in John 6: 5-13, we see the skepticism of Philip, who was sure there would never be a way to feed 5,000 people with what little money they had on hand. Then there was Peter, who was resourceful enough to find a little lad who had five loaves of bread and two “small fish,” though this wouldn’t be much help either. And, oh, the wonderful sermons I’ve heard about the unassuming little boy, who was willing to share his lunch! I could go on, but not long ago, I read a sermon by one of my favorites, George H. Morrison, who pointed out something else in the story that I had not thought of. I immediately determined to share this blessed truth with you.

As you recall, when everyone had been fed, not just enough to ease their hunger, but enough that they “were filled,” Jesus instructed the disciples to gather up “the fragments that remained.” This turned out to be twelve baskets full of leftovers. Now, the question is, did our Lord not know how much would be required to feed this group? Of course, He did. But while you and I, shortsightedly, see frugality in our Lord’s instructions, Morrison sees uncalculating love. As he puts it, “He took no nice and precise measurements of what the hungry multitude required. He did not think of the minimum of need; He thought of the maximum of love.”

This was true of His whole ministry here on earth. People asked for healing and received the forgiveness of sin along with it. When He gave the parable of the Prodigal Son, He pictured for us a father who not only welcomed his wayward son back home, but who was lavished upon him a new robe, shoes, and a ring, music, dancing, and a steak dinner! All the son requested was forgiveness, but he was given everything. And who could forget the high words of praise Jesus gave to the woman who “wasted” all her precious ointment in an alabaster box on the Savior she loved so dearly? (Mk. 14:3-9) Her act, He said, was not only a “good work on me,” it was a memorial to her and her extravagant love.

Finally, 1 John 2:2 tells us plainly that Christ’s death on the Cross was the payment not only for our sins, as believers, but “also for the sins of the whole world.” I don’t question that. And from what I read of the love of God, especially as manifested in the life of His Son, Jesus Christ, I’m not especially surprised. Although they will not all accept it, there was enough saving Grace in the death of Jesus Christ to save every guilty sinner who lived or will ever live. It’s only efficient for those who receive it by faith, but it’s sufficient for the whole world. No lost man can ever say, “There was nothing provided for me.”

You and I can never match such extravagant love; but we can try. We can live our lives as the woman who poured out her greatest treasure upon Jesus, and the widow who gave all that she had to God. May we, like our Lord, forget about the minimum of need, and focus on the maximum of love.

“If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him.” – David Livingstone (1813-1873)

Prepared For Delay

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”  - Matthew 25:1-5

If you had met these ten virgins coming down the road, you wouldn’t have known there was any difference between them. They were all going to meet the bridegroom, and each carried a brightly burning lamp. As you parted, you would have assumed they all met the bridegroom and arrived safely at the wedding. But you would have been wrong. They all had lamps full of oil, but only five had brought extra oil. Then the unexpected happened.

The bridegroom delayed his coming.

And when the cry finally rang out announcing his appearance, they all scrambled for their lamps, only to find them burned down. The wise virgins quickly added their extra oil, trimmed their wicks, and were on their way. There was not enough to share with the foolish five, who could have brought extra too. And you know the sad ending. While they rushed to buy more, all the wedding guests arrived, and the door was shut…finally.

As the first verse indicates, this was a parable Jesus gave of the kingdom of heaven, and the need to be prepared for its appearance. I’m not interested here in looking for doctrinal truth. I just want to point out one principle and apply it to our lives. It’s the idea that the only difference between these virgins was that half of them were not prepared for a delay in their expectations. They all wanted to see the bridegroom, and they all had oil, but they didn’t all have enough oil to last until the bridegroom arrived.

How well do you and I handle delayed expectations, perhaps anticipating marriage, a move, or a new ministry? What if God in His wisdom chooses to postpone these till later, till we’re older maybe? Or till we’ve given up clinging to them? Have you ever noticed that a third of the nine listed categories of the “fruit of the Spirit” have to do with patience: longsuffering, faith, and temperance. Each of these calls for endurance.

And what of delayed answers to prayer? Here’s where the rubber meets the road. Hebrews eleven talks about a group whose faith received high marks from God, but who didn’t receive the promises they were looking for (v. 39). I have only two things to say about this. God keeps the score; and things are not always the way they look. When Paul said, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17), he was saying there’s going to be plenty of times when you’ll be tempted to quit. At such times, you’re going to need lots of oil in reserve to keep you praying.

Finally, and more in keeping with the parable, as signs of our Lord’s near return begin to multiply, do you have enough oil to keep your going, if He chooses to tarry (v. 5)? I often say, “I plan to be ready for either: Rapture or Return!” As the old song I love to sing says it, “My lamps are lit; I’ll watch and pray.” First John 3:3 says you can tell the man or woman who truly lives in the hope of the Second Coming by how much he or she strives to live a pure life.

How’s your oil supply of gladness and joy (Psl. 45:7; Isa. 61:3)? Have you got enough to last you…for the long haul, if need be? Are you prepared for delay?

“Delay never thwarts God’s purpose; rather, it polishes His instrument.” – V. Raymond Edmon

Who's the Boss of Your Faith?

“Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.” (2 Corinthians 1:24)

         Beware of those who would seek to “have dominion over your faith.” I don’t just mean preachers or teachers, who might readily come to mind, but fellow believers, as well, who sometimes go beyond discipling or mentoring into territory reserved for the Holy Spirit. I say this not to disparage the ministry of edification to which we’re all called (Rom. 14:19); but to wean us from those who would stunt our spiritual growth by spoon-feeding us long after we should be feeding ourselves.

         The importance of this is seen in the last five words of the verse: “…for by faith we stand.” The underpinning of the Christian life is faith, and if someone else has dominion over your faith, you’ll never learn to stand on your own. Instead, your faith will not really be yours at all, but theirs. Your personal convictions may either extend all the way to, or else never go beyond, theirs. And when you read the Bible it will always be through their spectacles.

         Thank God for those among us who can rightfully be called “helpers of your joy,” who may nudge us spiritually and intellectually from time to time; but who rejoice more when God reveals Himself and his Word to us personally, in a new, exciting way. These are the true helpers, the “joy helpers,” if you will. The ones who desire to boost your faith, not boss it!

Don’t get your convictions from someone else’s conscience. (Rom. 14:5)

A Fool is a Fool is a Fool

“Wisdom is too high for a fool…” – Proverbs 24:7a

You probably already know that a proverb is not a promise; it’s a general truth leading to general results. For instance, wringing a nose doesn’t always lead to blood, but you run the risk if you try it; and anger, uncalled for, likely as not, will lead to an argument between friends (30:33). Generally speaking, Proverbs is about two different groups of people: wise and foolish. It tells us how they act and think. You’ll find the word “fool” thirty-six times in the book, by my count. I want to comment on just five of those times. Our son, Andrew, touched on these in a recent message of his I was privileged to hear; and I thought to myself, These are too important not to share. I’ll wager you haven’t heard a sermon on them too recently.

“It is as sport to a fool to do mischief…” (10:23)

A fool treats sin as a game. In some cases, they even keep score. Like notches on a belt, they brag about how often they’re able to cheat, steal, lie, and get by with it. Of course, only a fool would think hidden sin is forgotten sin. There’s always a payday. I would also add to this category those Christians—even preachers—who joke to others about past sins. It was sin that caused the death of Christ on the Cross. Sin, past or present, is not a game and not a joke.

“As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.” (26:11)

A fool keeps returning to the same sin. As the old saying goes, “There’s no fool like an old fool.” I’ve heard my husband counsel someone who had fallen into a sin, “The worst experience you ever had will work for your good…if you learn from it.” A wise man or woman will track the place and occasion of the sin and avoid it like the plague. For some, it may take a time or two to “wise-up,” but a fool never learns.

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…” (12:15)

A fool is never wrong. At least, as far as he or she is concerned. They will justify themselves to the last breath and argue against any and all reason. In a culture where “right” is what you think is right, this kind of narcissistic foolishness is free to flourish. As believers, you and I may disagree on secondary doctrines, church service procedures, or debatable personal standards; but when it comes to central doctrines, biblical worship, and undisputable Christian conduct, there is only God’s right. And only a fool insists on his or her own.

“A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.” (14:16)

A fool is reckless and careless. Some people are ready to risk the safety of themselves and others as a show of “faith.” But, again, as the old saying goes, “There’s a difference between faith and foolishness.” The will of God may lead us into precarious places, but the purpose will warrant the risk, and the outcome will justify the faith. The wise man or woman lives smack dab in the middle of the will of God…not on the edge.

“The fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.” (18:2)

Fools cannot get over themselves. Some people have turned self-analysis into a fine art. Questions like, “Who am I?” “What am I really supposed to be doing?” “Why do I do the things I do?”…etc.…etc., are fine for awhile, but after awhile, their sincerity sounds hollow. I would suggest that humility is not thinking less of oneself but less about oneself. I read somewhere, “He who is all wrapped up in himself makes a very small package.” If you and I would be wise, we should follow Solomon’s advice: “Get over yourself!”

There you have it. Five of the many fools in Proverbs. If you’re like me, it made you a little uncomfortable. But if it makes us do something about it, it’s worth the discomfort, right? But to just slough it off? Only a fool would do that.