According to the Bible, every one of us, whether we are aware of it or not, is on a wonderful journey from eternity to eternity. God leads us through from eternity, before time began, through many phases of time and on again into eternity. Our destination is a place of total rest and total security in God if we respond to His sovereign calling and choice throughout this journey.
Our journey began at the first verse of the Bible:
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1, NKJV).
For all of recorded history man has speculated what is behind the universe and what keeps it in being. Countless different answers have been offered. Was it started with a big bang, or just by chance or by some other mindless physical process which just continuing on and on? Nobody knows how it started and how it will end. Unfortunately no answer was ever found to be correct.
The Bible's Answer
The Bible's answer is very clear and precise. It give three important concepts. Behind the universe there is:
1. A Person.
2. He is a Creator.
3. He is also a Father.
Your view of the origin of the universe will determine your whole perspective on it and on your life and on yourself. Are your existence just a chance happening with no real purpose? Are you just a victim of physical forces which you can't control? What is your reason of being here?
If you believe the Bible record then you have a reason and a purpose. That will change your whole outlook on life. If you believe the Biblical truth that behind everything, including you, there is Creator, a Person and a Father whom you can relate to, you will be truly secured in Him and in life.
The Eternal Presence of God
The psalmist said, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God: (Psalm 90:2, NKJV, emphasis added).
Notice that the psalmist did not say "You were God" or "You will be God". but he said, "You are God". God lives in eternal presence. He has no beginning or ending. He exists forever.
At the beginning of the Book of Revelation John recorded what He said:
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty" (Rev. 1:8, NKJV).
At the end of the Book of Revelation Jesus says again, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last" (Rev. 22:13).
Because of the fact that God lives in eternal presence you can never get outside of God. He was before you, He is with you for the rest of time and on into eternity.
The Faithfulness of God
The writer of Hebrews said, ".... looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, ..." (Heb. 12:2).
Our faith begins with Him, and culminates in Him.
Paul said, ".... Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).
God accepts responsibility for everything He has begun. He never begins something that He is not going to see through to the end. He never leaves any of His purposes and works half finished. If we are in the centre of His will and faithfully doing what He tells us to do, we have the confidence that He will see it through to the finish.
God is our Salvation
It is important to understand God the Father is our salvation.
Isaiah said, "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation'" (Isaiah 12:6).
Moses and the psalmist said the same thing - "The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation" (Ex. 15:3, Psalm 115:14).
I feel sorry for people who try to find salvation in a Church, in a dorctrine or in a denomination or in a person. How unstable and incapable they are to provide the salvation that we can trust.
Peter said, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).
Our problem today in the Church is that we are prone to be self centered and earth centered. The truth is that Jesus Chirst and Him alone, is the centre and we revolve around Him. As long as we simply rely on our own ability and effort and the best that we can do, we'll never be secured in our salvation.
God is in Total Control
Paul said, "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen" (Romans 11:36, NKJV, emphasis added).
Notice that not a single word in the whole verse is more than one syllable. You can't say any thing more important or more profound than these words tell us!. Everything comes from God, through God and comes to its fulfillment in God. In other words, God has total supreme control over the entire universe! From the greatest to the smallest, from living things to non-living things - everything that exists is under God's total control.
Here are some statements in the Scripture that point this out:
1. God controls the stars:
The psalmist said, "He counts the number of the stars; He calls them by name" (Ps. 147:4).
"Lift up your eyes on high, and see who has created these things, who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; not one is missing" (Isaiah 40:26).
There are millions of stars in the universe and yet He names them one by one!
2. God controls the lives of the sparrows:
Jesus said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will" (Matt. 10:29).
He also said, "Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God" (Luke 12:6).
The sparrow is so common in almost every country that nobody thinks much about them. Yet the Father keeps track of their existence. From the two statements made by Jesus we can see clearly the mathematics involed in the pricing of the sparrows. If two sparrows cost one copper coin, logically, two copper coins would buy you four sparrows. Yet one more sparrow was thrown in for free!
God controls the course of human history
Human history is not a series of unplanned events outside the sovereign control and plan of the almighty God.
The psalmist said, "The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the plans of His heart to all generations" (Ps. 33:10, 11).
God's plan for Nebuchadnezzar
God raised up a Gentile king, Nebuchadnezzar to fulfill His plan. Nebuchadnezzar was called to be His servant to judge His people because of their disobedience.
"Because you have not heard, behold, I will send and take all the families of the north, and Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, ...." (Jeremiah 25:9, NKJV).
Nebuchadnezzar had a head-on encounter with the power and wisdom of God. Because of Nebuchadnezzar's pride God humbled him so that for seven years he was forced to act like a beast, going naked in the field and eating grass:
"That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles' feathers and his nails like birds' claws" (Daniel 4:33).
The next two verses said Nebuchadnezzar came to his senses and summed up the lesson he learned about God:
"I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever: For His dominion is an everlasting dominion and His kingdom is from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; He does according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. No one can restrain his hand or say to Him, 'What have You don?'" (Daniel 4:34, 35).
God's plan for Job
God's plan also applies to individual lives as seen in the case of Job. He was permitted to go through tremendous trials and sufferings. But in the end he received from God which worthed more than those things he lost (Job 42:12 - 17).
Furthermore, he received a personal revelation of the living God:
Job said, "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You" (Job 42:2).
Believers are part of His Plan
Those who believed in Christ are part part of His plan:
Paul said, "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, ..." (Eph. 1:11).
God works out everything in conformity to His will for us:
Paul said, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28, NKJV).
For it to be true we have to meet three conditions:
1. We have to love God.
2. We have to be called by God - We must know our calling.
3. We have to walk in the purpose of God in our calling.
All true Christians fulfilled the above conditions. It follows that if you are not a genuine believer in Christ - "Not all things work together for your good"! In that case you should re-examine yourself and subsequently restore your personal relationship with the Lord, your God!
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
The Single Most Important Event
I believe the single most important event ever recorded in human history is the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is the only hope in this despairing world. It also looks forward to the next major climax due to take place in human history - when He comes again to establish His Kingdom on earth!
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is so seriously disturbing and unbelievable that it gives rise to what is commonly known as the Gnostic Gospels. The word "Gnostic" comes from the Greek word for knowledge (gnosis). The Gnostics believe that knowledge is the way of salvation. Examples of Gnostic Gospel are the "DaVinci Code", gospel of Judas, gospel of Philip, gospel of Mary and gospel of Thomas, just to mention a few. In all there are about four dozen others. The most recent one is "The Lost Tomb of Jesus". It is a made-for-TV documentary of Discovery Channel. They claim that the tomb contained the remains of Jesus of Nazareth, as will as his mother Mary, his father Joseph, and other family members. According to the filmmakers, their "discovery" supports claims that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and may have had children. Without going into details, we can say that the Gnostic Gosepel is one of the greatest deceptions in recent time. Notice that Christianity stand or falls depends on the resurrection of Christ. Therefore if it can be proven that Jesus' remains can be found in His tomb, then He is not resurrected and all Christians believed in vain.
Paul said, "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished" (1 Cor. 15:17, 18, NKJV).
Paul also warned Timothy against false knowledge and teaching:
"Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in doing have wandered from the faith" (1 Timothy 6:20, NIV).
According to the Scriptures
Paul said, "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ...." (1 Cor. 15:1 -4, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. The gospel that Paul preached is centered in the Person of Jesus Christ. You can't take away Jesus Christ and still have the gospel.
2. The gospel centers in three great, but simple, historical facts that relate to Jesus Christ - He died, He was buried and He rose again the third day. Christianity is rooted in human history. If history is true then Christianity is true.
3. The gospel therefore, is not a set of human opinion; it is not a system of theology or philosophy. It is a set of historicl facts based on the infallible Scriptures. Paul mentioned "According to the Scriptures" twice.
4. The Scriptures that Paul referred to are Old Testament Scriptures because the New Testament Scriptures have not been completely written yet in Paul's time. Therefore, the Gospel of Jesus Christ must have been foretold or predicted by the Old Testament prophets.
Principle that brings forth the truth
The principle that brings forth the truth in Old Testament prophecy is explained by Peter:
"Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - things which angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:10 -12, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. The Spirit of Christ the Messiah, in the first person, spoke through the Old Testament prophets.
2. The Spirit of Christ in them predicted two main phases in the experience of Christ - One, His suffering and two, His glory.
3. By the anointing of the Holy Spirit the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached to us.
According to the prophetic utterance of David
Although David did not hold the office of a prophet, the Scripture reveals at least two examples of prophetic utterance when he spoke of Christ in the first perosn - he spoke as if Christ Himself was speaking:
1. Prophecy concerning Christ's suffering and crucifixion
"For dogs have surrounded me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots" (Psalm 22:16 - 18, NKJV).
"Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (Psalm 69:20, 21, NKJV).
In the New Testament the above Scripture passages were fulfilled (Matthew 27:34, 35).
2. Prophecy concerning Christ's resurrection and ascension
"I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:8 - 11, NKJV).
The above prophecy became a historical fact as confirmed by Luke (the writer of Acts) as a witness to Peter's sermon (Acts 2:30 -32).
Another passage of Scripture concerning Christ's comfort received from the Father, as spoken through David (in the first person) can be found in Psalm 71:20, 21.
According to the prophecy of Isaiah
Again Christ (by the Spirit of Christ) spoke through Isaiah in the first person concerning His suffering:
"The Lord God has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. I gave My back to those who struck me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard: I did not hid My face from shame and spitting" (Isaiah 50:5, 6).
Matthew testified that the above prophecy was fulfilled (Matthew 26:67).
According to the prophecy of Hosea
Hosea spoke of the experiences of Jesus Christ and our identification with Him:
"Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth" (Hosea 6:1 - 3, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. The phrase "He is torn, but He will heal us" speaks of "by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).
2. Believers are identified with Jesus in resurrection. Hosea was the only Old Testament prophet predicted Christ would be resurrected on the third day. Because of Christ's resurrection we would be resurrected - "He will raise us up".
3. The revelation knowledge after Christ's resurrection is only for those (believers) who follow on to "pursue the knowledge of the Lord". Prior to that time, the earthly life of Jesus were witnessed by all alike - believers and unbelievers, friends and enemies. But from the moment of His resurrection onward revelation knowledge is only granted to true believers.
4. Christ's going forth from the tomb compared the morning sunrise with the resurrection.
5. After resurrection and glorification, Jesus would "come to us like the rain, ....". This speaks of the coming of the Holy Spirit prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:23). This was culminated on the day of Pentecost.
6. Hosea's prophecy concerning believers' sharing with Christ in His resurrection was fulfilled in the New Testament.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ..." (Eph. 2:4 - 6, NKJV, emphasis added).
The word "together" is mentioned three times indicating the three experiences!
Notice that the outward act of the believers' identification with Christ is Water Baptism:
".... buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead" (Col. 2:12).
The witnesses who saw Him alive after His resurrection
By Jewish law which was enforced in the time of Jesus and the apostles required that in order to establish the truth of a statement in a court of law, it was necessary to produce 2, or preferably 3 male witnesses.
Paul said, "... And that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve, after that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out ot due time" (1 Cor. 15:5 - 8).
Obviously, the number of witnesses exceeded by many folds the minimun number required.
Common features of all withnesses
1. They were men who had never failed to record their own weaknesses and failings. They were humble and not boastful.
2. They were all changed from unbelief to belief. In Paul's case, not only he was changed from unbelief but from active opposition.
3. Their change was permanent, total and complete. Their life was never the same again after they had received the revelation knowledge of the resurrection of Christ.
4. No amount of persecution or threat of death could ever cause them to go back on their testimonies. They had to speak what they saw and what they knew.
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is so seriously disturbing and unbelievable that it gives rise to what is commonly known as the Gnostic Gospels. The word "Gnostic" comes from the Greek word for knowledge (gnosis). The Gnostics believe that knowledge is the way of salvation. Examples of Gnostic Gospel are the "DaVinci Code", gospel of Judas, gospel of Philip, gospel of Mary and gospel of Thomas, just to mention a few. In all there are about four dozen others. The most recent one is "The Lost Tomb of Jesus". It is a made-for-TV documentary of Discovery Channel. They claim that the tomb contained the remains of Jesus of Nazareth, as will as his mother Mary, his father Joseph, and other family members. According to the filmmakers, their "discovery" supports claims that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and may have had children. Without going into details, we can say that the Gnostic Gosepel is one of the greatest deceptions in recent time. Notice that Christianity stand or falls depends on the resurrection of Christ. Therefore if it can be proven that Jesus' remains can be found in His tomb, then He is not resurrected and all Christians believed in vain.
Paul said, "And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished" (1 Cor. 15:17, 18, NKJV).
Paul also warned Timothy against false knowledge and teaching:
"Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in doing have wandered from the faith" (1 Timothy 6:20, NIV).
According to the Scriptures
Paul said, "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ...." (1 Cor. 15:1 -4, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. The gospel that Paul preached is centered in the Person of Jesus Christ. You can't take away Jesus Christ and still have the gospel.
2. The gospel centers in three great, but simple, historical facts that relate to Jesus Christ - He died, He was buried and He rose again the third day. Christianity is rooted in human history. If history is true then Christianity is true.
3. The gospel therefore, is not a set of human opinion; it is not a system of theology or philosophy. It is a set of historicl facts based on the infallible Scriptures. Paul mentioned "According to the Scriptures" twice.
4. The Scriptures that Paul referred to are Old Testament Scriptures because the New Testament Scriptures have not been completely written yet in Paul's time. Therefore, the Gospel of Jesus Christ must have been foretold or predicted by the Old Testament prophets.
Principle that brings forth the truth
The principle that brings forth the truth in Old Testament prophecy is explained by Peter:
"Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven - things which angels desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:10 -12, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. The Spirit of Christ the Messiah, in the first person, spoke through the Old Testament prophets.
2. The Spirit of Christ in them predicted two main phases in the experience of Christ - One, His suffering and two, His glory.
3. By the anointing of the Holy Spirit the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached to us.
According to the prophetic utterance of David
Although David did not hold the office of a prophet, the Scripture reveals at least two examples of prophetic utterance when he spoke of Christ in the first perosn - he spoke as if Christ Himself was speaking:
1. Prophecy concerning Christ's suffering and crucifixion
"For dogs have surrounded me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots" (Psalm 22:16 - 18, NKJV).
"Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness; I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink" (Psalm 69:20, 21, NKJV).
In the New Testament the above Scripture passages were fulfilled (Matthew 27:34, 35).
2. Prophecy concerning Christ's resurrection and ascension
"I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For you will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore" (Psalm 16:8 - 11, NKJV).
The above prophecy became a historical fact as confirmed by Luke (the writer of Acts) as a witness to Peter's sermon (Acts 2:30 -32).
Another passage of Scripture concerning Christ's comfort received from the Father, as spoken through David (in the first person) can be found in Psalm 71:20, 21.
According to the prophecy of Isaiah
Again Christ (by the Spirit of Christ) spoke through Isaiah in the first person concerning His suffering:
"The Lord God has opened My ear; and I was not rebellious, nor did I turn away. I gave My back to those who struck me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard: I did not hid My face from shame and spitting" (Isaiah 50:5, 6).
Matthew testified that the above prophecy was fulfilled (Matthew 26:67).
According to the prophecy of Hosea
Hosea spoke of the experiences of Jesus Christ and our identification with Him:
"Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may live in His sight. Let us know, let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, like the latter and former rain to the earth" (Hosea 6:1 - 3, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. The phrase "He is torn, but He will heal us" speaks of "by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Peter 2:24).
2. Believers are identified with Jesus in resurrection. Hosea was the only Old Testament prophet predicted Christ would be resurrected on the third day. Because of Christ's resurrection we would be resurrected - "He will raise us up".
3. The revelation knowledge after Christ's resurrection is only for those (believers) who follow on to "pursue the knowledge of the Lord". Prior to that time, the earthly life of Jesus were witnessed by all alike - believers and unbelievers, friends and enemies. But from the moment of His resurrection onward revelation knowledge is only granted to true believers.
4. Christ's going forth from the tomb compared the morning sunrise with the resurrection.
5. After resurrection and glorification, Jesus would "come to us like the rain, ....". This speaks of the coming of the Holy Spirit prophesied by Joel (Joel 2:23). This was culminated on the day of Pentecost.
6. Hosea's prophecy concerning believers' sharing with Christ in His resurrection was fulfilled in the New Testament.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). And raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, ..." (Eph. 2:4 - 6, NKJV, emphasis added).
The word "together" is mentioned three times indicating the three experiences!
Notice that the outward act of the believers' identification with Christ is Water Baptism:
".... buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead" (Col. 2:12).
The witnesses who saw Him alive after His resurrection
By Jewish law which was enforced in the time of Jesus and the apostles required that in order to establish the truth of a statement in a court of law, it was necessary to produce 2, or preferably 3 male witnesses.
Paul said, "... And that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve, after that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out ot due time" (1 Cor. 15:5 - 8).
Obviously, the number of witnesses exceeded by many folds the minimun number required.
Common features of all withnesses
1. They were men who had never failed to record their own weaknesses and failings. They were humble and not boastful.
2. They were all changed from unbelief to belief. In Paul's case, not only he was changed from unbelief but from active opposition.
3. Their change was permanent, total and complete. Their life was never the same again after they had received the revelation knowledge of the resurrection of Christ.
4. No amount of persecution or threat of death could ever cause them to go back on their testimonies. They had to speak what they saw and what they knew.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Security in Time
Last week I shared with you a message on Eternal Security - True and permanent security through this age and into the next. This message concerns true and permanent security in time, which means security in this life on earth. There are two important areas that come to mind - Security in times of trouble and emotional security.
Security in times of trouble
The world over is going through times of trouble. Every one of us, a Christian or an unbeliever is experiencing various forms and degree of distress and trouble. We are going through a time of wars, disasters (natural or manmade), earthquakes, floods, extreme weather conditions, terrors, famine, diseases and pestilence and so on. Bible prophecy says things will get worse. But those of us who trust the Word of God will be comforted by what the psalmist said:
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.' Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; ....." (Psalm 91:1 - 10, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. There are conditions attached for coming into that total security psalmist spoke about. The first condition is, you must be "dwelling in the secret place". The word "dwell" speaks of continuously living in the secret place provided by God. It is not a place just for someone who runs into in time of a crisis. It is a place for someone who are dwelling in and abiding in it. The word "abiding" means "resting". This speaks of complete protection - dwelling and resting!
2. The second condition is a bold personal confession of faith in God and our relationship to Him - Say boldly, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust".
The psalmist said, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, ..." (Psalm 107:2).
Redemption is not effective till we say it. We make it effective by our own personal confession.
3. What is a "secret place"? Well, first of all a secret place is hidden behind something; it has to be searched for; it is not advertised and there is no sign hanging out there telling you that this is the secret place. We have no choice but to find it - or we have someone leads us to it.
In the Book of Job there are passages which relate to the search of the secret place:
"The path no bird knows, nor has the falcon's eyes seen it. The proud lions have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed over it. The deep says, 'It is not with me.' It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a report about it with our ears.' God understand its way, and He knows its place" (Job 28:7, 8, 14, 21, 22, 23, NKJV, emphasis added).
I believe, in the context of Psalm 91, the door to the secret place is the cross of Jesus Christ. That is why no animal can find it, no bird can see it. In fact the whole natural creation does no know it - Only God understand its way and knows its place! The secret place is in the spiritual realm and not in the natural realm. When God leads us to the Cross of Jesus Christ and we are born again by the Spirit of God the secret place will be revealed to us!
Concerning this "secret place" Paul said:
"For you died, and your life IS hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3, emphasis added).
I have to emphasis this - The phrase "your life is hidden" means "you are in the secret place now". The secret place is not in the next world but already true now! The truth is, when Jesus died, he did not die for Himself; He died for us. When Jesus died we died. That is why Paul said:
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; ..." (Gal. 2:20).
As a believer you died, you passed through the death of Jesus, through the cross into a new realm, a realm that is not in the natural world, a realm the senses can't discern, a realm in Christ and hidden with Christ in God. This represents total and permanent security! You have double protection, first you are in Christ and then you are in God. Nothing in the whole universe can reach you except it comes through God and through Christ. As true Christians we are so totally identified with Jesus Christ that nothing can ever happens to us unless it is in the will of God and of Christ - that is total and perfect security! It is the security in this life in the midst of war, famine, earthquake, pestilence, diseases and all kinds of trouble and disaster. In Christ we are in that secret place of the most High protected from all harm and all danger. The door to this secret place is the Cross!
Emotional Security
Mental and emotional pressures are increasing in our contemporary life style. Extreme stressful life style can cause heart disease, hypertension and ultimately sudden death.
God's remedy against mental and emotional pressure is summed up in one word - peace. Peace not in the sense of not having any war but in the sense of fulfillment, completeness and rest. The common enemies of peace are fear and worry. They can come in many disguises - we can be afraid of sicknesses and diseases including cancer, afraid of accidents, afraid of people's opinion, fear of financial crash, fear of stocks and shares sell-out and we can worry about all kinds of things. Someone has said worry is like a nagging worm that eats away; fear is more like a dagger that thrusts into us. But each of them in the end is destruction.
Fear and Worry
God's main protection against fear and worry is trust.
"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, ...." (Isaiah 26:3, 4).
A person who trusts in the Lord will focus his mind on the Lord. In return, the Lord will keep him in perfect peace.
There are two steps in achieving trust:
1. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Eph. 4:23). Let the Holy Spirit takes control of your mind. If you allow Him to reprogram your thinking and to redirect your thoughts, He will give you a new thought pattern.
Paul said, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Tim. 1:7, NIV).
Paul brought out the contrast between the kind of spirit that operates in the people of the world and the kind of Spirit that should be operating in a child of God. We should always invite the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline to control our mind. When the Holy Spirit comes in it excludes the spirit of timidity and fear.
2. Focus our mind on the positive
Paul said, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6, 7, NKJV, emphasis added).
We must trust the above above promise of God without reasoning and questioning. We simply receive the peace of God by faith.
Further on in verse 8 Paul gave instruction on how to retain the peace of God:
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things" (Phil. 4:8).
We must at all times, never to let our mind be preoccupied with the negative. Don't think about the problems that may arise. Instead focus on that which is good; focus on God, His love, His promises and His faithfulness and thank Him.
Tension between Fear and Trust
David the psalmist said, "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in Cod I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? (Ps. 56:3, 4, NKJV, emphasis added).
Notice that David didn't say that he would never be afraid. He said that whenever he was afraid he wouldn't yield to fear, he wouldn't focus on fear, he wouldn't let fear dominates his thinking. But he would turn away from the spirit of fear to the Lord. He would put his trust in the Lord.
As we turn to the Lord and put our trust in Him we have to honor His Word. The expression of God's will, God's counsel and God's attitude toward us is found in His Word. Circumstances might seem to suggest that God doesn't care, that God is far away and things are not under God's control. But when we put our trust in God and in His Word we can't believe the lies of Satan. This is the remedy against all kinds of fear.
Discouragement and Depression
Two of the most common enemies in the life of God's people are discouragement and depression. The work of the wrong spirit in our mind causes us to feel depress and discourage.
Discouragement
Jesus said, "I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, ...." (John 14:16, 17, NKJV, emphasis added).
The word "Helper" also menas "Comforter" or "Encourger" in other versions of the Bible. The Holy Spirit never discourages the people of God. He may convicts and rebukes us but He will never discourage us. The Holy Spirit encourages us by bringing to us the truth. On the other hand, Satan is a liar and he discourages us by bringing us his lies. The ultimate input of the Holy Spirit is always positive and never negative.
Jeus prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
Put the Helper (Holy Spirit) and His Word (His Truth) together, you'll notice that the Holy Spirit encourages us by bringing to our mind the truth of God's Word.
Depression
The Lord spoke through Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; .... To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified" (Isaiah 61:1, 3, NKJV, emphasis added).
"The spirit of heaviness" is "the spirit of depression". Depression is a spirit. The phrase, "those who morn in Zion" means "those who are depressed in the Church - believers". The "Oil of joy" is the Holy Spirit.
When we put on the garment of praise and begin to praise God and worship Him the sprit of heaviness and depression will not be able to get at us - he is defeated. Notice that praise is a garment for us to put on all the time. We must live with the garment of praise on just as we live in other items of clothing. The garment of praise continuously protects our whole being and personality against the spirit of heaviness which is the source of depression.
Security in times of trouble
The world over is going through times of trouble. Every one of us, a Christian or an unbeliever is experiencing various forms and degree of distress and trouble. We are going through a time of wars, disasters (natural or manmade), earthquakes, floods, extreme weather conditions, terrors, famine, diseases and pestilence and so on. Bible prophecy says things will get worse. But those of us who trust the Word of God will be comforted by what the psalmist said:
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust.' Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; ....." (Psalm 91:1 - 10, NKJV, emphasis added).
Here are some statements of truth:
1. There are conditions attached for coming into that total security psalmist spoke about. The first condition is, you must be "dwelling in the secret place". The word "dwell" speaks of continuously living in the secret place provided by God. It is not a place just for someone who runs into in time of a crisis. It is a place for someone who are dwelling in and abiding in it. The word "abiding" means "resting". This speaks of complete protection - dwelling and resting!
2. The second condition is a bold personal confession of faith in God and our relationship to Him - Say boldly, "He is my refuge and my fortress; my God, in Him I will trust".
The psalmist said, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, ..." (Psalm 107:2).
Redemption is not effective till we say it. We make it effective by our own personal confession.
3. What is a "secret place"? Well, first of all a secret place is hidden behind something; it has to be searched for; it is not advertised and there is no sign hanging out there telling you that this is the secret place. We have no choice but to find it - or we have someone leads us to it.
In the Book of Job there are passages which relate to the search of the secret place:
"The path no bird knows, nor has the falcon's eyes seen it. The proud lions have not trodden it, nor has the fierce lion passed over it. The deep says, 'It is not with me.' It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a report about it with our ears.' God understand its way, and He knows its place" (Job 28:7, 8, 14, 21, 22, 23, NKJV, emphasis added).
I believe, in the context of Psalm 91, the door to the secret place is the cross of Jesus Christ. That is why no animal can find it, no bird can see it. In fact the whole natural creation does no know it - Only God understand its way and knows its place! The secret place is in the spiritual realm and not in the natural realm. When God leads us to the Cross of Jesus Christ and we are born again by the Spirit of God the secret place will be revealed to us!
Concerning this "secret place" Paul said:
"For you died, and your life IS hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3, emphasis added).
I have to emphasis this - The phrase "your life is hidden" means "you are in the secret place now". The secret place is not in the next world but already true now! The truth is, when Jesus died, he did not die for Himself; He died for us. When Jesus died we died. That is why Paul said:
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; ..." (Gal. 2:20).
As a believer you died, you passed through the death of Jesus, through the cross into a new realm, a realm that is not in the natural world, a realm the senses can't discern, a realm in Christ and hidden with Christ in God. This represents total and permanent security! You have double protection, first you are in Christ and then you are in God. Nothing in the whole universe can reach you except it comes through God and through Christ. As true Christians we are so totally identified with Jesus Christ that nothing can ever happens to us unless it is in the will of God and of Christ - that is total and perfect security! It is the security in this life in the midst of war, famine, earthquake, pestilence, diseases and all kinds of trouble and disaster. In Christ we are in that secret place of the most High protected from all harm and all danger. The door to this secret place is the Cross!
Emotional Security
Mental and emotional pressures are increasing in our contemporary life style. Extreme stressful life style can cause heart disease, hypertension and ultimately sudden death.
God's remedy against mental and emotional pressure is summed up in one word - peace. Peace not in the sense of not having any war but in the sense of fulfillment, completeness and rest. The common enemies of peace are fear and worry. They can come in many disguises - we can be afraid of sicknesses and diseases including cancer, afraid of accidents, afraid of people's opinion, fear of financial crash, fear of stocks and shares sell-out and we can worry about all kinds of things. Someone has said worry is like a nagging worm that eats away; fear is more like a dagger that thrusts into us. But each of them in the end is destruction.
Fear and Worry
God's main protection against fear and worry is trust.
"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, ...." (Isaiah 26:3, 4).
A person who trusts in the Lord will focus his mind on the Lord. In return, the Lord will keep him in perfect peace.
There are two steps in achieving trust:
1. Be renewed in the spirit of your mind (Eph. 4:23). Let the Holy Spirit takes control of your mind. If you allow Him to reprogram your thinking and to redirect your thoughts, He will give you a new thought pattern.
Paul said, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline" (2 Tim. 1:7, NIV).
Paul brought out the contrast between the kind of spirit that operates in the people of the world and the kind of Spirit that should be operating in a child of God. We should always invite the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline to control our mind. When the Holy Spirit comes in it excludes the spirit of timidity and fear.
2. Focus our mind on the positive
Paul said, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and mind through Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:6, 7, NKJV, emphasis added).
We must trust the above above promise of God without reasoning and questioning. We simply receive the peace of God by faith.
Further on in verse 8 Paul gave instruction on how to retain the peace of God:
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things" (Phil. 4:8).
We must at all times, never to let our mind be preoccupied with the negative. Don't think about the problems that may arise. Instead focus on that which is good; focus on God, His love, His promises and His faithfulness and thank Him.
Tension between Fear and Trust
David the psalmist said, "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), in Cod I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? (Ps. 56:3, 4, NKJV, emphasis added).
Notice that David didn't say that he would never be afraid. He said that whenever he was afraid he wouldn't yield to fear, he wouldn't focus on fear, he wouldn't let fear dominates his thinking. But he would turn away from the spirit of fear to the Lord. He would put his trust in the Lord.
As we turn to the Lord and put our trust in Him we have to honor His Word. The expression of God's will, God's counsel and God's attitude toward us is found in His Word. Circumstances might seem to suggest that God doesn't care, that God is far away and things are not under God's control. But when we put our trust in God and in His Word we can't believe the lies of Satan. This is the remedy against all kinds of fear.
Discouragement and Depression
Two of the most common enemies in the life of God's people are discouragement and depression. The work of the wrong spirit in our mind causes us to feel depress and discourage.
Discouragement
Jesus said, "I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever - the Spirit of truth, ...." (John 14:16, 17, NKJV, emphasis added).
The word "Helper" also menas "Comforter" or "Encourger" in other versions of the Bible. The Holy Spirit never discourages the people of God. He may convicts and rebukes us but He will never discourage us. The Holy Spirit encourages us by bringing to us the truth. On the other hand, Satan is a liar and he discourages us by bringing us his lies. The ultimate input of the Holy Spirit is always positive and never negative.
Jeus prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth" (John 17:17).
Put the Helper (Holy Spirit) and His Word (His Truth) together, you'll notice that the Holy Spirit encourages us by bringing to our mind the truth of God's Word.
Depression
The Lord spoke through Isaiah, "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; .... To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified" (Isaiah 61:1, 3, NKJV, emphasis added).
"The spirit of heaviness" is "the spirit of depression". Depression is a spirit. The phrase, "those who morn in Zion" means "those who are depressed in the Church - believers". The "Oil of joy" is the Holy Spirit.
When we put on the garment of praise and begin to praise God and worship Him the sprit of heaviness and depression will not be able to get at us - he is defeated. Notice that praise is a garment for us to put on all the time. We must live with the garment of praise on just as we live in other items of clothing. The garment of praise continuously protects our whole being and personality against the spirit of heaviness which is the source of depression.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Eternal Security
Everyone, irrespective of race and culture, is looking for security. In fact a major part of human activity is directed toward finding security.
In the contemporary culture there are various agencies, or industries or organizations, in some way or other, devoted to provide security. One example is the Insurance Agencies. They do a tremendous job in providing security but their scope is limited. You can insure yourself against an accident but there is no way to be sure that accident won't happen. You can insure against fire or theft but there is absolutely no way to be completely sure that no fire will break out or no theft will take place. Then there is some form of social security in most countries. People may have their financial and medical needs cared for but there is no evidence of complete and total security. My conclusion is that in spite of all man's efforts, wisdom, know-how or wealth they are ultimatley powerless in achieving real security.
Security through the Word of God
There is another source of security which can provide real security and it is only found through the Wisdom of God.
Read Proverbs 1:20 - 33. It is the Wisdom of God speaking through the Scripture.
In Proverbs 1 the key verse says, "But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil" (Verse 33, NKJV).
Notice that the key to achieving the kind of security offered in the Bible is by listening to the right voice - The Voice of Wisdom. Those who listen to God's Voice of Wisdom will "dwell safely". He will be protected by God; he will live outside the scope of harm and evil!
God's Wisdom offers both advice and rebuke. God's rebuke is found in:
"Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes" (Prov. 1:25, 26).
If you reject the counsel of the Wisdom of God, you will be visited by ultimate calamity and disaster! Instead of helping and delivering you from your suffering, the Lord will laugh at you!
God's Wisdom shows us what is right and warns us against what is wrong. But apart from God's revelation we really can't fully understand what Wisdom is all about.
The Temporal and the Eternal
There are two parallel categories of things in the universe - things that are seen and things that are not seen; things that are temporal and things that are eternal.
Paul said, "While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18).
The unseen world includes the Word of God, His being and His truth - they are all Spirit. By faith we apprehend what we can't see with our eyes or what we can't perceive with any of our senses. But through the perception of this eternal invisible realm we begin to find true security.
"All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:6 - 8).
Human life is temporal and subject to corruption and death. We are like grass; we grow up, we die and we pass away. On the other hand, the eternal realm does not subject to corruption, or change or instability.
In order to understand and to achieve true security you have to see the limit of any other kind of security. Man, by his own effort or wisdom, can never achieve true and permanent security. Any achievement by man is like man's own nature - like grass! God has permitted that and He uses man's weaknesses to turn man's heart away from the impermanent to the permanent. Every one of us has to make a choice about how to live our lives. We have to decide whether are we going to build on the temporal or going to build on the permanent.
Nature of the Rock
The choice of building on the temporal or on the permanent is vividly described in the proverbial parable of Jesus (Matthew 7:24 - 27). Two men each built a house - one built on sand (speaks of the temporal) and the other buit on the rock (speaks of the permanent). The same choice faces every one of us.
Paul said, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11).
The only foundation that will stand for eternity is the foundation of Jesus Christ. He is the foundation which God has already laid - we can't change it, we can't find another. We can only accept that which God has already provided in Jesus Christ.
The psalmist said the Lord is the Rock of our refuge (Ps. 94:22) and the Rock of our salvation (Ps. 95:1).
Peter said, "Coming to Him (Jesus) as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house ......" (1 Peter 2:4 - 5).
God spoke through Isaiah, "Behold, I lay Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, as sure foundation ....." (Isaiah 28:16).
Zion speaks of the Church all through Scripture. Jesus Christ has been chosen by God to build His Church. He is the "sure" and eternal foundation for the Church and individual Christians!
Jesus Himself said, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18, NKJV).
To me that is total and permanent security.
Personal relationship with the Rock
In order to have true security in this life or the next we must come to the Rock, the Lord Jesus, and have a personal relationship with Him. If you come to Him He will receive you.
Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).
Commitment to Jesus Christ produces a direct and personal relationship with Him for which there is no substitute. This relationship is described in many passages of Scripture. Here are just two examples:
1. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk throught the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:1 - 4).
Once you have made a commitment to Him as your Lord and Shepherd He accepts total responsibility to provide eternal security in every situation, every circumstance. And He does it for His Name's sake. There is no power of evil in the entire universe can disrupt the relationship between the Lord and the one committed to Him.
2. Paul said, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created things, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38, 39, emphasis added).
When we are committed to Him, nothing (nine nor's) can separate us from the love of Christ. That is total and permanent security.
Eternal Hope and Hopelessness
Eternal Hope is the product of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Hope in the heart gives patience and strength to endure hardship and calamities and all the other pressures that come against us in life.
"The wicked is banished in his wickedness, but the righteous has a refuge in his death" (Proverbs 14:32, NKJV, emphasis added).
In the King James Version the word "refuge" is replaced by the word "hope". Therefore "refuge" also speaks of "hope". For every soul committed to the Lord even in the valley of the shadow of death there is a refuge and there is hope.
On the other hand, hopelessness takes away initiative, strength and the very will to live. To be without hope in this life is tragic. But to be without hope in death is the ultimate tragedy!
Paul said, "Therefore remember that you, once Gentile in the flesh .... that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:11, 12, NKJV, emphasis added).
Three things described those who are separated from Christ - without Christ, without hope and without God. To me this is a terribe picture!
Paul said, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:13, 14, emphasis added).
Notice the contrast at death between the two kinds of people - those who are united to Christ by faith and those who don't have that union with Christ in the spiritual realm. For the former, they don't have to experience death but they only being described as "fallen asleep". When they "wake up" they will see Him face to face (1 Cor. 13:12)! But for the later there is no hope!
In the contemporary culture there are various agencies, or industries or organizations, in some way or other, devoted to provide security. One example is the Insurance Agencies. They do a tremendous job in providing security but their scope is limited. You can insure yourself against an accident but there is no way to be sure that accident won't happen. You can insure against fire or theft but there is absolutely no way to be completely sure that no fire will break out or no theft will take place. Then there is some form of social security in most countries. People may have their financial and medical needs cared for but there is no evidence of complete and total security. My conclusion is that in spite of all man's efforts, wisdom, know-how or wealth they are ultimatley powerless in achieving real security.
Security through the Word of God
There is another source of security which can provide real security and it is only found through the Wisdom of God.
Read Proverbs 1:20 - 33. It is the Wisdom of God speaking through the Scripture.
In Proverbs 1 the key verse says, "But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil" (Verse 33, NKJV).
Notice that the key to achieving the kind of security offered in the Bible is by listening to the right voice - The Voice of Wisdom. Those who listen to God's Voice of Wisdom will "dwell safely". He will be protected by God; he will live outside the scope of harm and evil!
God's Wisdom offers both advice and rebuke. God's rebuke is found in:
"Because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes" (Prov. 1:25, 26).
If you reject the counsel of the Wisdom of God, you will be visited by ultimate calamity and disaster! Instead of helping and delivering you from your suffering, the Lord will laugh at you!
God's Wisdom shows us what is right and warns us against what is wrong. But apart from God's revelation we really can't fully understand what Wisdom is all about.
The Temporal and the Eternal
There are two parallel categories of things in the universe - things that are seen and things that are not seen; things that are temporal and things that are eternal.
Paul said, "While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18).
The unseen world includes the Word of God, His being and His truth - they are all Spirit. By faith we apprehend what we can't see with our eyes or what we can't perceive with any of our senses. But through the perception of this eternal invisible realm we begin to find true security.
"All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, because the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever" (Isaiah 40:6 - 8).
Human life is temporal and subject to corruption and death. We are like grass; we grow up, we die and we pass away. On the other hand, the eternal realm does not subject to corruption, or change or instability.
In order to understand and to achieve true security you have to see the limit of any other kind of security. Man, by his own effort or wisdom, can never achieve true and permanent security. Any achievement by man is like man's own nature - like grass! God has permitted that and He uses man's weaknesses to turn man's heart away from the impermanent to the permanent. Every one of us has to make a choice about how to live our lives. We have to decide whether are we going to build on the temporal or going to build on the permanent.
Nature of the Rock
The choice of building on the temporal or on the permanent is vividly described in the proverbial parable of Jesus (Matthew 7:24 - 27). Two men each built a house - one built on sand (speaks of the temporal) and the other buit on the rock (speaks of the permanent). The same choice faces every one of us.
Paul said, "For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 3:11).
The only foundation that will stand for eternity is the foundation of Jesus Christ. He is the foundation which God has already laid - we can't change it, we can't find another. We can only accept that which God has already provided in Jesus Christ.
The psalmist said the Lord is the Rock of our refuge (Ps. 94:22) and the Rock of our salvation (Ps. 95:1).
Peter said, "Coming to Him (Jesus) as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house ......" (1 Peter 2:4 - 5).
God spoke through Isaiah, "Behold, I lay Zion a stone for a foundation, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, as sure foundation ....." (Isaiah 28:16).
Zion speaks of the Church all through Scripture. Jesus Christ has been chosen by God to build His Church. He is the "sure" and eternal foundation for the Church and individual Christians!
Jesus Himself said, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matt. 16:18, NKJV).
To me that is total and permanent security.
Personal relationship with the Rock
In order to have true security in this life or the next we must come to the Rock, the Lord Jesus, and have a personal relationship with Him. If you come to Him He will receive you.
Jesus said, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).
Commitment to Jesus Christ produces a direct and personal relationship with Him for which there is no substitute. This relationship is described in many passages of Scripture. Here are just two examples:
1. "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk throught the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:1 - 4).
Once you have made a commitment to Him as your Lord and Shepherd He accepts total responsibility to provide eternal security in every situation, every circumstance. And He does it for His Name's sake. There is no power of evil in the entire universe can disrupt the relationship between the Lord and the one committed to Him.
2. Paul said, "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created things, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38, 39, emphasis added).
When we are committed to Him, nothing (nine nor's) can separate us from the love of Christ. That is total and permanent security.
Eternal Hope and Hopelessness
Eternal Hope is the product of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Hope in the heart gives patience and strength to endure hardship and calamities and all the other pressures that come against us in life.
"The wicked is banished in his wickedness, but the righteous has a refuge in his death" (Proverbs 14:32, NKJV, emphasis added).
In the King James Version the word "refuge" is replaced by the word "hope". Therefore "refuge" also speaks of "hope". For every soul committed to the Lord even in the valley of the shadow of death there is a refuge and there is hope.
On the other hand, hopelessness takes away initiative, strength and the very will to live. To be without hope in this life is tragic. But to be without hope in death is the ultimate tragedy!
Paul said, "Therefore remember that you, once Gentile in the flesh .... that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:11, 12, NKJV, emphasis added).
Three things described those who are separated from Christ - without Christ, without hope and without God. To me this is a terribe picture!
Paul said, "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus" (1 Thess. 4:13, 14, emphasis added).
Notice the contrast at death between the two kinds of people - those who are united to Christ by faith and those who don't have that union with Christ in the spiritual realm. For the former, they don't have to experience death but they only being described as "fallen asleep". When they "wake up" they will see Him face to face (1 Cor. 13:12)! But for the later there is no hope!
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