Feb 21 2011

Avoid Out of Focus Vision


At all cost we must avoid examining ourselves, and others, through the lens of humanism and accepting the conclusions of the pop culture. When we fail in this, we lose sight of God’s revelation about who we really are, our condition before him, and why we desperately need him every moment of every day.

We must be aware that at the end of our lives on earth we will not be judged by popular opinion, or by a panel of pundits, but by the Creator God. Our opinions about ourselves will not matter a wit, the criteria will be the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ and what we have done about him.

Acts 17:31

Far to many of us measure ourselves by ourselves, a foolish thing to do. We evaluate those around us and conclude “I am just as good as so and so” or “I am better than….”. The result is a false impression of yourself and others.

When God gives finals he will not grade on the curve. We must sincerely look into the mirror of his Word and see ourselves as he sees us. The Bible must be the final authority for both faith and practice.

2 Corinthians 10:12

I regularly think of myself more highly than I ought. Do you have that problem? Does a little boasting creep in? Lets be honest. It is very easy to paint a mental picture of yourself (or myself) that hardly resembles the real thing, and yet we are tempted to rely on that lie rather than the unchangeable God who has promised.

2 Corinthians 10:17,18

Royce Ogle

Feb 8 2011

Living in the Shadow of Mt Zion


The 12th chapter of Hebrews reminds me that the journey from Mt. Sinai to Mt. Zion is a course of sun drenched mountain tops, plenty, and the amazing bounty of God’s blessings. But it also winds down into valleys shrouded in darkness where there is little to remind one of his God.

Many of today’s most recognizable preachers would have us believe that if we are faith-filled people we should always live on the mountain top with all of its beauty and have money, the best clothes, nice cars and houses. After all if God loves you doesn’t he want you to prosper? Has he not promised it?

Today as I was meditating on God’s Word and thinking of a friend who is in a death match with cancer I was drawn to the wonderful book of Hebrews. It is true that we who are actively depending of Jesus Christ and the gospel promises about Him are living in Zion.

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:22-24)

Aren’t you thankful that we have experienced the grace of God in Christ and are living perhaps only a breath away from the heavenly Jerusalem? God has chosen to pitch his tent in us and to write his law on our hearts. What a blessed state!

The previous chapter, 11,  is the chapter of the faithful. Those Old Testament heroes of the faith are listed with some of their accomplishments that proved their faith in God. Then near the end of the chapter it sums up those faith walkers.

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. (Hebrews 11:32-35)

These like Abel, Noah, Abraham and others saw the hand of God on their behalf in mighty ways. How good is our God! How faithful to his own! But…that is not the end of the chapter.

Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (Hebrews 11:35b-38)

These too were God’s faithful people. Some stop the mouths of lions while others are food for lions, both while living by faith in God. For some reason (that is quite obvious) we don’t hear much about this latter group of God’s own. But, they were God’s faithful servants none the less.

You see, while we really do live in the shadow of Mt. Zion, some of us receive a good report after chemo and radiation and some don’t. It says nothing about our great faith or lack of faith. It says nothing about our daily living as Christians before God. Both those who experienced some of God’s best blessings, and those who were sawed in two, trusted a sovereign God who does all things well.

We must “faith it ’til we make it“. Living by faith is not vindicated by what we can see with our physical eyes. God’s promises are true without regard for our present circumstances. It is maybe impossible for me to comprehend how it can be best for some of my friends to battle cancer…and loose. We must not get caught in the trap of allowing present circumstances to dictate to us our standing with God or his approval.

Life is very, very brief. As fast as a child’s breath on a school bus window is gone, that quickly we will one day someday see things from a different perspective. God sees the parade of our lives from start to finish, all at the same time, and treats us in love every step. We must not become weary in doing good, in trusting the best we can, and believing God will not fail us in the end.

Sooner than we might think we will sit at his table, whole and holy, with all of the faithful where there is only wonderful family with our God and his people. Not even a hint of darkness, sadness, tears, disappointment, restless nights…none of this will not even be a distant memory.

All of God’s promises are good and true. He always loves us and cares for us. Hang on to what you know and don’t worry about what you don’t know, it’s a short ride…

Trusting…

Royce

 

Jan 15 2011

Right answer, Wrong question?


If it were not so sad it might be amusing that so many people think they have the right answer when they have never really considered the right question. Unless the right question is posed and answered little is gained.

I read Christian blogs, lots of them. There is considerable chatter across blogdom on the subject of what I’ll call the “technicalities of salvation” for want of a better term. On Church of Christ blogs there is much give and take about the role of water baptism. There are some who believe immersion in water is absolutely essential for salvation and there are others who do not go that far but still have a very high view of the act. There has been tons of bandwidth dedicated to this question, “Is baptism a work?” There are those obligatory standard questions about the role of obedience and how it comes into play when a person becomes a Christian.

Then there are those discussions about what you must do to stay saved. Must your church be a cappella? Can you allow female Christians to serve the Lord’s Supper to others and still be in God’s grace? These are very important and weighty questions for many, many people of the Stone-Campbell heritage. Nobody wants to be out of the Kingdom on a technicality!

Restoration folks are not alone in their probing and seeking the right answers to important questions. Many Southern Baptists are all in a tizzy because of the growing trend of Calvinism among their ranks. There are all sorts of warnings about the dangers of these people and what they believe and teach and frankly much of what they fear has no basis in fact. They range from saying they are not evangelistic to believing a person can be a Christian and live like the devil himself and all in between.

Other Christian groups are not exempt from the irresistible urge to know exactly the split second a sinner is saved. And they want to be sure about some monumental things.

  • Is our church the true church?
  • Am I good enough?
  • Can I know for sure I’m in?
  • What if I forgot to confess some of my sins?
  • Does our church follow the right order of worship?
  • Will my parents or my child be lost because they are in the wrong church?
  • Can other people really be saved who aren’t like us?

All of these and others are questions serious people are grappling with and they really want to find the correct answer. After all, their eternity depends on it!

I think that rather than spending time debating works vs. faith, the efficacy of baptism, the mode of baptism, church differences, good works, Calvinism vs Free will, etc. etc. there is a more pressing question that is not being asked.

Is Jesus Christ sufficient? Is He enough?

In my view when you get this settled, most of the other stuff people debate about and divide over means little. Obviously you will answer Yes! That question might even seem silly to many people. But is it?

If the work and worth of Jesus fully satisfied both God’s holiness and His justice, and if He did it for me, then there is nothing more needed to appease a holy God who hates sin. God has done everything necessary to set men right with Himself. Now he offers life everlasting to those who will take him at His (faith) word and follow. It is a gift undeserved and unearned. This is called grace!

Every person who insists your must do this and do that, keep this ritual and say these words and attend this particular church are without knowing it answering the right question. And the answer is, Christ is not really enough. I need Him and what He has done but I also need this and …… Well maybe, just maybe, the good news (gospel) is much better news than you thought.

Christ is quite enough! You need no more than Him

“19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 21 And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, 22 and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
(2 Corinthians 1:19-22 ESV)

I believe God only forgives our sins on the basis of Jesus and His death for our sins on the cross. And, I believe we are made righteous based on the flawless life of Jesus which was given for us.

God does not make ungodly sinners His own dear children based on what Christ has done and….anything. The exact reason Paul thrashed the Jewish believers for insisting on circumcision for Gentiles is that they were adding to Christ’s work and worth. Christ and…. is never the right answer.

“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14 ESV)

Let us then not boast in what we have done, what we know, our denomination or lack of it. May we cling only to the Christ of God who alone is eternal life. He is the answer!

Royce


 

 


 

 



 

Jan 11 2011

Walking the Lonely Road


There is a lonely road we must walk, none are excepted. We don’t know the day or the hour but we will travel this road.

It is the way of sadness, no birds are singing, we notice no beauty, just a lonely road we must travel along.

It is the way of tears, anguish of heart, and all hope almost escapes us. Some of us are going this way the first time and others know the way quite well, but for every traveler this road goes in a direction none would choose.

Some walk alone, and others believe they are alone, but are not. It is better to walk a lonely road with a friend, even if he seems distant and doesn’t speak a word. Just knowing he is walking that way because you are gives a bit of comfort.

I have learned many of the twists and turns, the hills and valleys, for you see I have been a too frequent traveler this way. Several times I was on the journey for myself, and many times I chose to walk a while with someone else. I couldn’t walk for them, or carry them, or make it more pleasant, but I could be there and so I have.

Tonight Carol and I, and John and Maggy Dobbs, will become acquainted with some lonely travelers, and the best we can, we will encourage them on their way. We’ll say the road gets easier out there somewhere. We’ll tell them we want to go with them as far as possible.  And we will promise that as they start to cross the hill, some hill, around some curve, the sunlight will break through the clouds and inspire the birds to begin a chorus of praise to the Creator.

I wish we could say to them “It’s too painful, there is too much heartache, you don’t have to go”. But we can’t, so we will give a hug, a reassuring smile, and walk a piece down the lonely road with a sad friend. We can tell them for sure that God cares so much more than we care and He will be there too….every step ’til they get to the Light.

Grief Support Group
2nd Tuesday of each month
6:30 p.m. Forsythe Church of Christ
Monroe, Louisiana

Can we walk along with you?

Royce