August 2011

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." John 1:4 The light of Jesus has illumined the entire world, not by what He has done, but by what He was - "His life was the light of men." We often speak of the "life's work" of a man, but Jesus' life's work was His life. When I want to get light from other men, I read their books or listen to their works, but when I want to get light from Jesus, I simply look to Him. As odd as it might sound, it is not so much what He says that I treasure - as great as that is - I treasure Him. You see, the Sermon on the Mount is amazing, but the sermon's Preacher is even more amazing.

This Sunday morning I will complete a short series of sermons on marriage. As I prayed about how to end this series I really struggled with exactly how to approach the last sermon subject - sex. Should I address those who have never been married and share how to stay pure until marriage or simply deal with the subject of sex within the confines of marriage? Since I have spent the past three weeks dealing with what might be considered the burdens of marriage - wives submitting to their husbands and husbands living with their wives with understanding - I decided to end with a blessing of marriage, what the writer of Hebrews calls "the marriage bed."

"Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land." Exodus 23:30 Am I to understand this verse to say that my Christian life is going to be one of perpetual conflict? Will I only "little by little" conquer my spiritual foes? I had always thought that when I came to Christ I was coming to the end of my struggle. After all, didn't Jesus Himself say, "Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"? But here it seems that in coming to Him there is the promise of war. Yes, there is at the same time the promise of rest and the promise of war, but these two are not contradictory. You see, the rest that Jesus promises isn't rest from the struggle - it is rest in the struggle. His gift is more than just a ceasefire in life's conflict. His gift to you is the power to fight.

His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden.” Habakkuk 3:4 What an amazing and yet completely reassuring thought - my Father hides His omnipotence for my benefit. It is surely the most fantastic fiction ever  conceived for it allows me to have freedom of will. He loves me so much that He puts me in the wilderness and tells me to walk alone, but He never leaves my side. He continues to walk beside me, holding on to the hem of my garment. He hides the loving guidance of His omnipotent hand making it appear as if He were not there. He stands afar off and says to me, “Come.” He allows me to think that I am all by myself. He doesn't let me see His everlasting arms which surround me. He doesn't let me feel the care that envelopes me lest I should ever dash my foot upon a rock. He conceals the truth that I am totally, utterly and jealously guarded on all sides.  He hides His supporting arm in the mist leaving margin for my personal choice.