The Cross Was No Accident

Jesus’ life was not taken.

Jesus’ blood was not spilled.

No, Jesus gave his life. He poured out his blood as an offering for sin, and he did it all on purpose. The cross was no accident.

Could Jesus have escaped? Certainly. Thousands of angels stood at attention that day. A single word from the Son of Man would have brought them to his side wielding judgment on the sons of men.

Jesus has power over life and death. He could have looked Caiaphas the corrupt High Priest in the eye and said, “drop dead” and Caiaphas would have dropped dead. The same can be said for Herod, Pilate, the Roman soldiers, the Temple guards and everyone else who mistreated him.

He could have called down fire from heaven. He could have ordered the earth to tear itself open and swallow his persecutors. He could have called up floods from the deep to sweep his tormentors into the sea. But he didn’t. In fact, just as had been prophesied hundreds of years before:

“He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” - Isaiah 53:7 KJV

Jesus could have avoided the cross, but he chose not to. Jesus died on purpose. You see, Jesus death on the cross was not a stop-gap measure enacted by the desperation of God. Adam and Eve’s original sin, their disobedience in the Garden, did not catch God by surprise. Look at this:

“...ye were not redeemed with corruptible things...But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world…” - 1 Peter 1:18-20 KJV

Did you see that? “Foreordained before the foundation of the world” to have his blood shed for the redemption of the human race. God created this world, he created the human race, knowing that we would need a Redeemer. He already had the plan in place.

God knew each of us even before we were formed. Psalm 139:15 brings this down to an even more personal level.

“Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] in continuance were fashioned, when [as yet there was] none of them. - Psalm 139:16 KJV.

You see, Jesus knows you and me. In fact, he knows everything about everybody. And he loved us anyway, enough to go to the cross. He came to this world on a mission. That mission was to provide you and me a means of escape from eternal judgment and restore us to fellowship with God.

Now, here is something you can do on purpose.

If you don’t know him as your Savior, I urge you to ask him to forgive you of your sin and commit your life to him. Eternity matters.

Confronting the New face of Evil

As Christians and other non-Muslim Iraqis flee their homes in the face of ISIS terror, I am deeply saddened by the unapologetic barbaric blood-lust that is engulfing our world.

While I do grieve the deaths of my Christian brothers and sisters in Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Egypt and other places, I do not mourn them without hope. I am quite confident that those who remain loyal to Jesus to the point of exile, crucifixion and/or beheading will certainly be received into heaven with open arms.

My real sorrow is of another sort. You may not realize it yet, but those lofty ideas of “peace” and “freedom” (which we too often take for granted) are on life support. For too many people, I think, peace and freedom are not really concepts at all. They are just words that they vaguely remember from a ninth grade American History class. These words are so common to us that they are a part of the wall paper of our lives. Sadly, there is a darkness creeping over our world that is the antithesis of those enlightened concepts.

I know that many people (many much smarter than me) are trying to parse out the cause of the current creeping darkness. Why are ISIS and their ilk so brutal, so oppressive? Is it economic in origin? Is it anger over some (real or perceived) injustice in history? Is it just another manifestation of Islamic sectarian violence? Has the world simply gone crazy?

Here is what I think. I think that this is not a new war. It is simply a new front in a very, very, very old war. This is a part of the same war that started millennia ago in a garden called Eden. You see, whether you believe it or not, there is a very real conflict that exists between evil and good (or to be more specific, between evil and God).

Evil does exist.

And Satan exists as its champion. The Bible clearly and repeatedly reveals to us that Satan (or the “devil” if you prefer) is a very real and very conscious entity, active in this world. From his first appearance in Genesis his objective has been to inflict death on the human race. He desperately wants us to defy God. He also wants us to follow the ways of Cain by turning on one another in fratricidal rage. His objective is to steal, kill, and destroy that which is good. Too often he succeeds.

Now before I carry this train of thought any further, I want to challenge your sensibilities just a bit. The reason the atrocities of ISIS are so horrifying to many people is because the images of beheading and torture are inescapable. Genocide is evil in and of itself, but usually the perpetrators make some effort to hide and deny their crimes. ISIS, on the other hand, places the heads of their victims on sticks in the front yard in a macabre spectacle.

The evil of this genocide has become impossible to ignore. How inconvenient.

In the “civilized” world, I think, we fancy ourselves as children of light. We are lovers of “life” in all its forms. We will spend gazillions of dollars to save the whales (or the dolphins, or polar bears, or trees, or owls, or to rescue pets from the crazy-cat-lady-down-the-street.)  Yet despite all of our purported “goodness” a legal genocide takes place daily within our own borders as thousands of babies are prematurely torn from their mother’s womb and discarded as so much trash.

But, hey, at least we don’t have to see the pictures.

My point is this: the deadly influence of evil is present throughout our world. Evil is starving people in North Korea. Evil is oppressing people in China. It is running drugs in Central America. Regions of Africa that I do not pretend to understand still reel in genocidal conflict. Flash points of hatred, theft and murder are erupting around the world. Evil, it seems, is gaining traction all around us. Even in “civilized” Europe and other parts of the Western world young men are abandoning their native lands and joining forces with unabashed Evil.

Evil is and always has been a formidable enemy. In fact Evil is so strong, so overwhelmingly insidious that you or I cannot overcome it with schemes of human design. The problem is that our “morals” aren't good enough to do the job. Waving old glory and singing patriotic songs isn't going to cut it. We cannot (nor could we ever) defeat Evil by being smart, prosperous, patriotic or moral.

It seems to me that if we are going to be the children of light, we’d best get to being just that. The only force in this world with the strength to overcome Evil is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Here is the deal; Jesus is, and always has been, on a collision course with Evil. Remember, it was Jesus who said, “I come not to send peace, but a sword.” Either those who possess the gospel will take it to the Evil, or the Evil will come to those who have the gospel.

The gospel does not exist to make us wealthy. It does not exist to form a culture or make the world “civilized” and “moral”. The gospel does not even exist to give us an excuse to build palatial church buildings, or quibble about the minutia of ecclesiastical life. The gospel exists to free oppressed men, women and children from the ravages of sin and reconcile them to a Holy God who loves them.

Make no mistake, sin is deadly. Sure, sometimes sin dresses itself in respectable clothes and parades around with sophisticated education and impeccable manners. It is deceptive that way, but in the end sin will be revealed for what it really is, rebellion against God.

You see, Evil has always had a three-fold mission; it steals, it kills, and it destroys. The problem with the fight we face is that the war against Evil cannot be won with physical means. If you bomb it out of existence in one place, it will pop up in another.  Evil is spiritual in origin, not physical. Ultimately, if we are going to overcome this Evil it will be because the Church returns to its mandate, sacrifices itself in prayer and surrenders its treasure to takes the gospel to the world.

May God help us to have the courage, to do his will.

"Well, Well, Jezebel"

Characteristics of the "Jezebel Spirit"

Tragic history is recorded in the Biblical books of 1 and 2 Kings. Among the most tragic, in my estimation, is the account we have of a woman named Jezebel. If you haven't done so recently, I encourage you to read her story beginning in 1 Kings chapter 16. Her's is a legacy of destruction and spiritual deprivation. 

I am convinced that same spirit is alive and well in the church today, so I want to take a few lines to help you identify the evil that lurks behind the "Jezebel spirit".

The Jezebel spirit is cloaked in religion. The greatest opposition to the people of God is not the"anti-God" crowd. Rather, it is the "almost-God" crowd. It veils itself in religious tradition. It is fluent in "church-speak", yet totally devoid of the heart  or Spirit of Christ. Jesus came to "seek and to save that which was lost" [Luke 19:10] but the Jezebel spirit thrives in arrogant exclusivity [1 Kings 21]. 

This Jezebel spirit can manifest itself in many ways. Sometimes it will manifest itself in old-fashioned racism. Other times it will show up as prejudice rooted in social class, economic status or even a person's history.  All of these are just as evil and destructive as blatant racism. True Christianity eliminates social strata of all kinds, but "almost-Christianity" amplifies it.

The Jezebel spirit is domineering. She was not the monarch, but she was married to King Ahab. Though he tried to project the image of regal strength, Ahab was a weak man who repeatedly gave into the evil ambitions of his wife. To satisfy her, he committed all kinds of evil, and left a trail of blood throughout Israel. Good men, honest men, godly men were all the recipients of her murderous wrath.

The Jezebel spirit is unrepentant. Despite multiple demonstrations of God's supremacy, she would neither acknowledge or  repent of her evil.  Famine could not break her obstinate heart. The mighty display of God's power on Mt. Carmel only angered her. God's mercy displayed in life saving rains only emboldened her.

The Jezebel spirit is enslaving. Have you ever looked at these "prophets of Baal" and wondered about their unflagging loyalty? They danced to her tune. They sacrificed their children to the torments of hunger. They willingly injured themselves on the altar of a false god, and they did it all at her bidding. She displayed neither love nor affection for anyone but herself, yet she had a loyal following, for they feared the wrath of Jezebel more than they feared the displeasure of God.

The Jezebel spirit is destructive. Eventually all of those around her paid the price for her evils. Her cadre of "prophets" were violently killed. Her children were cursed. [1 Kings 21]. Her husband died an agonizing death. [1 Kings 22]. Jezebel herself died violently, tossed out an upstairs window by those in her own household. [2 Kings 9].

The Jezebel spirit plays to the most base instincts of humanity. Pride, vanity and lust for power all make the short list. Mostly though, the "spirit of Jezebel" is simply a rebellion against God. It is rebellion that tries to reshape God and godliness  into a package that gratifies the the fleshly/carnal desires of humanity. It revels in religious experience and despises the oracle of God.

How do you fight it? You don't fight it, you simple expose it. Then you leave the fighting to God. I am struck by the fact that the only defense that the real prophets of God seemed to have against the Jezebel spirit was distance. They left. They hid in caves and deserts and foreign towns, while Jezebel strutted and the hearts of Israel were tested. Sadly, the Kingdom of Israel never returned to the true worship of God. They were eventually destroyed, still enslaved in their idolatry.

So please, be ever so careful my friends. The Jezebel spirit is still out there on the prowl. It exists in mega-churches, in small country churches and everywhere in between.  It will sweet talk you. It will draw you in. It will promise you many things, then it will turn on you and destroy you. It will come after you family. It will never be satisfied. It maliciously attacks all that is good or godly. It spreads like a cancer, and it has its eyes on you.

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." [Matthew 10:16 KJV]

Kids? Now? Say it ain't so...

Mark 10:14  But when Jesus saw [it], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.

Face it. Kids can be miserable little buggers at times. Not because they are bad, but just because they are kids. The fact is, bringing kids to Christ can sometimes involve a little suffering, a little inconvenience, on our part.

Here in this account in Mark’s Gospel, the disciples had enjoyed basking in the reflected glow of a great Teacher all day, and now, finally, they had there time to talk to Jesus. Suddenly they found themselves baby-sitting the primary class.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is for us to get “too big for our britches”? Too self-important? Jesus had to remind them of the true nature of the Kingdom and the importance of simple faith.

These children were not brought by theologians looking to have them filled with great teaching, they were brought by parents seeking Jesus’ touch on their little ones. Remarkably, the disciples rebuked them for this!

If Jesus ever gave his disciples the stink-eye, I expect this was the time, for he was “much displeased”.

I realize ministering to kids can be exhausting. I know sometimes it seems like no matter what you do, they don’t hear a word you say. There are times we’d much rather be involved in adult conversation than cleaning the crayon scribbles off of the short tables.

Here’s the thing. To follow Jesus example doesn’t mean we have to carry around a Sunday School lesson in our pocket all of the time. It does mean, however, that we are ever ready to touch their hearts with his love. God has a special place in his heart for children. A kind word, a hug, and a little bragging can do more to cement a kid into the Kingdom of God that a dozen Sunday School lessons.

The greatest blessings God ever bestowed on anyone in the Bible was children:

-God’s promise to Eve about redemption involved a child.
-God’s blessing on Abram was all about a miracle child.
-In dozens (if not hundreds) of places in the Bible that God is pronouncing blessing on someone, that blessing involves children!
-God so values children (who are by nature weak) that to oppress the fatherless insures the swift wrath of God.

The disciples had appointed themselves the “gate keepers” for Jesus. Jesus had had to spend a good deal of time that day dealing with Pharisees. Now either:
1. they didn’t have the guts to turn the Pharisees away, or
2. they enjoyed watching Jesus “smoke” them in argument.

At the end of the day their attempt was to keep these children at bay, because they found the timing inconvenient, but guess what.  The Lord has little concern for our convenience. 

In the armies of this world, Generals do not ask enlisted men if action is convenient for them. They give orders, and orders are carried out. For Jesus the cross was not convenient, but he set aside his will to do the will of the Father.

So yes, the kids you teach on Sunday, the pint sized menaces next door, and the kids you love dearly all have one thing in common. They need to experience the touch of Jesus in their lives, for he loves them dearly.

Will you lead them to him?

Redemptive scars...

 In early April 2006 Amy Hawkins was home with her two young sons in Hendersonville, TN.  A F3  tornado tore through their neighborhood and hit her house. She had gone to the basement  and was covering her two sons with her body. The tornado tore her house apart and broke apart the blocks of the basement. She suffered a punctured lung and a broken back. Amy Hawkins is paralyzed and scarred for life, but she saved the lives of her two young sons.

Amy’s family and community rightly considers her a hero.

The hard truth is that in this life everyone gets scarred. Moments after your birth, someone tied and cut your umbilical cord. When that little stub attached to your belly fell off, you were left with a scar.

The funny thing about scars is that identical injuries can be either marks of shame or a badge of honor, it all depends on how you gained the scar. Amy Hawkins scars mark her as a hero, but someone who obtained those same injuries from some careless or irresponsible act (such as drunk driving) would be seen in a far less favorable light.

I notice in the Bible that God is in the habit of leaving his mark on his people.
*Jacob wrestled with the angel of God and suffered a hip injury that left him limping for the rest of his life.
*The Jews, as a mark of God's covenant, were given the rite of circumcision.
*The New Testament tells us that Christians have a "circumcision of the heart".
*And yet future, in the book of Revelation, we find that there are 144,000 of the Jewish people who carry the seal of God in their foreheads.

Now lets look at Jesus.

The wounds Jesus received during his trial and crucifixion were generally considered wounds of shame. His was the death of a common criminal, but because he died for others his marks of shame became marks of glory…
Jesus returned to heaven different than when he left…

Throughout the Bible we see glimpses into the heavens. The description we always read is that of a gloriously perfect place. When we get to Revelation chapter five, however, we see that heaven's greatest glory, is a glorious imperfection.We see the rising of The Lamb that was slain. The wounds make him worthy to open the book and to act as judge.  When the scarred, wounded, resurrected Lamb rises to his feet, the deafening worship of an unimaginable multitude ensues. He stands, not in the glory of perfect beauty, but as a gloriously scarred redeemer.

I don't know what kind of scars you may carry. Perhaps they are emotional. Perhaps they are physical. Hopefully they are redemptive. Maybe you were scarred fighting for your country. Possibly you bear scars that were forced upon you through no fault of your own. Maybe you bear the scars of a past foolishness.

I have no idea what your scars are, but I can tell you there are scars about which you can brag. Those would be the scars of Jesus. He suffered shame, humiliation and death to save your soul from an eternity without God. The Apostle Paul said, "But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…"

If you don't know him today as your Savior, may I please urge you to take that step toward him? He loves you so much he was willing to die in your place. You can trust him with your life.

May God's face shine upon you today!