It was meant to be a celebration of the human spirit-a testament to strength of will and to endurance. Yet this year the Boston Marathon made headlines for a different reason. A senseless act of violence that has claimed three lives and left many more injured.
As with every tragedy, our society is left searching for answers. The question, "why," is often asked, but with no hope of finding a satisfactory answer. Even if the individuals responsible are found and questioned, no answer they give will satisfy those hungry for an answer. There is no valid reason for such a blatant disregard for human life.
Even if the reasons behind the attacks were explained in a clear and cogent way, it wouldn't justify the action. I don't relish violence, but there are times when violence may be necessary. I believe in self-defense. I also believe that it is the moral obligation of the strong to protect the weak. I believe there are solid, moral grounds for nations to go to war. But what happened in Boston wasn't an act of war. It wasn't self-defense. It was an act of cowardice.
The Bible says there is an evil spirit at work in the children of disobedience (see Eph. 2). Children of disobedience refers to those who are rebellious to the will of God. I don't mean to imply that the bombers were demon possessed. I mean that there is a supernatural, evil force that blinds humanity to its own cruelty and savagery.
Have you ever wondered why we hate those who are different from us? If hate is too strong of a word for you, why do we mistrust those who are different than us? Why do we want them to be like us before we accept them? Have you ever wondered why we hurt the ones we love?
The biblical answer is that human beings, although created in God' image, rebelled against God. Now the image of God, in us, is distorted by our sinful natures. We prefer sin to the Creator of the universe. Sin impacts each individual differently, but all of us sin. Some become vain self-worshipers. Others become bombers.
We all have sinful hearts. It might be better to say, we all have dark places deep down in the core of our being. Who we are is tainted by sin. Sin is disobedience to God. That disobedience comes in a myriad of forms, but comes from the same root. It may display itself in the severest forms of cruelty and violence or it may display itself in a holier-than-thou self-righteousness.
Jesus said it best, "You must be born again." We need a change of heart that can only be brought about by the Spirit of God. We need change deep down inside. The only way to have that change of heart is to turn from sin to the living God through Jesus Christ. We are all sinners. We all need Christ to change us.
The devastation in Boston reminds us that all is not right in this world. There is a darkness that pervades this world seeking to bend the world to its will. But a Light has shone in the darkness, and his name is Jesus Christ. Not only does he help us make sense of this crazy world, he enables us to overcome it. Please pray for the families affected by this tragedy.
Showing posts with label Redemption. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Redemption. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
The Meaning of Christmas
"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, 'Abba, Father.' So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir" (Gal. 4:4-7).
It is easy to get caught up in hustle and bustle of Christmas and to forget what it is really about. Christmas is about celebrating the gracious gift of God: his Son. Although Paul wasn't addressing the holiday of Christmas, his words here in Galatians reminds us of why Christ came.
Paul tells us that God sent his Son so that we might be redeemed. Let's explore. Paul describes the sending as timely. Jesus came to earth "when the time had fully come." In other words, the moment was ripe for Christ's coming. History had been building to his arrival.
He was born of a woman. Paul is most likely clarifying the fact that Jesus, while the Son of God, was also fully human. We shouldn't hear terms like "Son of God" and "born of woman," and assume that Jesus is the flesh and blood offspring of a union between God and Mary. The conception of Jesus was a supernatural act worked by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was fully God and fully human.
He was born under the law. Jesus had to obey the law just like anyone else. He faced temptation just like we do, but he didn't sin. If Jesus was to live and save those he came to save, he could not break any law. He was born under the law, and kept it perfectly. By keeping the law, Jesus was able to redeem us by becoming our substitute. He stood in our place and received our punishment.
What does redemption mean? Paul describes it as receiving "the full rights of sons." Paul explains those rights as receiving the Spirit and being an heir. Paul states that believers have the Spirit in their hearts. The Spirit's presence in the believers' hearts is an act of God. Paul says, "God sent the Spirit into our hearts."
The Spirit provides access to the heavenly Father. Paul says the Spirit "calls out, 'Abba, Father!'." The presence of the Spirit creates an intimate bond between the believer and God. Because God called us sons or children, we can call him Abba.
Paul concludes that if we are God's children, then we must also be heirs. We are shares in all that is his. We share in his plans, his promises, and his providences. That is what Christmas means. It means that God has sent his One and Only Son, so that we too, could be called the children of God.
It is easy to get caught up in hustle and bustle of Christmas and to forget what it is really about. Christmas is about celebrating the gracious gift of God: his Son. Although Paul wasn't addressing the holiday of Christmas, his words here in Galatians reminds us of why Christ came.
Paul tells us that God sent his Son so that we might be redeemed. Let's explore. Paul describes the sending as timely. Jesus came to earth "when the time had fully come." In other words, the moment was ripe for Christ's coming. History had been building to his arrival.
He was born of a woman. Paul is most likely clarifying the fact that Jesus, while the Son of God, was also fully human. We shouldn't hear terms like "Son of God" and "born of woman," and assume that Jesus is the flesh and blood offspring of a union between God and Mary. The conception of Jesus was a supernatural act worked by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was fully God and fully human.
He was born under the law. Jesus had to obey the law just like anyone else. He faced temptation just like we do, but he didn't sin. If Jesus was to live and save those he came to save, he could not break any law. He was born under the law, and kept it perfectly. By keeping the law, Jesus was able to redeem us by becoming our substitute. He stood in our place and received our punishment.
What does redemption mean? Paul describes it as receiving "the full rights of sons." Paul explains those rights as receiving the Spirit and being an heir. Paul states that believers have the Spirit in their hearts. The Spirit's presence in the believers' hearts is an act of God. Paul says, "God sent the Spirit into our hearts."
The Spirit provides access to the heavenly Father. Paul says the Spirit "calls out, 'Abba, Father!'." The presence of the Spirit creates an intimate bond between the believer and God. Because God called us sons or children, we can call him Abba.
Paul concludes that if we are God's children, then we must also be heirs. We are shares in all that is his. We share in his plans, his promises, and his providences. That is what Christmas means. It means that God has sent his One and Only Son, so that we too, could be called the children of God.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Hero of the Day
While watching a couple of reruns yesterday, I found a common thread. The shows were based on different concepts, but each had a hero as a central figure. In one show, Stargate Atlantis, one of the main characters, John Shepherd repeatedly risks his life to save others. In the other show, Quantum Leap, Sam Beckett goes from life to life setting right what once went wrong. The two characters function as messiahs or saviors.
Both men have a clear sense of right and wrong, both are willing to risk life and limb to see right overcome wrong. Even though both seem to possess a definite moral compass, they also have their faults and their flaws. They make mistakes. In a world that has grown increasingly relativistic, where what's right for you is right for you, but what is right for me is right for me, people are increasingly uncomfortable with a flawless hero. They just can't relate.
The world knows it needs a hero or heroes. We can recognize that something in the world isn't they way it's supposed to be. When we hear about children being molested, or young women being trafficked as sex slaves, or husbands beating their wives, or lives being destroyed by drugs and alcohol; something deep within us groans for justice. We wish that something would make the world a better place. We want someone to come in and rescue us.
We want that someone to be like us, but not just like us. We want them to understand our struggles, but to rise above them. We wanted them to have tasted temptation, but to still be able to resist it. We want a hero who is stronger, smarter, and braver than we are, but we don't want him to judge us for our weakness, foolishness, or timidness. He (or she in a lot of modern stories) has to be able to do what we cannot.
Some heroes are superhuman, some just represent the best of humanity. The superhuman hero is, generally, otherworldly such as an alien or angelic being; or they are of this world, but advanced. They advancement comes through mutation, scientific misadventure, or contact with the otherworldly. Those who are neither otherworldly nor advanced are still above average. Characters like Batman, John Shepherd, and Sam Beckett are intelligent, clever, and intuitive. They instinctively know when something is wrong. Their spidey-senses tingle (without actually possessing spidey-sense). These heroes seem to be a contradictory pairing of invulnerability and vulnerability, strength and weakness, selfish and self-sacrificing. We know even before they do that they will do the right thing.
It should make us overly curious that literature, movies, and television is littered with heroes. The presence of them in our imaginations, and the longing for them in our hearts tells us that these images are ingrained in the human experience. We were meant to have these desires, because we are in need of rescue. Evolutionists would say that these instincts are their to propel us toward keeping our species alive. We are programmed to look for heroes to rescue us. However, if survival of the fittest was all that mattered, we would want to be hero, not follow one. Looking for someone outside of ourselves to rescue us doesn't ensure the survival of a species, it diminishes it.
But if man exists for something greater than the survival of his species, then looking for a rescuer does indeed preserve mankind. We sense that we need rescue, because on a subconscious level we understand all is not as it should be. We know that we need someone to step in and set things right again.
All these other heroes are shadows of the One True Hero: Jesus Christ. He alone is able to step into our world and make things right. We long for heroes, because our souls long for him (even though we don't always understand this). The author of Hebrews reminds us, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).
So the next time your watching t.v. or a movie or reading a good book, and you find your heart unable to contain its excitement at the victory of the hero, just remember something. Remember than another hero, the True Hero, attained victory long ago when he died on the cross and rose from the dead. Jesus Christ is the rescuer you need, every other hero exists to help you remember that.
Both men have a clear sense of right and wrong, both are willing to risk life and limb to see right overcome wrong. Even though both seem to possess a definite moral compass, they also have their faults and their flaws. They make mistakes. In a world that has grown increasingly relativistic, where what's right for you is right for you, but what is right for me is right for me, people are increasingly uncomfortable with a flawless hero. They just can't relate.
The world knows it needs a hero or heroes. We can recognize that something in the world isn't they way it's supposed to be. When we hear about children being molested, or young women being trafficked as sex slaves, or husbands beating their wives, or lives being destroyed by drugs and alcohol; something deep within us groans for justice. We wish that something would make the world a better place. We want someone to come in and rescue us.
We want that someone to be like us, but not just like us. We want them to understand our struggles, but to rise above them. We wanted them to have tasted temptation, but to still be able to resist it. We want a hero who is stronger, smarter, and braver than we are, but we don't want him to judge us for our weakness, foolishness, or timidness. He (or she in a lot of modern stories) has to be able to do what we cannot.
Some heroes are superhuman, some just represent the best of humanity. The superhuman hero is, generally, otherworldly such as an alien or angelic being; or they are of this world, but advanced. They advancement comes through mutation, scientific misadventure, or contact with the otherworldly. Those who are neither otherworldly nor advanced are still above average. Characters like Batman, John Shepherd, and Sam Beckett are intelligent, clever, and intuitive. They instinctively know when something is wrong. Their spidey-senses tingle (without actually possessing spidey-sense). These heroes seem to be a contradictory pairing of invulnerability and vulnerability, strength and weakness, selfish and self-sacrificing. We know even before they do that they will do the right thing.
It should make us overly curious that literature, movies, and television is littered with heroes. The presence of them in our imaginations, and the longing for them in our hearts tells us that these images are ingrained in the human experience. We were meant to have these desires, because we are in need of rescue. Evolutionists would say that these instincts are their to propel us toward keeping our species alive. We are programmed to look for heroes to rescue us. However, if survival of the fittest was all that mattered, we would want to be hero, not follow one. Looking for someone outside of ourselves to rescue us doesn't ensure the survival of a species, it diminishes it.
But if man exists for something greater than the survival of his species, then looking for a rescuer does indeed preserve mankind. We sense that we need rescue, because on a subconscious level we understand all is not as it should be. We know that we need someone to step in and set things right again.
All these other heroes are shadows of the One True Hero: Jesus Christ. He alone is able to step into our world and make things right. We long for heroes, because our souls long for him (even though we don't always understand this). The author of Hebrews reminds us, "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:15-16).
So the next time your watching t.v. or a movie or reading a good book, and you find your heart unable to contain its excitement at the victory of the hero, just remember something. Remember than another hero, the True Hero, attained victory long ago when he died on the cross and rose from the dead. Jesus Christ is the rescuer you need, every other hero exists to help you remember that.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
The Day of Redemption
The term "day of redemption" has been on my mind. I keep thinking of of Christ's glorious appearing and the joy of being united with him. This pondering is not some morbid fascination with death. I really enjoy my life. I am excited about the things I see God doing all around me.
I think that the news that Sophia will be coming home soon has caused me to think about reunions in general. Some day soon I will receive the word that I can fly down and get her. When I get her I will take her to be where I live. I have prepared a place for her. With each of these thoughts the words of Christ have been driven deeper into my mind and heart.
I am beginning to understand that this earthly reunion foreshadows our reunion with Christ. One day the Father will tell the Son to go down and get his bride. He will take us to live with him. He has prepared a place for us. We will be with him forever.
This realization has deepened my joy when I think about being reunited with Sophia Hope. This earthly reunion, with all its attending joys, points to a greater reunion with even greater joys. Don't misunderstand me I really want to be with my daughter. I want to tuck her in at night; pray with her; read Scripture to her; eat meals together; make her laugh; nurse her to health when she gets sick and watch her grow. But more than all of that I want to lead her to follow Jesus. I want her to yearn for that heavenly reunion where she will walk and talk with her Creator and Redeemer.
With my eye to the east (where Jesus will come from) my heart is on the south (where Sophia is). I await my reunion with both of them--knowing full well both will come in God's timing.
I think that the news that Sophia will be coming home soon has caused me to think about reunions in general. Some day soon I will receive the word that I can fly down and get her. When I get her I will take her to be where I live. I have prepared a place for her. With each of these thoughts the words of Christ have been driven deeper into my mind and heart.
I am beginning to understand that this earthly reunion foreshadows our reunion with Christ. One day the Father will tell the Son to go down and get his bride. He will take us to live with him. He has prepared a place for us. We will be with him forever.
This realization has deepened my joy when I think about being reunited with Sophia Hope. This earthly reunion, with all its attending joys, points to a greater reunion with even greater joys. Don't misunderstand me I really want to be with my daughter. I want to tuck her in at night; pray with her; read Scripture to her; eat meals together; make her laugh; nurse her to health when she gets sick and watch her grow. But more than all of that I want to lead her to follow Jesus. I want her to yearn for that heavenly reunion where she will walk and talk with her Creator and Redeemer.
With my eye to the east (where Jesus will come from) my heart is on the south (where Sophia is). I await my reunion with both of them--knowing full well both will come in God's timing.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)