Optimism

Optimism is the Christian’s Attitude

I don’t suppose that anyone would characterize me as a “change agent,” but I would be mistaken if I did not acknowledge that our world is changing. The morality of the world is changing; the politics of the world is changing, and many in the church are compromising with the world so as to change the church. It seems that these days the more a faithful Christian tries to put his feet down, the more the rug is pulled out from under him. All of the efforts being made to oppose righteousness and truth would seem to discourage the faithful Christian. However, the world does not understand that the Christian is the eternal optimist, and that regardless how much he is opposed, he will always press forward.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “optimism” as follows: “an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.” I think I would refine that definition somewhat and add at the end of it, “without being naïve.” The optimist knows that there are real challenges facing him. He understands that problems and difficulties await him in this life. He realizes that some will oppose his efforts for unscrupulous or irrational reasons, but he presses forward regardless with the aim of obtaining the best possible outcome. I believe that Christians are optimists, and not without scriptural evidence for that belief.

Christians are optimists because they know that God can take bad situations and make good things happen. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Joseph’s brothers tossed him into a pit intending to kill him, but God used it to prevent his family from starving. He said to his brothers, “You thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Gen. 50:20). Pharoah decreed that baby Moses be drowned, but God saved him to lead his people out of bondage. Jews and Gentiles crucified Jesus on the cross, but Jesus was able to bring many sons to glory (Heb. 2:10). Paul said of his thorn in the flesh, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Christians are optimists because, while they recognize bad situations for what they are, they know God uses them for the best.

Christians are optimists because they know they have a relationship with God that nothing in this world can destroy. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” When we hear and follow the voice of Jesus, no one can separate the Christian from God. Paul reaffirmed this same sentiment in Romans 8:38-39: “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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Christians are optimists because they have the great encouragement to know that God will never abandon his faithful child.

Christians are optimists because they know that the world, with all its charms and vainglory, is passing away. The apostle John wrote, “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). Peter, quoting Isaiah, wrote, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Pet. 1:24-25). God’s word and those who do God’s word have God’s guarantee that they will last, regardless the faddish vacillations of the world. Christians are optimists because they have God’s enduring word and promise on which to rely.

Christians are optimists because they know who will win in the end. After all is said and done, and this world is no more, God and His people will remain forever in eternal fellowship, victorious over the transient affairs of this life. The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3). In Revelation 3:21, Jesus said, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” The Christian is an optimist because he knows that victory awaits the faithful.

As we enter the year 2013, we, as Christians, have many challenges ahead of us. How will we face those challenges? In this issue of the Christian Worker, we look at the true strength of God as it works in the Christian, and how that strength may be used to overcome opposition. May we as God’s people be ever mindful of the reasons we have for eternal optimism, and may we ever draw strength from God and His word to live faithfully for Him.

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The Fire of Taberah

The Fire of Taberah

Three months after crossing the Red Sea and receiving freedom from Egyptian bondage by the merciful right hand of God, the children of Israel approached Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:1-2). While there, they received the Ten Commandments, the Law of Moses, and specific instructions relating to the construction of a tabernacle, which they built and dedicated nine months later, the first month of the second year (Ex. 40:17). Thus, the book of Exodus closes with merely an introduction into the formation of the nation of Israel under the watchful care of God. The third book of the Pentateuch—Leviticus—basically is an interlude in the historical details of the formation of Israel, wherein we have a more detailed account of the worship manual for the children of Abraham, and specifically, the tribe of Levi. Thus, from a historical perspective, the narrative picks up with the book of our focus in this issue (the book of Numbers), and only one month has passed since the events that Moses recorded at the end of Exodus—we now come to the second month of the second year. The first ten chapters record the final preparations for their departure from Mount Sinai, which happens on the twentieth day of the second month of the second year. After encamping for almost an entire year at the base of Mount Sinai, they begin their journey to the Promised Land. Herein is the setting for our account, from which we may draw our lessons to learn:

“And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.” (Num. 11:1-3)

We learn that Satan will not wait long until temptation occurs. This place that Moses will name Taberah is the first stop on their journey where they encounter their first temptation to sin through complaining. From the close of the previous chapter, we note that they had only journeyed three days (Num. 10:33). After almost a year of preparation and instruction, it was just three days before they sinned! Such illustrates the problem of humanity and the perils of faith.

A second lesson that we learn revolves around the sin of complaining. The ASV translates the first verse of Numbers 11, “And the people were as murmurers, speaking evil in the ears of Jehovah….” While Moses did not record a reason for their complaints, evidently there is some grumbling and complaining on their part. Perhaps it was due to the traveling. Perhaps it was due to their impatience. Perhaps it was due to their inconveniences. Regardless, we learn that complaining illustrates a sinful inward attitude that God hears! The disposition of mind that indicates discontent and complaining angers our Lord. How easy is it to complain? It is very easy. Nevertheless, how dangerous is it to complain? The fire of Taberah indicates that it is very dangerous! The reason that complaining is so dangerous is that it indicates an inward attitude that is not in harmony with what the Bible teaches (Phil. 4:4-13).

From the context that follows, we can presume that complaining leads to unlawful desires that may correlate with a life of ease and convenience. One of the greatest problems that we all face is looking for life to be easy and to avoid some of the responsibilities that belong to Christianity (Luke 9:23). Generally, we do not like inconveniences, difficulties and hardships that come from serving God, and we may fall prey to the temptation of complaining and lusting after the comforts of this world whenever we face such (Matt. 4:1-4).

A final lesson that we may learn is that the sin of complaining is contagious, which we see throughout this particular chapter of emphasis. We see the complaining of the Israelites (Num. 11:1) spread to the complaining of “the mixed multitude” that directly relates to their lusting (Num. 11:4-6). Not only this, but later, we see Moses complaining to God under the pressures and stresses of leadership (Num. 11:10-15). In other words, very often, a few can influence a great number. Sin grows until it is checked, and unless stopped, it will continue to spread and grow. Their sin grew out of distrust in God, which resulted in discontent, dissatisfaction and disobedience.

May we learn these (and many more) lessons from the fire of Taberah!

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The Trial of the One True Faith

In last weeks article we looked at the “ one true faith ” of Ephesians chapter four. In fact in Ephesians chapter two we read, “For by grace you have been saved through [the] faith; …” (v 8). While no modern translation includes the definite article before faith [pistiV] it is in the original language. Paul here is speaking of the one true system (i.e. the Gospel) that the grace of God has delivered in order to bring salvation to all mankind. He spoke of this when he wrote to Titus and said, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (vv 11-12).

Peter speaks of the preciousness of this faith (2 Peter 1:1) and when we understand our faith in the system of salvation we will clearly conclude as James did that “faith without works is dead” (James 2:18-20). The great “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 illustrates this truth for us all. Yet Peter also speaks of a “trial” of our faith that is “more precious than gold” (1 Peter 1:7). What does this trial of faith consist of?

  1. Sacrifice: God so loved the world that He “gave” His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Jesus Himself is said to have given up His place in heaven in order to become a servant (Philippians 2:6-8; Hebrews 5:8-9). Jesus gave His life for us, the “ultimate sacrifice.” What does faith teach us? Jesus said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). What have you given up?
  2. Obedience: As we noticed in our first point Jesus was obedient to the will of the Father and is therefore the author of eternal salvation to all who will obey him (Hebrews 5:8-9). In fact Jesus said that the Father’s ever presence with Him was due to the fact that He “always” did the will of the Father (John 8:29). Obedience to the Gospel, to Christ and the Father, is absolutely essential to our salvation (2 Thessalonians 1:8). F.F. Bruce said “Faith and obedience are inseparable in one’s relationship to God.” Have you been obedient?
  3. Works: James said, “I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Again, the great examples of faith in Hebrews 11 have a consistent and beautifully interwoven thread of works that proved faith in the Almighty God. Now no one is contending that the kinds of works we are talking about here are works of merit. None can merit the grace of God; that is why it is grace! But there are works of righteousness, good works, that God expects His children to walk in (Ephesians 2:10). Are you doing the good works of faith?
  4. Persistence: Hebrew 10:23, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” The false and deadly doctrine of “once save/always saved” is clearly refuted by this one single passage among many. Jesus laid the groundwork for this when He said, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62). That’s faith in action! It is called faithfulness. “Be thou faithful unto death…” (Revelation 2:10). Are you being persistent
  5. Victory: “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith” (1 John 5:4). This is what everything about faith hangs on… our victory in Jesus. When He comes again we will stand before the Judgment Seat of God and hear one of two things: “Depart from me…” or “Well done…” (Matthew 25). Do you and will you know the victory of faith?

Let us not just talk about our faith; let us demonstrate it to God and the world!

Adopted from Handfuls on Purpose – James Smith and Robert Lee, eds., Handfuls on Purpose (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1971) Vol. 1, I, 211-12.

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It’s Groundhog Day

Have you ever had one of those days that you just wish you could do over again? In asking this question, I am reminded of one of my all-time favorite movies, “Groundhog Day” starring Bill Murray. In the movie, the main character Phil Connors is a very self-centered man filled with cynicism and scorn with regard to virtually everyone and everything. Phil ends up repeating the same day, February 2, 1993, every time he wakes up. Each morning at precisely 6:00 am, he awakes to the same song and same radio DJ’s declaring, “It’s Groundhog Day!”

As the movie progresses and as Phil’s awareness that he is stuck in some kind of “time-loop” develops, he begins to experiment and attempt to change up the events of the day. At first he experiments by engaging in highly immoral activities and finds no satisfaction. As he begins to grow more despondent with his situation, he engages in criminal activities, such a bank robbing, etc. Finally, in desperation, he kidnaps the groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, and drives off a cliff only to wake up once again in his hotel room. After this, he commits suicide in a number of different ways, each time waking up to “It’s Groundhog Day!”

Toward the end of the movie, he reveals his situation to one of the other characters, who suggests that he use the repeated day as an opportunity to improve himself. He puts the suggestion into action and throughout the rest if the film uses his knowledge gathered by repeating the same day over and over again to save lives and to befriend most of the townsfolk. He even manages to redeem his reputation as a first class jerk with his coworkers. At last, when he is accepted as no longer being the arrogant, self-centered man that he once was, he wakes up and finds that it is now February 3rd. His transformation is now complete and he is not the same man that he had been on February 1st. Of course, this movie is highly fictitious and devoid of Christian concepts. Yet there are a number of things about the movie that serve to emphasize the need for self-examination and for the transformation of character needed by the Christian.

Some of the events of the movie remind me of Solomon’s experimentation to find the secret of true happiness. In Ecclesiastes 2:1-11, Solomon lists quite a number of things he attempted to do in order to find true meaning in his life. He sought after hedonism and folly, materialism and beauty, wealth and women, work and wisdom (worldly), but none of it was to any avail. And so, he stated, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun…” (Ecclesiastes 2:11) Later, Solomon reveals the true secret of happiness, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”(Ecclesiastes 12:13)

In the movie, when Phil first begins his journey of self-improvement, he begins by trying to stop doing and saying the awful kinds of things he had been used to, up to that point in his life, yet it still was ineffective. But only when he began to replace those bad habits with new knowledge and a better outlook on life, did he begin to feel he was making any progress, until finally these new habits brought about a complete personality makeover. This reminds me of Paul’s epistle to the Colossians, especially Colossians 3:8-10, “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”(Colossians 3:8-10) From this we learn that it is not enough just to simply stop sinning, but we must replace our sinful works by doing the work of the Lord.

A final attribute of the film, is the concept of second chances. Phil keeps getting the opportunity for a “do-over.” We cannot, as Phil did, go back and undo the things we did yesterday, or escape all of their consequences, but we do have the opportunity every day to repent of our sins. We have the opportunity each day to not repeat the mistakes and transgression of the previous day. We have the opportunity each day to decide to live for Christ and to seek first His kingdom. Our God is truly a God of “second-chances,” Peter stated, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance…”(2 Peter 3:9). But there is a limit to His longsuffering – our death. When we die, we don’t get to wake up to “It’s Groundhog Day!” and try again. At death, if we are still in our sins, we will have reached the end of God’s longsuffering.

While we cannot live the same day over and over again, until we get it right, we do have the opportunity to change and be transformed day by day. “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day…” (2 Corinthians 4:16) If you had the opportunity to live yesterday over again, what would you do differently?

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Inspiration

Three Points on Inspiration

When the Book of Acts opens, in Chapter 1, we find the eleven remaining apostles waiting in Jerusalem until they would receive power from Holy Spirit. They were gathered together in an upper room with about 120 of the disciples, including the mother and brethren of Jesus. In Acts 1:15-16, Peter said, “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus.”  He then goes on in verse 20, “For it is written in the book of Psalms, Let his habitation be desolate, and let no man dwell therein: and his bishoprick let another take.” Here he quoted two passages from the Book of Psalms – Psalm 69:25 and Psalm 109:8.

From Peter’s statement in Acts 1:16 we learn a very important lesson from the Bible on Inspiration.

Inspiration is the means by which God has communicated to man from the beginning until the time when “that which is perfect” has come (1 Cor. 13:10). That is, until the complete revealed Word of God has come. “Inspired of God” literally means “God-breathed.” God “breathed” the very words of the Scriptures. This is known as verbal, plenary inspiration – every single word of Scripture is God-breathed. God still speaks to us today – yet only through His Inspired Word.

Let us note three things from Peter’s statement in Acts 1:16:

First, note the Ultimate Source of the Scriptures. “…which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake…” We see that the God speaking through the Holy Spirit is the source of scripture. Just as Peter would later say, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:21). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God…” (2 Timothy 3:16)

Second, note the Medium  Employed (Webster’s  Dictionary, “The means or instrument by which any thing is accomplished, conveyed or carried on.”) “…which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake…” (David was not only king of Israel – he was a prophet of God, the inspired author of many Psalms.) God has employed, throughout the ages,  medium to get His Message to mankind. “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets…” (Hebrews 1:1) This teaches us that God “spake in times past …by the prophets…” That is, “in the prophets themselves as the vessels of divine inspiration. God spake in them and from them.” (Vincent’s Word Studies)   Notice 2 Samuel 23:2 “The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue…” and Jeremiah 1:9 “Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth….”

Third, note the Final Result of the process of Inspiration – Scripture. “This scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake…” Scripture is the revealed Word of God in written form. The word “scripture” comes from the Greek word “graphein,” which means, “that which is written.” The Scriptures are the Words of God. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). May we all follow the example of the Noble Bereans who, “searched the scriptures daily…” (Acts 17:11) – and read God’s Word every day.

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