In Debt and I Love It

We are living in a time, culture and generation in which the term “debt” is rapidly becoming a negative, despised term. The United States government certainly does not set a gold example for her citizens when it comes to debt, since the economy (steeped in debt) is at the forefront of the concerns of many when the national debt recently spilled over $16 trillion American dollars. All around the world, families understand the destruction that financial debt brings on the home. Dave Ramsey and many others have become popular individuals in leading people out of financial distress caused by debt—some by irresponsible spending and others by incidental medical bills, unemployment and such like.

Nevertheless, we should not view this term only in a negative connotation. As a matter of fact, Paul used this term in such a way that all Christians ought to embrace such. In writing to the church in Rome, the apostle wrote, “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise” (Rom. 1:14). This is a fascinating concept for Paul to embrace. Understanding his past background, when he was a Pharisee, he thought exactly the opposite—he thought God was in debt to him. Striving to keep the Law of Moses to perfection and establishing the Law of Moses as a system of self-righteousness (cf. Rom. 10:1-3), we can see exactly how the Pharisees thought by noting the example of the unnamed Pharisee who went into the temple to pray in Luke 18:9-14. Through his “prayer” (if that is what we want to call it), he cried unto God with an attitude that screamed, “Look at how great I am for you! I deserve salvation because of how great I am! You owe me blessings!” Thus, this is how Paul once thought. Conversely, as a Christian, now Paul knows that the reverse is true—as long as he lives, Paul knew that he was in debt, and it was a great thing!

First, he knew that he would owe God the rest of his life. Should we not feel the same way? Remember what God did for us when we received the blessings associated with salvation. Remember our past and how hopeless we were (cf. Eph. 2:1-13). Understanding the concept of forgiveness as it portrays the removal of a debt (cf. Matt. 6:12, 14-15), every one of us ought to be able to identify with the servant who owed an impossible debt of which Jesus stated in Matthew 18:23-35. This servant owed so much that there was no way he could possibly pay, and when we consider the debt we owe God because of the provisions of forgiveness, we should be able to identify with such—we sing, “He paid a debt he did not owe; I owed a debt I could not pay; I needed someone to wash my sins away….” Therefore, I ought to wake every day with gratitude for the spiritual blessings I am able to receive, all the while knowing that I will be in debt to God for the rest of my life! As a matter of fact, this coincides with his discussion later to the Romans of becoming a bond-slave of righteousness (Rom. 6:16-18).

Second, he knew that he would owe the world (especially the Gentiles) so that they would hear the saving gospel of Jesus Christ. Do we feel the same way?  As Christians, do we think about the fact that we owe the world to become zealous evangelists? How else are they going to hear the solution to their problem of sin? Somewhere along the pathway of life, we get sidetracked from the mission of the church—it is not about us, but it is about a lost and dying world! Jesus knew that. Paul knew that. I need to know that.

Therefore, Paul was proud to say, “I am a debtor!” He reminds me that I need to proud to say it, too. For the rest of my life, I am a debtor to God and a debtor to the world.

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Family Heroes

Do you know any truly important people?

We know the Lord’s teaching in the Sermon on the Mount about the two gates facing each of us. One is wide and leads to destruction; the other is narrow and leads to life.  We may not know that later Jesus spoke about this. It would profit us all to think about what He said as recorded in Luke chapter thirteen.

He said, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (v. 24). The picture here is a vivid description of those who missed the opportunity before them and then found themselves outside. The next verse pictures a householder who has completely closed the door, and those on the outside were unable to enter. They were saying, “Lord, Lord, open for us,” but it was too late. From within, the Master of the house replied, “I do not know you, where you are from.” As they continued to plead, He said once again, “I do not know you . . . Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity” (v. 25).

His audience that day had known Jesus. They had eaten with Him and had listened to Him preach (v. 26). He told them of their coming doom when there would be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  When that day came, they would miss being with the saints of old.

What does this have to do with you and me? Look at the next two verses where He spoke of the day when Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets would sit down with all the redeemed from the east, west, north and south in the kingdom of God. We may not have seen Jesus in the first century, but something far greater awaits us—imagine being with Him and all those saints He mentioned.

How often have you read about the life of Abraham and wish you could talk to him about it? What about Isaac? Ever wonder what he thought as his father was about to kill him? Then, imagine someday just sitting and talking with Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Isaiah, Daniel, Jonah and all those saints of old! I can hardly wait! Lord, hasten that day!

In this world where one’s worth is often measured by knowledge of and association with famous people, we may think we really do not know anyone famous. Think again! Those heroes of our day—celebrities from the media, rulers, renowned athletes—are nothing compared to those we know. They are part of our family, and some day we shall sit with them all.

Take time this week and think about all that awaits us. Then, remember that the time you have with them is endless! The people who really matter are part of our family!

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Guardian Angels : Hebrews 13:2

‘Who are these angels today (Guardian)’ and ‘Are they present now’?

First of all, when this verse is kept in context, it discusses that we are not to neglect our duty of showing hospitality to strangers because (1) God commands us and (2) we might never know who may be influenced to obey God. Showing hospitality means that if one needs help, we help them usually never with money, but with the buying of food, clothes, being friendly, kind, and open to talking or spending time with that stranger.

Secondly, in the first century, there were some individuals who showed hospitality to angels and never knew that they were angels. In Genesis 18:2-10, Abraham showed hospitality when visited by 3 men who were actually angels of the Lord to tell them that they would soon have a child. Also, in Genesis 19:1-3, Lot saw 2 men in the streets where he tried to show hospitality to them who were in fact, angels.

With this said, do we have guardian angels today who watch or protect us? The word guardian is not mentioned in the Scriptures except in such translations as the NIV, NKJ, NLT, NRS, RSV, and the ESV which is always in reference to a servant, leader, or bishop (which is an elder). In Hebrews 13:17 it states, “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.” Elders in the church watch for the souls in that congregation that the members may continually serve God with a pure heart. In addition to this, is it possible to be tempted and sin? If so, it would be logical to say that if we had guardian angels protecting us, we would be unable to sin and be unable to get hurt. Therefore, if one did have a guardian angel, what purpose would he serve? He could not tell us anything else in regards to the scriptures for they are able to make one perfect (2 Tim 3:16, 17). He could not get us out of trouble or to keep one from sinning because it would eliminate our free will. He could not comfort us because it would eliminate God, prayer and the scriptures. (Rom. 15:4) Therefore, it can be concluded that we have no reason to believe that angels travel about the country in human form today, testing God’s people about their hospitality or bringing protection to individual’s lives, but in the miraculous age of the first century, it might have been possible.

But what about those who say that angels “Watch over me” or when we feel protected by something that some will say, “ Well that’s my guardian angel ”? If one truly believes this, then they would be giving praise to an angel and not to God who created that angel. Furthermore, God watches over us, hears our prayers, has given us his word, and he tells us to watch for our own selves to not be deceived by corruption and sin. Furthermore, he tells how to overcome sin and all of this is done without a guardian angel. Therefore, what would a guardian angel do? Just sit and drink coffee with us? If so, like those in the past, we would never know who was and who was not a guardian angel.

But what about ministering spirits? In Hebrews 1:14 it says in regards to angels, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” When this verse is kept in context, it tells that Christ is superior to the prophets, angels, Moses, Joshua, and to Aaron. For, this was said to Jewish Christians then to dissuade them from departing the system of faith and going back to the Mosaical law and the Aaronic priesthood because they were far inferior to Christ. However, angels are ministering spirits, but it is clearly in the realm of providence. How they work in the realm of providence is not revealed to mankind in the scriptures and the Hebrew writer of 1:14 shows that we are not to be enticed by angels and the work they do, but rather, to show that Jesus Christ is superior to them in every way. For, Angels are servants of God who do not serve the world, but are servants for the sake of ministering to Christianity and serving His will.

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Fighting the Good Fight

There is a battle going on, a war for souls, and it has been going on since almost the very beginning of time. When God created all things we are told that on the sixth day “God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). The Hebrew words here express just how good things were: they were perfect! God placed the man He had created in the midst of this paradise to work it and keep it (Genesis 2:15).

In the middle of the garden God placed the tree of knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:9). Why? Because God had created all things for the sole purpose of having a relationship with a something that could choose to love Him. So the tree was placed there and the single directive was given to man that of “every tree of the garden you are free to eat; but as for the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat of it; for as soon as you eat of it, you shall die” (Genesis 2:16-17). Therefore, God in loving kindness and grace had created a free moral agent and provided him with a paradise in which he could live forever and love God.

This is where the problem begins. The Devil shows up and tempts Eve. We do not know how long Adam and Eve where on earth before this happened, but it seems to me that Adam and Eve had avoided the tree prior to this satanic interruption. It was not until Satan lies to Eve about God, His commands, and His righteousness that Adam and Eve really even notice the tree. Did they know it was there? Sure they did, but we are told that Eve, “saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate” (Genesis 3:6).

From that day until the Lord returns to take His church home to the Father this war has and will continue to rage! Paul wrote by inspiration and said, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Each battle is the same! “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death” (James 1:13-15). You see the battle that Eve lost in the Garden of Eden is the same battle we fight every day! Paul said he himself fought this battle on a daily basis (Romans 7:15-20) and so he would “discipline” his body in order to “bring it into subjection” (1 Corinthians 9:27).

Only Jesus of Nazareth was ever able to defeat Satan (Matthew 4) but notice that the old Devil used the same battle tactics with Jesus that he used with Eve, Paul, and each and every other man to ever walk the face of the earth. He lies, misrepresents, and tempts us through the lusts of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). This gives us a fighting chance! Paul says we are not ignorant of Satan’s ways (2 Corinthians 2:11) and we are warned to both take up the “shield of faith” that we may be able to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one” (Ephesians 6:16) and to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Where does all this leave us? With the necessity of building a fortress! I want to leave you today with three areas in which each of our lives in which we need to consider fortification.

  1. Our Homes. Satan has our homes under attack. The wicked one is hammering away at the very foundation of the Christian home. We are being lied to and deceived into thinking that the father’s leadership is both unnecessary and inadequate. Homosexuality, adultery and other forms of fornication, pornography, gambling, alcohol, feminism, abuse (physical, emotional, and sexual), and a blatant disregard for God’s plan and structure (including letting the children rule the household) and destroying the home in our society.
  2. The Church. Satan not only is attacking the human household but also the household of God. False doctrine, division, apathy, unkindness, contention, selfishness, secularism, humanism, and socialism are all undermining the family of God.
  3. Your Soul. Satan wants you! He will lie to you, deceive you, tempt you and kill you! He does not have your best interest in mind only your immediate pleasure and ultimate demise! God gave you a soul and wants it to come home to Him, but Satan’s sole interest is in not allowing that to happen. So the ultimate war is for you! But we must never forget Satan hates us, but God loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for us so that we do not have to die.

So what do I do?

  1. Spend more time with my family (physical and spiritual). Your husband/wife needs you, your children need you, your brothers and sisters in Christ need you, and your Father needs you!
  2. Spend more time with the Word of God. The only decisive battle ever won was won by Christ and His weapon was the Word of God. Resisting Satan with an “It is written…” will send him fleeing in retreat (James 4:7).
  3. Spend more time in prayer. It is hard to sin while communicating with God!
  4. Don’t look at the tree! “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” (Psalm 101:3).

Don’t let Satan win!

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God Takes Credit

God is Amazing!

There is no cause worthwhile except the cause of Christ. The cause of Christ is simply the pursuit and spread of truth that originated in the God of the Bible. The greatness of God is exemplified in the phrase “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). What an awesome expression, God’s power is unlimited. Can you imagine a greater accomplishment in all of recorded history than the creation of the universe and all that is within it? NO! Of course not, because all that the human mind understands and knows has been established by what we have seen and understand about what exist. This is an important foundational truth in the real world that we may build a sense of understanding upon.

As we consider that which exist, we are forced to conclude that some great power beyond us has designed and created this great cosmos. As we seek for answers to this burning question we are forced to look at the explanation that God offers for all of this that does exist, God says —

Romans 1:16-23, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things” (KJV).

God further takes credit for determining the boundaries of man’s habitation —

Acts 17:24-26 – God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwells not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he gives to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation” (KJV).

God takes credit for making preparations for man’s fall —

Ephesians 1:4-5, According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will” (KJV).

God takes credit for controlling the time of the end of the universe —

2 Peter 3:10-14, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (KJV).

God takes credit for providing man’s salvation from sin —

John 3:16-17, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (KJV).

Ephesians 2:12, That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (KJV).

Why then, Will a person seek elsewhere for answers to the great questions of life? The only answer that really makes any sense is found in the Written Word of God. Therefore, let us seek the answer where it can be found and stop experimenting with ideals and philosophies that have originated in the minds of mere men.

As we consider the important things of life let us recognize that we need real, honest, and livable answers to the vast problems of life that we have to deal with today. I am continually amazed at the lack of concern expressed by many people today about their relationship to God and the society in which we live. Many people do not seem to care about the truly important issues of life, serving God, being godly parents, children obeying and submitting to parents, spouses remaining faithful to their wedding-day vows, and etc. I wonder what has happened to old time religion and old time morals and ethics.

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