Not Withheld

If you are familiar with the scriptures you probably know that our God is a God who forgives. When we sin, there is forgiveness and restoration available to us. Because of his grace, even if we continue to fall, he still loves us and he still desires for us to restore our relationship with him through repentance. But Paul warns that even though we know that “where sin abounds, grace much more abounds”, we shouldn’t use that truth as a license to sin. And Psalms takes it one step further. In chapter 84, verse 11, we’re told that when we are right with the Lord; when our walk is blameless, there is no good thing he will withhold from us. It says:

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.”

In the story of the prodigal son, the faithful son was upset that his brother, who rejected then returned to his father, was celebrated with a fattened calf, a ring and new clothes. But the father reminded him that everything the father has belongs to the faithful son. In this statement we too are reminded that “no good thing does the father withhold from those whose walk is blameless”. So if you have sinned and disobeyed the Lord, or if you have turned from him, I want to remind you that there is forgiveness through repentance. But if your walk is strong with the Lord; if you are faithful and blameless before him, remember that there is no good thing he will withhold from you.

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Often times we focus on how forgiving our God is, as well we should. Because all of us have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, we all need and depend on that forgiveness. You might be in need of that forgiveness today. If you are, I encourage you to humble yourself, ask God to forgive you and repent (or turn away) from your sins. But if your walk is blameless; if you are right before God, then remember this truth from Psalms: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” Being blameless doesn’t mean that we are sinless. Everyone sins. No, being blameless is walking in step with the Spirit in as much as it is possible with us, which is a goal that everyone should pursue.

Approach God

In the Old Testament, when there were kings who led nations, if someone were to approach a king without being asked by the king, it could mean their death. Even if one of the king’s wives were to approach him without being called, the same rule would apply. But with our God, who is King of all Kings, we are told that we can approach him with freedom and confidence. Paul tells the Ephesians in chapter 3, verse 12:

“In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”

So in Jesus, and through faith in Jesus we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Just like a child might approach their earthly father, assuming their father is loving and kind, we are also offered the privilege to approach God, who is loving and kind. Paul tells us that we can approach him with freedom and confidence. We don’t have to worry whether he will allow us to approach, and we don’t have to fear that we might catch him in a bad mood and that he might kill us like earthly kings had the authority to do. No, if we have faith in Jesus, we can come to him with freedom and confidence. We must have faith because faith is the first ingredient in producing any true believer. The Bible reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please God. So if you have faith in Jesus, this verse is for you. I encourage you not to take this privilege for granted. We can approach almighty God without fear of being killed for doing so. In fact, we are told that we are invited to come to him; that we can approach God with freedom and confidence.

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In Jesus and through faith in Jesus we may approach God with freedom and confidence. If there is anything weighing on your heart or on your mind, you can bring it to God. We are granted the privilege to approach him with freedom and confidence. The God of all creation wants to be in relationship with you. He offered his son as a way for us to have that relationship. Every time you pray to God, it is only because of that relationship that he will hear you and allow you to make your appeal to him. It is also our privilege to praise him, to lift him up and to worship him. So I encourage you to take advantage of this truth. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Enter Peace

Have you ever heard the phrase, “only the good die young”? Actually, there is a bit of biblical truth to that saying. You may not have realized this, but the Bible explains that there are times when God may choose to have a righteous, upright person die. And even if we can’t understand why, through our limited human understanding, it may, in fact, be an act of Godly mercy. It may be that God is bringing them into eternal glory early to spare them from evil; allowing them to enter peace and find rest from this life. Isaiah lays it out like this in chapter 57, verses 1 and 2, which says:

“The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away, and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil. Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.”

These verses brings to mind the persecuted church; believers who are tortured and imprisoned because of their faith in Christ. Could it be that God may give many of these believers rest from their persecution by taking them home to be with him? Right before Stephen was stoned to death for his faith, the Bible says that he “looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God”. That sounds like an infinitely better destination than what he was about to face. And God knows that for some, bringing them into heaven before evil, such as this, can befall them is a mercy as well as a blessing, allowing them to enter into peace and find rest. So when you hear of a good and upright person dying young, consider that it might be that God is calling them home to spare them from evil. This may cause us pain as we mourn for them, but it could be nothing less than the merciful love of our God in action.

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When faithful, upright believers unexpectedly die, it can be difficult for us to understand. We inevitably ask “why”; why did something so bad have to happen to someone so good and so young? It could be that it rains on the just and the unjust alike; that bad things just happen sometimes, no matter how righteous or good we might be. Or it might be part of God’s plan; that God’s ways are higher than our ways and for some reason that we can’t yet see, a greater good is planned to come out of such a tragedy. Or, it could be what Isaiah outlined in chapter 57. It could be that out of God’s love and mercy, he is sparing that person from impending evil, and bringing them into a place of peace and rest. In any case, God is the potter and we are the clay. It isn’t our place to question his sovereignty. Our job is to place our trust in him even in the midst of tragedy. Our job is to have faith that he knows what is best.

Generation Lost

About a year ago, I read a book explaining how within recent years, generation after generation of humanity considers pursuing Christianity less and less. Statistics show that today, our youth are more inclined to abandon the faith as they move through life, or at least become less of a “practicing” Christian. In the Old Testament, that pattern was evident as well. It seemed as though with every new king, the Israelites became more pagan and more opposed to God. And it didn’t take very long for that trend to begin. God led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and brought them into the promised land. Joshua led the Israelites, taking over a land meant to establish their people for generations. But once Joshua and his generation died, things changed. It says in Judges 2, verse 10: 

“After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the Lord nor what he had done for Israel.”

It was this generation who turned from the one true God and began worshipping pagan gods. And for the most part, generation after generation of Israelites who once followed God whole-heartedly, turned their backs on him. Is this what we’re facing in America today? Are we witnessing a generation who neither knows God, nor what he has done for their fathers and grandfathers? It sure looks that way to me. That is why it is so important for believers to pass their faith on to their children; to remind them of who God is and what he has done, so that they will follow him, and their children and grandchildren will follow him as well. If you are one who was raised not knowing the Lord or what he has done, I encourage you to stop the pattern of denial. I encourage you to turn to him today.

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When Joshua and his generation died, another generation grew up who neither knew the Lord nor what he had done for Israel. I don’t know about you, but I see that trend occurring in America, and it is alarming and sad. Later in the Old Testament, there were a couple of kings who stopped that pattern. They turned to God and served him like their forefathers once did. So I encourage you, if you have children, or when you have children, make it your mission to pass along the hope you have in Jesus to them. And if you are one who has turned your back on God, I encourage you to return to him today. Finally, if you are following Christ, pray for our youth that we will not see another generation lost.

Plain Truth

I think it is a blessing and a curse that we have so many churches in America, that it seems there should be no excuse for anyone to have not heard the truth of God’s word. It is a blessing because in America, we don’t have to go very far before we are reminded of God by seeing him represented on buildings bearing his name. But it may also be a curse because not all churches are equal. Not all churches represent God in a way that truly reflects who he is. Not all churches support, and hold true to, the entire Bible. And some churches have resorted to using gimmicks, deception, or they even distort the word of God in order to grow their numbers. This can make it extremely difficult for those who are seeking salvation to hear the plain truth from the Holy scriptures. Paul made sure the Corinthians understand that the word of God speaks for itself. It doesn’t need us to distort it or to deceive people with a bait and switch. It says is second Corinthians 4, verse 2:  

“Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

Paul understood that the plain truth of the Bible is what we need. It doesn’t need any additional help to reach the hearts of people, because the Bible is most powerful when we let it speak for itself. Churches who try to lure people in with gimmicks or deception, churches who distort the word of God, or churches who have a different agenda than sharing the plain truth about God should be avoided. I encourage you to evaluate your church. Does it proclaim the plain truth of God’s word? This is not a time for the church to produce spiritually thin Christians. We need the plain truth of God’s word, because any other version or method is distorting what God intended for his people.

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The Bible tells us that God’s word will not return void. In other words, when the plain truth of God’s word is shared, he will use it to affect lives; he will use it to draw men unto himself. We’re making a big mistake when we think we need to revise God’s word to better appeal to our time or culture, or when church becomes a comedy act or a performance in an effort to make it more fun. We do not have to convince people to come to the Father because we’re not the ones who draw men to him. The Bible is clear that God draws men unto himself. Our job is to proclaim the truth plainly, as Paul puts it, without changing it and without compromise. Any other strategy is of the flesh.