Paid

“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8-10

I had the opportunity to take a couple of people out to lunch a few weeks ago.  We visited what really is my favorite restaurant, and along with good food had great conversation about evangelism and outreach at our church.  The lunch came to an end, the server brought the bill, and our conversation was nonstop. The conversation continued in the car on the way back to the church.  Great lunch.

As I was winding my afternoon down, a reached into my shirt pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.  It puzzled me.  But as I examined it I was struck by what it was.  It was the bill from the restaurant.

That I didn’t pay.

So I packed things up, trogged out to my car, and drove back to the restaurant.   Sheepishly I walked in and up to the cash register (which was in a separate bar area).  Taped to the side of the register was a duplicate of my bill.  I looked around to see if there was also a picture from a surveillance video of me in the cross hairs of a target.  There wasn’t.

I spoke to the woman who walked up to the cash register, and explained and apologized for what I had done.  She gave me sort of an awkward grin and said, “It happens about once a week, and 90% of the people comeback to pay.  That is why we had your bill taped to the register.”   I gratefully paid my fare, found my server and handed to him personally a little larger tip than I normally would have left.  And profusely apologized the whole time.  The restaurant folk handled it with grace.

Which reminds me to some extent of the grace we have in Jesus Christ.  “If we confess our sins…” John writes, “he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

On a daily basis I know I owe all I have to Jesus. It’s like a debt so large that I could never hope to dig up enough money and run back to the eatery and pay it off.  The news is nothing but good though.  As much as I owe, I am reminded daily that the debt has already been paid.  On the cross.  By Jesus.  The bill was taken to the cross with him and was buried in the tomb.

I owe a debt.  And is has been paid. In full.

So I can have life.  In abundance.

I have been told that I can return to the restaurant; I will be welcomed.  And there is one greater that welcomes me and has already counted the cost.

Tomorrow

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” - Matthew 24:36

I received an interesting letter in the mail last week.  It was from a retired pastor (I discerned after a little internet snooping) from the middle of the state. It was a bit long and convoluted, but seems that this fellow has determined without a shadow of the doubt that Jesus is coming back in 2025.

It was imperative, according to the letter, that I get my congregation ready for this event which of course, would herald in the end times.  Guess I’m grateful to have 11 years notice. 

Matthew 24 is freighting if you really look at it. Admittedly, I don’t understand all Jesus is saying; perhaps it is that I don’t want to understand.  The things about “they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death,” and “when you see the abomination of desolation…let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains” and “And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another” tend to go against my personal theology, which probably means I need to sharpen my theology according to the Word of God.

Here is what I know.  I doubt Jesus is coming back in 2025, and Scripture certainly backs me up when I say no-one knows.  I am praying he comes back sooner.  So should any believer.  Our goal on earth is to be ready for whenever the time comes, to be secure in Jesus Christ and ultimately not worry about when he is coming back tomorrow.  If you are really one of his, the Word is clear that “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.” (visit John 10:27-29)

My main concern at this point and time of my life is making sure of and being secure that I am one of His sheep.  That should be your concern also.  The rest will take care of itself.  It will. 

Come Lord Jesus; and tomorrow is OK. And when tomorrow comes, may we be found in Him.

Defense

“but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect….” 1 Peter 3:15

I’ve always liked this passage.  It’s about speaking truth, but doing so in love (visit Ephesians 4:15).

But it is a passage that should make all believers take a bit of pause. Clearly, we need to be able to articulate the hope that is in us; and then be able to defend that hope when challenged about it.

           

Christianity is a blind faith…said no one ever.

Instead, trusting and believing in Jesus Christ requires some evidence of truth, thinking through the evidence, and then being able to “make a defense” regarding what we know and trust.

In short, faith in Jesus is like the perfect bridging of head and heart.  It’s not enough to ‘know’ about Jesus. His Spirit does have to reside about 18 inches below our heads.  In the same way nobody is asked to blindly accept Christ in their hearts without pondering the evidence for doing so.  We are encouraged to use that area that rests some eighteen inches above our hearts as well.

In your life, what is the evidence that you know and trust that might be challenged?  Have you pondered how you would articulate the “reason for the hope that is in you” when that challenge arises?

Maybe these early days of Lent might be a good time to stop and take a few minutes and ponder.  What is your faith ultimately in? Why have you placed your faith in that?  What evidence, historically or experientially, do you have for what you believe in?

And be prepared to make the defense.  It’s a biblical imperative.   

Christian

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

1 John 4:11-12

What is acting like a Christian? I have long pondered the question ever since years ago someone pointed out to me non-Christians who they felt acted more “Christian” than most Christian they knew.

How does one act Christian then?

The answer could really be complex and involve study and prayer and spiritual discipline and displaying much fruit of the Spirit.  Or it could be simply 1 John 4:11-12.

Love one another.

All the other complex issues aside, love one another. That is how you ‘act like a Christian.’ 

Can non-Christians love one another?  Yes, in Reformed circles it’s called a ‘common grace’ of God and if you are like me I rejoice whenever I see common grace displayed.  Whenever. And it hurts when professing Christians don’t show it.

Because for Christians, it is the mark, the indelible stamp on our foreheads that all should see.  Love, in action.  We have no excuse for not loving one another; it is the mark of God abiding in us.  Struggle with it. Grow in it. But let your life show it abundantly.

Be a Christian.  Love one another.

Love

“…it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” - 1 Corinthians 13: 6-7

I know. It’s Valentine’s Day.  I’m a hopeless non-romantic, I guess. Don’t get me wrong, I love my wife, Susie. Dearly.  She’s had to put up with me for over 31 years now.

But the passage above is not really about romantic love, although if you are truly in love with someone one would hope and pray that those qualities of not rejoicing at wrongdoing, but rejoicing with the truth; bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things are an integral part of your relationship.  That is the singular reason that this passage gets read so often at weddings.

But the passage really shows a reflection of the qualities that really are the attributes of how God that sees and approaches us.  Because He does not rejoice when we do wrong, but celebrates when truth is shown.  He bears with us through all things (the good, bad, sweet and smelly). He loves when we believe all the things we have been taught about him, and trust, through faith, in the hope that has been presented to us through his Word.

And when I really think about myself and my foibles and shortcomings, I read that love “endures all things.”

All things.  Well that’s good, because I certain the Lord has been tested by myself far, far too often.

It’s about love.  A calling and consuming love of our creator towards the creation. Which is you.  And me.  In spite of ourselves.

God’s love for us “does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Happy Valentine’s Day.