July 15 - Shaken, Not Stirred

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 22-24; Hebrews 12

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The earth-shaking Day of the Lord will leave many,
with no foundation of faith, quaking in their boots!

The alignment in our readings today is earth-shaking, literally! We’ve seen how accurate biblical prophecy is, particularly as it relates to the first appearance of the Messiah on planet Earth. To students of God’s Word, there should be no doubt that Jesus will come again. Many missed or misunderstood His first coming, but no one will miss the second. Unfortunately, while everyone will believe He is Lord in that moment, it will be too late to receive Him as Saviour.

Some struggle with the wrath of God we read about so often in the Old Testament. I must admit I do too. I much prefer to focus on the tender, merciful, compassionate ministry of Jesus we read about in the gospels. But we must always remember God is both merciful and just. Those who reject His gracious gift of salvation will face His judgment. The wrath Jesus endured for us on Golgotha will be poured out on the rest of the world. The world they love and trust in will be shaken to its core.

Compare these passages: The floodgates of the heavens are opened, the foundations of the earth shake. The earth is broken up, the earth is split asunder, the earth is thoroughly shaken. The earth reels like a drunkard, it sways like a hut in the wind; so heavy upon it is the guilt of its rebellion that it falls - never to rise again (24:18b-20).  See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens” (12:25-26).

The Day of The Lord will be terrifying to those who have no foundation, but Hebrews 12 ends with this promise to those of us who are part of His Kingdom: Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire (28). That is my prayer today!

July 14 - Faith is the Evidence

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 19-21; Hebrews 11

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The greatest evidence for the existence of God, and for the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, is our faith! 

We often hear from skeptics, “give us evidence for your faith!” I love to do that, because there is more than enough objective proof. But the greatest evidence for the existence of God and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is more subjective – it is our faith. Hebrews 11 starts with this truth: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It then illustrates the point with the “hall of faith,” an impressive list of Bible heroes whose lives and, in some cases, martyred deaths, provide irrefutable proof that there is a God. They obviously knew Him personally. When we want to introduce Jesus to those who don’t know Him, there is nothing more compelling than our own testimony.

As for objective proof, our readings in Isaiah provide a small sample. Most of us may skip through the prophecies about the nations surrounding Israel, dismissing them as irrelevant. But former skeptics, like Josh McDowell, came to faith because of seemingly insignificant passages like these. Check out his books on Evidence Demands a Verdict where he documents how these prophecies were fulfilled to the smallest detail.

The only mention of Sargon, King of Assyria, in Scripture (20:1), was considered a mistake by many secular historians (earlier editions of Encyclopedia Britannica said just that) because no other extrabiblical sources mentioned him. That was until French archaeologist, Paul Botta, discovered King Sargon’s 27 acre palace in Khorsabad, Iraq. Documents were found confirming not only his attacks against Ashdod, mentioned in Isaiah 20:1, but also his capturing of 27,290 Israelites mentioned in 2 Kings 17:5-6 (started with Shalmaneser but ended with Sargon). If you’ve ever wondered why the Bible includes so many facts and figures, truth is in the details. The Bible is the greatest archaeological document ever written!

Beyond the objective support is some powerful subjective evidence. It is my joy to work with people who have walked with Jesus for a long time, up to eight or nine decades. They may not be able to express everything they’ve experienced over that time, but the resilience and perseverance of their faith inspires me. God’s grace so evident in their lives confirms not only God’s existence, but His unfailing love and care for His children.

“Lord, knowing You is all the proof I need. I pray that my faith will become the evidence others may need to believe.”

July 13 - He Who Promised is Faithful

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 15-18; Hebrews 10

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Most of God’s promises are better understood
from an eternal perspective. 

A recent chapel at Buchanan focused on this passage:  Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful (10:23). There are more than 8,800 promises in the Bible, 85% of them from God to His people. But they can be confusing. When you are addressing seniors who are suffering from various chronic physical and mental conditions, your context must extend beyond this very temporary life on earth. Most of God’s promises are better understood from an eternal perspective (Heb. 11:13-16).

While I was reading through these passages and reflecting on that recent chapel, Jan was having her own church service via TV. She was listening to a popular prosperity teacher who bragged about God using him even though he had no seminary training, and then promptly took some promises of healing out of context. Maybe a course or two on hermeneutics might have helped him, his congregation, and TV audience avoid a sense of spiritual disillusionment the next time they experience a season of suffering.

During that chapel service we sang two classic hymns with very different back stories. The first was written by Kelso Carter, the epitome of real success. He could do it all: excellent student, star athlete, coach, teacher, pastor, musician, song writer, and medical doctor. His biggest challenge was an incurable heart condition, but after memorizing and quoting God’s promises on healing he was dramatically healed. His song “Standing on the Promises” came out of that miracle.

The other hymn was written by Thomas Chisholm, a very ordinary man born in a humble log cabin in the back woods of Kentucky. He too tried ministry as a career, but lasted only a year. He suffered from a chronic illness his entire life, selling insurance when he could to barely survive financially. Most of his senior years were spent in a nursing home in New Jersey. Among the few songs he wrote was one of my favourite hymns, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

“Lord, I will hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful, to sustain us during this temporary testing ground on earth and on to our promised destination in the life to come.”

July 12 - Pomp and Circumstance

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 11-14; Hebrews 9

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

The only Pomp with good Circumstances will be at
God’s coronation, when we lay our crowns at His feet. 

It was an ongoing debate at PLBC every graduation: some of our staff liked the sound of “Pomp and Circumstance” playing while our grads marched down the centre aisle. I always contended for a hymn like “Great is Thy Faithfulness;” there should be no pomp when students step into a life of ministry. We wouldn’t want them to face the circumstances of a pompous life.

Satan is the perfect, or should I say imperfect, illustration. In a rare passage (one of two, the other being Ezekiel 28), we learn about Lucifer (“Morning Star”), the archangel who was cast out of heaven (what started as a denouncement of the King of Tyre, a mere man, turns into a double prophecy, with a layer applying to a heavenly being). Satan’s pomp sent him to hell (14:11). Ours will lead to the same circumstance.

Satan was expelled from God’s presence because of his pride. He didn’t want to serve God; he wanted to be God (14:12-15). Solomon warned us: Pride goes before destruction; a haughty spirit before a fall (Prov. 16:18). Lucifer, aka. Satan, was the classic example. The captivity of Israel during the height of their arrogance, while Isaiah was prophesying, is another.

In glorious contrast, our reading in Hebrews offers the opposite circumstances for those who humbly follow behind Christ's selfless sacrifice.  Instead of being cast out of His presence, we who were on the outside looking in, are invited to come boldly before His throne. In fact, the curtain that once separated ordinary people from entering the Holy of Holies, was torn in two after Jesus became the final, perfect sacrifice (Mat. 25:51,52).

We get to it tomorrow, but here’s a sneak preview: Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (10:19-22).

“Lord, the only pomp with good circumstances will be Your coronation, when I get to lay any crowns I may have earned in this life at Your feet (Rev. 4:10).”

July 11 - Great Government

 Read today’s texts first: Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Trying to modify behaviour through reward and
punishment doesn’t work - Jesus introduced life-change based on transformation, not conformation. 

Just typing the above title gives me a warm feeling. While I’ve always tried to speak well of our human governments (complaining is a downer), the truth is, they are flawed! Criticizing government provides employment for newspaper and media outlets and fodder for lunchroom conversation. But what do we expect when we elect sinners to govern other sinners?

The day is coming, and from what I can see very soon, when Jesus will return. As sure as we are about His first arrival on earth (those who are unsure are ignorant of the obvious - see yesterday’s blog), we can be equally confident in His second coming. The prophesies continue in our reading today:  For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace  (9:6,7).

Our Hebrews reading helps us understand why this new government will be so great. We will no longer have to rely on outward compliance with written laws. Trying to modify behaviour through reward and punishment doesn’t work very well, in parenting young children or governing immature adults. But Jesus introduced a whole new covenant, life-change based on transformation, not conformation.

“This is the covenant I will make with [my people] after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. No longer will a man teach his neighbour, or a man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disappear (8:10-13).

“Lord, knowing You personally makes all the difference. Knowing Your blood was shed to make this new covenant possible, that You love me that much, means I can trust You to rule in my life!”

July 10 - Jesus: Accept No Substitutes

 Read today’s texts first: Micah 5-7; Hebrews 7

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life -
accept no substitutes. 

I just saw this title on a church sign and it ties in beautifully to our readings today. It also confirmed why I’m glad I didn’t pursue chaplaincy in a secular environment. When I first began to explore part-time chaplaincy as a possible retirement ministry, I discovered secular positions paid well but the cost of compromising my faith was too high. There is nothing more gratifying than being paid to talk about Jesus all day with staff, residents and family members. He is the Messiah, the Son of God, the Way, the Truth and the Life. When people’s eternal destination is on the line, we can accept no substitutes.

I recently spoke in chapel from Hebrews 10:23, “He who promised is faithful.” Then we defended that verse with the evidence of fulfilled messianic promises. Over 300 detailed prophesies came to pass in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Micah 5:2 is one of these remarkable verses, written 700 years before Jesus was born: But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

Not only did Micah predict the town where Jesus would be born, but he described his existence as eternal, with no beginning, a reference to God being His Father. This is the qualifier the writer of Hebrews uses to explain His role as our High Priest: For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah, and in regard to that tribe Moses said nothing about priests. And what we have said is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life. For it is declared: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek”.... because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood (7:14-24).

“Lord, I can come to the Father through You, my High Priest. You proved who You are to the world, and to me personally. I will accept no substitutes!” 

July 9 - Pity the Prodigals

 Read today’s texts first: Micah 1-4; Hebrews 6

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

We often have to reach rock bottom
before we reach up to God again for help! 

As we read through the spiritual decline of Israel and the harsh words in Hebrews about apostasy, it becomes clear: it just might be better to be a pagan than a prodigal, at least in the short run. Those who don’t believe in God seem to struggle less with guilt and shame. The Bible says their consciences are “seared” (1 Tim. 4:2) – they’re basically numb. Recent readings in the psalms suggest that the wicked may also be more prosperous (73:3-12).

Let’s face it, those who have experienced the goodness of God and then walk away know what they’re missing. On top of that, they have people praying for them, prophets warning them, and God constantly trying to humble them to bring them to repentance. When we become arrogant and think we know better than God, we often have to reach rock bottom before we reach up to God again for help!

Remember the pig slop moment in the story Jesus told about the prodigal son (Luke 15:13-17). God disciplines those He loves, especially those who once loved Him (Heb. 12:6,7).  It is hard for parents to watch their prodigals suffer, but it is an important part of the process. It’s a good indication that God is answering our prayers. It may just get worse before it gets better, but don’t stop praying. The first three chapters of Micah seem pretty bleak but Israel and Judah both needed to be taken into captivity before they would ask God to set them free.

The promise in chapter four may encourage both the prodigals and their parents: “In that day,” declares the Lord, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation.”  The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever....now many nations are gathered against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!” But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan (4:6,7,11,12).

“Lord, You do indeed have a plan for Your prodigals and we will never give in or give up praying for Your plan to prevail.”