The Promise

Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise.
-- Psalm 106:24

The Israelites doubted God when he told them to go into the land of Canaan, the promised land and take it. They feared the powers of the world and stood in stiff necked unbelief before God.

God has promised me Paradise through his gift of faith, through the work of his Son.

Here I am. I stand on the edge of "the promised land." Paradise. Do I doubt his promise? Do I fear death?

Bad News

"The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight."

Matthew 3:3

The "good news" doesn't always seem so good if one doesn't understand the "bad news" that precedes it.  Many live today that do not comprehend the meaning and significance of what Christ has done. I would submit that often these unsaved people are unmoved by Christ's death and resurrection, even though they have heard about it, because they fail to see their depraved state and/or their inability to rectify the situation through self work.  They do not believe the wrath of God remains upon them (John 3:36,  Eph 5:6). In fact, many do not believe God has wrath toward anyone -- that he loves and will provide good things for all in the end -- irrespective of one's love for Him and behavior. The "bad news" is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), God hates and cannot dwell with wickedness (Ps. 5:4, 5) and the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23). The wrath of God is therefore deserved by all. More "bad news" is that God's wrath must be exhausted for each sin that is committed by each one of us.  Therefore, if nothing absorbs God's wrath, we are in for a lot of pain -- and we deserve it.  This is the "bad news", that the wrath of God is coming, and his anger is aimed at us! As I was reading about John the Baptist this week, it appeared to me that John was the bearer of the "bad news" to his generation (and ours). He prepared the way of the Lord and made his paths straight by telling the people to repent and turn from their wicked ways because:  

"His (the Lord's) winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:12)

The fact is God's wrath for our sin can only be exhausted through punishment to us or to Jesus Christ. Every sin will be dealt with fully.  We can pay ourselves or Christ can pay for us, but someone will pay.  Who do you want to pay for your sins? Romans 6:23 begins with:  "The wages of sin is death" but ends with: "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." We can have eternal life only through faith in Christ and his propitiation (wrath absorption) as a gift.  Jesus comes after John and preaches the  "bad news" and the "good news", the gospel. 

I wondered this week how often we share our faith without really sharing the "bad news".  It seems "politically incorrect" in todays world to talk about hell or judgement. I know I often lean toward telling of the gospel without ever delving into the wrath of God.  But really, is not the "bad news" a necessary part of describing appropriately what Christ has done for us? John certainly thought so. 

Bread Alone

Man shall not live by bread alone but
    by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4

I was struck by this verse this morning as I prayed. A number of things popped out to me. First, what does it mean to "live"? Obviously, all men need food to exist in our current state. Without it we would starve. But is this verse speaking of another, fuller life? Jesus said, "I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly" (John 10:10).  Paul said, "The righteous shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17).  And, Jesus again said, "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John 14:6). Matthew 4:4 cannot be speaking of every man as not every man exists on this earth through sustenance on the word of God. So, I would submit that Jesus is speaking of a life that is unique to a believer and that that life is sustained, nurtured and/or advanced through a regular diet on the word of God and continues into eternity. The second observation I had was that Jesus is the Word of God. He is also the Bread of Life (John 6:48, 51). Not only is the scripture to be a regular source of life giving grace to a disciple, but Jesus himself is the ultimate fulfillment of scripture and the ultimate source of our "life". The third observation is that a follower of Christ can exist on worldly food without a reliance on scripture and Jesus. This is a often a life of dryness, worry and fruitlessness...a place I have ventured unfortunately long and often. Today, I am concentrating on feasting on Jesus Christ and His Word. What else is it that I need? 

Temptation

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
-Matthew 4:1

Observations:

1. Note that the Spirit leads Jesus into the wilderness. The wilderness here is a difficult physical place, a desert.
2. Note that the devil tempts Jesus to sin. The Spirit does not tempt (James 1:13) but allows Jesus to be tested by Satan. Note also that temptation is not sin, and that Jesus victoriously passes the test.

Application:

1. God may at times lead us into a "wilderness" even when we are not living in purposeful sin. This is always for God's glory and ultimately for our benefit (Romans 8:28). If sinless Jesus Christ was led by God into the desert, should we be surprised if we find ourselves there?
2. We are tempted by the world, our own sinful flesh and the devil. Jesus was tempted and did not sin. So too, we can be tempted without sinning to the glory of God.

Weighed Down

But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation* and drunkenness and cares of life and that day come upon you like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell upon the earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the son of man.
-Luke 21:34-36

*Dissipation: wasteful expenditure or consumption; indulgence in sensual pleasure

If I stand, let me stand on the promise that You will pull me through, and if I can't, let me fall on the grace that first brought me to You.
-Rich Mullins

Lord, have mercy on me, a great sinner.

The Soldier

Lord, my purpose is to glorify you - that is to obey, serve, worship and believe you. (Note: to love you is to obey you). As a "soldier" for Jesus Christ then I should not get involved in any affairs that hinder or limit that purpose (2 Timothy 2). Outside interests are ok as long as they are not sinful (disobedience) AND do not interfere with my ultimate purpose.