Precious SeedPreaching the word, in season and out of season; reproving, rebuking, and exhorting, with complete patience and teaching.

To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:31-32

Sorry for the extra long posting this week, but I’m a little wound up.  See, I’m pretty sure someone is yanking my chain.

The other day I found a book anonymously left outside my office. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love books. First I checked the authors’ names. They were familiar, but I couldn’t remember reading anything by them or about them. Next, I turned to the back cover to see which “famous people” were endorsing the book. This usually gives you a pretty good idea of the book’s theology. When I saw that both Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Community Church) and Robert Schuller (Crystal Cathedral) both had nice things to say about this book my initial thought was, “more seeker-friendly, purpose-driven, feel-good, consumer-minded Christianity”. Just what we need… not!

I’m only two chapters into the book and I’m already a little disturbed.

The authors ask what comes to mind when you think about the following list: (1) go to church, (2) study the Bible, (3) pray, (4) give money to the church, and (5) avoid worldly pleasure. They say,

“Did you think ‘Christian’? Not so exciting. If that’s what being a Christian is about, then a lot of other options will seem more appealing.”

Do they mean to imply that not going to church, not studying the Bible, not praying, not giving money to the church, and not avoiding worldly pleasure should somehow be appealing to Christians? I certainly hope not! I’d like to give the authors the benefit of the doubt, but they go on to imply that the above list actually describes a disciple – but not as Jesus would describe a disciple, but rather as the Pharisees would describe one.

Let’s be clear. To be a “Christian” means to be a follower (or disciple) of Christ. “Disciple” (’mathetes’ in Greek) literally means “learner”, but not in the sense of someone who just learns facts. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testaments states that, “a ‘disciple’ was not only a pupil, but an adherent; hence they are spoken of as imitators of their teacher.” Jesus Himself confirms this view in John 8:31-32. “To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, ‘If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’” I might learn the facts of Algebra, but they won’t change the way I live my everyday life. However, I have learned some simple facts about gravity. (1) It hurts when I fall down. (2) It hurts every time. (3) The further I fall, the more it hurts. These facts have changed the way I live my life. In a real way I “hold” to the teaching of gravity more intensely than I “hold” to the teaching of Algebra and people can see the difference in the way I live my life (by not jumping off tall buildings).

So, according to Jesus, a ‘true’ disciple is one that holds to his teaching (i.e. follows it in such a way that it changes the way they live their life). It would seem logical that a true disciple of Jesus would live a life consistent with the teachings of Jesus and the men He specifically commissioned as His Apostles. Let’s see what they have to say about the items in the authors’ list.

Going to Church?

He [Jesus] went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. (Luke 4:14, emphasis mine)

As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures (Acts 17:2, emphasis mine)

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)

Studying the Bible?

Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? (Mark 12:24)

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He [Jesus] explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Romans 15:4)

Pray?

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (Matt 5:44, emphasis mine)

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt 6:6, emphasis mine)

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. (Luke 5:16, emphasis mine)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:16-18, emphasis mine)

Give Money to the Church?

Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything-all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41-44)

“But how terrible it will be for you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you completely forget about justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things. (Luke 11:42)

The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. (Acts 11:29)

After an absence of several years, I [Paul] came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings. (Acts 24:17)

Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. ?On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. (1 Cor 16:1-2)

Avoid Worldly Pleasure

The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. (Luke 8:14)

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. (Phillipians 3:17-19)

Obviously, just because someone does these things does not mean that they are a Christian. However, it is irresponsible for any teacher (or author) to imply that Jesus is not concerned with our behavior. Jesus wants us to be holy, just as He is holy. We desire to live holy lives not because we’re trying to earn our salvation with good deeds, but because we love Jesus and want to be just like Him.

Let’s live our lives according to the scriptures and according to the example of our Master.

Pastor Jim Stowe

If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

I Corinthians 3:12-14

Within 60 years, unless Jesus returns before then, I’ll probably be dead.

My friends and family will lower my body into the ground, cover me with soil, and place a simple stone marker engraved with my name at the head of my grave. The “tent” of my body which I inhabited for my brief stay on earth will begin to return to the dust from which we are all formed. Some may grieve my absence, but most will be comforted with the knowledge that my spirit will have gone to be with my Lord Jesus Christ, someday to be united to a new body formed just like His – a body that will never die or decay. But the fact remains that my time on Earth will be finished.

100 years from now few people will even know that I existed. Memories of my life may linger on in the minds of my children, grandchildren, and perhaps great-grandchildren, but those memories will be slowly crowded out by memories of their own lives. My tombstone will have faded as wind and rain gradually erase any trace of my name from the marble. The possessions that I spent a lifetime acquiring will have found new homes and new owners. Organizations that once relied on me will have filled my position with new people. If I’ve produced anything tangible, like authoring a book, or poem, or song, some copies may remain; forgotten or discarded in a library or someone’s attic or garage-sale box.

Within 200 years no one living will even remember my name. It may remain inscribed on some archaic legal document, like a property deed. But by then it will be only an anachronism, of no real interest or value to anyone – just a curiosity. None of the possessions that were once so precious to me will remain. They will all have been consumed by fire, lost, or simply worn out and discarded. Things that I have built with my own hands will have been torn down and new structures will stand in their places. Vistas and views that I once treasured will be changed by the inevitable forward march of time. Few of the organizations that consumed so much of my time will still exist, and those that do persist will certainly not remember my contributions.

If Jesus delays His return, within 1000 years I am confident that there will be not one single, solitary shred of physical evidence that I ever existed on this planet.

However, I will still exist.

And not only will I still exist, but I will be fully conscious and forever in the presence of Jesus. And not only I, but every human soul who has ever existed will continue to live forever for all eternity – either in Paradise with Jesus or in the eternal torment of Hell with Satan and his angels. Our destiny (eternal life) is certain.  Only our destination remains in question.

We spend so much of our lives concentrating on things that, with respect to eternity, are so trivial. We pour so much effort into our homes, careers, hobbies, possessions, crusades, agendas, etc. It’s as though we are frantically trying to do all that we can to leave our mark, to somehow say to those who will come after us, “Remember me, I was here. Look at all I did.” The grim reality is practically nothing that we do here on earth will survive for more than a few years after our death.

Our only hope for a true and lasting legacy lies in those things we do for our Lord Jesus which directly impact the lives and souls of the people who we encounter every day. Jesus cautioned his disciples to, “…store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:20). When we impact another person’s life by sharing Jesus with them (either by word or action) we can know that we have done something that will last forever.

Because in the end, the only “things” that will last for eternity are people. Let’s invest wisely by ministering Jesus to them, and by doing so lay up for ourselves treasures in heaven.

Pastor Jim Stowe

“He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the darkness, each at the shrine of his own idol? They say, ‘The LORD does not see us; the LORD has forsaken the land.’ “

Ezekiel 8:12

Ezekiel was enduring captivity in Babylon. The nation of Judah had been defeated by King Nebuchadnezzar. Their king, Jehoiachin, had been made a prisoner and Jehoiachin’s uncle had been installed in Jerusalem as a puppet king who ruled at Nebuchadnezzar’s whim. Long ago God had brought His people out of slavery in Egypt and given them a land of their own, just as He had promised to Abraham. However, because of the people’s unfaithfulness to Yahweh and their worship of other gods they were once again enslaved by a foreign power. This judgment on Judah had come only after a similar judgment had fallen on the northern kingdom of Israel, when that kingdom was overthrown by the Assyrians. Anyone would think that God’s people would have learned the consequences of worshipping idols.

In Chapter eight, Ezekiel is taken in a vision to the temple in Jerusalem. There he is shown a horrible sight – an idol has been set up at the very entrance to the inner court of the temple. Ezekiel must have been horrified. In this holy place where God has promised His people that He would dwell with them in a special way, they had broken the first two of God’s most sacred laws – worshipping anything but the one true God by setting up an idol. Ezekiel’s heart must have been broken. Clearly the remnant that God had graciously allowed to remain in Jerusalem had not learned the foolishness of idol worship. Imagine Ezekiel’s shock when he was told by his guide, “…you will see things that are even more detestable.” (verse 6)

Ezekiel is then shown a hole in the wall and told to dig. He uncovers a door and is told to, “…go in and see the wicked and detestable things they are doing [there].” Inside Ezekiel finds the walls covered with images of crawling things, detestable animals, and all the idols of Israel. As he presses further in he sees 70 of the elders of Israel, the very people who should be leading the people in repentance and righteousness, each one offering incense and worshipping at the shrine of their own idol. God then reveals to Ezekiel what these wicked leaders are saying in their hearts, “The LORD does not see us: the LORD has forsaken the land.”

How often do we attempt to hide our sin, not only from those around us, but from God Himself? What foolishness! The same God that we rely on to be by our side when we need Him most is surely right there when we sin. How could be possibly think to hide anything from Him? How many times do we put on a “righteous face” for our Christian brothers and sisters when we know that deep in our hearts we’re harboring secret sin? In James 5:16 we’re commanded to “…confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” I have discovered that there is great freedom in confessing my sins and asking for prayer from my Christian brothers. It frees to live a life without pretense. I no longer need to put up a false front so that others think I’m better than I really am. Like Paul, I want my life to be a “letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.” (2 Cor. 3:2). Our lives should be open books.

I urge you, if you have sin in your life, turn to God in repentance and allow the blood of Jesus to wash you inside and out. He wants to restore you and He already knows what you’ve done. Believe me; you won’t be taking God by surprise.

Pastor Jim Stowe