The Heaton File

So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.” He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:24-25)

Jesus Is A Sinner

Blindness is a harsh reality for many people. It is much harder on those who are blinded later in life, as they were able to see but now darkness closes in on them. To some degree, there is a sense of mercy of being born blind, as the person never knows what it is like to experience sight. As Jesus was passing by one Sabbath day, a man born blind from his birth became the object lesson of one of the great events in the ministry of the Lord. His disciples thought maybe the man or his parents had sinned since he was allotted such a terrible ordeal in life. Using the opportunity to show His power as the Christ, Jesus healed the man of his blindness. This caused a stir among the people and he was brought before the Pharisees. They inquired how he was healed of his blindness. Do not miss the point: the religious leaders never denied a miracle Jesus performed – they only argued His authority.

The former blind man gave the simple facts of the case: Jesus put clay on his eyes, he washed and now he could see. He had been blind from birth. There was never any hope of him to see. His parents had resigned themselves since birth this child was going to be blind for all of his life. There were no corrective surgeries. No cures. He was blind but now he could see. The response of the Pharisees is astonishing. Their immediate answer to an obvious miracle of impossibility was that Jesus was not from God because He healed a blind man from birth on the Sabbath day. Do not miss the point: they never argued the miracle! To the religious leaders there must be some mistake. It seems this man was never blind so they called his parents. The parents were afraid of the Jews and refused to answer. Calling the blind man again, the Pharisees boldly proclaimed that Jesus was a sinner. After a futile argument with the man, he was cast out as a liar.

Blindness is cruel with the physical eye but when darkness takes over the heart, how deep is that darkness. The religious leaders were so blinded they could not and would not accept the power of Jesus. There was ample proof the man was blind from birth. The neighbors knew he had been blind and this was the reason they brought him to the Pharisees in the first place. The conclusion of the religious leaders was to smear the name of Jesus by calling Him a sinner and that – although a miracle had been done – Jesus was a sinner by restoring the sight of a man born blind from birth on the Sabbath day. Amazing blindness.

What evidence in the life of Jesus suggested He had been anything but a man without fault? On the surface, there was never a suggestion for more than thirty years anyone had a bad thing to say about Jesus. In the eyes of the people, Jesus of Nazareth had never done anything wrong.  Whether they accepted the fact He was the Son of God, He never broke a single law. His healing was widely known. Often the Pharisees would see the miracle before their eyes. When they called the former blind man in, they exhorted him to give glory to God because they knew Jesus was a sinner. How sad the blindness of those who stood in judgment. The evidence of Jesus was so clear they could not see.

The Bible is the testimony of Jesus Christ. Genesis declares the beginning of Christ and throughout all Holy Scrip, the Son of God is proclaimed in glory as the Revelation opens the gates of Heaven. Blindness still prevails in the hearts of men who can see the Bible is a book unchanged from the beginning but they still declare Jesus a sinner. The Bible is a powerful message but in the blind hearts of men, they refuse to accept that Jesus of Nazareth is the Son of God. The world says Jesus is a sinner. That makes Him just a man and tries to justify denying Him. Sadly, the one they call a sinner will one day be the Judge. Do you believe in the Son of God?

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said wouldn’t be a great moral teacher. He’d either be a lunatic – on a level with a man who says he’s a poached egg – or else he’d be the Devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. (C. S. Lewis, The Case for Christianity, 1943)

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. (1 John 4:7-11)

Love Is Of God

Love is defined more by action than words. God has always told man that He loves him. That became painfully clear when Jesus died on the cross. The Son of God lived a perfect life. As hard as that is to understand, Jesus never did anything wrong. This is not a myth but a reality. What is more difficult to understand is that Jesus of Nazareth was God and He died for man. His love for His Father was so immense He left His place of glory coming to earth to suffer at the hands of what He created. Love is of God because God is love and God’s love is a demonstrated love. To know God is to know what love means. It is impossible to embrace a knowledge of God without grasping a hint of how wonderful the love of God is toward man. The more the love of God permeates the soul the deeper the reality of how great that love is. Love is of God.

The relationship of man to his fellow brother is based upon the understanding of how great the love of God has been demonstrated. Love for one another is not a choice but a command from one who gave His only begotten Son as a sacrifice. We are to be of love because God is of love. Loving one another comes from a character built upon the love God has for us. Did Jesus die for holy and righteous perfected people? The Lord died for sinners, enemies and unrepentant humanity dying in the mire of sin. Did man deserve to die? Yes but the mercy of God saw beyond his plight to save him in grace. Love was demonstrated as undeserved as it was when Jesus pleaded with His Father to forgive those who were killing Him. Are we ready to do that with our brother? Love is of God.

There is a purifying effect when love is the motive in our relationship with brethren. We judge less harshly, less often and find more patience. If God loved us so much to give us His Son then we also ought to love one another. Keeping the commandments of God shows our love for Him and our love for one another unveils a heart measured by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. We are brethren. Let us love in word and deed so the light of God’s love will shine forth in our kindness to those we share in the heavenly pursuit of righteousness. The reason is simple. God is of love.

The love we give away is the only love we keep. (Elbert Hubbard; 1859-1915; Notebook)

And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” So he answered, “Go.” Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.” So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it. (2 Kings 6:1-7)

The Floating Axe-Head

Miracles are plenty in the Bible. They happened during the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, the period of the prophets, life of Jesus and the early church. There were many reasons for miracles. In Egypt, they showed the power of God over the gods of Egypt. Miracles were used seeking to bring the children of God to repentance. Jesus affirmed He was the Son of God by the power of the Holy Spirit  and He could forgive sins. The early church confirmed the word through the power of miracles. In the days of Elisha, a most extraordinary miracle took place.

The sons of the prophets needed more room to live. They asked Elisha to allow them to build a humble place out of trees found near the Jordan. It was also insisted the prophet come with them to this work. Everything was going well until one prophet accidently let his axe-head slip off into the water. The Jordan was very swift and deep. Retrieving the axe-head would be impossible. Grieved at his misfortune, the prophet cried out to Elisha the axe-head was not his for he had borrowed it. The situation was not serious. This was not uncommon for a loosely secure axe-head to fly off the handle. The Law of Moses made a provision about flying axe-heads. Elisha could have told the prophet there was nothing to do and not to worry. The prophet could have told the one he borrowed the axe-head what had happened and he was sorry – not an earth-shattering event. This was not the case of the prophet or the son of the prophet.

Finding where the axe-head fell, Elisha threw a stick into the water and the iron axe-head floated to the top. Instructed to retrieve the axe-head, a joyous man secured his borrowed treasure. The miracle itself seems unusual. Why go to the trouble? Most miracles are assumed to be for a greater cause like afflicting the king of Egypt or prove to harden hearts Jesus was the Christ or the preaching of the gospel was the truth of the Lord. This miracle was only to retrieve an axe-head. Looking a little deeper, one can see some important lessons in the floating axe-head.

The son of the prophet was a humble man who had to borrow an axe to do his labor. He cared deeply for his responsibility and the care of his neighbor’s axe. When the axe-head fell into the water, he could have told the one he borrowed from how sorry he was but there was nothing he could do. The loss was grievous for a man in those days. An axe was a life-blood of survival. No doubt, it was of great value to the one who owned the axe. The prophet cared deeply how this would affect his friend. His heart was concerned for his neighbor. It was not just an axe-head; it was how he had let down his friend.

Elisha was of like mind as the son of the prophet. He could have told his fellow prophet that losing axe-heads happens a lot and there was nothing to do. Hearing the cry of the prophet, Elisha realized how important this was. He had the power to raise the axe-head and he did what he could do to bring solace to the man. It seems clear Elisha was doing this more for the man than the axe-head. Taking a stick, he threw it in the same place the axe-head fell and the axe-head floated to the top. Joy flooded the heart of the young prophet as he retrieved the borrowed possession. By God’s power, the prophet was able to return his borrowed axe to his friend with a greater sense of responsibility and a lot of joy. A final lesson is what the other prophets saw. They saw how their fellow prophet cared for the borrowed axe. Then they witnessed the kind compassion of their mentor, Elisha. This would make an impression upon them. Benevolence comes in many forms and this day it was a floating axe-head. Now that is a great story.

Man finds his true self in the Church alone; not in the helplessness isolation but in the strength of his communion with his brothers and with his Savior. (Alexander Yelchaninov; 1881-1934; Fragments of a Diary)

Therefore thus will I do to you, O Israel; because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel! For behold, He who forms mountains, and creates the wind, who declares to man what his thought is, and makes the morning darkness, who treads the high places of the earth — the Lord God of hosts is His name. (Amos 4:12-13)

He Has A Right To His Name

The majesty of God is incredible. How large His ocean and how small our boat. His grandeur is the expanse of the heavens. The world revolves in a precise cycle by the will of His word. Mountains reach toward the skies by the power of His might. Oceans team with life from the wisdom of His will. The earth is full of the creation of His word and man is a microscopic atom in the cosmos of time and space. When God created man, He breathed into the nostrils the breath of life. Held in His hand is the life of every man. The existence of humanity is determined by the will of the Creator. The majesty of God is incredible.

The time had come for the people of Israel to meet their God. Israel had failed to keep the word of God. Judgement was coming swiftly upon a rebellious people who had forgotten how great and powerful the Lord God of Hosts was. No nation would stand long who rebelled against the Lord. Repeatedly, God punished the children of Israel in an attempt to bring them back but they refused. Time had run out. There was a time for pleading and then came judgment. What happened to Israel was because of their rejection of God’s love. He loved His people as the apple of His eye. It grieved the Father to punish His children. Judgment would be terrible. The time had come for the people of Israel to meet their God.

The Lord God of hosts is His name. He had a right to punish His people. He was the one who created the mountains. What can man do against a mountain? It is a huge unmovable mass of rock and stone. The only thing man can do with something like Mt. Everest is to climb it but they will never move it. The Lord God of hosts created the wind. Can man stop a hurricane or a tornado? He can only seek protection from the battering winds of nature’s wrath. What man knows the thoughts of another man and changes night to day and day to night? Who can walk upon every place on earth but the Lord God of hosts? His name is aptly inscribed because there is no one like the Lord God of hosts.

The world today is filled with incredible things that boggle the mind. Technology has advanced so far we do things and see things that were unheard of in the history of man. We can put a man on the moon, send machines throughout space, cure diseases, fly through the air around the world and probe the deepest parts of our ocean. The Lord God of hosts is still His name. Mountains declare His glory, the wind reminds us of who created us and the Lord God of hosts knows everything we think. He is so awesome. Whether we acknowledge Him as the Lord God of hosts does not change the truth that He is the Lord God of hosts. Man is still an atomic particle in the expanse of a universe that is so huge we can never plum its depths – and the Lord God of hosts holds the universe in His hand. Are you ready to meet a God like this? We all will – one day. The Lord God of hosts is His name.

The judgment of God shall turn topsy-turvy the judgments of men. (Edward F. Garesche, The Things Immortal, 1919)

Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper. For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. (1 Corinthians 11:17-22)

Why Do We Worship

The church at Corinth is a case study of what can go wrong when the wisdom of man is the authority rather than the word of God. Paul addressed division, carnality, confusion, rebellion and unbelief as a host of challenges the church found itself battling. His second letter would show success in trying to change some of these issues. One of the problems the saints needed to change was the manner of their remembrance of the Lord’s Supper. The apostle charges them to remember the manner of partaking was a matter of judgment. Eating the bread and drinking the cup in an unworthy manner brought judgment from God. The Lord would not tolerate the abuse of His Son who died for all men. Remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ was a very serious part of the worship established in the New Testament.

The manner of the partaking is often the focus of 1 Corinthians 11. While this is vital to understand of making sure the supper is taken in a proper manner, a deeper problem lay at the root of their failing to discern the supper. They had forgotten why they came together as a church. The taking of the supper had become a common thing. Their view of worship had become so ordinary they had failed to worship God in spirit and truth. Coming together was not to give praise and honor to God. Reverence had given way to their daily lives. The church had removed the sanctity of worship and replaced it for an activity of their daily lives. Paul rebukes the brethren because they had made the worship of God an extension of the common part of their daily living.

It is clear Paul is making a distinction of what should be done at home and what should be done in worship. Giving God honor in worship is not something we can approach as a common thing. Worship is reverence. Honor is ascribed to the Lord when we come to worship. The abuse of the Lord’s Supper began with the disposition of the heart that viewed coming together as a church as something ordinary. You do not have to look far to see these kind of attitudes in the lack of reverence today. Coming together on the first day of the week to remember the love of God is an option for some. There is little pressing need to assemble with the saints. Missing the Lord’s Supper is not important. The manner of clothes worn to worship reflects the mindset that worship is nothing more than a common thing. Children come dressed to play, adults arrive as if to take a holiday reflecting an attitude that lacks reverence for the time of worship. Attention during worship is limited as the mind begs the clock to move forward. Worship becomes a quick 59-minute endurance race that interrupts the bigger plans of the day. Coming together is not for the better but for the worse. Praise the Lord and let’s go home.

Coming together for the worse is what led to the abuse of the Lord’s Supper. The scriptures are given for our learning and what we see happening in the New Testament church reflects the same problems experienced by the church today. When the worship service becomes a common thing, reverence for God diminishes. Worship on the first day of the week is a sacred blessing given to us by a loving God who wants us to take the time to show Him how much we love and adore Him. If worship means little to your heart, examine the motives to why you worship. God loved us so much He gave His only begotten Son. What are you willing to give in return?

Wonder is the basis of worship. (Thomas Carlyle, Sartor Resartus, 1836)

Scoffers set a city aflame, but wise men turn away wrath. (Proverbs 29:8)

City Rage

The first automobile appeared in 1885 when German inventor Karl Benz developed a three-wheel vehicle that was petrol based. Estimates now have about one billion automobiles in the world with the United States registering 260 million vehicles. Highways are clogged with thousands of passenger cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. Automobile life is a norm and getting from one place to another has created a way of life never seen before. Passengers eat, drink, entertain and generally ride in temperature-controlled environments with incredible ease and speed unheard of before modern times. And to our credit, society enjoys a healthy reality of a new kind of car sickness: road rage. It used to be that people became ill because of sitting in the back of a car or reading while the car speeds down the road. The motion did not sit well with many people. Now it is the emotion of what other people do that causes a terrible sickness becoming a major cause of anger, hatred and death. Yes – death.

There was a time not long ago that road rage was never heard of. Yes, there were times when people would get aggravated because the person in front was too slow or they failed to give the proper hand signal when turning (most young people have no idea what hand signals are). The horseless machines were noisy, troublesome and quite the bother but seldom did anyone pull out a gun and shoot someone. As crazy as the 60’s and 70’s were when I was learning to drive, road rage was never heard of. What has happened? Have the cars become toxic with carbon monoxide poisoning the minds of drivers causing them to lose control with other drivers? The answer is found in a text thousands of years before the first automobile became a reality.

A scoffer is someone who disregards law or seeks to inflame others. The attitude of the mind is the motive behind their actions. They are incited to rage. As a result of their actions, cities are burned down. They are out of control. The wise man did not know what it was like to drive a Benz but he understood what the passions of man would do. Wise men know when to turn away from wrath so the city will not be burned down. Controlling the passions of anger avoids the terrible consequence of creating a situation that may not be controlled. Automobiles are not the problem in road rage: people are. Cars do not kill people, enraged people harm others. It is an attitude of the mind.

The sad commentary of our modern dilemma is the impact of how road rage comes from a culture that has taken God out of everything. Why is it so different now? Without God, there is no respect for authority, little sanctity of life, and no respect for others. Driving our two-ton tanks of power embolden us to exercise a privileged right to scream, holler, blow the horn and sometimes get out of the car intent on harming the other person. We live in a world gone crazy with deliria.

Wise men turn away from wrath. One solution to road rage is to put a bumper sticker on the back of the car that reads, “I Am A Christian.” At least when we act out our rage the person will know if we are a Christian or not. More important, we should remind ourselves that our Father travels with us and He brought His Son on the journey. The back seat is occupied by the Holy Spirit and the last thing you want to do is to insult Him. People of God are wise in their actions, their attitudes and the way they drive a car. In our crazy, mixed up world, letting our light shine is not allowing road rage to make fools out of ourselves. Leave the horn alone. Do not step on the brake or accelerate to burn down the other fellow with your wrath. Wise men and wise women turn away from wrath and sometimes this may be that we turn down another road. A final word: May God be praised by our driving.

He who holds back rising anger like a rolling chariot, him I call a real driver; other people are but holding the reins. (Dhammapada, c. 5^th century B. C.)

And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.” (Ezekiel 8:17-18)

God Will Not Listen

The wrath of God is not something people want to discuss. They deny a loving God would bring punishment upon man because He is a loving, compassionate Lord who will save everyone regardless of what they do in life. Heaven will be filled with every joy man can imagine and no one is excluded. Obedience is seldom emphasized with a simple faith the only requirement necessary to make God happy. Man’s totem of the Lord is a carving of himself. He has deceived himself into believing that he can create God in his own image; instead of knowing that man was created in the image of God. Religion is filled with the love of God, the love of Jesus and the love of the Holy Spirit. There is no fear because God is love. The joys of life are found in the desires of man. Reading the Bible is not necessary because God is love.

Ezekiel saw powerful visions of the wrath of God. The hand of the Lord fell upon the prophet and the Lord shows him the degradation of the people as they defile the Temple with their worship to idols. Israel committed great abominations in the sanctuary of the Lord. They believed God did not know what they did in the inner sanctums of the Temple as they offered sacrifices to the gods of men. He knew everything they did. When they worshipped the sun toward the east, God knew. The answer of the Lord to these abominations was very clear. For man, it was a trivial thing to defile the worship of God. They cared not for the will of the Lord and did what they wanted to do. Who needs the word of the Lord to follow? Worship was what they wanted and they got what they wanted. After they got what they wanted they got what they deserved.

The Lord was filled with wrath at the arrogance of the people. Moses had plainly given the Law warning of rebellion against the word of the Lord. There were penalties established for rejecting the will of the Lord. The people did not care. They changed the word of God to fit their own needs. Worship was an abomination. The fury of the Lord was coming. The eye of the Lord will not pity those who beg for their lives and though they cry loud for mercy there will be none. Time had come for judgment and judgment would be harsh. God would not hear his people!

Ezekiel would have been at home in the religious world today. He would have seen the same visions as he surveyed the religion of Jesus Christ turned into the abomination of man’s pathetic wisdom. It continues to be a trivial thing for man to create the church of his choice and worship God in every manner that pleases man. Faith in God is watered down to a cocktail of pleasure, acceptance and entertainment leading men to the pits of destruction. The same judgment meted out by God before will find its wrath in the knowledge of how far man has gone from true worship. Many in that day will cry out for mercy before a wrathful God who will not listen. His love demands justice. The word of God has remained unchanged and unmoved but men still reject truth. Jesus died for His church and His will and His word. If man abominates the doctrine of Christ, the wrath of God is waiting. This is real. This is true. This is Bible.

The God of wrath is the God of love vindicating Himself in the death of those who will not live in love. (Gregory Vlastos, Christian Faith and Democracy, 1939)

Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor. (Luke 6:12-16)

Twelve Unlikely Men

Two sets of brothers, a tax collector, zealot and common people of little pedigree will make up the inner circle of the greatest kingdom the world has ever known. The King of Kings calls twelve men to be His ambassadors to the whole world. Their mission is simple: preach a gospel of controversy to a world that will kill ten of these men for what they believe. Jesus knows that someone will betray Him leading to His death on a Roman cross. He will have less than three years to teach, admonish, instruct and exhort this rag tag group of unlikely characters to change the world forever. There are many disciples that follow Jesus but He will only chose twelve.

The twelve apostles will be remarkable for how unremarkable they are. The Lord, with no regard to their political prowess or wealth, chooses them from what He knows of their hearts. Education will have little to do with their selection. Peter will show himself to be loud and impetuous, Thomas a deep thinker who listens carefully and John who develops a deep kinship with Jesus of Nazareth. All twelve men will have the power to heal diseases, raise the dead, cast out demons and preach the saving message of God’s Son. They will go throughout the land in pairs spreading the gospel of Christ. In quiet moments, Jesus will explain deeper meanings of parables and sermons to them. The twelve will see Jesus walk on water but only Peter will venture to step out of the boat to mirror the steps of his Lord. Lazarus will come out of the grave after four days to the amazement of the twelve. Children will be set in their midst to remind them who is the greatest in the kingdom. The eleven will be crushed by the betrayal of one of their fellow apostles as they all forsake Jesus in the end. It will be a weekend of horrific sorrow as they come to grips with the sudden death of their Lord. The first day of the week will change their lives forever as their Lord lives again. Forty days later the eleven witness Jesus ascend to heaven and their work at Pentecost shortly thereafter turns the world upside down. Twelve men. One man. One world.

God uses unlikely people to carry out His work. He is not looking for the elite among men but the hearts among men that are devoted to His mission. Women like Mary, a maiden in Nazareth or Dorcas who loved to make garments for others. People with names like Phoebe, Priscilla, Aquila, Epaenetus, Andronicus, Junia, Amplias, Urbanus, Stachys, Apelles, Herodion, Tryphena and Tryphosa and Rufus. Young men like Timothy. Scholars like Saul of Tarsus. People who are encouragers to others like Joses who is nicknamed Barnabas. Grandmothers like Lois and mothers like Eunice are people Jesus would chose. People. Ordinary people that love God. Like you.

There are remarkable things that you can do for the Lord. Sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with a friend will change their eternal soul. Opening your home to study the Bible around the kitchen table is an unremarkable thing that may change the life of the one you invite. Handing a card with an invitation to study or attend a service of the church could change a whole family. Giving a neighbor a video, a tract or a Bible could help them learn about God. Twelve men were chosen to do the work of the Lord. Imagine what you can do!

The whole gospel story is a missionary story. (Emmanuel Suhard, The Church Today, 1953)

For You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord shall enlighten my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop; by my God I can leap over a wall. As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? God is my strength and power, and He makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places. He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. (2 Samuel 22:29-35)

There Is Power With The Lord

David was a mighty man of God who loved to declare the praises of the Lord. As a shepherd, he was accustomed to the rigors of life that made him a great soldier. He never lost his awe of the power of God in his life and how often it was through the might of the Lord he was able to overcome his enemies. Victory came through the light of God’s word giving the son of Jesse great faith to overcome every adversity. His songs were vivid descriptions of the Lord working in his life. Through the might of God, David was able to subdue the armies of his enemies. Conquering cities came with great ease. The power of the Lord gave him swift victory. Through the might of the Lord, there was nothing David could not do – even bend a bow of brass or bronze.

The stories of David are not given simply as great Bible class lessons to thrill young hearts. These are true stories of faith, courage and a belief that with God nothing is impossible. What David sang about is still true today. The lamp of God’s word is the embodiment of all that is true and without knowledge of the word of God, we cannot expect victory. There is power in the Word. David loved to mediate on the message of the Lord. We are blessed with the complete revealed word of God from Genesis to Revelation and yet so many are in spiritual kindergarten when it comes to the knowledge of the Bible. Faith is weak. Strength diminished. Battles lost for lack of truth.

Knowledge is power. The more we know about the word of God the more we are able to subdue the armies of sin. David enjoyed the knowledge of the perfect way of the Lord that he had proven repeatedly in his life. Like a shield, the word of God protected David from his enemies because David trusted God. He delivered him from the bear and the lion that came against his flock. Standing before Goliath, the young shepherd boy fought in the name of the Lord. Humbled by his sin with Bathsheba, David still trusted in the mercy of God. Strength for David came from the might of the Lord and his deep trust in the will of God.

The Christian power is found in the might of Jesus Christ. There is nothing impossible when we put our full trust in God. In a world gone mad with hatred, envy, lusts, greed and immorality, trusting in the power of the Lord is paramount to our survival. We can overcome the trials of life when we have the spirit of David. The armies of Satan will fall before us when we trust in the Lord and the power of His might. Read the full context of 2 Samuel 22 as David sings of the power of God and know this power is still with the people of God today. We are overcomers. Our power is in the might of the Lord.

God possess all the power there is. (Hasting Rashdall, Philosophy and Religion, 1909)

At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:25-30)

Get In The Harness With Me

The ministry of Jesus was an exhausting series of traveling from region to region teaching, healing and preparing for what He knew waited for Him at the cross. His physical stamina was remarkable. The daily assaults by the enemies of God lay heavy upon Him. Forming a group of men to be His apostles so the gospel could be spread to the uttermost parts of the earth was a task of constant instruction and exhortation. In all of the things that pressed upon the Son of God, His deep compassion for the plight of man was extreme. He cried over Jerusalem, as the future of God’s city would lay in ruin. The Son of God was angered that men would not repent even when He performed great miracles in their midst. There was a lot on the mind of Jesus.

God’s power was seen through the hand of Jesus in every miracle. There was nothing that Jesus could not do showing the work of the Holy Spirit in healing disease, raising the dead, subduing nature and exercising power over the demon world. He had done great miracles in the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum but the people refused to repent. In contrast, the Lord suggests the rebellious cities of Tyre, Sidon and remarkably enough – Sodom – would have repented if they had seen the power of Christ. Jesus was sorrowful at the stubbornness of man. His anger turns to heart-felt sorrow and an invitation for man to repent. There is something offered in the face of despair that could only come from the throne of God.

Jesus had come to do the Father’s will. He knew that no matter the condition of man, God would never leave him without His grace. The call of redemption was simple: come to Me and I will give you rest. There were many reasons to walk away from man and leave him to his self-destruction. Mercy would not allow the abandonment of the creature man. With all the mighty works as proof Jesus was the Son of God; in the face of the rejection of man’s denial; God still offers a plan of salvation. Through His Son He offers man to be a part of His Son. Jesus offers rest if man will come and take His yoke and learn from the Son of Man. In effect, the Lord says, “Get in the harness with Me.” “Let Me be the burden bearer in your life” is how Jesus describes the union with Him. The great invitation is the greatest gift.

No one is without burdens in life. Job reminds us we are born of trouble. There are so many things that come upon us in life that challenge our resolve, our faith and our devotion. When God first created man He knew it was not good for him to be alone. Creating the woman would satisfy most of man’s needs but not all. What man needed desperately would be the companionship of salvation as sin darkened the world. Jesus Christ is that answer. Taking a part in the yoke of Christ is the union of our hearts and souls to the will of a loving Savior. He bids us to be part of Him so that He can carry our burdens. It is not good for us to be alone and Jesus invites us to get in the harness with Him. He will lighten our load. His love will make the troubles of life easier to bear. The kindness of God will restore hope. Disease can be conquered, despair overcome and hope will fill our hearts because we walk with the Lord.

When we get in the harness with Jesus, we will find the burdens will be easier to bear. He is in control and His yoke will be a lighter experience in the troubles we face in life. Turn your heart to Jesus Christ. Allow the peace of God to fill your mind like a gentle rain. Putting your life in the ‘harness of Jesus’ will be the best thing you will ever do in your life. Accept His invitation. Now that is a great story.

Know that our Lord is called in scripture the Prince of Peace, and hence, wherever He is absolute Master, He preserves peace. (Francis of Sales; 1567-1622; Consoling Thoughts of, ed. Huguet)