The Meaning of History- James M Boice

Thoughts on redemption....



"But all are not to be redeemed. That is hard saying, yet it is the teaching of the Word of God.

... to make the Christian view of history complete  there must be added to the other doctrines already considered--creation, providence, revelation and redemption--the doctrine of God's final judgment at the end of history.

Christians express belief in this doctrine in the Apostles' Creed: "From thence [that is, heaven]
He [Christ] shall come to judge the quick and the dead."

In saying that Christ is to judge the dead as well as the living (the quick) the Creed is saying that in the ultimate analysis the meaning of history is not found only at the end of history -- as if everything had been building up to one final peak of accomplishment    which shall then be judged fit or not fit for glory.

The meaning of history is rather found in any given moment in the choice or choices made by any given individual no matter who that person is, where he or she has come from, nor how important he or she may seem to be...

The important moment in history is always now."

  --From Foundations of the Christian Faith by
James Montgomery Boice.

God's Intended Destiny for Us

 

                                                  God's Intended Destiny for Us

Sometimes sharing the gospel awakens an intense resentment in the one we are talking to.

That's because the gospel reveals our sin and unholiness -- and that's bad news.

But we have to hear the bad news first before we can hear the really good news!

The good news is that He has rescued us from our sin and is eager to forgive and welcome us into His family!

Hearing the gospel can also awaken an intense longing -- yearning -- an intense desire -- to know God and receive His love and forgiveness.

What does He want to do with us?

God has only one intended destiny for mankind: holiness.

His goal is to make us saints. He does not save us out of pity. He saves us because He created us to be holy.

That begins at the cross. 

Christ takes on our sin and by His death pays the debt we owe God for our disobedience.  And by His perfect life of obedience He clothes us in His garments of righteousness.

It's like we come to Him with all our garbage - sin, guilt, hurt, bitterness, hatred, anger, broken dreams and hearts and messed up relationships. We put them in a really big garbage bag and take it to the Cross. He takes that bag and casts it away into eternal forgetfulness,

Then He reaches down and gives us a bottomless Treasure Chest - a chest full of love, forgiveness, joy, peace, eternal life, healing -- every good and perfect gift.

And the most precious gift of all -- His presence with us every moment of every day - forever!

And He begins the process of making us like Him - holy -  and able to fit into His family of saints.

What a great exchange! How could anyone resist such an offer?

Read Hebrews 10:14 --  "For by one sacrifice, He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." 

What I Need to Remember

 

                                                          What I Really Need to Remember

(Recorded in Isaiah chapter 30)

"The LORD longs to be gracious to you....Blessed are all who wait for Him!" (Isaiah 30:18)

Waiting for God's help in time of trouble is hard.

We usually want to try our own solutions first.

The Israelites did just that when they were threatened by  their enemies. They sought help from Egypt instead of turning to God (30:2).  (Sound familiar these days?)

But God told them that if the would repent and put their trust in Him they would find strength and salvation (v.15).

And Isaiah even added, "The LORD longs to be gracious to you" (v. 18)

(He LONGS to be gracious? - Wow!)

Do we ever even consider that? That He is eager to help us - to show us grace and mercy?

Waiting for God takes faith and patience. But when we wait and see His answer we realize it was worth it!

"Blessed are all who wait for Him!" (v.18)

Most amazing of all - He want us to come to Him!

Father, help me learn to be patient.  I know You are a good and loving God whose ways and timing are always perfect. How could I ever doubt Your love and faithfulness? Forgive me my dear Father. Amen

Sometimes We Make It All Too Hard!

 We want to do great things for God. Yes, He has given us all gifts to use to enhance and enlarge His Kingdom. But are we really opening our minds and hearts to hear His quiet voice right now?

Some days we eagerly plan a new program for our church -- one that will involve more people and accomplish more goals than our last one!

Or we organize a new ministry to get attendance up and create more excitement in our worship service.

But maybe today He just wants us to do the next thing He puts before us: Just be kind and gentle to the next person we see in the ordinary course of our day!

The neighbor struggling to get groceries out of the car -- stop for a moment and help.

The driver behind us obviously in a great hurry -- pull over and let him pass. (Maybe whisper a prayer for him.)

Focusing on some upcoming evangelistic meeting? Maybe God wants us to show more patience and gentleness with our family.

It's just a thought - but is there a difference between serving God in the simple everyday activities and in the spectacular, more flamboyant activities? (A rhetorical question?!)

Reflect again on this familiar passage:

"If I could speak all the languages on earth, and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and understood all of God's secret plans, and possessed all knowledge, and if I had faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing" (1 Corinthians 13).

Maybe God isn't expecting us to do something newsworthy and spectacular today? Maybe He just wants us to be kind, gentle and loving to the next person we see...just "be to others as Jesus has been to us."

My focus for this day....how about you?

Embrace Life and Please God!

 

1 Peter 3:8-12 from The Message. 

I really like the way these verses are expressed in the paraphrase by Eugene Peterson --

"Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you - no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead - bless. That's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing as well as get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day  fill up  with good, here's what you do:  say nothing evil nor hurtful; snub evil and cultivate good, run after peace for all you're worth.

God looks on all this with approval."

And so that is how we embrace life and please God!

What a wonderful God  we have - He makes all He wants so clear and simple. He doesn't  play games - no 'hide and seek' and no scary threats - He just  loves us  and wants us  to love each other!