The Man That Stopped God

When he [Bartimaeus] heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” Mark 10:47-49

There is more to being blind than just the loss of physical sight.  There is a greater handicap that can be more frightening; a darkness that blinds the soul.

Bartimaeus was blind, reduced to sitting beside the road each day begging, but in his blindness, a light shone on his soul. Even in his physical blindness, he was looking for the One he knew could heal his infirmity. Those who tried to silence his cries for mercy when he finally found Him were the truly blind. 

When he heard Him passing, he knew Him, and called Him by His Messianic title, Son of David. In crying out for mercy he stopped God where He stood. And God in His mercy touched a blind man and gave him his sight. Mark tells us after Bartimaeus received his sight, he followed Jesus down the road (vs 52).

There are many dark places we may struggle in.  Places to dark to  find any way way out.  If you’re human, you know whereof I speak. Jesus is more than willing to stop and show us mercy. 

He is constantly moving in His universal Power, and is never too busy to stop for us. Bartimaeus had blind sight, for he was looking for, and knew, the Son of David. When we realize He is as near as our cry, He stops and says, “Come to Me.” The Lord’s mercy brings healing, and His Word brings light into our darkness.  It was so obvious, even a blind man saw it.  

Ken

Ronnyvu!

After all this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.” Revelation 19:1 (NIV)

One of the most strikingly beautiful novels I’ve ever read is Mountain Man by Vardis Fisher. I've read it more than once.  This is the same book that the movie Jeremiah Johnson is based on.

The hero of the story is a solitary mountain man named Sam Minard.  As lonesome a life as Sam leads, he will occasionally meet other mountain men in the course of trapping beaver. As the men would part, they’d speak of meeting up at rendezvous. The rendezvous was a kind of Mountain Man’s Company Picnic, with food, tall tales and contests of skill with rifle and axe.  All the mountain men looked forward to this time of festivity “Next year at Ronnyvu.”

There’s a rendezvous coming for all who have believed on Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Jesus said He was going to His heavenly Father to prepare a place for us, and if He went away, He would come back for us (John 14:2-3).

It will be a time when all of us, both who are resurrected from the grave, and those of us still alive, will be caught up into the air to meet Him and will always be with Him (1^st Thessalonians 4:13-18).  It will be a great reunion with believers from all ages where we will meet and greet one another and offer worship and praise to our God. Exactly when this will be only the Father in heaven knows (Matthew 24:36), but we expect it to be very soon.

The mountain men were notorious for wanting to keep their lives private and being left alone throughout the year.  But the Lord doesn’t want us to be that way at all.  His love, grace, and free gift of salvation is cause for great celebration and He wants us to spread the word.  It is going to be a wonderful time of jubilee as we rendezvous, glorify and exalt God’s only begotten Son.

The next time we meet someone, let’s tell there’s a Rendezvous coming and they’ve got a personal invitation from Jesus Himself.  It’s almost time to head out.  He wants to see you at that future and final gathering and He’s looking forward to you being there. I'm going, and I hope to see you there.

Ken 

Fully Freed

Moses returned to the Lord and said, “O Lord, why have you brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me? Ever since I went up to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble upon the people, and You have not rescued Your people at all.” Exodus 5:22-23

Waiting for something we want at times seems to be mostly more trouble than it’s worth. And when we’re waiting on God to fix a desperate problem, like Moses, we tend to forget the I AM in the burning bush and focus on the burning crisis. Moses’ plan was to lead Israel out of Egypt.  God’s plan was to first break their chains of slavery, that He would be glorified among all the nations (Psalm 86:8-10).

When God does not move in the timing of our plan, we can become confused and doubtful, and in that doubt may retaliate with an attitude of “God, You aren’t doing this my way.  Why haven’t You rescued me from this situation? Don’t You care?” Of course, He cares.

To say God is not interested or cares about us is to deny the truth of His character. He always acts in our best interests. Sometimes instantly, but mostly in a timing that’s aimed to strengthen our faith and break the bonds that imprison us. What good would it do to lead us to His promised land if we remain in our chains?

Even though God didn’t move in the timing Moses expected, He remained the same unchangeable Person He reveals to us through His Word (Numbers 23:19, Hebrews 13:8). He assured Moses He would save His chosen people (Exodus 5:6-7). And He achieved His purpose.  Perfectly (Ex. 12:31-33).

He is not the God who chains you to your troubles, but the breaker of your chains. If He takes a little longer to bring you out of your troubles it does not mean He loves you any less.  It just means He loves you enough to free you fully (John 8:36).

You never have to wait for Him to catch up. He is always two steps ahead of you, as He was with Moses. Trust in His timing. You’ll know it’s right, by those chains you find lying at your feet.

Ken

Who Does This Jesus Think He Is?

Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Simon and Judas? Matthew 13:55

Ever notice how generic and comfortable a conversation is when people are only talking about God?  But things can grow tense when Jesus enters the picture.  Friends and family’s eyes dart around looking for the exit, while some disbelieve and mock.  Jesus faced the same kinds of things from friends, neighbors, the religious leaders of Israel, and even His own family.

A general God is a sterile God, and a sterile God is not a threat.  That kind of God of the imagination means folks can live their lives outside of His provisions and safety. But when the Word that became flesh (John 1:14) appears, He asks the question that we all have to answer, “Who do you say that I am?” 

Many can get their dander up over this question with the self-righteous response, “Hey, who does this Jesus think he is, anyway? No one can tell me how I can approach God. I'm no worse than anybody else.” To approach God?  Really?

Christ tells us no unrighteous person can approach God’s holy perfection, except through Him. People say, “That’s exclusive and bigoted.”  It is exclusive, in that He is the only way to a fully established relationship with the Living God. But it’s also totally inclusive in that God is willing that all should embrace His invitation to repentance (2^nd Peter 3:9, John 1:12) and He sent Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, to make it possible.  His free salvation covers anyone that calls on the name of Jesus, believing He died for their sins.

Those who ask who does this Jesus think he is anyway want to believe all roads, especially their road, leads to God. They’re right. Any road taken will ultimately end with God, either in judgment of sin or eternal life in Him.  Exclusive or inclusive?  Yes, to both.  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, exclusively (John 14:6).  But inclusively too, in that He invites all to eternal life through His death and resurrection from the dead. Jesus, as very God of very God, is the only One with all authority to do it (Matthew 28:18). This is who Jesus thinks He is.  This is who Jesus says He is.  No argument. No debate. Who do you say He is?

Ken

Lord, I'm Hurting!

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. Revelation 21:4 (NIV)

There is more than one way to hurt.  Mental anguish, spiritual pain, physical agony. Even the strongest of us can be brought to tears by suffering.  Mental anguish becomes illness, spiritual pain robs us of our joy and can harden the soul if we allow it, and some physical illnesses can have dire consequences for the flesh.

What we see in the world today is not what God originally intended for His Creation. We weep at funerals because mankind was intended to live forever (Genesis 2:17).  We suffer with sickness because everything was at first good and perfect in His eyes (Genesis 1:31).  We suffer in our spirits because all of have sinned (Romans 3:23). One Of the most frequently asked questions3 from skeptics and believers alike is “Why did God allow this?”

But instead, Jesus reveals here to John the Revelator the solution to the question. Because Christ suffered, died, and resurrected Himself bodily from the grave (John 2:19), He shines the brightness of His Holiness on this passing age and all its temporary woe. 

The question mark behind “Why?” should be changed to the exclamation point of "How!" That He somehow allowed it due to Adam’s and Eve’s sin is eclipsed by the how He will heal the curse mankind brought on itself and all Creation.  In this He truly is the great physician.

Hurting hurts, there’s no getting around it.  But one day it will not be dimmed by age.  No, it will be totally forgotten and made new (Isaiah 65:17, Revelation 21:1).  Death will become its own final victim (Revelation 20:14), and the Father of the ages will comfort us Himself as He wipes away our tears, giving us a completely clear view of His beautiful face.

Ken

When the Rotten Reap Rewards

“But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven.  For He makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.”  Matthew 5:44-45

We all want to see justice done swiftly. Our television shows end with justice served in an hour, and the bad guys getting what’s coming to them.  But unfortunately, that’s Tinsel Town, not our town. In our towns we deal with bosses and co-workers who maneuver and backstab, family members who betray us, and businesses that lie and cheat us for profit. Seldom does any determined crime fighter appear to right their wrongs.

What is painfully puzzling is when these people who act wickedly prosper. King David vented his frustration on the rotten that reaped rewards.  That is, until he considered their end.  At times evil people do get the upper hand, but it’s always temporary.  Remember their end. God will repay (Romans 12:19).

Jesus tells us to love those who mistreat us and do good to them. It was said of Archbishop Cranmer, a Christian martyred for his faith, that if you wanted him as your friend, “just do him an ill turn.”

Regardless of whether someone’s scratching you back or putting a knife in it, Christ’s blood was shed on the cross for them, too. Loving those who wrong us is one of the hardest things to do. The rotten sometimes do reap unjustified rewards. But our prayers for them, forgiveness (Luke 17:4), and our loving acceptance, can bring a Christ-centered transformation of their heart for He has always been, first and foremost, the Great Physician who specializes in cardiac resuscitation and restoration.  For those of us who have felt His healing hands, our own beating hearts are living proof.

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

Ken

The Speed of Our Sound

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. James 3:6

Most of us are familiar with Chuck Yeager, who flew the Bell X-1 rocket plane to Mach 1, breaking the speed of sound barrier in level flight for the first time in human history.  I will also venture to say most are familiar with the old schoolyard chant of “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I understand why kids would say it when under a verbal onslaught. I did myself, but never really bought into it. I knew it wasn't true.  While sticks and stones can break bone, a bone can heal, while words can cut so deeply that wounds can bleed and hurt into adulthood.

James doesn’t pull any punches in his description of the deadly wounds a sharp tongue can cause, burning like the fire of hell. The speed of our sound is enough to set a forest on fire (James 3:5).

There are two ways to reply to harsh words: we can react or respond. Reactions run on reflex and we can find our knee-jerk is connected to our mouthbone, which can lead to trouble.  A response on the other hand mirrors the wisdom of Solomon.  We can allow a soft answer to turn away wrath, not allowing grievous words to stir up rage (Proverbs 15:1).

The Lord Jesus had some pretty ugly words directed at Him.  Peter writes, When they hurled insults at Him, he did not retaliate.  So, what’s the secret?  What, or Who, can keep us from choking the other guy out, verbally or otherwise, when we are stabbed with their tongue? The rest of the verse says…when He suffered, He made no threats.  Instead [emphasis added] He entrusted himself to Him who judges justly (1^st Peter 2:23).

Peter calls us living stones. A living stone makes a better building block than a living mass of pulsating nerves. A living stone is identified with Christ, the Cornerstone, (Matthew 21:42, Ephesians 2:20). When they hurled their insults at Him, He had the power and authority, to destroy them (Matthew 26:53, John 18:6). But He responded with Grace and Mercy, holding His tongue.  And when we are hit by the speed of other’s sound, we too can respond that way by the Power of the Holy Spirit, leaving the kneejerk reactions in the hands of the Great Physician.

Jesus, help me to remember to entrust myself to you when harsh words come my way at the speed of sound. Help me to understand that person is more than likely speaking from their own wounded and bleeding heart. Help me to show them mercy and grace.  Strengthen my trust in You, that You will always judge justly. Amen

Ken