The Fairest of Friends

"But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up and saw the glory of God..."
(Acts 7:55)

There is a strange peace that is known by every believer that has truly given themselves to the will of God. Although they are not exempt from the cruelties of this world, they are altogether freed from their tyranny. The pains of life and the fear of death have absolutely no power over the one who wholeheartedly trusts in the saving grace of Christ Jesus. This peace is certain! There is no disputing it because it rests in the faithfulness of the Saviour - and He is the fairest of friends. He is dependable and no shadow of doubt can darken the light of His peace.
But, sadly, not every Christian is able to profess this great peace. Some faiths are not so firmly grounded in Christ. For some, perhaps too many, Jesus is not the sweetest friend. Sometimes He simply lingers in the background of life and might be beckoned when the boat begins to rock. It is not shameful if one confesses this kind of relationship with Christ, but it is indeed a shame if they see this truth and refuse to confess it.
In the story of Stephen's martyrdom (Acts 7:54-60), there is a beautiful picture painted of this deeper kind of Christianity. It is that kind of friendship with the Master that is worth far more than all else. It is a deep affection for the person of Jesus that manifests itself as nothing less than love-sick devotion. Oh, what a wonderful closeness and intimacy, a satisfaction and pleasure, that only a real friendship with God can bring! It is an indwelling joy, an unspeakable peace, a marvelous warmth that cannot be quenched even by the heaviest gloom. It is stronger than every other strength, and only thickens and breathes deeper from the breath of God when the darkness is most black.
Read through the 88th Psalm and you'll see this deep friendship with the LORD of Hosts. It is a song that tells of sadness and despair and it is being poured out of a defeated and lonely soul. Yet, somehow the author is able to begin his lament with words of intense faith... "Oh LORD, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before You." Here, there is certainly no exemption from hardship and turmoil, but there remains a deep affection for the heart of God.
Christian, if you are bold enough to confess that you do not know Christ Jesus in this way - if you realise that The Fairest Friend is not that for you - then be assured, He desires to be so close even to you. I say with tears that nothing is sweeter, or richer, or deeper than to love Him with all your heart and mind and strength... but it is a matter of will. Please, throw all else aside and know the pleasure of truly having this Fairest of Friends.

Precious Jesus, help me to surrender my all to you... to live not for myself, but to honour you. Let me know your peace, your joy, and your friendship - I want to be deeply in love with you. Please, make it so.

Are you sure of your salvation?

"The one who loves God is known by God." (1 Cor. 8:3)

It is not uncommon for a Christian to wonder about the certainty and security of his or her faith. One may argue that true faith in Christ is unable to develop without there being difficult tests and trials faced. Throughout the life of the Church there have been many great saints who have found their way through the darkest fogs simply because they were able to deal with the heavy burden of doubt. Consider the struggles of such holy men as Saint John of the Cross, Thomas à Kempis, John Wesley, and Oswald Chambers and there is sure proof that the brightest torches for Christ are those that burn through the storms.
But perhaps it can be said that of all the questions to plague the heart and mind, of all the doubts that could permeate the soul, the darkest might very well be the one that mistrusts the Atonement of Christ. Many a good Christian have come to this place in their life of faith. It is a haunting skepticism that infiltrates the thoughts of many, and sadly, some will settle without certainty. "Am I really saved?" or "How do I know I am a true disciple of Jesus Christ?" This is a question to which every believer ought to come, but it is detrimental to never conquer it. Its answer has the power to increase and deepen faith or kill it completely.
In the 8th chapter of his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul addresses an issue that had caused many feuds within the early church. There was a debate amongst Christians regarding the eating of food that was sacrificed to false gods: was it permitted or not. He builds his case well (as he does in several of his letters when arguing the pointlessness of ritual), but in verse 3 there can be found a very profound statement. It was an assurance to young disciples who did not feel the need to be chained to the old Jewish laws that their devotion to the Most High was their eternal security.
Yet, in this moment, for those who are wandering (or have already wandered) through the caves of confusion and doubt, how wonderfully perfect are these words!? "The one who loves God is known by God." Here, the word known (egnostai in Greek) is used specifically to convey a meaning of intimacy. In other words, if you love God - truly love Him - then you can rest assured that you are held in His tender arms and are well saved! In the worst times of haunting doubt, when questions around the eternal security of your soul arises, it is a comfort to fall on this great truth... I love my God, therefore I am His. What splendid certainty! What glorious joy! My love for my LORD and Saviour is evidence enough that I am wonderfully saved from sin and death. It is His guarantee put in my heart by His own love that Christ has done it all!
Christian, do you truly love your God? Then you are His for sure! Sinner, do you want to love your God? Open your heart to Him so He may know you, and show you His love. There is security in His love! Hallelujah!

Enemies within the camp!

"But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed ears, then the weeds also appeared." (Matt. 13:25-26)

Within His great family God wants brotherly love and harmony to blossom and abound. As soon as one confesses faith in Christ and allows their heart to be filled with the life of the Holy Spirit they are immediately adopted as sons and daughters of the Almighty and the fellowship of true love is their's. It is indeed one of the fruit by which the disciples of Christ are known.
Having said this, it is also true that within this great family there will come many who are not the offspring of Holiness but in fact offspring of evil. These seeds have been sown within the kingdom for the purpose of only destruction. Although they may loudly profess allegiance to Jesus, their hearts actually refuse to warm to Him and their efforts are spent corroding the kindred of God from the inside. They are weeds! They choke out the life of the Word that strives to flourish in the hearts of faithful children.
Jesus warns of these imposters in His Sermon on the Mount and describes them as ferocious wolves dressed as gentle sheep (Matt. 7:15). Peter as well gave one of his longest dissertations addressing the evil rot that is false prophets within the church (2 Peter 2). The Church of God has been dealing with the strangling power of weeds since its conception. Every time the Spirit of God has burned hot within the hearts and souls of Christians there have been those who claim to be siblings working painfully to hinder His fire.
Weeds choke healthy wheat; in matters of faith there is absolutely no difference. They entangle the roots of the good plant and prevent it from feeding to its full potential. Their mandate is to keep the good plant in shallow soil and eventually suffocate it completely. And you can depend on the fact that these people will know all about God, but they do not actually know Him. One can be certain that where there is spiritual stagnance and lifelessness in faith, there is the work of weeds. Yet, as fierce as they are, weeds are unable to wither those plants whose roots are deepest.
So what are we Christians supposed to do about the presence of such destructive evil so close by? Well, the answer is perhaps a shocking one: NOTHING! Our faith must simply shine through the thorns and thistles and be ever contrasting. The pruning can only be done by the Great Gardener because only His eye is discerning enough to untangle the subtle words and works of weeds. Our duty is to grow deep and deeper still. We must reach into the darkest cracks of our Lord's heart and draw from His richness. Alongside wheat such as this, weeds are mere inconveniences... not threats at all. The Kingdom of God will increase dispite the efforts of these imposters and they will one day be pulled up, roots and all. Then, praise Jesus, the true siblings of Christ will stand tall and proud - forever and ever! But every Christian can be sure... weeds are everywhere. Beware of them!

Covenant proves true friendship.

"When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking pot of brass with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces." (Gen. 15:17)

It is clear that God was a part of Abram’s life before a covenant was made between them, but the relationship was on Abram’s terms. He was able to keep God at a distance (so to speak), have the perks of being friendly with the Most High God, and reap the benefits of God’s blessings and gifts. Abram’s relationship with God up to this point was without consequences. If he got tired of God, he could easily throw Him aside. It was a relationship that was comfortable for Abram and his life was easier because he could call on God whenever he wanted something.
But as in every relationship with God, there comes a time when development and maturity are necessary in order to grow farther and deeper in faith. God allows His people to cruise along for a time, but He knows that if it were left up to them, His plan and purpose would never be accomplished. God Himself takes the reins in His friendship with Abram and sets the terms according to His Sovereignty and wisdom. There is absolutely no difference in how God moved His relationship with Abram forward and how He moves our relationship with Him forward. He sets His own conditions and establishes us as His people. In other words, a covenanted relationship with God is a deeper relationship with God.
You see, a covenant places both parties in a binding relationship that requires the faithfulness and devotion of each one. It “ups the ante” on the seriousness and commitment that is held between the two sides. Once a covenant is established within any friendship, then both parties are bound to each other by oath. It means very clearly, that if the covenant is broken, then the friendship is broken. Basically, both parties are on equal terms, bearing equal responsibility within the relationship.
Look at verse 17 of the 15th chapter of Genesis. Abram is still in his deep sleep and God is speaking to him in a dream. Abram had prepared animals for a sacrifice just as God had told him to do (v. 9). We read here that a smoking pot of fire and a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces of meat that Abram had prepared for a burnt offering to the LORD. This was God’s signal to Abram that no longer would there be any division within their relationship. They were now covenanted to one another and they would be committed equally to their promise. God used this scene to change the terms of His relationship with Abram. Quite clearly God was declaring to Abram, “You prepared the sacrifice and I will set it aflame.” No longer was God’s friendship with Abram simply one of convenience and comfort. Now it was one of love and devotion.
This is the profound difference between being an acquaintance of God and being covenanted to God. It professes that there are two halves to this friendship: God’s half and my half. It places requirements and responsibility on the person, not just on God. We are not just using God to make our lives easier or nicer, but we are committed to being used by Him for His purpose. This is the only way that a person can grow and mature in a relationship with God. Without a willingness to covenant oneself to God on His terms, there can be no development in faith and discipleship. Outside of a covenant with God, any relationship to God is an acquaintance that insists on the maintenance of selfish desire. Perhaps it is also worthy to mention that nowhere in all of scripture did God call a person out of covenant.

The Awful Reality of Hell

Then the king told the attendants, "Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matt. 22:13)

The parable of The Wedding Banquet is perhaps one of the stories of Jesus that is a bit easier to decipher. Its structure draws an almost linear picture of God's plan of salvation for humanity. It begins with a King sending out invitations to the people of His kingdom to come to His great feast. The first invitation is declined by those on the guest-list, and the second is shrugged off similarly but with more disdain. The King grows intolerant of these refusals and He sends out a third invite to the lowest and poorest of the kingdom - the ones that were most undeserving.
The majority of theologians and scholars agree that this parable is referring to the epic struggle throughout the ages of God and His offering of salvation to the Jews, their ultimate rejection of Jesus as the Messiah, and the resulting extension of the eternal inheritance to the Gentiles. In other words, Jesus was telling the story of the gospel message that would continue long after He left the earth. However, the concluding verses of this parable (v. 11-14) seem to be much less clear than the beginning.
At the end of His story, Jesus adds a very gruesome twist: someone who claims they have accepted the King's invitation is found to be a fraud and his end is a terrible one to say the least. Regardless of why this person is discovered to be wearing the wrong clothing, the fact remains that there is a severe punishment for those who are discovered in this condition. Basically, those who are deemed unfit by the King to be present at the great wedding feast are thrown outside! First of all, Jesus describes that the fraud is bound hand and foot, revealing that there is no opportunity to escape this end. There is no dispute in the matter; he has already been judged as guilty and his freedom is lost. He cannot run away or argue his rights. He is bound to his fate.
Secondly, Jesus describes this consequence as a place and with much attention to detail. This place is "outer darkness" (also vividly described in 2 Peter 2 and Jude's letter) but is not by any means void of consciousness and feeling - hence the need to use verbs like weeping and gnashing, because they portray emotion. As severe as His words are here, this is not the only time Jesus uses this description of an eternity other than Heaven. Three of the four gospels use almost identical phrasing, and sometimes even harsher ones.
Here's my querry: If Jesus saw fit to warn His listeners (i.e. disciples, Pharisees, Saducees, and scribes - the church at the time) of a place of unfathomable terror that housed those with fraudulent faith, shouldn't we as Christian preachers and teachers at least acknowledge its reality? I wonder sometimes if we have forgotten that our loving, merciful Saviour never held back the truth even when it was hard to accept. One of the things about this story, as well as this description of hell, that startles me most is that it was spoken to the Church. How then can we be so comfortable subtracting it from our theologies?