Life Here and There

As Isaiah put it, God’s ways are above our ways, and His thoughts are above our thoughts. He is holy, transcendent, distinct, and set apart from us. And He is, as Noah put it, the “Judge of all the earth,” and He will “do right.”

But we often answer wrongly on His behalf. Let me say that I don’t have all the answers, and I don’t always explain things well. As a Pastor, I always like to think I have an answer, which sometimes prevents me from being honest enough to say, “I don’t have a clue why God has decided this, but He is right.”

Here are some reasons why God’s judgment is such a tough subject…

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From the Series JOURNEY THROUGH THE WORD: The Book of Numbers

Based on Numbers 15-18

ONE GREAT TRUTH: The whole human race is lost, wandering apart from God, as the consequence of sin, but God is on a search and rescue mission for all of us!

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Yesterday, I preached about depravity. We’re journeying through the entire Bible and I came to the passage where Moses comes down off the mountain and the people have made a golden calf. God prepared him with the information, but Moses was still utterly shocked at their rebellion. That’s how we approach the subject of depravity – we can hardly believe it. I mean, sure, people mess up, but totally wicked to the core from birth?

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Isn’t summer supposed to be our vacation from the busyness of life? This summer, for the Cox family, is flying right by in a whirlwind of activity. We’ve traveled to see family in three different states (Missouri and Georgia for Angie, Kentucky for me). We’re getting ready to spend a week at church camp. And then, it will be time for Angie to return to work, for me to get busy with a new church year, and for Ella to begin Kindergarten.

In the midst of being busy in these bigger ways, I’ve also found ministry to families and needs to be rather pressing lately. My phones are ringing off the hook and I’ve done more “people work” in the last few weeks than ever before. I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I’m very thankful to be needed, to be used in God’s hands, and to watch God at work in people’s lives. On the other hand, I hate what Satan is doing to the people around me that I love so dearly. It has certainly caused me to have an appreciative perspective on my own life. God has been so gracious and merciful to me, especially when I’ve least deserved it!

I will also say that the pressing nature of many of the issues I deal with drive me to my knees. I feel the continual need to remain constant in prayer so that my own spirit is not dragged down by the multitude of problems in the world. Depravity, and its results, can be draining on our frail emotions and if we aren’t careful, we’ll be tempted to despair. But then there is that verse in Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” More than conquerors, winners, valiant victors in the war called life. And why? Because Jesus died and rose again!

At our wedding, Angie and I chose to have Louie Armstrong’s song played… What a Wonderful World. In light of yesterday’s shootings, and so many other monumental tragedies in recent years, is it really a wonderful world? We were driving to Fort Smith yesterday for the annual meeting of the BMA of America and were reflecting on some of the tragedies that have taken place at this same time of the year such as the Oklahoma City bombing (April, 1995), the Waco compound burning (April, 1993), and Columbine (April, 1999). Each of these tragedies evoked emotions of fear and trepidation about living in this present world.

Our daughter begins kindergarten this fall. She’s nearly five years old and we’re already speculating about the nature of the world in which she will grow up and go through school. The news media tackles subjects like campus security and the psychological reasons behind such an awful rampage. But the secular media can never fully comprehend the nature of human depravity. Evil men will do evil things, no matter our level of security. If not on a campus, then in a restaurant, an airport, or a World Trade Center. Is this really a wonderful world?

There are natural and supernatural factors that can only be seen through a God-centered world view. The depravity of man runs deep in the heart. Evil abounds in humankind and murder, war, and bloodshed will continue as long as lost mankind has some dominion over this present realm. Further, Satan is labeled in Scripture as the “prince of the power of the air… the god of this world.” We who live on earth, live in a time and place where darkness has dominion. Is it really a wonderful world?

My answer, surprisingly, is yes. Why? Because it is in this present realm that God is actively working to extend His saving and healing grace to a lost and depraved people. It is here that God moves. It was into this humanity that Jesus, the light, came into the world. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God’s glory was put on display through the life of Jesus Christ, through His atoning death, and through His miraculous resurrection. Do we live in a wonderful world? Only insomuch as Jesus makes the difference.

Last night, we were ministered to by a wonderful gospel singer who performed the old song Beulah Land. I love the lines… “Beulah land, I’m longing for thee, and someday on thee I’ll stand…” Our world, inundated with pain and loss and suffering, is merely a waiting room, a practice run, an incubation chamber for eternity. For those who believe in Jesus Christ as Savior, heaven is our real home. Hell awaits those who reject His free offer of grace.

Amazingly, we cannot forget that it is this world which will someday be renovated by fire. This world will be redeemed. It currently groans with birth pains, waiting to be delivered from its depraved lostness. It’s a wonderful world, plagued by the inherent sinfulness of humankind. It’s wracked with pain and evil. Yet everything on God’s time line is moving toward a great and triumphant finality. Jesus will rule and reign.

Our hearts are gripped, in times like this, with uncertainty and fear. Then Scripture speaks on behalf of its divine author… “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) “Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Is this world your home, or do you seek a city to come, a home not made with human hands preserved in the eternities for you? Jesus Christ came to be the light and hope of a lost and dark world. He came to offer you peace, pardon, and eternal life if you’ll only trust fully in Him, even in the world’s darkest moments. More is to come. Scripture foretells that times will wax worse and worse. Yet Jesus’ hand is always extended toward you. Embrace Him who is ready to embrace you, and enjoy the unspeakable peace and confidence of God.

After a decade and more of increased intensity in natural disasters, rising temperatures in the oceans, chunks of ice the size of states breaking off of the Arctic and Antarctic, we’ve come to realize that something about planet earth is changing. Well… at least some of us realize it. Let me say first of all that I am not a scientist and I do not wish to argue either side of the global warming debate. Rather, I’m interested in discovering a Christian response to the reality of massive global changes.

Christians today are divided on the issue of global warming. Many conservative leaders wish to deny the reality of global warming, perhaps so as to avoide too close a kinship with the typical liberal environmentalist. Others on the religious right hope to spur believers to action on behalf of the environment in the name of being “good stewards” of the planet. Denial is next to being absurdly naive. Downplaying global warming smacks of religious ignorance. We must face the reality that things are changing in creation. The big question is, what does it matter and what do we do in response?

Before offering a suggested response to the current significant global changes taking place, let me throw out one angle on global warming that does not receive much attention in the debate. Perhaps we are experiencing global warming, and perhaps it is having drastically negative effects upon our environment and weather patterns. Has it been considered, however, that these changes are not a sign of the end of all things, nor are they caused merely by human interaction with nature, but rather global warming is a sign of the earth’s cyclical environmental existence? In other words, are we entering another “age” of the earth over which man has had little to do with, either in the cause or the solution?

My complaint about the argument that pollution is the cause and environmentalism is the solution has to do with our feeling that mankind is somehow big enough, somehow significant enough to have a dramatic impact upon what happens on the huge stage of the cosmosphere. Do we really have the power to destroy what (1) God created and what (2) God promised to destroy Himself? (By fire, nonetheless, see 2 Peter 3.) And do we really assume that using less hairspray and driving fewer miles will stop the earth’s “groaning” under the anticipation of Christ’s return?

As believers, we must take a balanced viewpoint concerning our home planet, temporary as it may be. Let me offer some thoughts for biblical-thinking Christians to ponder…

1.) Our sovereign God, who was quite capable of the creation of this wonderful planet and all of the accompanying universe, is also quite capable of controlling weather pattersn all on His own, of preserving or destroying the planet at His will, and of bringing to an end “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” the world as we currently know it. In other words, let’s not forget that though we can dirty the place up, God is still ultimately in control.

2.) Adam and Eve were clearly given dominion, or leadership, over the Garden of Eden and that responsibility may have been hindered by the fall of man into depravity, but was never fully revoked. As God’s crowning creation, mankind still has the responsibility to care for and to be a good steward of the temporary home provided to us. So it is not “liberal” for a believer to want to do their part for the environment. We must get away from writing off all environmentally-conscious people as leaning to the left politically.

3.) Ultimately, this world is not the permanent and eternal home of believers. As one contemporary Christian group put it, it’s a “waiting room.” Don’t get too attached. Leave the planet as clean as possible for your grandkids but look for a brighter hope beyond the grave. As Peter said, “We look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
No matter where you fall on the environmentalist spectrum, you can see yourself as a steward, entrusted with a planet that you’ll eventually pass on to another generation. Why not do your part to keep it clean, and prepare to leave this waiting room someday for an eternity with Christ in a “new heaven and earth.”

“And unto Adam [God] said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hasteaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is theground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; Thorns andthistles shall it bring forth to thee;.” -Genesis 3:17-18a

Seagrove Beach, where our family recently vacationed, is an ideal place for those needing to getaway. There are no fast food or motel chains allowed. All of the housing and eateries arelocally owned. When our toddler, Ella, saw the beautiful white sand dunes for the first time,she shouted, “Look guys, snow!” In this pristine place, there were still some problems worthnoting.

The sun could burn you within an hour to ruin your vacation if you weren’t careful. The water inthe Gulf is quite polluted and contains all kinds of creatures from sharks to jellyfish, whichcan also ruin a trip to paradise. The sand seems to follow you wherever you go. We inadvertentlybrought some back home with us in our luggage. The problem with paradise is that paradise hasits problems.

Because of sin, you won’t find a perfect place on earth – not in Florida, Hawaii, or theCaribbean. The curse of sin has corrupted all of nature, and it has corrupted our nature aswell. Thank God Jesus came to give us a new birth and a new nature, as well as the promise ofparadise restored. all for those who trust Him as Savior and claim Him as Lord.