Not Fair. Not Equal.

There is no symmetry in the Kingdom of Heaven. Instead, God’s Kingdom is completely lopsided. God has done it all. He pursued, loved, forgave, blessed and promised a lavish inheritance. We can never meet God half-way, and we should stop trying.~ Ed Welch

If you want to read the entire blog post about God's lopsided kingdom, go here:

Fair is a Four-Letter Word

Conversion

Saul really wasn't a nice guy.  Oh, he was educated by the best of teachers, and could trace his roots to the most prominent of families. In his own words, he had reason for confidence in himself:

 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
(Philippians 3:4-6 ESV)

But his confidence was misplaced.  His zealousness was evil.  He persecuted the followers of Christ, breathing threats and murder against men and women belonging to the Way.

But Jesus stopped him in his tracks.

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
(Acts 9:3-4 ESV)

Saul couldn't believe what was happening to him, I'd imagine.  He had no idea Who was speaking to him, holding him accountable for his murderous actions.  I think he must have been trembling in his boots.

"Who are you, Lord?"  The question must have come falteringly.  Saul really didn't know.  Then came the answer that would hit him like a blow to the stomach:

"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting."

Notice this.  Saul was persecuting the disciples of Christ, men and women who belonged to the Lord.  When Saul heard the question, "Why are you persecuting me?" his mind must have been racing, thinking back to the different people he had hunted down, arrested, and brought in chains to the religious leaders in Jerusalem.  Which of them had such power?  Was it Stephen?  No, he had died.   Could it be...?

So he questioned, "Who are you, Lord?"

I am Jesus.

Wait, Saul must have thought, his mind wildly racing.  Isn't Jesus the man who was crucified a few weeks ago?  It's his followers that I am chasing down.

I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

There is an inseparable union between Christ and His followers.  Those who revile and maim and torture and imprison Christians are doing it to Jesus Christ.  Make no mistake.  They will answer to Him.

 You can read the rest of the account of the conversion of Saul here.  Go to Philippians 3 to read what happened to him internally.

His life changed.  Dramatically.  God converted him from a murderous persecutor of Christians to a preacher of Christ.  He was chosen by God to carry His name before Gentiles, before kings, and before the children of Israel.  He was chosen to suffer much, to strive hard, to work diligently for the sake of Jesus Christ and His people.

It's funny though... the people in Jerusalem didn't welcome him with open arms.  Even though he spent a good deal of time in Damascus, preaching boldly and learning from the Holy Spirit, by the time he got to Jerusalem about three years later, he was regarded with suspicion.

...they were all afraid of him, for they did not believe that he was a disciple.

Barnabas had to stick up for him and vouch for him. In time, the rest of the Christians could see that Saul had changed and that his conversion was genuine.

Go to Philippians 3 and read how Saul was changed.  This is how we know that someone's faith is genuine.

• their gains are counted as loss
• they know Christ intimately, sharing life with Him
• they are in Christ (counting His righteousness as their own; not relying on themselves)
• they share in His sufferings
• they obey His will

Genuine Faith in Christ is the confident, continuous confession of total dependence on Jesus.  It is the confident, continuous confession that the only One we trust in is Jesus.  It is the confident, continuous confession that our only hope is in Him - that His righteousness has been imputed to us, and that some day we will attain the prize that is unattainable on earth - the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Confident - Jesus is Who He says He is.  He is the truth.  He is always faithful.

Continuous - Every day I must put on the Armour of God and stand firm.

Confession - Acknowledgement of the helplessness of my estate, and the Sufficiency of Christ.

“If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me. 

(Robert Murray M’Cheyne p. 179)

Saul's faith was genuine.  His confidence changed from confidence in his own flesh to confidence in Christ.  His faith was continuous - daily, he prayed; daily, he obeyed.  His faith was repentant, as he acknowledged that without Christ, he was nothing.  

Is there someone in your life who has made a profession of faith?  You may be reluctant to welcome him because of his former evil ways.  Pray for him, and watch to see if he has a confident, continuous confession of total dependence on Jesus.

Is there someone in your life who talks the talk, but doesn't walk the walk?  Pray for him, that God will meet him on his "Damascus Road" and open his eyes to the truth of Jesus.

Go here to read "The Sinner's Opinion of Himself", which ties in beautifully to this post.

Paul and his "babies"

The apostle Paul had a heart for the lost.  He delighted in preaching to them, and he rejoiced when they showed evidence in their lives of being born-again by the Spirit.  In the first chapter of 1 Thessalonians, Paul thanks God for the believers who received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit and with steadfastness of hope in Jesus Christ.  


A true believer walks with God.  God intrudes into his daily life, his thoughts, his actions.  He cannot NOT think about God, and lives with his heart turned toward heaven, Coram Deo.  


A true believer makes much of Christ, who grows "bigger" every day, while he himself diminishes.


A true believer makes much of the Bible.  Paul thanked God for the believers who accepted the word of God and recognized that it was not the word of men, but the actual Word of God.  And then he said this:

For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy. (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 ESV)

Have you been praying for a "beloved unbeliever" lately?  Have you spent time crying out for God's mercy on someone you care for, only to see him fall again and again into patterns of sin?  Don't give up on him!  God sees your tears, and He hears your prayers!


Paul cried out and prayed for others, and God answered those prayers, giving him spiritual children.  Paul didn't stop praying for them, because he knew they had an enemy.


In the third chapter of Thessalonians, Paul reminds his spiritual children that he wanted to come and see them, but Satan hindered.  The adversary tried to tear down the churches and discourage the believers.  


He whispered to them, "Look at Paul's troubles.  God's plan isn't working!"


He sneered, "Look at Paul's afflictions.  God must be displeased with him."


LIES!  


Paul wanted to protect them.  He didn't want them believing the lies of the devil.  He reminded them that God had revealed to him when he was first saved on the Damascus Road that he would suffer much affliction, but that it all was in His plan.  Paul didn't mind the affliction and the trials and tribulations so much (he could even sing while in prison) but he didn't want the tempter to tempt his spiritual "babies" to lose faith.  


So he sent Timothy to see how they were doing.

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 ESV)

It was as if Paul was holding his breath, waiting for the news.  When Timothy brought the good news of their faith and love, he breathed a huge sigh of relief.  He could finally live.  


How he thanked God for the work of grace He had done in their lives!  How he longed to visit, to teach them, to feed them the "pure milk of the Word" so they could grow and mature in the faith!


If you've prayed and longed for the salvation of someone for years and years and years, and finally you see the light in their eyes as they talk about God and rejoice in Him, then you'll know how I feel.  I have someone in my life who has recently been given eyes of faith and a heart turned towards God.  He is like my spiritual baby.  I feel like Paul, protective and tender towards him, longing for him to grow and mature and be steadfast and unmovable in his faith.


Paul's "babies" were tempted and attacked by the adversary.  It is to be expected.  My prayer is now that God will protect my "baby" from the fiery darts of the evil one.    


Oh, he'll be tempted.  All of us are.  But by God's mercy, he'll grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Beautiful Saviour, Jesus Christ.  


And now I can live!