We live in a fallen world where terrible things happen. We are plagued by wars, rumors of wars, sickness, injury, hunger, etc., that add to the tremendous toll of human suffering. Life is at best fragile. James was correct when he compared our lives to that of a vapor. Now that I am old enough to say that I have “become my parents,” I am able to appreciate more fully how precious each day is as God creates it fresh and new. Yet I am mindful that my presence here will be erased soon enough.
I had opportunity recently to listen to the recorded sermons preached by the pastor of a large church that I was privileged to attend in the formative years of this faith walk. His observations and insights were crisp and concise, and they provoked my mind to much contemplation. Yet now that he has been in the grave for twenty plus years, the church he faithfully shepherded has not given even an honorable mention of him in their history. We are like a vapor; only the things of Christ will last forever.
How then are we to face the challenges that are set before us? Simple obedience! Notice that I did not say, “It’s easy, simple obedience!” Obedience is not complicated, but in my experience it has never been easy. My sinful nature rebels at the very thought of any kind of obedience. One could wonder how I thrived in the military for 23 years! Yet I am called to be yielded fully to the mind of Christ, that His will might be at work in me for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:5,13 paraphrase mine). For every time my flesh asserts itself, the arrogant "I" must be made to bow low so that it might be bent into a "C" at the foot of Calvary’s Cross (Roy Hession, Calvary Road, paraphrase mine). For there is only one Lord and it is to Him I now belong. In the simplicity of obedience, I will see true liberty unfold. I need not climb into the heavens (that is, to bring Christ down), nor must I descend into the depths (that is, to raise Christ up). He is immediately accessible because He has chosen to make His abode in my heart: that place of Sabbath rest where neither wind nor rain disturb; that place where Jesus says, "Peace, be still."
Will the world continue to defile, corrupt, and rail against its rightful authority? Most certainly! Will the winds of despair blow across our paths? For sure! Must we see our loved ones suffer in the midst of many hardships and trials? Without a doubt! Yet Paul challenges me to be “anxious for nothing” and instead to pray thankfully about everything so that the “peace that surpasses all understanding” might “guard” my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
What choices will I make today? Will I kick against the goads, not wanting to walk the path set before me? Shall I cower at the “fellowship of His sufferings,” hoping only for the “power of His resurrection?” (Philippians 3:10) Or will I trust that I am truly yoked to the King of Kings and that my place is to walk beside Him in obedience, trusting that whatever the day may bring is by His sovereign hand, while letting my lips be engaged in prayer for all the saints everywhere.
Our prayers are the weapons of warfare aimed at an enemy unseen. But they cannot seek the target unless they are launched! We live in a nation founded upon the principles ordained in holy writ. Yet today we see, even in the church, the Word discarded and abandoned while the children of a counterfeit God pray for wisdom and power. And all the while the deceiver lulls us into thinking that we are serving a risen savior when we are really serving ourselves with great zeal—and instead doing real harm to the Body (Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections, paraphrase mine).
It should not surprise us then when we see the “best and brightest” of this generation chasing after the “impossible dream” of a cure for a nation—who thought they could defy economic gravity with impunity. Is this not the very thing that the Apostle John warns us against when he said:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16 NET.)
The Greek here shouts at us:
G212 αλαζονεία alazoneía; gen. alazoneías, fem. noun from the adj. alazṓn (G213), a boaster. Ostentation, boasting about what one is not or does not possess. Someone going about with empty and boastful professions of cures and other feats. An alazṓn shows off that which he thinks or pretends he possesses. An ostentatious quack. A boast or boasting (James 4:16). As joined with “bios” (G979), life, it means “the period of extension or duration of life” as contrasted to “zōḗ” (G2222) which means “the breath of life.” Therefore, alazoneía toú bíou in 1John 2:16 means “showing off to fellow mortals; the pride, pomp, or manner of life; the ambitious or vainglorious pursuit of the honors, glories, and splendors of this life; the luxury of life for the purpose of showing off, whether in dress, house, furniture, servants, food.” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary, General Editor: Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D.)
Can we not hear John asking, “Where is your treasure invested?” Do we not see our nation and ourselves “alazoneía toú bíou”? We have thought ourselves wiser than the most wise God and chose to live “high on the hog.” But now the herd has run full-tilt over the edge of the cliff and is accelerating toward our just reward at 32 feet per second squared!
Numbers 11:4 Now the mixed multitude who were among them craved more desirable foods, and so the Israelites wept again and said, "If only we had meat to eat!
Numbers 11:34 So the name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people that craved different food.
Psalm 78:18 They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.
Psalm 78:30 They were not yet filled up, their food was still in their mouths,
Proverbs 6:25 Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes;
Matthew 5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Romans 13:14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.
1 Corinthians 10:6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.
Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Ephesians 2:3 among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…
Titus 2:12 It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
Titus 3:3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another.
1 Peter 1:14 Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,
1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,
1 Peter 4:2 in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.
2 Peter 2:10 especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,
2 Peter 2:18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
Jude 1:16-18 These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain. But you, dear friends — recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. For they said to you, "In the end time there will come scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires."
Psalm 119:36-37 Give me a desire for your rules, rather than for wealth gained unjustly. Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! Revive me with your word!
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile. When someone's prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur.
Psalm 73:6 Arrogance is their necklace, and violence their clothing.
Daniel 4:30 The king uttered these words: "Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?"
James 3:15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.
Revelation 18:11-17 Then the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because no one buys their cargo any longer — cargo such as gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all sorts of things made of citron wood, all sorts of objects made of ivory, all sorts of things made of expensive wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, perfumed ointment, frankincense, wine, olive oil and costly flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and four-wheeled carriages, slaves and human lives. (The ripe fruit you greatly desired has gone from you, and all your luxury and splendor have gone from you — they will never ever be found again!) The merchants who sold these things, who got rich from her, will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment. They will weep and mourn, saying, "Woe, woe, O great city — dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls — because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!" And every ship's captain, and all who sail along the coast — seamen, and all who make their living from the sea, stood a long way off
Peace Be Still
We live in a fallen world where terrible things happen. We are plagued by wars, rumors of wars, sickness, injury, hunger, etc., that add to the tremendous toll of human suffering. Life is at best fragile. James was correct when he compared our lives to that of a vapor. Now that I am old enough to say that I have “become my parents,” I am able to appreciate more fully how precious each day is as God creates it fresh and new. Yet I am mindful that my presence here will be erased soon enough.
I had opportunity recently to listen to the recorded sermons preached by the pastor of a large church that I was privileged to attend in the formative years of this faith walk. His observations and insights were crisp and concise, and they provoked my mind to much contemplation. Yet now that he has been in the grave for twenty plus years, the church he faithfully shepherded has not given even an honorable mention of him in their history. We are like a vapor; only the things of Christ will last forever.
How then are we to face the challenges that are set before us? Simple obedience! Notice that I did not say, “It’s easy, simple obedience!” Obedience is not complicated, but in my experience it has never been easy. My sinful nature rebels at the very thought of any kind of obedience. One could wonder how I thrived in the military for 23 years! Yet I am called to be yielded fully to the mind of Christ, that His will might be at work in me for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:5,13 paraphrase mine). For every time my flesh asserts itself, the arrogant "I" must be made to bow low so that it might be bent into a "C" at the foot of Calvary’s Cross (Roy Hession, Calvary Road, paraphrase mine). For there is only one Lord and it is to Him I now belong. In the simplicity of obedience, I will see true liberty unfold. I need not climb into the heavens (that is, to bring Christ down), nor must I descend into the depths (that is, to raise Christ up). He is immediately accessible because He has chosen to make His abode in my heart: that place of Sabbath rest where neither wind nor rain disturb; that place where Jesus says, "Peace, be still."
Will the world continue to defile, corrupt, and rail against its rightful authority? Most certainly! Will the winds of despair blow across our paths? For sure! Must we see our loved ones suffer in the midst of many hardships and trials? Without a doubt! Yet Paul challenges me to be “anxious for nothing” and instead to pray thankfully about everything so that the “peace that surpasses all understanding” might “guard” my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
What choices will I make today? Will I kick against the goads, not wanting to walk the path set before me? Shall I cower at the “fellowship of His sufferings,” hoping only for the “power of His resurrection?” (Philippians 3:10) Or will I trust that I am truly yoked to the King of Kings and that my place is to walk beside Him in obedience, trusting that whatever the day may bring is by His sovereign hand, while letting my lips be engaged in prayer for all the saints everywhere.
Our prayers are the weapons of warfare aimed at an enemy unseen. But they cannot seek the target unless they are launched! We live in a nation founded upon the principles ordained in holy writ. Yet today we see, even in the church, the Word discarded and abandoned while the children of a counterfeit God pray for wisdom and power. And all the while the deceiver lulls us into thinking that we are serving a risen savior when we are really serving ourselves with great zeal—and instead doing real harm to the Body (Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections, paraphrase mine).
It should not surprise us then when we see the “best and brightest” of this generation chasing after the “impossible dream” of a cure for a nation—who thought they could defy economic gravity with impunity. Is this not the very thing that the Apostle John warns us against when he said:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world (the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance produced by material possessions) is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 John 2:15-16 NET.)
The Greek here shouts at us:
G212 αλαζονεία alazoneía; gen. alazoneías, fem. noun from the adj. alazṓn (G213), a boaster. Ostentation, boasting about what one is not or does not possess. Someone going about with empty and boastful professions of cures and other feats. An alazṓn shows off that which he thinks or pretends he possesses. An ostentatious quack. A boast or boasting (James 4:16). As joined with “bios” (G979), life, it means “the period of extension or duration of life” as contrasted to “zōḗ” (G2222) which means “the breath of life.” Therefore, alazoneía toú bíou in 1John 2:16 means “showing off to fellow mortals; the pride, pomp, or manner of life; the ambitious or vainglorious pursuit of the honors, glories, and splendors of this life; the luxury of life for the purpose of showing off, whether in dress, house, furniture, servants, food.” (The Complete Word Study Dictionary, General Editor: Spiros Zodhiates, Th.D.)
Can we not hear John asking, “Where is your treasure invested?” Do we not see our nation and ourselves “alazoneía toú bíou”? We have thought ourselves wiser than the most wise God and chose to live “high on the hog.” But now the herd has run full-tilt over the edge of the cliff and is accelerating toward our just reward at 32 feet per second squared!
Numbers 11:4 Now the mixed multitude who were among them craved more desirable foods, and so the Israelites wept again and said, "If only we had meat to eat!
Numbers 11:34 So the name of that place was called Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people that craved different food.
Psalm 78:18 They willfully challenged God by asking for food to satisfy their appetite.
Psalm 78:30 They were not yet filled up, their food was still in their mouths,
Proverbs 6:25 Do not lust in your heart for her beauty, and do not let her captivate you with her alluring eyes;
Matthew 5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Romans 13:14 Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to arouse its desires.
1 Corinthians 10:6 These things happened as examples for us, so that we will not crave evil things as they did.
Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Ephesians 2:3 among whom all of us also formerly lived out our lives in the cravings of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath even as the rest…
Titus 2:12 It trains us to reject godless ways and worldly desires and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
Titus 3:3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to various passions and desires, spending our lives in evil and envy, hateful and hating one another.
1 Peter 1:14 Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance,
1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I urge you as foreigners and exiles to keep away from fleshly desires that do battle against the soul,
1 Peter 4:2 in that he spends the rest of his time on earth concerned about the will of God and not human desires.
2 Peter 2:10 especially those who indulge their fleshly desires and who despise authority. Brazen and insolent, they are not afraid to insult the glorious ones,
2 Peter 2:18 For by speaking high-sounding but empty words they are able to entice, with fleshly desires and with debauchery, people who have just escaped from those who reside in error.
Jude 1:16-18 These people are grumblers and fault-finders who go wherever their desires lead them, and they give bombastic speeches, enchanting folks for their own gain. But you, dear friends — recall the predictions foretold by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. For they said to you, "In the end time there will come scoffers, propelled by their own ungodly desires."
Psalm 119:36-37 Give me a desire for your rules, rather than for wealth gained unjustly. Turn my eyes away from what is worthless! Revive me with your word!
Ecclesiastes 5:10-11 The one who loves money will never be satisfied with money, he who loves wealth will never be satisfied with his income. This also is futile. When someone's prosperity increases, those who consume it also increase; so what does its owner gain, except that he gets to see it with his eyes?
Matthew 4:8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur.
Psalm 73:6 Arrogance is their necklace, and violence their clothing.
Daniel 4:30 The king uttered these words: "Is this not the great Babylon that I have built for a royal residence by my own mighty strength and for my majestic honor?"
James 3:15 Such wisdom does not come from above but is earthly, natural, demonic.
Revelation 18:11-17 Then the merchants of the earth will weep and mourn for her because no one buys their cargo any longer — cargo such as gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, fine linen, purple cloth, silk, scarlet cloth, all sorts of things made of citron wood, all sorts of objects made of ivory, all sorts of things made of expensive wood, bronze, iron and marble, cinnamon, spice, incense, perfumed ointment, frankincense, wine, olive oil and costly flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and four-wheeled carriages, slaves and human lives. (The ripe fruit you greatly desired has gone from you, and all your luxury and splendor have gone from you — they will never ever be found again!) The merchants who sold these things, who got rich from her, will stand a long way off because they are afraid of her torment. They will weep and mourn, saying, "Woe, woe, O great city — dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet clothing, and adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls — because in a single hour such great wealth has been destroyed!" And every ship's captain, and all who sail along the coast — seamen, and all who make their living from the sea, stood a long way off
(All quotations from the NET Bible)