Two Bethlehems.

A couple of weeks ago I, and all who were present at the Pathway Fellowship in Wishaw, received a little booklet on the story of Ruth, found in the First Testament in the Bible. The booklet is entitled "Finding Hope under Bethlehem Skies" and is a brief devotional commentary on the story of Ruth, and how it relates to this Christmas season (which, some will know, ought really to be celebrated in September - but that's another story!).

The connection with Christmas is not just the town of Bethlehem, but the amazing fact that Ruth, a member of the Moabite people, sworn enemies of the Children of Israel, had a descendant Who was named "Jesus" because, as an angel revealed to Joseph of Nazareth, "... He will save His people from their sins." (Matt.1:21). Yes, a Moabite - themselves the result of the incestuous sexual act of a drunken Lot and one of his own daughters (Gen.19) - is an ancestor, after the flesh, of the One Who is the Saviour of all who come to Him in faith. Actually, Matthew tells us more. Boaz, who took Ruth to be his wife, was the son of Rahab, the prostitute of Jericho. Indeed, his ancestry goes right back to Judah's sexual act with his daughter-in-law, disguised as a common prostitute! (Gen.38).  But both of these women placed their trust in YHWH, the God of Israel - and that is what matters! It is also a reminder - even to our Jewish friends - that YHWH (HaShem) is God of the Gentiles as well as of the Jews, and that He can take the most unlikely material, and use it to bring about His will and purposes! 

The birth of Jesus, the Christ was, as far as we know, perfectly normal! What was miraculous was His conception! It was unlike any other in the whole history of humankind. It was, indeed, an "other world" conception. The angel, Gabriel, told Mary: "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;" (Lk.1:35). The Child conceived in her womb was from outwith our world. And this had to be so because the Boy born to Mary was Immanuel - "God with us" (Is.7:14; Matt.1:23).

I've just finished reading a book that seeks to relate Biblical theology to Quantum Physics! I understood about 10%!!! But one thing about which I agreed fully with the author is that eternity is not, as some suggest, "endless time", but a state of "timelessness", and the "distance" between time and eternity is but a small fraction of a nanosecond! The Baby born in Bethlehem was of heavenly origin. Almighty God, the Creator, had entered this physical world in the form, and with the nature, of a human Infant. He came into this world from eternity, and His incarnation made possible our redemption - but that, too is another story!

Now, if we consider this more deeply, and if we are His disciples, then we must realise that our own new birth - our regeneration - comes from outwith this world! Jesus said the we are "born from above" (Jn.3:3, 7-8; alternative translation). Our salvation is not from any earthly source, but from Almighty God Himself, through Jesus, Who is God the Son, by means of of God the Holy Spirit. In a sense, then, my heart becomes a "Bethlehem stable", a place where Jesus comes into the world! I open the door to Him, by faith, and He is born in me bu the Holy Spirit. And that is the case for all who have accepted Him as Saviour, and Lord, and King.

We make Him known to others by His power working within us. He affects every aspect of our lives. We are, in a sense (I almost typed "quantum sense"!) a "Bethlehem" - His place of entrance in the world in which we live today. Someone has noted that the Christ was born here below, that we might be born from above! Of course, if the stable door is closed after He enters, then we will never be able to share Him with others!

The booklet I mentioned at the beginning suggests a song to which the reader might listen each day. So here is a song for you. Listen carefully to the last verse: "O Holy Child of Bethlehem, ... ... be born in us today"! May that be the sincere prayer of each one of us as we move through this Advent season - and anticipate the Second Advent, when He comes again, not as a helpless infant, but as the mighty King of kings, and Lord of lords. I trust that you are prepared for that tumultuous event!

Light at a Time of Darkness.

The Book of Ruth, in the Tanakh (the Old, or First, Testament), is a love story with a difference! It is certainly not a "Mills & Boon" romantic novel. There is the love shown by Ruth, to her mother-in-law, Naomi; and the love that blossomed between Ruth and Boaz. There is also, on the part of all three, an obvious love of Almighty God, characterised by their trust in Him.

We may better appreciate the significance of this story by placing it in its proper context. The stories described in the Book take place at the same time as the events of the Book of Judges – a dark and difficult era for the people of Israel. After the death of Joshua, the tribes of Israel each operated independently of one another. Lacking unity, the tribes were weak and vulnerable to attack from neighboring countries and plundering tribes. At the same time, without consistently strong leadership, the Israelites frequently turned away from God and worshiped the pagan gods of surrounding nations. The Book of Judges can be described as a painful cycle: the people become complacent and turn away from God; God sends foreign enemies to subjugate the people; the people cry out and God sends a savior to redeem them; finally, saved from their enemies, the people become complacent and the cycle is repeated once again.
Is there a message, here, for the people of Israel today, as the war with Hamas rages on?
After selflessly following her mother-in-law to Judea, Ruth is rewarded with a life of poverty and no marriage prospects. However, Ruth finds herself at the farm of a man named Boaz who, unknown to her, is a near kinsman of Naomi, and he is kind to her. (One can almost hear the wedding bells!) But once again, Ruth is disappointed. The harvest season ends and nothing happens. Boaz fails to act.
In a bold move, Naomi instructs Ruth to sneak into the threshing floor where Boaz is asleep. And yet, instead of a romantic scene, Boaz essentially tells Ruth: “There is another redeemer-kinsman, more closely related than I. Wait, and I shall speak with him tomorrow.” This other relative is given the opportunity to marry Ruth, but he turns it down – yet another moment of rejection and disappointment! It is only then, at the very end of the book, that we finally reach the moment we’ve been waiting for. Boaz takes her to be his wife. Ruth was a Moabitess; Boaz was descended from Rahab, the prostitute from Jericho.  Yet from this union, the Messiah is born. How amazing is the grace of Almighty God!
The lesson of the Book of Ruth is particularly important for both Jews, and Gentile and Jewish disciples of Yeshua (Jesus). In many ways, the modern State of Israel is re-experiencing the era of the Book of Judges. Modern Israel is divided into “tribes” – religious and secular; Orthodox Jews who seek to scrupulously live by the Torah and Messianic Jews who have accepted Yeshua as HaMashiach; Jews of Middle Eastern origin and Jews from Europe; Jews who believe the State of Israel is the harbinger of redemption and Jews who reject its religious significance altogether. At the same time, dangerous enemies like Iran and its terror proxies such as HamaS (remember HamaN? see Esther 3:6 ff), threaten Israel from without, while "Palestinian" terrorists murder as many Jews as they can within Israel. From this perspective, Israel is living through an era of great pain and national disappointment.
But the Book of Ruth teaches us that it is precisely during times like this that the seeds of redemption are sown. Perhaps, at this very moment of civil strife and external threats, the story of the final Redeemer, Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus, the Messiah), is being set in motion – right under our noses!
Ruth reminds us that the people of Israel, and disciples of Jesus, must never give up hope, for God will not forsake His people - whether His Chosen people, or those who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Take strength, for the redemption will come!

Resh

It was this morning that I read the final section of Ps.119. However, on Thursday, I read the section in which each line begins with the Hebrew letter "resh". It's a section that reminded me of three things.

The first of these is that He is my Kinsman-Redeemer. "Plead my cause and redeem me;" (v.154). We learn about the kinsman-redeemer most easily in the beautiful story of Ruth, the Moabitess who, along with her mother-in-law, Naomi (and Naomi's other daughter-in-law, Orpah) was widowed. This was in the land of Moab, whence Naomi, her husband Elimolech, and their two sons, had fled to escape a time of famine in Judah. Naomi decided to return to her homeland and, in spite of the older woman's entreaties, Ruth insisted on returning with her, uttering the well-known words: "Entreat me not to leave you or to return from following you; for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God; where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May YHWH do so to me and more also if even death parts me from you." (Ruth 1:16-17).

You may read the full story in the book of the Tanakh (the 'Old Testament') that is named after Ruth. As you do so, you will be introduced to Boaz who, Naomi explains to Ruth is a near-kinsman (the kinsman-redeemer). The duty of the kinsman-redeemer was to rescue a family member in need (see Lev. 25:25 ff.).

You and I, and every other human being in the history of mankind, past, present, and future, has a great need - we are sinners and unable to save ourselves. Praise God, therefore, that He has provided, in the Persona* of the Son, a Kinsman-Redeemer for us. Paul writing to the believers in the province of Galatia says: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. (3:13; emphasis added).  The apostle also reminded the young pastor Titus: "For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world, awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify for Himself a people of His own who are zealous for good deeds." (2:11-14; emphasis added). Yes, the Lord Jesus, Himself, is my Kinsman-Redeemer. Is He yours?

In v.156, the psalmist writes: "Great is Thy mercy, O YHWH;" How great is that mercy! But what is it? Well, the easiest way to describe it is in conjunction with the grace of God. In His grace, God gives to us what we do not deserve; in His mercy He does not give to us what we do deserve! To put it another way - when we experience His grace we are receiving good things to which we have no claim; when we are recipients of His mercy, He withholds less good things that we deserve only too well! Praise God for the greatness of His mercy to those who have trusted in Him.

The third point that I particularly noted was in v.159 where the psalmist prays: "Preserver my life according to Thy steadfast love."  When we come to Father God, in the Name of the unique Son, Jesus, we do not have to, as it were, squeeze anything out of Him. He deals with us in the light of His own love - He whose very nature is 'love'. That love is above and beyond anything that you or I can imagine. It is the love that took Jesus to the cross, there to die a cruel and ignominious death for us. 

On Monday, I shall be, D.V., at the Armistice Ceremony in the village in which I now live. There won't be the same 'pomp and circumstance' to which I was used in the UK - but we shall still remember those who died in two World wars, and many other conflicts, that we might have the measure of freedom that we enjoy today. In the more "religious" ceremonies of Remembrance Sunday in the UK, one often hears these words being read: "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13). Most will think of these words as applying to those who have died in conflict. However, I would submit that the vast majority of them did not, in fact, "lay down their lives". Many were, it is true, volunteers. Many were regular forces. Many, however, particularly in WW1, were conscripts. They had no choice. The Lord Jesus chose to give His life for you and for me. He voluntarily took your place, and mine, on the cross. He was willing to pay the penalty that your sin, and mine, deserved. "He paid a debt that  He did not owe; because I owed a debt that I could not pay."

That is not all! Those who died in the various conflicts gained, for their country, only a temporary peace. When Jesus died on the cross, He gained full, and eternal, salvation for all who come to Him in faith. The "Gospel in a nutshell" is found in the familiar words of John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." That's as much as many know - and those words are wonderfully true. Eternal life - which is not just life that goes on and on indefinitely, but is the life of God Himself, in us - is not just for the future. It is something that we receive, and start living, here and now. However, John continues: "For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God." (John 3:17-21). Please read those other words carefully. They further emphasise that the love of God is real; that He desires that none should perish; but that those who reject His offer of salvation are already condemned - by their unbelief.

Well, I move on to Ps.120 tomorrow, D.V., but if I am spared long enough, I shall probably be back at Ps.119 another time. I commend it, and all of God's written Word to you. Read; learn; apply; and obey. You'll never regret it!

*This is not a typo! It is explained in my first book: "Great Words of the Faith", in the chapter on the Trinity. Remember that I am promoting my books (all three!) because ALL royalties are paid directly into the bank account of Release International, in support of the persecuted church. Interestingly, tomorrow is the annual day to remember those who suffer for their faith in ways that you and I cannot even begin to fully imagine. Please purchase; read; leave a review; and encourage others to do the same. Links are available at the top - or just search in Amazon! Thank you.

Ruth - a model of devotion.

It is sometimes claimed that everyone loves a love story. I am not in a position to verify that claim - or otherwise. However, I do know that the Book of Ruth in the Tanakh (the Old Testament) is a beautiful story of love and devotion. You may have already read the story, and think that you know all about it - but I would encourage you to take about seven minutes of your time to watch this overview of the book. You might even learn something new!!

And then there were ...?

So, the first month of 2016 closes with yet another "celebrity" death being announced.  The front-page headline in newspaper; the top topic on social media; and, doubtless, the main subject of UK news programmes on both radio and television.  Terry Wogan is dead.

Now, I have every sympathy for the Wogan family.  I never met the man, but he always came across as a pleasant person who was willing to use his celebrity status in helping others.  However, what has happened is, at some point, going to happen to each and every one of us - at least while the rapture of the saints of God is delayed.  As Benjamin Franklin famously said: "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."  Actually, some people may manage to avoid paying taxes - but, as physical beings, we are mortal.

What, then, ought our attitude to this inevitable event be?!   There are, of course, those who believe that physical death is the end.  When I breathe my last, there is nothing.   My body may be buried, or burned, but anything of me that continues will only be in the memories of those who knew me.

Others accept that there is some form of 'after-life', but have the idea that where I spend it, and what it will be like, depends entirely on what I have done in this earth.  If my good deeds outweigh my bad deeds, then I go to 'heaven'; otherwise, I go to 'hell'.  Even the concepts of 'heaven' and 'hell' may differ from one culture to another.

Some are of the opinion that, when we die, God will forgive us all, and that everyone will end up in heaven "because a God of love would not want to see any of His creatures suffer"!

Yet another group believe in reincarnation.  I am born, physically, many times - either progressing 'upwards' if I live my present life as a good person (or animal/insect/tree/stone, etc!); or downwards, if the opposite is true.  Eventually, I may reach the pinnacle of human existence and be released from that cycle - to be absorbed into the 'oneness' that is the physical universe, but with no personal identity or personality.

Those, however, who accept the teachings of the Bible as the written Word of the One Who created, and Who sustains, all that is, hold a unique belief.   They (we!) believe that there is a very real heaven, and a very real hell.  We believe that where one spends eternity (timelessness - see my chapter on the subject in Great Words of the Faith; details above) depends, not on anything that I have done, or can do, but on the giving of Himself as a sacrifice, on a cross on a hill called Calvary, of One, Jesus the Messiah/Christ, in my place.  That sacrifice of the perfect Man was/is sufficient to cover the sins of every human being who ever lived, or who ever will live.

However, there is a "catch".  The idea that "all will be saved" conveniently ignores that the God Whose essential Being is, indeed, Love - and love that is actually beyond our feeble comprehension - is also the God Who is Justice, and Righteousness, and Holiness.  In the light of His laws and commandments, each one of us is deserving of nothing but His wrath and punishment.  As the apostle Paul wrote to the Roman believers in the 1st century AD: "... everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard." (Rom.3:23; NLT).

So, is that the "catch"?  No!  Paul goes on, in that same letter, to make clear that "... God showed His great love for us by sending [the] Christ to die for us while we were yet sinners." (5:8).  All that we are able to do, but what we must do, is to confess that we are sinners on the sight of Almighty God; that we are incapable of doing anything, ourselves, about our sinful state; and accept, by faith, the salvation that was gained for us at such great cost.  That is the "catch".  Salvation is free and full - but only to those who are willing to accept it.

Terry Wogan's eternal destiny is now sealed.  Forget reincarnation: "... each person is destined to die once,and after that comes judgement"! (Heb.9:27; NLT).  Where he, or any of the other "celebrities" who have recently died, will spend it is between them and Father God.  Nothing that you, or I, can do will change that.  For you, however, there is still time.  Have you confessed your sinfulness, and your sins?  Have you asked for the forgiveness that is available only from Father God?  Have you accepted, and professed, Jesus, the Christ, as your personal Saviour?  Are you seeking to serve Him as Lord of your life?  These are important questions - your answers to them will determine what happens to the real "you" when your mortal body reaches the end.  Please do not ignore them.  If I may be of any further assistance, please feel free to contact me via the e-mail address at the top of the page, or through my "AllExperts" page (Link below, and on the right).  Alternatively, seek the help of a genuine believer already known to you.  Whatever you do, act.  Follow the example of Boaz, of whom it is recorded: "... the man will not rest, but will settle the matter today." (Ruth 3:18).