What is the "rust" in your life?

The apostle, Paul, emphasises that the whole man must be kept clean - not only from the sins that defile the physical body, but also from those that involve the inner attitudes and dispositions of the human spirit. Writing to the early disciples of Jesus in Corinth - infamous, in its time, as a hotbed of immorality and licentiousness - he states: "... let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, ..." (II Cor 7:1). Those who disregard these guidelines of grace, hinder the power and plan of Father God for their lives.

John Speed-Andrews was an English evangelist in the second half of the 19th century. Once, when he was touring a large manufacturing plant, he noticed a man using a high-intensity torch to work on huge slabs of steel. Using a pantograph he traced the pattern on a blueprint, that was attached to a table, and this enlarged the design as it was burned into the metal. There were times, however, when the flame made no impression. When this happened, the operator would apply a chemical substance to the resisting patch and, immediately, the cutting was able to be resumed.

The worker explained to the visitor that, although the torch was capable of cutting through clean steel, up to a thickness of eight inches (20 cms), if it encountered even the slightest film of rust on the surface, the flame would not penetrate. The chemical cleaned the patch of the rust, so that the cutting could continue.

Mr Speed-Andrews wrote: "It struck me, forcefully, that this is a picture of the Christian. The Holy Spirit is seeking to produce in us, God's perfect design. If the life is unblemished, He is able to continue His efforts but, if we are carnal or backslidden, His work of shaping us is hindered until the area in question has been thoroughly cleansed."

If we want the joy, and the victory, that comes from having our lives cut to God's pattern, then we need to avoid the hindering "rust" that accompanies "... every defilement of body and spirit, ..." Each of us knows what that area is in our individual life. We need to bring that area (those areas?!) under the cleansing blood of the Lamb - even God the Son: the Lord Jesus Whose entry into this world we will shortly be celebrating (even if His birth did not take place on Dec.25th!). May we do so - for our own good, and that Glory might be given to Him.

A good witness.

Have you ever stopped to think how people get their idea of Jesus? The frightening truth is that most of them get those ideas from people who claim to be disciples of Jesus! That is people like you and me!

Of course there are those who will immediately respond by saying that they are not evangelists! Neither am I! According to Paul, in his letter to the disciples of Jesus in 1^st century Ephesus, “… His [Jesus’] gifts were that some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, …” (Eph.4:11-13). So being an “evangelist” is a specific gift of the risen Lord Jesus to the church at large.

However, that same risen Lord spoke to His disciples (and, by extension, to all future disciples) just before His ascension, and return to the Father. He said: “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:7-8).

Do you see the difference? Only some are gifted, by the Lord, to be evangelists. However, when the Lord Jesus spoke those words, he used the plural form of “you”. So, while only some disciples of Jesus are called to be evangelists, all of us are witnesses. How do we witness? By what we are! You and I are witnesses, whether we like it, or not. The only question is “What kind of witness am I?” Am I a good witness, by my life commending to others the One Whom I claim to serve? Or am I pushing more people away from Him than I ever draw to Him?

“Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today; He has no feet but our feet, to lead men in His way; He has no tongues but our tongues to tell men how He died; He has no help but our help To bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible the careless world will read; we are the sinner’s Gospel, we are the scoffer’s creed. We are the Lord’s last message, given in deed and word; what if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?

What if our hands are busy with work other than His? What if our feet are walking where sin’s allurement is? What if our tongues are speaking of things His lips would spurn? How can we hope to help Him, and hasten His return?” (Annie Johnson Flint; 1866-1932).

Being an apologist.

A dear friend left, today, to travel to her home country of Poland. She has not been a disciple of Jesus for a very long time, and has asked friends to pray that she might be: "... an example with my behavior, my words and my deeds, for His glory. My deep desire and hope is that I can be and remain a great witness of what Jesus did in me and how He has changed me ..."

That, of course, should be the prayer of every disciple of Jesus, whoever they are; wherever they are; and regardless of how long they have been walking the Christian way.

So what is the best reason we can give to anyone who asks why we have accepted the Lord Jesus as our Saviour? How may we, most persuasively, bear witness to our faith? "Always be ready", urged the apostle Peter, "to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you,    ..." (I Peter 3:15). The Greek word translated "answer" in that quotation, is the word "apologian" - "apology"! However, this is not a weak-kneed excuse from a quivering person who merely wants to keep out of trouble! The word refers to a convincing argument in support of the position that one holds. 

For a long time, I have found it interesting that while "evangelist" is a gift of the Lord Jesus to the church (see Eph.4:11), we are all called to be witnesses! It is not a gift - it is a direct command! (see  Acts 1:8). The only option I have is to be a good witness - or a bad one! Of course, as I witness "with my behaviour, my words and my deeds,", I am being an apologist for the Faith! Please don't think that you have to be a member of the clergy; a theologian; a Bible teacher; or whatever in order "... to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, ..." You can bear witness to the the truth and power of the Gospel message. Your own life can be the best argument in support of your faith in the Lord Jesus, the Christ, to anyone who asks why you believe what you believe. You can share how He has changed you; how He continues to guide you; how He walks with you.

One word of warning! The Greek word translated "witness" in Acts 1:8 is the word "martures" - from which we get the English language word "martyr". Yes, as our brothers and sisters in the persecuted church in some sixty countries who suffer for the Gospel in ways that I am unable to comprehend, do so, it is because of their constant witness!

Are you a good witness for Jesus? Am I? we may not be preachers, or teachers, or evangelists. We are witnesses!

A faltering faith.

Having succumbed to a bout of influenza, my time online has been severely curbed for almost a fortnight! I am still not "out of the woods", but want to publish a post or two before the month ends.

Earlier, in the post titled "Hype, or Hope?", I referred to a dear friend who has recently been diagnosed with what is, currently, inoperable cancer in both liver and a lung. I shared her admirable attitude that she is in a win-win situation. If the Lord spares her, she has more time with her husband and family. If He takes her home, she is with Jesus more quickly.

Just a couple of days ago, I was sent a video of the well-known Christian evangelist, Luis Palau.  He, too, has just been diagnosed with an advanced cancer - and his attitude is exactly the same! That, of course, is the way in which any true disciple of Jesus will face "the last enemy", knowing that the Saviour has already conquered it. (http://www.palau.org/luishealth for those who are interested.)

I've been reminded of a similar situation that I read about, many years ago. It's a true story told to illustrate a well-known Biblical record. In Matthew 14:22ff we read about the disciples, on their way across the Lake of Genneseret, in the face of rough waves and a strong wind. Then, "... in the fourth watch of the night [Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea." (v.24). They initially thought that they were seeing some kind of phantom but, when He assured them that it was He, Himself, impetuous Peter cried out: "Lord, if it is You, bid me come to you on the water.” (v.28). The invitation was extended and, we read: "... Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus;" (v.29). However, "... when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?”" (vs.30-31).

Many centuries later, a passenger boat was on a journey to Cleveland, Ohio, in the USA, when a terrible storm arose. Fearing that the ship would sink, all of the passengers, except one, gathered to pray (yes, there was a time when such a reaction would not have been remarkable!). That one elderly lady seemed to be totally unconcerned as she sat and quietly praised the Lord. When the danger had passed, some of her fellow-passengers asked her how she had been so peaceful in the face of her potential demise. "Well," she explained, "I gave birth to two daughters. One has gone to be with the Lord; the other lives in Cleveland. When our lives were threatened, I just wondered which I would meet first - the one in Cleveland, or the one in heaven. I would have rejoiced to see either!" Her unfaltering faith rested, with childlike simplicity, in the wisdom and purposes of her heavenly Father.

We may admire the response of Peter when the Lord Jesus invited him to walk on water. Soon, however, his original confidence gave way to fear, and he faltered in the crisis. Is it not true to say that most of us are like that?! Trusting Father God at first, our faith then begins to flicker when difficulties, and adversities, come.

May we be like that woman of an earlier generation; like my friend back on the UK; like evangelist Luis Palau; and have a faith that is firm - to the end! Remember, it's when we cease to look up that we begin to go down!

Blessed Assurance

The hymn, written in 1873 by Fanny J. Crosby, is possibly one of the best-loved of Christian songs.  Certainly, its use at countless Billy Graham Crusades, as large choirs raised their voices under the direction of Cliff Barrows, has ensured its general popularity.  However, it is just a song!

What makes the words of that song special is their being made true in the life of an individual.  Many years ago, a young girl named Maggie worked, 'downstairs', in a large house in the city of Edinburgh.  Sadly, she contracted an incurable illness and realised that she would not have long to live.  Her employers were kind, and kept her on 'light duties', but she knew that, with her sins unforgiven (it was an age when people were aware of their sinfulness!), she was not bound for heaven.

One day, the household staff were informed that some important guests were to be addressed by a certain John Thompson - a former fisherman who now made it his business to witness to the saving power of the Lord Jesus.  Maggie was very happy to hear this news for, she reasoned, she would probably learn the way of salvation from this plain-spoken street preacher.  However, when all had arrived, the servants were dismissed, and the door was shut.

Lingering in the hallway, and allowing her colleagues to go on, Maggie returned to the door and pressed her ear against the keyhole.  The down-to-earth evangelist was sharing the Good News that sinners may, on repentance, freely receive eternal life through faith in Jesus.  The aristocratic audience, however, was little moved, and he saw no positive reaction to his message.

Some months later, John Thompson was asked to visit a young woman who was on her deathbed.  It was Maggie.  She repeated some of his own words : "If anyone puts their own name in the place of the 'whosoever' of John 3:16, they will be saved."  She continued, "The audience in that room, that day, wasn't interested, but I was. I asked the Lord to make me His child, and I felt the burden of sin roll from my heart.  Now I can die with the blessed assurance that heaven lies ahead, because God's 'whosoever' took me in.  His peace and joy now flood my soul.  I thought that you would want to know that I was saved at the keyhole!"

Do you have that same blessed assurance that was Maggie's experience - and the experience of countless millions down through the ages.  Follow her example.  Put your name into John 3:16.  It won't mean that life is suddenly rosy - ask those in the countries in which to confess the Lord Jesus as Saviour and Lord is to invite harassment, persecution, and even death.   But you may be assured of His presence with you, in every situation and circumstance - even if you "walk through the valley of death".  You can face it, as Maggie did, with peace and with joy. 

What God offers by promise, we must take by faith.

So, I realise that I am a sinner!

Having completed the mini-series on The Ten Words (Commandments) - which, by the way, may well provide the basis for my next book! - I want to add one additional thought.  It begins with a question: "What is the purpose of the Ten Words?"   There are those who seem to assume that that purpose is to make life difficult for we poor human beings!   So many 'You shall not .."s  Why can't I just be allowed to live my life without having all of those restrictions placed upon me?  

Well, of course, we know that rules are actually necessary in everyday life.  In the UK, where one drives on the left-hand-side of the road, it would be a very foolish person who insisted on the freedom to drive along one of the motorways on the right-hand-side!  Likewise, in a game of, e.g., hockey, there are rules.  If 22 people went on to the pitch, and just started hitting a ball (and one another?!) around with wooden sticks, that would not be a game, it would be a disaster!  In something less 'physical', such as music, each note - minim, crotchet, quaver, etc. - has a specified length, as do the 'rests'.  There are also different keys that use specific notes for the piece of music being played.  However, if every musician in an orchestra was allowed to decide for him/herself the length of the notes, and the pitch of each note, what ensued would not be harmonious music, but a terrible, discordant, mess!

So with life.  We need rules!   These Ten Words are among the most basic that we know, and most law-codes are based upon them, or on something very similar.  They make perfectly clear that, as the apostle Paul wrote to some fellow-disciples of Jesus: "... all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Rom 3:23).  A modern evangelist, Ray Comfort, makes this clear by the simple questions that he asks people with whom he speaks - and he speaks with a lot of people!  He makes it perfectly clear that each and every one of us (that includes you - and me!) has sinned against Almighty God.

"Have you ever lied (even once)? Ever stolen (anything)? Jesus said, "Whoever looks upon a woman to lust after her, has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Ever looked with lust? If you have said "Yes" to these three questions, by your own admission, you are a lying, thieving, adulterer at heart; and we've only looked at three of the Ten Commandments. How will you do on Judgment Day? Will you be innocent or guilty? You know that you will be guilty, and end up in Hell. That's not God's will. He provided a way for you to be forgiven. He sent His Son to take your punishment: 'God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.' Jesus then rose from the dead and defeated death. God promises everlasting life to all those who confess and forsake their sins, and trust in Jesus Christ." (from "101 of the World's Funniest One Liners").

So the purpose of The Ten Words is, as Paul further explains, to be our pedagogue unto the Lord, Jesus the Christ. In Roman society, the 'paidagoogos' (pedagogue) was not the schoolmaster, but the servant who had the care of the children to lead them to and bring them back from school, and had the care of them out of school hours. Thus the whole of the Jewish Law did not lead to a living, saving knowledge of Almighty God.  Rather, it showed us up for what we are - sinners who deserve nothing other than His wrath, judgement, and eternal punishment! (see Gal. 3:24).

That, of course, as Ray Comfort explains, is why we need Jesus.  Not that our lives may be, somehow, 'happier'.  Not that we may have better health; more wealth; an easier time.  We need Him because we are sinners, and He is our only hope - the only way of salvation.  "... there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12).

Have you confessed your sins, and your sinfulness?   Have you come to Him for salvation?  His arms were outstretched on the cross that He might embrace all of humankind.  Will you allow Him to embrace you?  Will you?

If you think that I may be of any assistance, in a more personal way, then please feel free to contact me via the e-mail address at the top of the page.  Alternatively, you may wish to check out some of the relevant links, further down, on the right-hand-side.  Whatever you do, please do not leave the question of your salvation hanging.  Your eternal destiny depends upon it!

Being a witness.

I see so many, in these days, who claim to be disciples of Jesus; who are actively involved in the life of their local Christian fellowship/congregation; and who appear to be seeking to serve the Lord Jesus according to the gifts and abilities with which they have been endowed.

However, it appears to me that, when they are with their non-Christian friends, they are virtually indistinguishable from them!  Now, it's good that they have friends who are not disciples of Jesus - this is how the Gospel message is shared.  Unfortunately, if they are no different from their friends; if something of the beauty of Jesus is not seen in their lives, and words, and actions; if they are "just the same" as everyone else; then there is no example to follow!

I am reminded of the old poem:

Christ has no hands but our hands to do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet to lead men in His way;
He has no tongues but our tongues to tell men how He died;

He has no help but our help to bring them to His side.

We are the only Bible the careless world will read;

We are the sinner’s gospel; we are the scoffer’s creed;

We are the Lord’s last message, given in word and deed;

What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?

What if our hands are busy with other work than His?

What if our feet are walking where sin’s allurement is?

What if our tongue is speaking of things His lips would spurn?

How can we hope to help Him, or welcome His return?

It took me many years to realise that, while there are only certain individuals who are gifted to be evangelists, every person who has accepted the salvation of God, through faith in the Lord Jesus, and who has submitted to His Lordship, is a witness.  The only question is: "Am I a good witness; or a bad one?"

Perhaps the reason why our non-Christian friends fail to be impressed by our Christian profession is that we only profess when we are with our Christian friends!  Perhaps we need to lose the fear of losing our popularity; the fear of being obviously different.  

When Peter and John stood before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish leadership), they were so different that it was recognised "... that they had been with Jesus." (Acts 4:13).  May those whom we meet, and with whom we enjoy friendship, recognise that we, too, have been with Him.  May they recognise that we are, indeed, different.  May they see so much of Jesus shining from our lives, that they are attracted to Him themselves.  May we have the joy of pointing many of our friends, neighbours, relatives, workmates, and anyone else whom we meet, to the One Who is the Saviour of the world.

May the Bible they read, in us, be accurate and true.