Hearts On Fire

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord:  I will put my laws upon their heart, and on their mind I will write them, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.  ---Hebrews 10:16-17

Last week I wrote about being involved in a church group for the purpose of encouragement and exhortation.  That is exactly where I was at 6:00 a.m. this morning, meeting with a small group of guys who are not afraid of the cold, or the dark, or even (this week) of the rain, as long as we are armed with a strong cup o'Joe (we meet at a Starbucks).

We are studying Hebrews, and this morning we read chapter 9 slowly and deliberately.  Before we began chasing rabbits and getting off topic completely,  I was struck with verses 3 and 4:

Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant.

Over the past few months our group has read scripture (particularly the book of Hebrews) in the context of the New Covenant brought about by Jesus Himself.  The Old Covenant contained a number of requirements, such as ritual cleansing and animal sacrifices, all of which were a type and shadow of the new, better covenant.  According to Thayer's Greek Lexicon, "The word covenant is used to denote the close relationship which God entered into, first with Noah, then with Abraham...and afterward through Moses with the people of Israel."  This covenant, this sacred contract, bound both God and the people to certain requirements, and could not be voided.  "By this last covenant (that of Moses), the Israelites are bound to obey God's will as expressed...in the Mosaic law, and He promises them His mighty protection and blessings of every kind in this world, but threatens transgressors with the severest punishments." (Thayer's)

It struck me this morning that God has always desired fellowship with Man.  He has always been willing to meet us in our worldly dwelling, to walk with us as He walked with Adam in the Garden in the cool of the evening.  In return, He expects and even provides (for we cannot attain it in ourselves) some form of sanctification.  Look at Hebrews 9:1.  "Now even the first covenant had regulations of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary."  Notice the confluence of the "worldly" and the "divine" or "holy."  Thayer's defines "holy" in this way:

"(The term) used of things which on account of some connection with God possess a certain distinction and claim to reverence, as places sacred to God which are not to be profaned.  (The term is also used) of persons whose services God employs...set apart for God; to be, as it were, exclusively His."

Friends, that's us.  God calls us to be holy.  In our worldly, profane setting, God calls us out.  Even with our sinful nature, He desires fellowship with us.  So much so, that He sent His only Son to be a sacrifice for our sins, so that the sinfulness that we possess innately is covered by Jesus' blood.

There has always been a wall of separation between sinful Man and holy God.  In the Tabernacle given to Moses, there was a veil or curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.  When Jesus died, the Bible says that this firewall was no longer needed.   "And behold, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split." (Matthew 27:51).

Look at what we now have access to.  Hebrews 9:3-4 says, "Behind the second veil (the one that was torn apart when Jesus died) there was a tabernacle (or room) which is called the Holy of Holies (a holier place), having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron's rod which budded, and the tables of the covenant."  What do these things represent?

Altar of Incense  We have the privilege of giving our worship directly to God.  We do not need a priest or a mediator, because Jesus Himself is our mediator (1 Timothy 2:5). Many times in the Old Testament, God described burnt offerings as "a sweet savor".  Today, we who offer our lives as "a living sacrifice" (Romans 12:1).  We have within our hearts a holy fire, and the smoke from that fire is as incense, a "sweet savor" to God.

Ark of the Covenant  Literally a box, commissioned by God to hold remembrances of His miracles of old, and symbols of Himself to us.

• Jar of Manna  A symbol of God's provision, of His grace and mercy.  In the Old Testament, the people of Moses were never without sustenance, because God provided a unique source of food every day.  This stuff that appeared on the ground every morning like dew was unlike anything the people had ever seen--that's why they called it "manna", meaning "what is it?"  It looked like coriander seed, and it tasted sweet like honey.  "His mercy is new every morning." (Lamentations 3:23).  His grace is so sweet, and God provides it for us daily if we walk with Him in an attitude of worship.
• Aaron's rod which budded  A symbol of God's favor, His divine selection or appointment.  If you are not familiar with the story, in the book of Numbers the people of Israel were challenging the authority of Moses.  Basically, they accused him of nepotism, as his brother Aaron was selected as the High Priest.  God told Moses to have each of the twelve tribes of Israel to present a rod, which was a symbol of power and authority.  All twelve rods were marked or identified in some way, so that each tribe knew which was theirs.  They were placed in the tabernacle overnight, and the next morning, they were collected.  Eleven of them were returned just as they had been presented--dead wood, without life or anything signifying God's anointing.  Only one, the rod identified as belonging to Aaron, was different: it had grown a bud, a flower like that of an almond tree in the springtime.  God had endowed it with signs of life, even though it had been cut off from the root.  Believers in Christ also have that endowment, that signal of life springing out of us. It is as if we were grafted into an unseen Vine (Romans 11:23-24).
• Tables of the Covenant  A symbol of the Law of God.  In Exodus we see that God literally wrote the Ten Commandments in stone with His own hand.  Paul wrote, "You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts." (2 Corinthians 3:2-3).

Note, too, the order in which these are listed.  If we approach God in a spirit of worship, we will see His provision, His grace and mercy.  As we know grace more fully, we will see His favor and His divine appointment.  Then as we commit ourselves to that divine appointment, we will desire to perform His will as expressed by good works, righteous behavior, and morality.  I think too many times the enemy attacks us because we are not good enough to be in the presence of God.  Shame and remorse keep us from fellowship with God, building again that firewall that Jesus tore down by His sacrificial death.  Whenever that occurs, we should realize that moral living is the last manifestation, not the first.  If it were first, then we would be slaves to a salvation based on our works, not on God's mercy and grace.  "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8, 9) Or, conversely, so that no one should feel separated and ashamed because they do not measure up to a holy God.

In the Hebrew language, there is no word modifier like "-er" or "-est", as in "holier" or "holiest".  Instead they would repeat the word for emphasis.  A holy thing was "holy".  A holier thing was "holy, holy."  The holiest thing of all was "holy, holy, holy."  The writer of Hebrews describes the Tabernacle, the symbol of the Old Covenant, in this way.  Hebrews 9:2 describes the outer room of the Temple, the place to which all had access, as "the holy place."  The second room behind the curtain was described as "the holy of holies"--literally, "holy, holy."  Friends, now, because of Jesus, we have access to this "holy, holy" place.  And one day, we will also have access to the One described in Revelation 4:8 as "holy, holy, holy".  He is the holiest one of all.

Help! I'm out of gas

And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.  --Hebrews 10:24-25

If you are on FaceBook, and you don't yet follow Bangor Maine Police Department, you really, really should.  This essay was posted just this morning:

One of life's simplicities for me, and mysteries for some, is the reserve switch below the gas tank on a motorcycle.
Fridays sometimes demand that last bit of fuel. It only can be accessed by turning the valve in the right direction.
Trickery and deceit abounded over the years when I rode more steadily than I do now. A stop for coffee would inevitably find one or more compadres out with the bikes soon after one or more of the group, usually older and usually me, were finding the sweet relief of the tiny restrooms which hide in the back of fine coffee establishments. Hijinks would ensue.Several miles down the road someone's bike would sputter and shake while other riders watched with impish pride in what they had accomplished by moving the fuel valve to the off position.
Yes, a motorcycle will start in the off position, but the only gas available to the engine for a short time is the fuel that remains in the line and carburetor.
In other words; just when you got up to speed and were starting to enjoy the silence from voices, which is one of the reasons you ride a motorcycle in the first place, you got the impression that your bike was malfunctioning.
It wasn't; it was just running out of fuel.
After a couple of learning opportunities a skilled scooter pilot could quickly scan his/her group of riding partners and make a note to observe who was watching intently. Confirmaton of the culprit allowed plans to be laid to do the same to the miscreant at the next possible opportunity.
The good news is that reaching down and turning the valve to the appropriate mark would cure the sputtering and shaking and the trip could continue.
No need to stop and discuss it.
The valve also has a spot which holds a little extra fuel when the main tank is depleted. The reserve position allowed for access to small amount of gas from bottom of the tank. When the main supply ran out you could switch it to RES and make plans for a fuel stop in the next 15 miles.
In many professions Friday is the day you need to make the switch over to reserve. It might give you just enough to make it to Saturday where you can refill your tank.
There is the possibility that someone screwed with your switch at some point this week and we are hopeful you had the experience necessary to just reach down and turn it back on just to keep on keeping on.
Painful people can drain more than gas from your tank. Your ability to deal with it without much drama can take the wind out of their sails as well.
Just a life lesson from someone who learned through experience.
The cool thing about life is you can sometimes pick who you ride with regularly. Keep that in mind when you top off this weekend.
Have a great Friday.

 Homespun humor and common-sense wisdom aside, this post made me literally laugh out loud, as it reminded me of an episode from my early days.  When I was fifteen, I had a completely different schedule than my little sister.  My parents both worked, and I needed a way to get to Driver's Ed classes offered by the high school.  Rather than ride with a friend, my dad let me get a small motorcycle.  A 100 cc Honda with an ugly orange gas tank.  It was not big, but it could go in excess of 60 mph (don't ask me how I know), which was pretty fast for a near-sighted nerd with horn-rimmed glasses.

While I was learning to ride, but before I had a motorcycle license, we discovered a short in the electrical system.  Whenever I would turn on the headlight or the blinker, the engine would stall.  We took it to the dealer for service, and they worked on it.  On the day of my driving test, we picked up the bike from the shop and went straight to the DMV.

If you don't know how a motorcycle driving test works, the biker leads, riding alone, with a car trailing behind driven by a friend or loved one.  The State Trooper rides shotgun in the chase car, making notes about safe turns, looking both ways, and coming to complete stops.  I was instructed to turn left when I heard the car honk once, and turn right when I heard the car honk twice.

So off we go, and I am being as careful as I know how.  Unfortunately, after the third stop sign, my bike sputtered and died.  My dad and the Trooper waited patiently while I tried desperately to kick-start the engine.  After what seemed like an eternity, it dawned on me to check the reserve fuel switch.  Sure enough, when the mechanic had worked on my bike he had inexplicably turned off the fuel supply.  Once I realized that the switch was turned to the "off" position, I could correct it, and start the engine once again.

Sadly, I failed that driving test.  It probably didn't help that I forgot the signals for left and right turns.  I found out later that when I made a right turn after hearing only one honk, the Trooper asked my Baptist preacher father, "Where the hell is he going?"  Happily, I was able to re-take the test within a couple of weeks, and the second time I passed.

What could possibly be the spiritual lesson from these anecdotes from two former riders who have never met each other face to face?  Well, for one, we should always be plugged in to the source.  When life becomes sluggish and unresponsive, we should always make sure that the fuel supply is turned on.  The fuel tank could be completely full of Premium Unleaded, but if the fuel line is turned off, there is no power.

Paul wrote, "My God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19).  This is a promise that is always true.  However, the devil will always try to find ways to interrupt the supply.  Your fuel line might be clogged with sin and unrepentance.  We might need someone who will hold us accountable.  A great way to foster accountability is to get involved in a Bible-believing church.  Not just being a church member, not just being a regular attender, but getting plugged in to a small group Bible study with people who are not afraid to ask you the hard questions.

Proverbs 27:17 says, "Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."  We need each other.  Did you know that the main reason God created Eve was so that Adam would have some help?  She was not created for the sole purpose of procreation.  She was not created so he could have someone to love, to cherish, to care for.  She was created to be a help to him.  The same Hebrew word describing Eve as a "help-meet" for Adam is also used in Psalm 20:2, "May He send you help from the sanctuary, and support you from Zion."  We usually think of a "sanctuary" as being a room in a church, but it can mean any place set apart for help and holiness--the community, the home, even the bedroom.

What happens when the help is not there?  "Everyone will be ashamed because of a people who cannot profit them, who are not for help or profit, but for shame and also for reproach." (Isaiah 30:5).  I still remember the shame I felt when my bike sputtered and died on my first riding test.  I remember the reproach from my father, who had wasted the better part of a day trying to help me be more independent.  That shame and reproach would not have been there if my fuel line had been flowing freely, and my engine had run smoothly.

Hosea 13:9 says "O Israel, you are destroyed, but your help is from Me."  God weeps when we are cut off from Him; He rejoices when we seek Him out.  Like bread to the famished, like clear water to the thirsty, He is the Source of our supply.

Forget none of His benefits

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised us is faithful.  --Hebrews 10:23

Several weeks ago, when I was thinking about my resolutions for the New Year, I bought a soft-bound volume entitled 2018 Weekly Agenda.  The first part of this book has calendars for each month of the year.  On the blank calendar blocks that represent the days, I can write short reminders, appointments or events that are important to me.  About halfway through, the format changes. It is now divided up into weekly blocks, with only seven days showing on the double-page.  There is more room to write in these larger blocks, and I decided that I would journal each day utilizing the space provided in this format.

There is not a lot of space, so I cannot be very wordy in this journal.  This helps me to be faithful, since I do not place big expectations upon myself that I should write daily tomes about my everyday life.  Frankly, my life is not that interesting.   In fact, there are many days that I cannot think of anything to write about at all.  In order to keep this from happening, I have seven subjects or ideas that I list each day, and then follow that with a short statement of what I did to strengthen or support that idea, how God may have blessed me in a specific way, or maybe my shortcomings in that area.

The ideas or subjects are the same every day: 

• Physical
• Mental
• Emotional
• Spiritual
• Financial
• Social
• Professional

Not long after I started doing this for myself, I read a FaceBook post about something called "Bullet-Point Journalling".  Apparently, it's a thing.

Anyway, each day I will write down what I did or what I'm going through in each of those seven areas.  Most of the time, it's pretty boring.  Under "Physical", I almost always write, "Worked out 20 minutes this morning."  Under "Mental", I will document how much I read that day, or whether I practiced my guitar (the only musical instrument I play).  On and on it goes--you get the idea.

Anyway, as I have kept this rather boring short record, I have realized something pretty amazing.  Whenever I am worried or stressed, it usually falls under one of these seven broad categories.  If I am overwhelmed by debt, it affects me Financially.  If I don't get along with my supervisor, it affects me Professionally.  Whatever problem you have, you can probably fit it under one of these broad categories.

What I have learned by Bullet-Point Journaling is that God is faithful.  See, if I am able to document my short, low-impact, daily workouts, I am reminded that God has given me health.  He gives life.  When I document each day that I read something for pleasure, or that I practiced my musical instrument, I am reminded that God has given me an ability to read, to think, to express myself to others.  When I document each day that I have read a portion of Scripture, or that I have gone to Church, or met with a small-group Bible Study, I am reminded that God has given me freedom to worship Him, and an ability to fellowship with Him and with other like-minded Christian people.

So when I am worried about a bad review I get at work, or get stressed about a disagreement I had with a friend or relative, the seven-fold approach helps me put it in perspective.  Yes, I may be struggling in one area, but that doesn't define me.  It also reminds me of God's faithfulness.  If He has given me breath and life, He will help me with my problems.  If He has seen to it that I am fed and clothed, He will also see to it that my other needs are met.

One way that we can know the character of God is experientially.  That is, we can know by our own experiences that God is faithful.  He may not always do exactly what we want, when we want it; that would make Him less than God, and more like a machine.  We get in our cars each morning and expect them to take us to work.  As long as we give the car gas and proper maintenance, it will usually take us where we want to go, barring unexpected traffic or road hazards.  If we get stuck in traffic, or have a flat tire, it was due to unforeseen obstacles in our path.  On the other hand, God (who loves us and knows what is best for us) does foresee the obstacles.  Not only that, He knows whether it would be good for us to go through that testing or that trial, before we go through it.  For us to pray that He would help us avoid all of life's bumps and bruises would be an attempt to limit Him.  He cannot be limited.

We know by our own experiences that God has blessed us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.  Given that experiential knowledge about His character, we must trust Him in the areas we have less control over, like our finances, or our social interactions, or our professional lives.  One of the first Bible verses a child learns is Psalm 56:3: "When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You."

When I read the book of Exodus, I am amazed at the lack of faith exhibited by the people of Israel.  God exhibits His grace and his power in delivering them out of Egypt; He manifests His power over natural laws of the physical universe by parting the Red Sea.  Yet within a space of 7 days, the people come to a place called Mara, where the water is bitter, and they are afraid.  They yell at Moses (and by extension, to the God of Moses), accusing him of taking them out of their "comfort zone" in Egypt (which, by the way, was not very comfortable--remember, they were slaves in Egypt, under terrible bondage) only to let them die of thirst in the desert.  In other words, they had experienced God's provision of a way out of bondage; they had experienced God's power over their enemies; they had experienced God's performance of mighty miraculous works--yet they did not trust Him to meet their most basic needs.

Again in Exodus, within 40 days of Moses going up the Mountain of God, with many miraculous signs and wonders, the people asked Aaron to build them a god that they could follow, because they were not sure that Moses would return, or that His God would continue to provide for them.

Sometimes, though, we are the same way.  We see God's hand in what He has created for us to enjoy.  We see God's work in our own health and provision.  We hear God's word in Church or maybe even on TV and radio.  Yet when we find ourselves in a pinch, we forget God and look to others.

As I thought about this subject this past week, I remembered a song I heard growing up.  I will provide a link below if you want to hear it, but it is a song about God's faithfulness.

As I look back on the road I've travelled,
I see so many times He carried me through;
And if there's one thing that I've learned in my life,
My Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true. 

My Redeemer is faithful and true.
Everything He has said He will do,
And every morning His mercies are new.
My Redeemer is faithful and true. 

My heart rejoices when I read the promise
'There is a place I am preparing for you.'
I know someday I'll see my Lord face to face,
'Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true.
My Redeemer is faithful and true. 

And in every situation He has proved His love to me;
When I lack the understanding, He gives more grace to me. 

My Redeemer is faithful and true.
Everything He has said He will do,
And every morning His mercies are new.
My Redeemer is faithful and true. 

Written by James Isaac Elliott, Steven Curtis Chapman • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol Christian Music Group

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOMqZmFjLXk

Recovery, Restoration, and Righteouosness

The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter. 'Tis the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.  --Mark Twain

On the NPR affiliate in my region there is a show that I enjoy.  It is called A Way With Words, and it describes itself as "A public radio program about language examined through history, culture, and family."  Usually on the air they shorten that description to "A show about words and the way we use them."

Not too long ago I heard a caller on the show make a statement about something his father had always told him.  He said, "There is one right or correct word for every occasion."  This brought about a lengthy discussion about English words and the nuances they bring with them.  One might look up a word in a thesaurus, and find other similar words; but those words are only similar, they are never exactly the same.  There is a prime example in the sentence that brought about this discussion: even though the terms "right" and "correct" are almost interchangeable in certain circumstances, each one has its own connotation.  "Right" could mean appropriate to the situation, where "correct" is more technical, meaning it fits within the grammatical context and agrees with the subject in tense, number, and form.

This discussion started me thinking about the different nuances and meanings of the same word.  One of the things that makes the English language so complex and difficult to learn is that while no two words have exactly the same meaning, one word can, by itself, have a dozen or more different meanings.  (Note to my biological sister: this is what I was trying to think of and tell you about when I saw you last, but I got distracted and couldn't regain my train of thought).

For various reasons, I have lately been thinking about the word "recovery."  The term has two broad definitions: 

> The first is, "A return to a normal state of health, mind, or strength," as in signs of recovery in the housing market.  In this sense, some synonyms may be "recuperation," or "convalescence," as in her recovery may be slow. Other synonyms may include improvement, rallying, picking up, upturn, or upswing, as in the economy was showing signs of recovery.
> The second is, "The action or process of regaining possession or control of something lost or stolen," as in a team of salvage experts was hired to ensure recovery of family possessions.  Some synonyms may include retrieval, regaining, repossession, getting back, reclamation, recouping, redemption, or recuperation, as in the recovery of stolen goods.

As I write this, I am waiting for the kickoff of the final game of the NFL season, the championship of American Football, or what some may call "the Big Game".  Whenever a player of a team fumbles the football, there is a "recovery" of the ball either by the offense or the defense.  In this sense, a mistake is made (the fumble), and some amount of physical exertion or work needs to happen in order for a recovery to be made.  The final outcome could be positive or negative, depending upon which team has possession of the football (or depending upon which team you are rooting for.)  Nevertheless, from the instant when the ball is fumbled and the moment when it is recovered, the time lapse is only a few seconds at most.

Another sports analogy:  This month we are looking forward to the Winter Olympics.  Many of the events involve racing on snow or performing intricate maneuvers on ice.  Snow and ice are intrinsically slick, so mistakes are commonplace.  Regaining equilibrium while hurtling down a mountain at upwards of 90 miles per hour might only take milliseconds.  Likewise, an ice skater who catches her toe-pick on the landing of a triple Salchow has only milliseconds to reclaim her balance; if she falls, the announcers may say that she "recovered nicely" in the remainder of her routine, but the judges will still reduce her score.

Other kinds of recovery may be painfully slow.  Recovery from an accident or injury may take weeks or months.  Recovery from addictions may take years or even decades.  Lifestyle changes must be made in order to fully recover.

Recovery.  One word, so many connotations. So many opportunities.  You see, we are all sinners.  Sometimes the sin can be discovered early and repented of quickly.  A lustful glance.  A little white lie.  We may, like the figure skater or downhill skier, be able to recover quickly, before any lasting damage is done.  It may take a short period of intense work, like the football player who has dropped the ball.  Yet if the damage is deep-seated, and has resulted in years of addictive behaviors, recovery may be slow.

A friend of mine was teaching a Sunday School class about 2 Timothy 3:16.  He drew an image on the white board that looked something like this


Then he read the verse: "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness."  He explained that, like the line in the graph above, our general direction is forward, left to right.  During those optimal times, we are following Scriptural teaching.  But sometimes we get off track, as when the line turns south and starts going downward.  At those times, God may "reprove" us--that is, He may tell us to go back and try again (represented by the times where the line in the graph reaches its lowest point, and seems to be going backward).  This is when God corrects us, represented by the line moving upward, toward the original path.  The final step is training in righteousness, shown in the graph as movement in the right direction, away from our error.  You will notice that the errors are repeated, much like sin in our lives.  The verse still applies: if we go back to the Scripture that is God-breathed, we can enjoy teaching, experience reproof, endure correction, and receive training in righteousness.

According to Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, the word for "restore" occurs 1299 times in the Old Testament, in over 948 verses.  That doesn't even count the times restoration is mentioned in the New Testament.  Clearly, God wants to restore us to the way we were first created: to a place where sin is not standing in the way of fellowship between us and Himself.

Psalm 23:3 says, "He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake."  Restoration and righteousness go hand in hand.  Any other way is like a blind guide.  "Let them alone," Jesus warned.  "They are blind guides of the blind.  And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit." (Matthew 15:14).

To keep me from falling into a pit (again), I have turned to God's word.  My prayer this past week has been Psalm 19:14, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."