The Jesus Banner

Francis Schaeffer, great prophet of God of the twentieth century, speaks lasting truth applicable today as much as his own day.  It never ceases to amaze me as I read his works, to the point I find myself looking over again at the copyright shaking my head.   I share today one such excerpt from Escape From Reason, chapter six subtitled, “Jesus The Undefined Banner”.

“I have come to the point where, when I hear the word “Jesus”—which means so much to me because of the Person of the historic Jesus and His work—I listen carefully because I have with sorrow become more afraid of the word “Jesus” than almost any other word in the modern world.  The word is used as a contentless banner, and our generation is invited to follow it…We have come to this fearsome place where the word “Jesus” has become the enemy of the Person Jesus and the enemy of what Jesus taught.  We must fear this contentless banner of the word “Jesus” not because we do not love Jesus but because we DO love Him.”

Reflect on this, Christian, for as believers by faith in Christ and loving the Word of Truth, we must do battle against spiritual lethargy.  We must, by God’s strength and direction, be vigilant against the sickening, spiritual, feel good stupor we find our church involved today.  However, we must fly a banner and “His banner over us is love”. 

Let me add to this, with sadness and joy, that Edith Schaeffer, wife of Francis, died on Easter Sunday and will have a funeral in Switzerland and memorial service in Minnesota this month.  What a testimony and an impact those two left on Christians all over the world.  Praise God for faithful servants.  Let us work as working for the Lord in all we do.  And let us fly the Banner of Truth and not a “form of godliness” which is a “fearsome place”.

Preppers

I’m fairly new to this description and though this particular movement is rather new, the premise is old:  Fear-produced over-diversion from normal life function.  (This is my definition before I looked up what the Internet had to offer.)  Here’s the definition from prepper.org: “an individual or group that prepares or makes preparations in advance of, or prior to, any change in normal circumstances or lifestyle without significant reliance on other persons or without substantial assistance from outside resources in order to minimize the effects of that change on their current lifestyle.”  I did pretty well in defining considering I just heard of them toward the end of 2012.  (Excuse the brag)

Ok, now you know, in case you hadn’t heard of them.  So here’s the real reason for the post today.  Yesterday in reading my new favorite minor prophet, Habakkuk, I immediately thought of these “preppers",  some of who claim to be believers.  Habakkuk has just been told BY GOD that imminent disaster is coming, which is the subject of most of His prophet discussions.  Well, I need to cut out this preparatory talk (excuse the pun) and let you chew on this yourself.  If you don’t come up with the same wonderful conclusion, read it again!  (References will be listed at the end but just go ahead and read the whole book).

“Then the LORD answered me and said, “Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run.  For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail.  Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will not delay.  Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.”   Habakkuk talking: “I heard and my inward parts trembled, at the sound my lips quivered, decay entered my bones, and in my place I tremble.  Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us.  Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, YET I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation, the Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places.” 

Preppers, take note, “The earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea…the LORD is in His holy temple.  Let all the earth be silent before Him.”  Rely on a SURE foundation and not one of your own making!!!

Habakkuk 2:2-4; 14 & 20; 3: 16-19

Bask or Ask

I began Habakkuk this week.  As usual, I read what John MacArthur has to say on the subject before I dive into the book.   Historical background is so important to a book and adds so much to the study.  As I read the background for this book, I immediately associated with this great man.  (A personal note here: I know that with many of the minor prophets, nothing much is known about the actual man.  But I wonder why they are called “minor”.  I mean they talked to God.  He told them what to say and they said it and it has been included in a book on which we base our life walk.  Nothing “minor” about that!)  And back to the great man…he is questioning God, much like David, much like Job, much like us.  I relate and wait to see how God answers.  (I’ve only read Chapter one so far but I already enjoy his style much more than Nahum.)

Back to John Mac’s notes:  Josiah had instituted significant spiritual reforms in Judah abolishing many idolatrous practices of his father and grandfather.  Upon his death, however, the nation quickly reverted to her evil ways.  Habakkuk lived at this time period, sad over the death of a Godly king and the quick falling away of God’s people.  He questioned God’s silence and apparent lack of punitive action to purge His covenant people.  In Habakkuk’s mind is the issue of the vindication of God’s character and covenant with His people.  As did Job, the prophet argued with God, and through that experience he achieved a deeper understanding of God’s sovereign character and a firmer faith in Him.  (And here’s the part I really love) Ultimately, Habakkuk realized that God was not to be worshipped merely because of the temporal blessings He bestowed, but for His own sake. 

Did we get that?!!  We worship God because He is worthy of our worship.   He is “I Am”. (Ex. 3:14)  Do we enjoy that kind of fellowship with God?  Do we go to Him just to bask in Who He Is?  Or do we just go to ask what He can do for us?  Much to learn, Lord!  Forgive my slowness!!

Protected Hearts

Everyday I hear of women who have been abused, left or not sought at all by men who have ceased to be men.  I’ve blogged this before perhaps, or something similar.  But it ever becomes a source of distress as daily I lift names to God of just such situations.

One list of names includes women who covenanted with the man they loved and trusted.  These men, however, chose to fall to their weakness, a weakness they look at as manliness.  I’ve said before, the true strength of manliness lie in what he is strong enough to avoid by way of enticements.  They leave those wives of their youth for one reason or other.  And these wives now have hearts broken by the very ones who should have been their protectors. 

The other list of women, and it’s an ever-growing list, are women who are finding themselves unsought as a helpmate.  These women are beautiful inside and out.  What keeps a man in desperate need of a helpmate (God said it, not me) from pursuing these women?

 I’m afraid we’ve raised a generation of wimps and worthless worms.  Some of them are pursuing each other, not submitting to their Godly design.  Some are pursuing Internet gratification which gives temporary pleasure without the demands of responsibility.  And some are just plain scared to be a man in charge. 

Wake-up, you guys!!  “Quit ye like men and be strong.”  (1 Corinthians 16:13: means to "behave like a man" "act like a man")  The God of creation designed and created you the crowning glory of creation.  He gave you everything you need to be the man you need to be.  Be strong!!  Be courageous!!  Love God!  Seek a wife!   Be the protector of her heart and life just as God has been to you!  Live a life pleasing Him all your days!  Where are you, Guys?  You are not complete!

(I would add that if you do not have a relationship with Jesus Christ, this is the first place to start for a pleasing life.  We are ALL worthless worms apart from Christ.  That is our problem before a perfect God.  Yet, Christ, while we were sinners died for that sin and completed the work required to bring us to God.  Seek Christ first!  Then seek a wife.  Unless of course, God has called you in another direction.  He will lead.  You are to follow.)

Sweetest Frame

What is it in this life that means the most to you?  What is your “sweetest frame”?  As I rehearsed the words of “Solid Rock” in my head this morning, I meditated on those words.  In fact, I didn’t get any further in the rehearsal than “but wholly lean on Jesus name.”  Do I really do this?  I made my mental list of the sweetest frames in my life.  When I think, “frame”, my first thought is frame of a house and in the past I’ve even thought of what is that special picture that you hang framed in your house.  Looking it up in the dictionary, there are a multitude of meanings: rigid structure, universe-regarded as an embracing structure, nature of someone or something, basic structure that supports a system or concept,  a particular mood that influences one’s attitude or behavior.  There were many more and I would think the song is referring to the last one I’ve listed.

However, there was one more that I personally refer to when I think about the song.  It was also listed in the dictionary: a person’s body with reference to size or build.  However, in my thinking, I would just say it is the person himself.  Because I would say that my family is my greatest love in this life.  Nothing I lose would compare to the loss of family especially that relationship with my husband that I’ve been blessed by God to have.  But whatever you think of when singing the song, do not trust it no matter how sweet it feels or what pleasure it gives.  Our lean, our foundation, our strength comes securely promised and complete from Jesus Christ and Him alone.

In the book of Micah 7: 5-7, a passage Jesus quotes in Matthew 10:35-37, it says: “Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend.  Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips.  For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.  But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

“Do not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name.”

THINK

John Piper, in his book, Think, challenges both believer and unbeliever to do just that.   I’d like to share an excerpt from the chapter, “The Immorality of Relativism”, page 114:  “Relativism leads people away from a love of the truth and so enslaves them and destroys them.  The formula is simple:  when relativism holds sway long enough, everyone begins to do what is right in his own eyes without any regard for submission to truth.  In this atmosphere, a society begins to break down.  Virtually every structure in a free society depends on a measure of integrity—that is, submission to the truth.”  He quotes Michael Novak: “Vulgar relativism is an invisible gas, odorless, deadly, that is now polluting every free society on earth.  It is a gas that attacks the central nervous system of moral striving.  The most perilous threat to the free society today is, therefore, neither political nor economic.  It is the poisonous, corrupting culture of relativism.”

John goes on to talk about the poisonous effect of relativism on personal integrity.  Consider the following…THINK: “it [relativism] erodes the sacred duty to tell the truth and keep one’s word.”  As Jesus dealt with the chief priests and elders in Matthew 21:23-27 in regard to the their question, “By what authority are you doing these things?”, He asked them a question: “from where did the baptism of John come?  From heaven or from man?”  You know the scripture, if not, read it, but the bottom line is they “made up a truth": We don’t know.”  What bondage!!  They cannot own the truth because they are enslaved to the fear of shame and harm.  And what a prostitution of the gift of thinking!” (page 115)  

 “Jesus came into the world and died for our sins to set us free from this slavery.  When God is for us in Christ, we do not need the praise of man.  When God promises to be with us and work all things for our good, the power of fear is broken.  This is why the gospel makes us rational, not rationalistic, simply free to see and speak the truth.”   Good Stuff!!  I highly recommend this book.

Right Thinking

How does one combat thinking wrong?  Think right!  How does one know what is right?  Go to a source that you know is true and seek to know that truth.  What is truth?  Jesus had just told Pilate that He was born and came into the world to testify to the truth.  He said, “Everyone on the side of truth listens to Me.”  Thus Pilate’s famous question that still lingers in the pseudo intellectual mind today, “What is truth?”

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except by Me.”  Yesterday our guest pastor preached his evangelist message, “Why I Believe in God in an Age of Skepticism”.  He said that people, in regard to a belief system must do three things:  Know – Believe – Trust.  He was addressing his sermon to the skeptic, both agnostic and atheist.  However, as I prayed this morning over a mentally tormenting issue in my head, I began to apply this principle.  As I ended my prayer, the issue became less intense and the “truth set me free” from wrong thinking.  Thus, thinking right won over wrong thinking.   Because of Christ, I have access to God during these times.  I must run as though my life depended on my communication with Him.  And it does!

Right thinking for a believer is that we are saved by grace from our sin that separated us from the Creator, God.  We are here to honor and glorify Him.  Let’s not lose that perspective.  Trials will come; God’s Word stands true and powerful through them all.  We must persevere and as we combat our own sinful thinking, we gain strength through that victory to teach other saints and bless unbelievers with the good news.