WOW- What a Question

I mentioned in a prior post that I attend a Bible Study group named BSF. A question in last weeks lesson really stopped me in my tracks.

We’ve been studying a letter Saint Paul wrote to the Romans. In a segment of the letter, Paul is distraught over the systematic rejection by his fellow countrymen of his message of Christ as the Messiah. Specifically Paul wrote:

I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, the people of Israel Romans 9:1-4

A paraphrase of the question I was asked to contemplate was, if Christ was truly not a part of my life, what would be my loss?

I had a good friend who battled cancer for a number of years. We’d go to lunch when she was strong enough. She used to tell me that she was going to fight this disease with everything she had and if it was not enough, she would go to a place of great rest to be with her Lord. She would say to me, “Doug, I just don’t know how someone can get through something like this without God.” She did lose that battle with cancer, but was freed to go away to a time of peace and rest with her Lord, free of chemotherapy, blood platelet transfusions, radiation, pain & fatigue. Her comment was a restatement of the question, what if Christ was not a part of her life.

This BSF question really caused me to think about what it would like to be without Christ in my life. I’ve been so blessed to really not know what that would be like. Christ, in his mercy introduced his salvation and his love to me at a very early age. I had the blessing of a Christian mother, who prayed earnestly for me and taught me of His love and His salvation (Her lunch time stories complete with flannel graph and cutout Biblical characters will have to come at a later time).

My multi-part answer to this question seemed to flood form the tip of my pen once I got past the inconceivable idea of His not being in my life. While writing this answer, I had a sick feeling in my stomach that I must admit really surprised me. Although the words came directly from my heart, I’ve subsequently scanned the Bible and included supporting verses with a desire to further explain my thoughts.

Part one: I would have no hope

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, Ephesians 1:18

Part two: I would not have a future, a promise of eternal life

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I John 5: 11-12

Part three: I would not have an advocate on my behalf in heaven

For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant. Hebrews 9:15

These thoughts and feelings gave me insight into how the people around me, who have not built that relationship with Christ and have the hope, future, eternal life and advocacy in heaven must feel day after day year after year. As my late friend asked, how do they do it?

Christ’s offer is open to everyone. Jesus said himself:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

And later, Paul writes:

That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9

If you have not taken advantage of Christ’s gift, I would greatly encourage you to earnestly investigate and seek out what it means to be a part of his plan for eternal life. For those who have accepted this eternal gift, Paul offers these additional comforts:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

If you are interested in doing an in-depth study of the Bible, I would strongly recommend Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). Whether you’ve been studying the Bible for decades, or have not cracked the cover open, BSF offers a level playing field for everyone to join in and discuss the words the Holy Spirit has put on their heart. It’s likely there’s a BSF study group in your city or a city near you. Click (here) to see.

The Oils of Nature

Last weekend, my wife and I spent some time at a gallery showing, which had a display of the artwork of one of my wife’s closest friends. It was interesting to see how her art has progressed over the years. We have a pencil sketch she did of my wife and her, during their senior year and we have a watercolor she gave us as a wedding present. Her medium now is oils, or at least for this gallery showing, the works were all in oils. Although based in Seattle, Washington, her paintings are reflective of the most beautiful natural scenes throughout Idaho and Washington. I thought it might be interesting to do a brief scan of how artwork was used through the historical record of the Bible.

The first mention of any type of artistic endeavors was in 6th generation of Cain’s family line(more on Cain). 1 Genesis 4:21 & 22 states, Jubal; he was the father of all who play the harp and flute & Tubal-Cain, … forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron.

In 1 Genesis 24:53 Rebekah is given gold and silver jewelry as engagement presents when she agrees to marry Isaac. We see artisans using their skills to glorify God in Exodus 25:10-30. God gives instructions for the artisans to create:

- A chest, known as the Ark, that is overlaid with gold, gold rings installed to carry it by & gold cherubim located on the cover.

- A table of wood overlaid with gold and gold plates, dishes bowls, & pitchers to hold the bread of the Presence.

- A lamp stand of pure gold with flowerlike cups buds and blossoms along with seven gold lamps.


Peter tells us, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

What possible conclusions might we draw from this brief scan. First, God never gives up on anyone and he can use them to bring about great things. Cain failed giving into his anger, and yet from his family came the beginnings of music and working with metals. Art can be used to represent the tokens of love we have for each other, as it did between Isaac & Rebekah, sometimes representing the emotions we feel. Art can be used to glorify and worship God as it did in the Tent of Meeting (the first Tabernacle). And last but not least we should use our talents, skills, & gifts to serve others with an eye toward demonstrating with those gifts, the grace God has shown and given us.

Fantastic Football Fiesta

It’s been a week now and the Boise Metro-area is still buzzing with the big win; Boise State University (BSU) Broncos win the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. For those of you who were not familiar with BSU Football, or didn’t see the game, BSU won it, 43-42 in an overtime victory. Suddenly, everyone is a BSU Bronco. Businesses offer their congratulations via their road signs, many cars are flying Broncos flags from their doors, and the talk around the office water cooler is still about that last play that gave us the lead. Everywhere you look, people are sporting BSU sweatshirts or tee-shirts. Retailers say they can’t keep Bronco’s paraphernalia on the shelves. Yes everyone loves a winner and people who were never fans before are now ardent followers. I can remember a few years back where BSU wasn’t winning their games and their following was much smaller. There was nary a BSU sweatshirt to be seen. At that time the Broncos didn’t fit that image of being “Winners”.

Early in Christ’s ministry, people flocked to him. In John 6:1-13 Jesus feeds 5000 + people and this miracle proclaims his greatness to them. People considered Christ a winner.

John 6:15 states, “Jesus knowing that they were going to make him king by force, withdrew again to the mountains by himself.”

Certainly if Christ had given in to the temptation of power, and glory, the iron hand of the Romans would have crush the movement.

However the people are persistent. John 6:24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

The people wanted to put Jesus in the role of there choosing and did not understand what God had planned for him. Jesus tried to explain God’s plan for him in John 6:40 when he stated,

“For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."

God’s plan was for Christ to be savior of the world, but this did not meet with the people’s expectations.

John 6:41-42 At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
John 6:60-65 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."

The people had their own idea of how eternal life was to be gained. While they were willing to make him their king, they were not willing to make him their Messiah (savior).

From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. John 6:66

I have spoken to many friends and family members who have found Christ’s teachings hard and have ignored God’s plan of salvation through Christ. They have derived their own free form ideas of how they will attain eternal life. The most popular seems to be the idea of great scales in the sky that weigh their deeds and if the good ones out way the bad ones, they make it into heaven. A close second is the idea that as long as you’re trying to commune with God, whether he is Allah, Buddha, or another religious deity, you’ll gain eternal life. But scripture tells us that for those who had similar ideas during Christ's time:

To this, Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

If you are a person who has preconceived ideas about who Christ is, I would encourage you to search the scriptures, ignoring your bias and read his words with an open mind.

A Bright 2007

Winter Garden Aglow
Idaho Botanical Garden

We had the opportunity to tour the Idaho Botanical Garden’s Winter Aglow display. 250,000 lights cover the plants, arbors, and walls of the garden. I couldn’t help but think that it must take months to put the lights up and then take them down after the season & I pitied the poor person(s) who has to carry out this work. New Year's Day is the time we typically begin pulling down our Christmas lights, both indoor & out, ornaments, & decorations and box them up for storage. I must admit that this is not one of my most favorite things to do. I’m glad when it‘s complete and we’re back to our normal routine, although I do miss the cheeriness & colors the lights provide.

There is another light that is with me at all times, and I depend on it to guide me through my life. It is written:

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life ." John 8:12

I thank God for providing his Son to be the light of life and Christ’s willingness to make the sacrifice to become that light.