There is Nothing New

We often write off the Old Testament, as if it were nothing more than a collection of good stories, well written poetry, and little nuggets of wisdom. The Old Testament is as relevant to us as it was to the people who lived in the time it was written. The book of Ecclesiastes has shown itself to be particularly useful in our modern context. We search for meaning in the strangest places. Some people search for a relationship that plays out like a movie. Two people from different walks of life are in conflict when they first meet and eventually find something they truly need in each other. The credits roll and one can only assume that this couple lives “happily ever after”.

Other people endeavor to attain massive wealth with which to obtain the most luxurious accommodations and expensive gadgets. I myself find it hard to resist any product wearing the brand names of ‘Apple’ or ‘Nintendo’. We set high and lofty goals of promotions, awards, and positive recognition from peers. These things are all great and are not wrongful to gain themselves. But, are any of these things new? Have relationships, wealth, or popularity ever truly completed one’s life? The author of Ecclesiastes recognized that “there is nothing new under the sun”. Solomon even notes that the attempt to gain knowledge and wisdom can become nothing more than “a chasing after the wind”.

Instead of wasting our time with meaningless pursuits, we should be focused on fearing God and keeping His commandments. Familiarity does indeed breed content. If we linger in what is familiar and satisfying to us, we will never find true peace in God.

Is the Word of God Dead?

German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche created a great deal of controversy when he made a now infamous statement about the death of God. Nietzsche reasoning behind this statement was the idea that science and rationalism had replaced God in the hearts of men. Those of us who are believers in Christ do not consider God to be dead, but do often neglect the relevance of God’s word. If God’s word doesn’t apply to us, it is as if God is actually dead. If we do not rely on God’s word, what do we have left to rely on?

David shows a true love for and dedication to God’s word in the Psalms. In Psalms 119:97, David states that he loves God’s law and meditates on it all day long. David says that God’s commands make him wiser than his enemies. Matthew 4:4 informs us that we live by the word of God. If we hunger only for material blessings and ignore the word of God, we will starve. How many of us starve ourselves the very moment the worship service ends? How many of us read the scriptures without allowing them to constantly live within us? Scripture must be used not just in emergencies, but in every moment!

Hebrews 4:12-13 is a striking description of the nature of God’s word. We do not live as Christians only when it is convenient for us to do so. God’s word is meant to penetrate the soul, transforming the “thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” God doesn’t give out ‘free passes’ to be used at our leisure and neither does Satan. If we choose to merely emulate the standards and practices of the world, God will know and He will judge us accordingly. If we allow ourselves to wander from the word of God, Satan will find us.

Cut Off Your Hand

In the realm of landscaping and gardening, pruning is the method of removing diseased, non-productive, or otherwise unwanted segments from a plant. Pruning allows one to control a plant’s growth, preserve a plant’s health, and increase the quality of a plant’s fruits and flowers. Types of pruning range from simply pinching off buds to heading, which is removing all of branches and growths down to a few large branches or the trunk of a tree. Pruning involves very specific techniques and time periods. Bad pruning can lead to decay and the early death of some plants.

Human beings often allow themselves to grow as carelessly as wild plants. We allow Satan to find weaknesses in our defense and use these faults to destroy us. Many of us don’t take our decisions as seriously as we should. Why would we when this takes so much effort and planning? Why not just do what feels right? Like in pruning, removing our areas of weakness prevents devastation and allows us to live productively.

In Matthew 5:29-30 Jesus says that if our eye or hand causes us to sin, we should cut them off. Jesus says that it is better for us to loose one body part than to have our entire bodies thrown in to hell. While Jesus might have not been speaking literally, he certainly was speaking seriously. We have to find the unwanted areas of our life and remove them. These areas aren’t always obvious to us, but they can undeniably lead to our downfall. Our lives require constant pruning in order that we reach our true potential.

What Would You Do For a Blessing?

The story of Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:19-28:22) is a one of sibling rivalry, deception, and bad business decisions. It is a story of two different nations formed from two very dissimilar brothers. Isaac, the son of Abraham, is married to Rebekah. Rebekah is unable to have children and it is only through prayer that God blesses Isaac and Rebekah with two sons, Jacob and Esau. Jacob, who would have fit well as the next Food Network star, was a smooth skinned young man who enjoyed cooking inside with his mother. Esau, on the contrary, was “a hairy man” who loved the great outdoors.

As their father Isaac was dying, Isaac asked that Esau hunt some wild game that can be eaten as part of a blessing ceremony. This symbolic gesture of giving one’s blessing was very significant. Jacob’s mother tells him to cover himself in goat skins (to simulate Esau’s hairiness) and pretend to be his brother in order to obtain their father’s blessing. When Esau finds out that the blessing has been stolen from him, he vows to kill Jacob.

Jacob takes this promise as a hint to skip town and begin running for his life. God appears in a dream that Jacob has at “a certain place”. God does not appear in a temple, a shrine, or an altar. God informs Jacob in a dream that Jacob will have what God promised and will be not be left by God. Jacob eventually marries, starts a family, and resolves his conflict with Esau. Jacob builds and altar to God where God spoke to him. God had plans to bless Jacob from birth, before his deception. God also has plans to find us where we are and give us blessings beyond what we can gain with our own efforts. Despite our conflicts and difficulties, God has plans to prosper us and not to harm us. (Jer. 29:11)

Eat Your Vegetables!

Daniel 1 begins to tell us the story of Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king who conquered Jerusalem. One of the king’s first actions was to take young men in to captivity in order to train them as civil servants. These handsome, intelligent men of nobility were to be taught the language and literature of the Babylonians. They were to change their names as each of their names contained the name of God. Finally, these young men were to eat the fine food of the Babylonians. Daniel, whose name means “God is my judge”, refused to eat the royal food as this was a sign of pagan living. He asked that he and his friends be given only vegetables and water for ten days. At the end of these days, Daniel and his friends were healthier than their peers. They were given “knowledge and understanding” by God. Daniel was given the ability to interpret visions.

Satan wants us to learn the ways of the world and give up anything that connects us to God. It is Satan’s desire that we absorb what the world feeds us and allow ourselves to become just like everyone else. 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 further develops the idea of ‘watching what we eat.’ To a Christian, simple practices can become an act of compromise or demonstration of conformity. Simple phrases spoken in anger, what music we listen to, or the jokes we laugh at can all be signs of our compliance to worldly standards. We need to live separate and set apart as Daniel did, doing all things for God’s glory. We have an example to set for the world so we don’t “cause anyone to stumble.”

The Sinlifter

The television commercials for “All” brand detergent used to mesmerize me when I was a young child. For those reading this who have never seen these commercials, they featured stains, spills, and the like mystically flying away from the clothes they once inhabited. As if by magical incantation, the dirt and grime was exorcised from its host. Were these blemishes being utterly vaporized or simply leaving this dimension to found their own society of stains? Whatever the case, “All” was an amazing product and I knew it would be available whenever my family tarnished its clothing. Hebrews 10, as well as many other scriptures, reminds me that the blood of Christ removes our iniquities. Just as easily as blemishes are lifted from clothing by “All”, even our worst sins are forgiven through Christ. Grace is the central message of the gospel of Christ. Though we face temptation and moments of weakness, Christ continually offers grace.

It is also stated in Hebrews that deliberate sin will lead to judgment by God. The sacrifice of Jesus isn’t a ticket to sin without consequence. Having detergent doesn’t mean I need to jump in every puddle I see. Jesus’ sacrifice is an invitation to a new way to live. As Christians we need to leave a mark on this world that is different from the stains left by sin. We need to proudly express our allegiance to God and our intention to live free from sin. Our purpose as Christians is to express God’s offering of grace through our words, thoughts, actions, and everything that encompasses who we are.

Available Power

The power of electricity is one of the most amazing natural phenomenons harnessed by man. Thales of Miletus, in the 6^th century BC, discovered that rubbing fur on various substances would cause these substances to be attracted to each other. This effect is now known as static electricity. Without Thales, we wouldn’t be able to rub our feet across the carpet and cause tremendous pain with a mere touch. Stephen Gray, in 1729, classified conductors and insulators. Because of Gray, we know what objects we can and can not shove in the nearest power outlet. Despite this discovery, I still remember being a young child, putting a fork in a power outlet just to find out what all the fuss was about. Needless to say, the results were shocking. Benjamin Franklin later discovered the connection between lightning and electricity. Franklin also is considered to be the one to establish the difference between positive and negative electricity, leading the way for various scientists to lay the groundwork for modern electrical technology.

Without electrical technology, we would still be living in dark without lights, telephones, televisions, or computers. Through much research, time, and effort, we have been able to use the seemingly limitless power of electricity to suit our needs. God’s power is incomparable, incomprehensible, and unlimited. God has offered us his power in order to defeat our enemies and gain victory. However, we tend to abuse God’s power. Like a young child jamming a fork in to a power outlet, we toy with God’s power. We attend church and become Christians only to recklessly enter the world without God. Exodus 15:6-8 speaks of God’s power and God’s ability to defeat his opposition.