Wait for it... wait for it...

Do you ever stop and think about how much of our lives are spent just waiting?  It's actually kind of depressing, so I wouldn't recommend it as a regular pastime.  But contemplating stop lights, drive thru lines, slow web pages and procrastinating bloggers once in a while does give you some perspective.  And perspective is what I think we need when it comes to God's plan for the universe that spans all of history and includes this tiny speck of time we inhabit called "now."

After blowing Habakkuk's mind with the idea that He would use the Babylonians to judge His chosen people, God reassured the perplexed prophet by declaring judgement also upon Babylon.  "But," He said, "the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3)

Often I find myself wishing God would hurry up.  It's tough to wait.  But I can also look back at many times in my life when, if God had been on my timetable, I would not have been in His perfect will.  So I'm trying to learn to wait for it.

The new Testament picks up this theme and gives us another reason to be glad God sticks to His own schedule.  Rebuffing those who scoffed at Jesus' promise to return because He hadn't done so within a few decades, Peter said, "Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:8-9)

So I guess we have a few things to occupy our time while we wait in the checkout line or for God to show us the next big step in out lives.  Actively believe that God DOES have a plan and that His timing IS best.  Do what you can to move forward in life… but don't run ahead of God!  And along the way, try to bring a few people with you.  God is waiting – in the big picture – for people to come to faith in Him.  And He may be waiting – in your specific circumstance – for you impact those around you here and NOW!

gods of our own making

A couple of my favorite keepsakes are hand-crafted fishing lures made by my Uncle Carlos and given to me when he died last year.  An avid angler, he loved to cut, shape, paint and tie little masterpieces to cast into the water and reel back in with dinner – or a nice wall trophy – attached.  He built them with passion, displayed them with pride and used them with prowess.  But there is one thing I never saw him do.  He never bowed down before his tackle box and worshiped the work of his hands.

Now you might think, "Of course not.  That would be crazy."  But when you read Habakkuk's description of the Babylonians, the concept doesn't seem so far fetched.  He brings all of them up with a hook; he drags them out with his net; he gathers them in his dragnet; so he rejoices and is glad.  Therefore he sacrifices to his net and makes offerings to his dragnet; for by them he lives in luxury, and his food is rich. (Habakkuk 1:15-16)

The worship of idols is a nearly universal practice, even among those who don't keep little statues around the house.  For in reality, an idol is anything to which I ascribe more value, and therefore treat with more admiration and devotion, than God.  And some of the most common idols in our civilized societies are indeed the works of our hands and the tools of our trades.

Sometimes I like to fancy myself a "professional musician."  After all, part of my employment is leading worship.  But if I'm not careful, I can end up spending all my time focused on the process of crafting a perfect worship experience, or dreaming about the next shiny six-stringed idol I'm going to hang on my wall, and lose sight of God Himself.

The gifts and abilities God has given us, along with the resources we use to do what He has called us to do, can be a source of great enjoyment.  But they must always be implements  to facilitate worship and never objects of worship themselves.  After all, I'd look pretty silly bowing to an amplifier… even if it does make me sound pretty good sometimes!

The Remedy Is Worse Than the Disease

The oft-quoted axiom titling this post is from the essay, "Of Seditions and Troubles," by Sir Francis Bacon.  In context, it refers to the putting down of seditions by military force and warns that such action should only be entrusted to men of "valor and good repute" lest they themselves stage the next coup.  In other words, "Don't use troublemakers to get rid of troublemakers."

While Bacon's famous words were penned in 1601, a very similar sentiment was recorded 2400 years earlier by the prophet Habakkuk.  In 600 BC, the nation of Judah was once again in spiritual, moral and social decline.  The dramatic reforms of King Josiah had failed to carry over to the next generation and the resulting decent into injustice and corruption troubled Habakkuk greatly.

But after calling out for divine intervention and hearing God's reply, Habakkuk was pretty sure his people were in for a remedy worse than their disease.  Specifically, God was "raising up the Babylonians" to bring judgment on Judah.  If Habakkuk was distraught before, he was simply beside himself now.

Sure, the people of Judah had disobeyed God and deserved His discipline.  But the Babylonians were pagans!  They didn't even pay lip service to Jehovah.  How could He use them to serve justice on His own people?  The three chapters of Habakkuk are really all about how the prophet, with God's help, wrestled that paradox to the ground and came to a fuller understanding of God's sovereign rule over all the world and history.

As I observe the current state of "Christianity" and "the Church," especially in America, sometimes I feel a bit like Habakkuk.  No doubt, revival is needed.  And perhaps it will take some chastisement from the Lord to get us there.  But I still struggle with how the "sinners" often (seem to) prevail over the "saints" in social and moral conflict.  Why does a high-profile athlete who says she loves Jesus  go from national hero to tabloid target?  Why does a businessman who states his personal conviction about the sanctity of marriage go from admired entrepreneur to despised bigot?  Has God decided to quit standing up for His people?  Are we so far gone that He is just going to let the world run us over?

Like Habakkuk, I don't have all the answers… and, also like Habakkuk, probably couldn't handle them even if I did.  But I do know that God is on His throne and history is HIS-story.  Righteousness WILL prevail in the end.  I just hope the just can learn to live by faith along the way without the need for a bitter pill.

No More Second Chances

"Kids, be quiet! This is your LAST warning," I called up the stairs… for the third or fourth time. I know, I know… not exactly the best parenting technique. I'd like to claim it's because I'm so patient and merciful. But it's probably just because I'm lazy and don't want to get off the couch. And once again I realize, with the help of a minor prophet, just how unlike God I still am. Thank you, Nahum.

The books of Jonah and Nahum were written about a century apart and serve as a sort of "bookend pair" around God's dealings with the nation of Assyria and her capital, Nineveh. Jonah, despite his own vengeful attitude, revealed God's surprising mercy toward the Ninevites who repented en masse when warned of God's impending judgment. While genuine, their repentance was short-lived, and within a few decades they returned to their brutality and in 722 B.C. overthrew Jonah's homeland of Israel.

Nahum appeared on the scene around 650 B.C. with a message similar to Jonah's: "The LORD has given a command concerning you: 'Your name shall be perpetuated no longer… ​​I will dig your grave, for you are vile'." (Nahum 1:14)  The difference this time was that God's patience had run out. There would be no more second chances. Nineveh would be overthrown, never to rise again. And sure enough, within a few years, the Babylonians conquered the Assyrians and established a new empire to dominate the world.

As I consider Nahum against the backdrop of Jonah, I can't help but think of the potential similarities in our own great country. Dating back to the early 18th century, several periods of "Great Awakening" are easily identifiable. While none could claim a direct revelation of specific impending judgment, each revival had it's Jonahs – Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, Dwight Moody – and resulted in significant spiritual and social reform. Yet each was also followed by a return to "normal," and we continue to see the moral fiber of our nation unravel as the decades roll by. So I wonder if God has a Nahum in store for us?

And just so I don't get all hypocritically self-righteous and need a Nahum to show up at my door, God made sure there was a cross-reference to Romans 1-3 in my Bible… So I also read, "You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere man, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads YOU toward repentance?" (Romans 2:1-4)

So next time I decide to yell up the stairs, "Last warning!", hopefully I'll not only balance justice & mercy in disciplining my children but also realize my own responsibilities as a Christian and a citizen to practice true, long-lasting repentance because, "The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; [but] the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished." (Nahum 1:3)

This Town Ain't Big Enough for the Both of Us

Oil & Water… Democrats & Republicans… Yankees & Red Sox…  Some things just don't seem to go together.  Try Justice & Mercy. Simply by nature, the concepts appear mutually exclusive.  Justice requires the administration of due punishment while mercy implies the waiver of that same punishment.  They stand in stark contrast and, should they ever meet in a bench-clearing brawl, it would seem one must prevail at the expense of the other.

Let's see what Micah thinks…  Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD's wrath…  Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy."
(Micah 7:9 & 18)

Many Old Testament prophetic themes foreshadow Christ's work on the cross, and the frequent juxtaposition of justice (wrath) and mercy is an excellent example.

God, in justice, demands that the penalty of death be imposed upon all who break His law.  Yet God, in mercy, pardons those same lawbreakers and offers them eternal life. Did justice throw the fight… take a dive… forget to show up?  By no means!

Micah's contemporary, Isaiah, specifically foretold the solution to the justice/mercy dilemma: "He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows… He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed" (Isaiah 53:4-5).

Eight-hundred years later, the Apostle Peter confirmed the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy when he said, "He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree… by His wounds you have been healed" (1 Peter 2:24).

The reason God did not simply wipe out Israel centuries ago is the same reason He does not simply wipe us out today.  The Messiah was coming/has come and would pay/has paid the price for all their/our sin!  God's justice would be/has been satisfied and His mercy could be/can be granted to them/us.

Praise God that, because of His divine perfection and plan, justice and mercy can coexist.  Now if we can just figure out how to help New York & Boston get along!

Now That's My Kind of Prophet

"Set 'em up for everyone!  This round's on me!"

Doesn't exactly sound like your typical oracle of God, does it? But it is in the Bible, and I happen to find Micah 2:11 one of the most humorous verses in Scripture.  I suppose it's also one of the most tragic.


"If a liar and deceiver comes and says, 'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,' he would be just the prophet for this people!"

Now this is not a blog post to debate the age-old question of whether Christians should drink alcohol.  The point is that, as was the case in Micah's day, it is possible for us to become so self-absorbed and calloused to genuine spirituality that we lose our appetite for a true "thus saith the Lord" and begin feeding our own sinful desires on the words of "prophets" who are willing to say whatever we want to hear.

About those supposed mouthpieces of God, Micah says, "If one feeds them, they proclaim 'peace'; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him... Her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD and say, 'Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us'."

Not a bad gig if I can get paid to say whatever keeps people happy and claim that God is on my side while I'm doing it.  The problem comes down the road when I stand before God saying, "Lord, Lord, did I not prophesy in your name?" only to hear Him reply, "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoer!"

Of course it's easy to point the finger at "high-profile prophets" who proclaim the Prosperity Gospel or some other heresy that sounds spiritual while appealing to the flesh.  But the same travesty can be found even in our conservative, evangelical churches when we fail to confront sin or resolve conflict biblically, when we plan worship services to keep people happy rather than to glorify God, or when we pick and choose what we teach based not on the true spiritual needs of our people but on what we think will keep 'em coming in the door.

Paul picked up Micah's theme when he wrote to Timothy, "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction.  For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

I think that time has come.  So God help me to faithfully declare the whole counsel of Your Word in spite of opposition or pressure to please the crowd.  And God help us all to hunger and thirst after Your truth, even when it steps on our toes.

Now… Coffee for everyone.  This round's on me!

A Crying Shame

What's the last thing that really made you cry?  I was disappointed when the Celtics lost to the Heat… but I didn't cry.  I was frustrated when the tail pipe rusted loose from the muffler on my truck… but I didn't cry.  I'm disgusted, appalled, infuriated, etc. as I read headlines about social injustice, economic corruption, moral depravity, etc… but I don't cry.  Maybe I need to be a little more like Micah.

Looking at the social and moral decay in his homeland of Israel, and having received the Word of God about coming judgment, the prophet said this: "I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.  For her wound is incurable; it has come to Judah. It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself."

I know a lot of American Christians* (including myself!) who gripe & complain, rant & rave, spit & sputter about the social, economic and moral ills of our nation & world. But I have a hard time recalling the last time any of us were truly brokenhearted before God to the point of weeping, mourning, fasting & praying over it.

Now, being the good ol' premillennial dispensationalist that I am, I do realize, like Micah did in his day, that things are generally going to get worse before they get better.  But I also realize that's no excuse for not caring about the way things are.

I've been convicted by Micah's weeping… and even by the "Patriotic Prayer & Praise Service" I've been planning for church on July 1.  I know one guy like me can't change the world with a few tears.  But if I can be a little less self-righteously indignant and a little more spiritually sensitive to the sins of society, perhaps, like Micah, I'll be more likely to actually make a difference for God.



*Or should that be "Christian Americans"?  Maybe we've got it backwards, and that's half the problem.  Anyway, perhaps a topic for another post someday.